The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recommends reducing excise duty on fuel and lowering personal income tax rates to boost consumption and tackle inflation. CII also suggests increasing benefits and unit costs under key government schemes like MGNREGS and PM-KISAN, and introducing consumption vouchers for low-income groups to stimulate demand.
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Despite rising industrial metal prices, India's core inflation outlook remains positive. Significant factors like a stable rupee, declining energy prices, and a normal monsoon suggest a supportive inflation environment, although global market uncertainties such as trade policies and commodity price changes could still create challenges.
Macrotech Developers accused House of Abhinandan Lodha of fabricating documents to misuse the 'Lodha' brand for a Goa project. Allegations include a fake board resolution to grant brand usage. The Lodha siblings, Abhishek and Abhinandan, are in a legal dispute over the 'Lodha' name rights. House of Abhinandan Lodha is reviewing the claims.
Six leading firms among the top-10 most valued companies collectively gained Rs 86,847.88 crore in market value last week, with HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries leading the gains. The BSE and Nifty both saw modest increases. Meanwhile, four companies, including TCS and Infosys, faced declines in their market valuations.
Retail investors maintained their mutual fund investments in February despite market volatility, with a slight dip in SIP contributions and equity inflows. Shift towards flexicap funds was noted, while small and midcap funds faced declines. Gold ETFs saw strong annual inflows but dropped monthly. The overall AUM reduced mainly due to mark-to-market losses in equity funds.
The rupee reached a record low of 85.77 against the dollar, driven by a weaker Chinese yuan and a stronger dollar. India's foreign exchange reserves dipped to an eight-month low. Analysts anticipate potential further depreciation of the rupee amid strong US economic indicators and fluctuating crude oil prices.
Air cargo demand rose by 3.2% year-on-year in January 2025, maintaining 18 months of growth, according to IATA. Capacity also increased by 6.8%. However, yield and cargo load factors slightly declined. Positive factors include trade growth and e-commerce, but tariffs remain a concern. Regional performance varied, with Latin America showing the strongest growth.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar highlights India's leap in electronics manufacturing, with global and domestic brands now designed and manufactured locally. This shift is attributed to the government's move from import substitution to an export-led framework. Key trends include smarter, AI-connected products, India's expanding global value chain presence post-Covid, and the rise of highly intelligent digital products.
Neelkanth Realtors, a Mumbai-based real estate developer, files draft papers with Sebi for an IPO to raise funds through the issuance of 1.35 crore equity shares. The proceeds will be used for project development, debt repayment, and general corporate purposes. The shares will be listed on BSE and NSE.
NSE MD & CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan highlights India's potential to fund entrepreneurial dreams with 11 crore investors and 21 crore accounts. He also emphasizes the importance of MSMEs leveraging capital markets. Former Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur asserts that MSMEs will drive India's vision of becoming a developed country by 2047.
Stock market recommendations: Stock picks for today include CONCOR with a buy range of Rs 760 - Rs 740, ITC near Rs 435, and Tata Steel near Rs 125. Analysts suggest these stocks due to key support levels observed in their charts. Specific stop-loss and target points are provided for each stock.