Under President Trump’s second term, US tariffs are raising concerns about global trade disruptions, indirectly impacting international travel. Despite 2024's milestone of surpassing pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels, growth is stabilizing. Emerging economies like the Middle East and Asia-Pacific are experiencing higher growth. Long-term forecasts predict a significant increase in passenger numbers by 2053.
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India will not immediately restrict laptop imports, expecting local production to grow through initiatives like the Rs 17,000 crore PLI scheme by companies such as HP and Dell. Additionally, the government is finalizing an enhanced financial incentive plan to attract new semiconductor investments.
The European Central Bank has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.5% to boost economic activity in the eurozone. Amid low inflation and stagnant growth, the ECB aims to ease borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. Increased defence spending and potential US trade tariffs add uncertainty to future economic outlook.
India is likely to witness a $50 billion consumption and savings boost due to the wage revision for central government employees and pensioners in January 2026. Around 3.1 crore people are expected to benefit, with UBS predicting the hike to have a stable impact on India's fiscal position, favoring savings over consumption.
US stocks opened higher, signaling market stabilization amidst trade tension volatility. Bond yields slightly decreased, and the dollar steadied after a recent slide. Bank stocks led gains, with Bank of America and Citigroup exceeding earnings expectations. However, Boeing shares dropped following reports of China halting aircraft deliveries, reflecting ongoing trade war concerns.
Indian companies shattered fundraising records in 2024, raising over ₹1.2 lakh crore through Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs) by November. This surge, driven by a robust stock market and high valuations, doubled the previous year's figures. Giants like Vedanta and Zomato led the charge, each raising ₹8,500 crore.
S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed their worst quarter in years due to investor anxiety over Trump's tariff agenda. Big tech suffered significant losses, with Tesla and Nvidia plunging. Despite losses, more than half of the S&P 500’s sectors posted gains. Markets are on edge ahead of Trump’s expected tariff announcement, while gold reached an all-time high.
Dhaka has been behind on payments to Adani Power since supply started in July 2023. It owes several hundred million dollars for energy that has already been supplied, though the two sides dispute the exact size of the bill.
Grant Lee's AI startup Gamma is thriving with just 28 employees, achieving significant revenue and profitability. Many AI-driven startups are leveraging technology to maximize efficiency and reduce the need for large teams and funding. The trend raises questions about the future of venture capital investment in such lean and efficient companies.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. reported a 13% drop in net income due to weak Chinese iPhone sales, impacting its margins. Despite this, the company predicts a significant growth in AI-related revenue this quarter, driven by its role as a key assembler for Nvidia's AI servers.
Forex spending by Indians declined 14% to $2.4 billion in Oct 2024, with travel comprising the largest share. Simultaneously, domestic electronic spending peaked during the festive season, but saw a sharp decline in Nov 2024, with significant drops in credit, debit card, and UPI transactions.