FM Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the importance of maintaining fiscal responsibility in public finance, highlighting the need to balance borrowing with sustainable growth. She warned against excessive debt, citing long-term implications, and praised the collaborative efforts in the GST Council to generate revenue responsibly.
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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.
Pi Network launched its Open Mainnet on February 20, 2025, leading to considerable price fluctuations for Pi Coin. Analysts see significant growth potential if adoption increases, with predictions stating it could reach $100 or even $500 by 2030, contingent upon widespread adoption and practical utility.
India is a major contributor to applications for Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's upcoming second national carrier. Despite not announcing salary structures, the airline has received 14 lakh applications from 146 nationalities, with India among the largest sources. The carrier plans to start operations in a few months, focusing on Indian tourists and connecting flights from its Riyadh hub.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman explained that the recent selling of Indian equities by foreign institutional investors is due to profit booking as the Indian economy provides good returns. Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey added that during global uncertainties, FIIs tend to return to their home countries, predominantly the US.
Stocks in India are expected to stabilize after a significant drop, with Nifty futures showing a slight increase. Despite record equity investments in real estate, analysts warn of potential future earnings issues for developers. Kotak Securities highlights the risk of overvalued 'narrative stocks,' while further losses for the rupee are anticipated due to a less active RBI.
Tech Mahindra reported a 93% increase in net profit for the December quarter, reaching Rs 983 crore, aided by a low base in the corresponding period last year. Revenue from operations grew by 1.4% to Rs 13,286 crore. The company secured new deals worth $745 million and continued its hiring drive.
IndusInd Bank disclosed that an external review quantified the impact of discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio, resulting in a Rs 1,979 crore hit to its net worth as of June 2024. This translates to a 2.27% reduction by December 2024. Following initial reports of derivative losses, the bank's stock experienced significant volatility, although it rallied nearly 7% on Tuesday.
The US Department of Justice's indictment of Gautam Adani over corruption allegations risks straining India-US relations, potentially weakening Western alliances against China's influence. The charges may compromise significant economic partnerships, strategically disadvantaging the US while bolstering its competitors.
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) allows salaried employees to claim tax exemptions on travel expenses within India. LTA can be claimed for a maximum of two journeys within a four-year block. Only transportation costs, such as airfare or train tickets, are covered. To claim LTA, employees must submit original travel documents and proof of expenses.
Nokia has settled a patent dispute with Amazon over video technologies used in Amazon's streaming services and devices. The settlement resolves all ongoing litigation between the two companies. Nokia had accused Amazon of violating its patents for video compression and content delivery in October 2023. Details of the settlement remain confidential.