Concerns over the US economy heading towards a recession are rising! A recent SBI Research report shows that the long term US GDP growth shows a declining trend. The economic uncertainty looms large, particularly noteworthy as it follows a period when the US economy demonstrated remarkable strength.
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Tata Group plans to create over 500,000 manufacturing jobs in the next five years through investments in factories and projects producing batteries, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and more. New plants are being constructed in various Indian states, boosting employment and highlighting significant opportunities in AI and the manufacturing sector.
Titan Company Ltd reported a 24% annual growth in Q3, driven by strong festive demand in the jewellery segment. Plain gold sales soared 24%, while gold coins surged 48%. Watches grew 13%, despite a decline in wearables. EyeCare rose 17%. CaratLane saw 25% growth, expanding domestically and opening its first US store. Titan’s overall store count reached 3,240.
Personal income tax (PIT) has become a significant source of tax revenue in India, contributing 31% to the centre's gross tax collections in FY24. In contrast, corporate income tax (CIT) contributions have declined. The government's focus on widening the tax net and other measures have driven this increase in PIT collections, while keeping corporate taxes competitive.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman refuted concerns of any GST rate increase, emphasizing that the GST rates have been reduced since its introduction, with the average rate dropping to 11.3% from 15.8%. She credited the GST Council for their thorough work in simplifying the tax system.
The Finance Ministry has informed the Parliament about the risks tied to households moving deposits to market-linked instruments, highlighting potential financial losses and liquidity issues for banks.
IndusInd Bank has identified valuation losses in its forex derivative contracts that could impact its net worth by up to 2.4%, or around Rs 1,530 crore. The bank has assured that the losses pertain to FY24 and earlier, and they are working with an external adviser to review and address these discrepancies.
South Korea's cosmetic exports topped $10 billion in 2024, driven by the global popularity of K-beauty. China, the US, and Japan were the top importers. Additionally, bio-health exports surged, with pharmaceuticals leading the growth. The government aims to boost further expansion through international cooperation.
ICICI Lombard reported a 68% increase in net profit to Rs 724 crore for Q3 ended December 2024, compared to Rs 431 crore in the same period last year. Gross direct premium income slightly fell to Rs 6,214 crore. The solvency ratio was recorded at 2.36x, exceeding the regulatory minimum of 1.50x.
Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high, fueled by President-elect Trump's pro-crypto stance and MicroStrategy's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100. MicroStrategy's recent $1.5 billion Bitcoin purchase and Trump's support for a national Bitcoin reserve boosted investor confidence. This positive sentiment drove Bitcoin's seven-week winning streak, its longest since 2021, and increased demand for crypto ETFs.
A rebound in stocks was driven by significant gains in technology giants Tesla and Nvidia, helping the 'Magnificent Seven' megacaps rise over 1%. Despite a weak US consumer confidence report causing a brief dip, experts forecast a likely Santa Claus rally this year. Thin trading marked the holiday-shortened week's start, with volumes down by around 20%.