Economictimes.indiatimes.com

AU Small Finance Bank is set to double its balance sheet size to Rs 2.5 lakh crore in three years, driven by the acquisition of Fincare SFB and the growing consumption trend in India. The bank has operationalized an Authorised Dealer (AD-I) license, foray in forex with 'AU Remit' and cross-border trade with 'AU DigiTrade'. The bank's managing director, Sanjay Agarwal, aims to achieve a 25% growth rate in the next three years and double its balance sheet size to Rs 2.5 lakh crore by the end of its one decade of existence.

Since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, China has focused on the country's mineral resources through investment initiatives, aiming to exert influence. Chinese companies, particularly interested in sectors like oil, copper, and lithium, seek to deepen their presence. Bilal Karimi, Taliban's ambassador to China, vowed to attract Chinese investors during a meeting with the Taliban's Minister of Mines and Petroleum.

Institutional investors grapple with non-linear markets, driven by earnings risk, high dispersion, and volatile interest rate outlook. Sector and stock rotation intensify post hot summer forecast, reflecting increased market participation amid erratic swings.

Former Mumbai North Central MP Poonam Mahajan expresses gratitude after being denied renomination by BJP. She aims to continue her father's path, while Ujjwal Nikam replaces her. Changes in other Mumbai constituencies also noted.

Pakistan's Cabinet has relaxed rules to hire foreign consultancy firms to replace unskilled bureaucrats and speed up investment efforts in the country. The move was taken to support the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a top civil-military body created last year to bring investment into the country. Foreign consultancy firms will be hired for five years to replace Pakistani bureaucrats who are found lacking in project planning and execution.

After splitting from BJP, the Akali Dal is gearing up to contest the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat independently, marking a departure from their usual alliance strategy since 1996. This move sets the stage for a showdown with their former ally, who has often relied on star power to secure victories in the region. Previously, the Shiromani Akali Dal had partnered with the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the BJP traditionally contesting from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur as part of the seat-sharing agreement... Читать дальше...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is planning a surprise trip to Beijing to discuss the rollout of Full-Self Driving (FSD) software in China and obtain approval to transfer data collected in the country abroad for autonomous driving algorithms. Tesla has stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai since 2021, and has not transferred any back to the US.

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MCX Gold and Silver contracts offer stability, downside protection, and inflation-hedging benefits in a diversified portfolio, enhancing risk-adjusted returns and capital preservation. Including them can help build a resilient investment portfolio amidst market uncertainties.

BJP's Nadda criticizes Mamata for scaring people to win elections. Confident of over 35 seats in West Bengal. CBI seizes arms in Sandeshkhali. BJP supports women empowerment and Sandeshkhali victim.

Karnataka government initiates SIT to investigate sex scandal with MP Prajwal Revanna, involving alleged obscene videos and sexual assault incidents. The probe was requested by Women's Commission Chairperson, leading to the formation of the team.

The US data this week indicated inflation accelerated in the first quarter, reinforcing expectations the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates higher for longer.

Chidambaram challenges PM Modi's misconceptions about the Congress manifesto, emphasizing promises on tax transparency, steady income tax rates, MSME tax relief, and GST reforms, while refuting 'inheritance tax' claims and highlighting BJP's fear-driven tactics.

The Quarterly Project Implementation Status Report (QPISR) for the third quarter of 2023-24 revealed that 448 infrastructure projects, each worth Rs 150 crore or more, experienced cost overruns of over Rs 5.55 lakh crore. Out of 1,897 projects, 56 were ahead of schedule, 632 were on schedule, and 902 were delayed. The anticipated completion cost was Rs 31,74,489.91 crore.

Manu Rishi Guptha and minority shareholders have challenged ICICI Bank's delisting bid for ICICI Securities at NCLT. Shareholders had approved merger with ICICI Bank but Quantum MF has is also considering legal action against the bank. ICICI Securities has reported robust financials. According to the proposed delisting scheme, ICICI Securities shareholders are slated to receive 67 shares of ICICI Bank for every 100 shares held.

Arvinder Singh Lovely, Delhi Congress president, resigned, citing discomfort with the party's alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party for the upcoming elections. He expressed opposition to aligning with a party founded on false corruption charges against Congress. Lovely emphasized his inability to protect party workers' interests as reason for resigning.

​Rallies in the markets may not present a clear picture of certain key developments. This is the very nature of the markets. A little bit of digging helps reveal stories which may not be apparent in the broad sentiment which engulfs the markets.

A group led by a Bengaluru-based investment manager has contested ICICI Bank's bid to delist its brokerage arm, ICICI Securities. Despite shareholder support for the merger, retail investors opposed it. The proposed swap ratio and alleged irregularities have sparked objections, with Quantum Mutual Fund urging legal action to protect minority interests.

UltraTech Cement anticipates a strong financial performance in Q4FY24, expecting a net profit of Rs 1,962 crore and revenue of Rs 20,057 crore. The company's growth is supported by volume, realisations, and positive sector outlook. In the year ago period, UltraTech had reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 1,650.3 while the revenue from operations stood at Rs 18,321.6 crore. The company will announce its earnings on April 29, Monday.

Deven Choksey discusses market opportunities during corrections, stock-specific triggers for recovery like in Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finance. Real estate and consumer durables sectors show growth potential, with Reliance Retail's entry expected to disrupt the market.