INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will emerge as the largest group in a parliamentary election expected in the next few months but will
fall short of a majority required to rule, a new nationwide survey showed on Thursday
The ruling BJP-led alliance is forecast to win 233 of the 543 seats in parliament at stake, the poll by ABP News-CVoter said, short of the
A survey by India Today-Karvy Insights put the BJP and its allies on 237 seats.
US, China 'miles and miles' from trade dealThe United States
Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday
March 1 deadline to resolve their trade disputes, but Ross tried to tamp down expectations for the high-level talks.
CBI books Chanda
Kochhar for criminal conspiracyThe CBI on Thursday booked former ICICI Bank head Chanda Kochhar on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating
her husband, Deepak Kochhar, from Videocon MD VN Dhoot for sanctioning a term loan of Rs 300 crore to Videocon International Electronics
This apart, her alleged role in influencing disbursal decisions in relevant committees of the bank has also been brought under the
scanner.
Piyush Goyal to meet heads of PSU banks on MondayFinance Minister Piyush Goyal will meet the heads of public sector banks next week
to discuss a host of issues including credit offtake and bad loan position of lenders, according to sources
Goyal, who has been given an additional charge of the finance ministry on Wednesday in the absence of Arun Jaitley, is scheduled to meet
chiefs of the state-owned banks on Monday to review financial performance of the banks
Oil prices lower as US inventories riseOil prices edged lower on Friday as a surprise increase in US inventories offset support from the
threat of lower production in Venezuela
International Brent crude oil futures were at $61.01 a barrel at 0124 GMT, down 8 cents their last settlement
Brent futures closed down 0.1% in the previous session
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $53.08 per barrel, down 6 cents from their last settlement
WTI futures closed up 1% on Thursday.
ECB keeps rates unchangedThe European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged Thursday and
continued to say that rates would remain at current levels until after summer
The Governing Council left the interest rates on the main refinancing operations, the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility at
0.00%, 0.25% and minus 0.40% respectively.
RBI making u-turn, seen shifting to neutral in February: Reuters pollThe Reserve Bank of India
pointing to an extraordinary U-turn in policy
Just a month ago, economists predicted rates would start rising next quarter
Over two-thirds of the 65 economists polled between January 21-23 said the RBI would hold its repo rate at 6.50% at its next policy review
on February 7.
Economists red-flag global slowdownA synchronized global economic slowdown is under way and any escalation in the United
States -China trade war would trigger a sharper downturn, according to Reuters polls of hundreds of economists from around the world
That is a major shift in sentiment from just a year ago, when economists were optimistic about a significant global upturn
That is a major shift in sentiment from just a year ago, when economists were optimistic about a significant global upturn
India's exports to China up 25% during June-Nov 2018 The tariff war between the US and China is benefitting India as its exports to the
neighbouring country have increased by about 32% to $8.46 billion during the June-November 2018 period, exporters body FIEO said Thursday
Exports to China had stood at $6.37 billion in June-November 2017
Commodities that have exhibited high growth during the period to China include petroleum products, chemicals, cotton yarn, plastic raw
material, and marine products
India enters $100 billion MA club in 2018 India has entered the $100-billion club in the merger and acquisition space
MA transactions were the growth front-runners with deals aggregating to $90 bn and PE reporting deals aggregating to $20 billion, the report
This was an 80% jump in deal value over 2017
Deals worth $ 60 billion were concluded in 2017, and $57 billion in 2016
and has told officials in New Delhi the policy will hinder the Indian investment plans of Amazon and Walmart, three sources familiar with
The tussle marks the latest in a number of US protests over Indian government policies which impact American companies and comes at a time
when the two countries are trying to iron out other trade irritants
Sterling rallies as report stirs hopes for May's new Brexit planSterling rallied to its early November highs against the dollar on Friday
The Sun report lifted the pound 0.3% to $1.3107 in early Asian trade.
POLICIES MORESaudi Arabia has reported instances of higher than
permissible levels of residues on vegetables exported from India like okra and green chillies and warned to take strong action in near
future if situation continues like this
Oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries is evolving from an integrated energy company into a consumer giant like China's Alibaba
and potentially could rival likes of Amazon and Walmart, says a report by brokerage firm UBS said on Thursday.TOP VIDEOMarket mood not
uplifting due to fear of unknown, uncertainty: Sunil MittalTOP QUOTE'We are planning to invest Rs 55,000-60,000 cr in India over 3
years'FUNDAMENTALSRupee up: The Indian rupee on Thursday furthered gains by 26 paise to close at 71.07 against the US dollar as softer crude
prices and gains in domestic equities bolstered forex market sentiments
10-yr bond yields down: India 10-year bonds' yields fell 0.02% to 7.56% on Thursday from 7.58% in the previous trading session, according
to RBI data.
Call rate: The overnight call money rate weighted average was 6.43% on Thursday, according to RBI data
It moved in a range of 5.00-6.60%.
