Business

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Increased trade tariff uncertainty under US President Donald Trump is prompting businesses to delay or scale back investments, potentially paving the way for a global economic slowdown, according to a comprehensive analysis by Nomura Research Institute. The report warns that the unpredictability of US trade and foreign policy is already dampening investor sentiment and could have prolonged repercussions on global markets. “Businesses are likely to shelve, scale back, or delay new investments as long as concerns remain elevated, and that has the potential to trigger a global economic slowdown or recession,” the report stated. Nomura categorised the Trump administration’s tariff strategy into three phases- shock, backlash, and tactical recalibration, highlighting that the erratic nature of policymaking continues to pose systemic risks. Following the April 2 announcement of steep reciprocal tariffs, financial markets experienced what the report called […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: The Indian capital markets have witnessed a notable surge in retail investor participation in recent years, driven by a growing middle class and rising financial literacy.A joint report by ASSOCHAM and ICRA signifies a marked shift in investor behaviour, with a rising preference for mutual funds and systematic investment plans (SIPs), especially among individual investors.The transformation of India’s capital markets is being fueled by digital innovation, supportive regulatory reforms, and a broadening investor base, according to the reported quoted by ANI. Retail investor ownership in NSE-listed companies has grown significantly, rising from 11 per cent a decade ago to 18 per cent of total market capitalisation today.Regulatory improvements by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have enhanced market transparency and integrity. Key structural reforms, including the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and […]

[ad_1] Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd (HMSI) on Thursday announced a major expansion of its fourth manufacturing plant in Vithalapur, Ahmedabad district. The move is expected to increase the plant’s annual production capacity by 650,000 units, taking the total to 2.61 million units once the new line becomes operational in 2027.The company is set to invest approximately Rs 920 crore in the expansion. The plant is also expected to generate 1,800 new jobs in the region."HMSI currently has four production plants in India with a total annual production capacity of 6.14 million units. In addition, the cumulative production volume reached 70 million units in April of this year, after 25 years since start of production in 2001," Honda said, quoted by ANI.HMSI currently operates four manufacturing facilities across India with a combined annual capacity of 6.14 million units. […]

[ad_1] India’s private sector activity picked up pace sharply in May, reaching its fastest rate of expansion in over a year, lifted by a surge in the services sector, as per the HSBC Flash PMI data released on Wednesday.The HSBC India Composite PMI Output Index climbed to 61.2 in May from 59.7 in April, the strongest growth seen since April 2024. This expansion was fueled by service providers, which saw the fastest rise in output in 14 months.The HSBC Flash India Services PMI Business Activity Index rose sharply to 61.2 in May from 58.7 in April, fuelled by solid demand, strong inflows of new business, and renewed confidence among firms."The increase was the most pronounced since April 2024. There was a mild loss of growth momentum in the manufacturing industry but service providers reported the fastest rise in output in […]

[ad_1] India’s organised sector added 1.45 million net to its formal jobs in March 2025, marking a 1.15% rise during the same month last year, as per the provisional payroll data released by the ministry of labour and employment on Wednesday.The data, compiled by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), tracks employment trends across firms employing 20 or more workers. In March, around 0.75 million new subscribers joined the EPFO, up 2.03% from February and 0.98% higher than in March 2024.“This growth in new subscribers can be attributed to growing employment opportunities, increased awareness of employee benefits, and EPFO’s successful outreach programs,” the ministry said in a statement, quoted by ET.A sector-wise comparison revealed notable job growth in industries such as restaurants, cement, general insurance, and travel agencies.Youth remained the dominant force behind the surge in new employment. Of the […]

[ad_1] Apple in India: Foxconn is allocating $2.56 billion to its Devanahalli operation. (AI image) As Apple looks to diversify its supply chain away from China, the Taiwanese firm Foxconn is readying a 300-acre campus for its army of workers who assemble Apple products. The dormitories for Foxconn Devanahalli plant’s 30,000 workforce are in advanced stages of construction.Last week, US President Donald Trump's statement to Apple CEO Tim Cook: "I don't want you building in India," made during his Qatar visit to Doha, appears to have had little impact on the tech giant's strategic plans.Despite Trump's comments, Cook maintains that the majority of iPhones destined for the US market will be manufactured in India instead of China, with the company steadily progressing towards this objective.Evidence of this commitment is visible at Foxconn's Devanahalli facility in Karnataka. Operations continued normally at […]

[ad_1] The restructuring plan, which received approval from ABFRL's board in the previous year, entails the separation of the Madura Fashion and Lifestyle (MFL) division into a newly established entity — ABLBL (AI image) Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail demerger: ABFRL shares experienced a substantial decline of 67% to Rs 88.80 on the NSE during Thursday's trading session, on the record date for the previously sanctioned demerger of its Madura Fashion & Lifestyle operations into an independent listed company.The significant 67% reduction in share value can be attributed to the demerger specifications, which stipulate that ABFRL shareholders will obtain one equity share in Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL) for each share owned in ABFRL, according to an ET report.The restructuring plan, which received approval from ABFRL's board in the previous year, entails the separation of the Madura Fashion and […]

[ad_1] India’s economy has remained resilient even as global economic growth continues to be weighed down by ongoing trade tensions, uncertain policies and muted consumer sentiments, the Reserve Bank of India, said in its latest report.The apex bank said that even though the temporary pause in tariffs provided some relief amid ongoing headwinds, the overall outlook still remains vulnerable.Emerging markets and developing economies, particularly in Asia, are likely to face major impacts, experiencing slower growth due to trade tensions, weak consumer confidence, and policy uncertainty. Furthermore, volatility in financial markets has become a key risk to global economic projections.However, India is showing steady progress, amid this global turmoil. High-frequency data from April indicated that both the industrial and services sectors are holding their ground. "Amidst these challenges, the Indian economy exhibited resilience. Various high frequency indicators of industrial and services […]

[ad_1] Gold price prediction: What is the outlook for gold and silver today and for the next few days? (AI image) Gold and silver price prediction: MCX Gold and MCX Silver have been volatile in the last few days with geopolitical events and Donald Trump’s tariff related developments weighing on investor sentiment.While gold is traditionally a safe haven asset, it has fallen from its peak in the last few sessions. What is the outlook for gold and silver today and for the next few days? What are the target levels investors should look at?Abhilash Koikkara, Head - Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group shares his views:MCX Gold OutlookMCX Gold has shown a bullish breakout from the lower end of its support zone, indicating a shift in sentiment and the potential for upward momentum. This breakout suggests that the recent […]

[ad_1] Asian equities slumped on Thursday, mirroring Wall Street’s sharp losses from the previous day, as concerns over the US economy weighed heavily on investor sentiment. Pressure on US Treasuries continued, amid fears that Donald Trump’s push for new tax cuts could further inflate the already massive federal deficit.Shanghai reversed yesterday's gains trading at 3,385.6, down 1.98 points or 0.06%. Hang Seng plunged to 23,754.21 losing 73.57 points or 0.31% while Nikkei continued in red dropping 331.85 points or 0.89% to reach at 36,967.13.Sout Korea's Kospi dipped to 2,592.3, down 33.38 points or 1.27% at 8.30 am.A weak auction of 20-year US government bonds raised fresh concerns about the country’s fiscal health, which came just days after Moody’s downgraded its top-tier credit outlook. The development halted a recent rally which was driven by reports of easing China-US trade tensions and […]