New Delhi: Geopolitics have been a major influence on oil prices for some time now, but the past history of oil indicates that supply/demand fundamentals typically take over when the immediate disruptions subside. That scenario seems to be playing out once more as energy markets shift away from the Middle East tensions of recent weeks and focus their attention back on inventories, demand and production. Citigroup expects oil prices to fall back to about $60 per barrel by the end of 2026, as it believes the geopolitical premium embodied in prices during the Strait of Hormuz crisis is eroding. The…
Author: Riddhi Jain
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New Delhi: Traditionally, governments use grants, tax incentives, and subsidies for strategic industries. More and more often, however, policymakers are looking for a different solution: direct investment in companies deemed important for national competitiveness. While the concept is still a subject of debate, it has become a topic of interest as nations strive to build up their own capabilities in sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The issue came up again when U.S. President Donald Trump recently touted the federal government’s investment in Intel as one of his best industrial policy moves. In an interview with CNBC, Trump stated that…
New Delhi: The soft drinks market in India is now a new competitive landscape, but it’s not just about the price or advertising. Consumer tastes are slowly turning to drinks that are both tasty and perceived as healthy, prompting companies to rethink how they compete in one of the nation’s biggest packaged beverage markets. In this context, ITC Ltd. has launched B Natural Coconut Cola, a new carbonated beverage that combines coconut water with cola flavour. The company is not trying to compete with traditional colas, but instead, it is seeking to establish itself in the emerging premium beverage market.…
New Delhi: The global oil market is slowly returning to normalcy after months of uncertainties and fluctuations driven by geopolitical tensions. Crude prices have pulled back from the peak levels seen during the recent conflict in West Asia, reviving an old question for Indian consumers: will lower crude prices lead to cheaper petrol and diesel? For now, the answer appears to be “eventually, but not immediately.” Global benchmark crude prices have fallen significantly in recent weeks as concerns over supply disruptions eased following the West Asia ceasefire and the reopening of key shipping routes. The Indian crude basket has also…
New Delhi: Leadership appointments at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) often reflect the institution’s evolving priorities as it navigates a fast-changing financial landscape. The central bank is continuing to strengthen its leadership in key functional areas, as reliable data and timely analysis become increasingly important in economic policymaking. In this regard, the RBI has appointed Ravi Shankar as its new Executive Director with effect from July 1, 2026. In his new role, he will head the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM), a key division responsible for statistical analysis, economic data management, and research support. Prior to his…
New Delhi: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections during June have continued to grow strongly despite a sluggish pace, as continued economic activity and robust import revenues have been maintained. The numbers overall are up, with domestic consumption steady, but where big gains have been in the numbers are those generated through tax collection on imported goods, reflecting ongoing growth in cross-border trade. The gross collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in June reached ₹1.95 lakh crore, up 13.9% year-on-year, according to data released on Wednesday. A more detailed analysis of the figures reveals a mixed but positive picture.…
New Delhi: The commercial vehicle (CV) industry in India has come out of the pandemic with a strong recovery and is now moving into a more cautious growth phase. Government infrastructure spending and replacement purchases and better freight movement continue to support demand, but at a slower rate, as the industry works off a higher base from the previous financial year. This sentiment is echoed by rating agency ICRA, which has forecasted that domestic commercial vehicles wholesale volumes will expand by 4-6% in FY2026-27. The agency anticipates growth will continue in the sector, driven by robust economic activity, ongoing public…
New Delhi: The competition to become a global financial hub is increasingly becoming a game of regulatory ecosystems, rather than physical infrastructure. Financial centres are not only business centres, but also gateways for international investment, cross-border banking and capital flows. To make its way into this picture, India has been trying to establish Gujarat International Financial Tec-City (GIFT City), the nation’s first operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). This vision will be on the agenda at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit in Vadodara on June 30, where GIFT City will showcase its emerging contribution to the international financial services landscape…
New Delhi: The pressure on transport has ceased to be seasonal in Goa. According to the provisional tourism statistics, the state has attracted more than 1.04 crore tourists in 2024, of which approximately 99.41 lakh were domestic tourists and 4.67 lakh were foreign tourists. Goa alone has seen more than 54.55 lakh tourists visit the state between January and June 2025 compared to the 50.31 lakh visitors in the same period in 2024. The movement of people is a growing phenomenon in a small coastal country with an area of 3,702 sq km, and affects roads, mobility and civic infrastructure…
New Delhi: Over the years, premium technology has been steadily improving, but without significant increases in cost. That is starting to change with the advent of artificial intelligence in the design of devices. As computing power increases, so do the requirements for more sophisticated hardware, and consumers are willing to pay for it. This is what Apple’s latest price hike in India is about. The company has raised prices on various products, such as MacBooks, iPads, Mac Studio, Mac mini, HomePod and Apple TV. The entry-level versions have stayed more or less the same, but the professional versions are much…
