Eternal (Zomato) promoter Deepinder Goyal has pipped Radhakishan Damani of Avenue Supermarts (Dmart) to top the IDFC FIRST Private & Hurun India’s top-200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 list released here on Wednesday.While Eternal topped the list with its valuation rising 27 per cent year-on-year to ₹3.2 lakh crore, Avenue’s Supermarts’ dipped 13 per cent to ₹3 lakh crore to occupy the second place.Interestingly, Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal of InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo), which faced tr ...

Economic Growth and Geoeconomics - India's economic strength is increasingly recognized, with its economy growing from $1.5 trillion to nearly $4 trillion in recent years, showcasing a strong growth narrative [2][12] - Geoeconomics is fundamentally linked to economic power, with trade negotiations and supply chains influenced by a country's production capabilities and competitiveness, exemplified by China's manufacturing and the US's $30 trillion consumption-led economy [1][12] Infrastructure Development - Significant investments in infrastructure over the past decade, including the construction of approximately 50,000 km of national highways, have structurally reduced logistics costs and improved productivity [3][12] - The integration of physical infrastructure with a digital backbone, including cloud, data, and 5G technologies, is enhancing India's growth potential, contributing to its status as the fastest-growing major economy [4][12] Financial Sector Dynamics - The banking system's net worth has increased to ₹29–30 lakh crore, with system-wide loans expanding to about ₹180 lakh crore, reflecting a 2.8 times growth over the last decade despite various economic disruptions [6][12] - Deposits have reached around ₹240 lakh crore, growing at approximately 10% annually, while mutual fund assets have surged from ₹11 lakh crore to ₹66 lakh crore over the past decade [7][12] - Alternative investment funds (AIFs) and portfolio management services (PMS) assets have increased tenfold to ₹23 lakh crore, indicating robust capital formation driven by nominal GDP growth and systemic liquidity [7][12] Capital Formation and Market Infrastructure - India is experiencing a unique combination of low inflation and high growth, creating an optimal environment for capital formation, with significant equity capital raised by IDFC First Bank in recent years [8][12] - The importance of India's market infrastructure, including faster settlement cycles and improved credit systems, is critical for sustained growth and attracting global investor confidence [9][12] Digital Financial Ecosystem - The digital financial ecosystem in India, which includes digital identity, fraud monitoring, and algorithm-driven credit evaluation, is transforming financial inclusion, particularly in small business lending and rural credit [10][12] - The bank is now disbursing over one million loans monthly, showcasing the effectiveness of the digital financial infrastructure in reaching underserved markets [10][12] Summary of Economic Position - India's macroeconomic stability, depth of capital, and advancements in infrastructure and digital systems have significantly altered its growth trajectory, positioning the country favorably in geoeconomics and geopolitics [12]

Credit for images: Supplied photosWeFi’s co-founder and group CEO Maksym Sakharov has positioned himself at the centre of a financial shift that is starting to reshape how money moves, how value is stored, and who gets real control over their wealth. Leading the world’s first deobank, he sits at the intersection of traditional finance, blockchain, and global regulation, arguing that the next big leap in banking won’t come from sleeker apps or faster KYC, but from rebuilding the system on-chain. In this con ...

The very existence of banks is justified by their ability to mobilise funds, specifically from the general public (depositors), and utilise those funds for their intended purpose: lending to firms and individuals within the economy. Collectively, the lending as a percentage of deposits is referred to as the credit-deposit ratio (CDR). The CDR in the range of 70-80 per cent is generally considered comfortable, though there is no specific number or range mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).In January ...

Core Viewpoint - The Indian rupee has fallen to an all-time low of 91 per dollar, influenced by multiple factors including tariff pressures from the US and high demand for dollars [1][2]. Group 1: Reasons for the Rupee's Decline - The US tariffs on Indian exports have negatively impacted investor confidence and trade negotiations, contributing to the rupee's decline [4]. - Foreign investors have withdrawn USD 17 billion from Indian equities in 2025, exerting additional pressure on the rupee despite steady inflation and GDP growth [4]. - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded India's exchange rate regime from "stabilized" to "crawl-like," indicating a weakening currency [5]. - A significant decrease in capital inflows and reduced intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have also contributed to the rupee's depreciation [5]. Group 2: Impact on the Economy - Record-high prices of metals and bullion have worsened India's import bill, further straining the economy [6]. - The decline in the rupee has a direct impact on average Indian households, increasing costs for essential expenses such as EMIs, fuel, and electronic appliances, especially since India imports 90% of its oil [6].

Market Overview - Nifty Bank index opened lower at 59,054, down 0.3% from Friday's close of 59,390, currently at 59,220 [1] - The advance/decline ratio is 3/9, indicating a bearish market sentiment [1] - Nifty Private Bank and Nifty PSU Bank indices are both down approximately 0.3%, reflecting similar selling pressure across public and private banks [2] Individual Bank Performance - Federal Bank increased by 0.8%, IDFC First Bank by 0.7%, and Canara Bank by 0.1%, marking them as gainers [1] - IndusInd Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are the top losers, down 0.9% and 0.7% respectively [1] Futures Market - December expiry Nifty Bank futures opened lower at 59,600, down nearly 0.4% from last week's close of 59,658, currently trading at 59,440 [3] - Important support levels are identified at 59,150 and 59,000, which may prevent further declines [3] - A potential rebound could push Nifty Bank futures to targets of 60,500 and 61,000 [3] Support and Resistance Levels - If the futures contract falls below the support level of 59,000, the short-term outlook may turn bearish, with notable support at 58,250 [4] - Current trade strategy suggests staying out for now, with a long position on Nifty Bank futures recommended if it slips to 59,150, targeting 60,500 with a stop-loss at 58,900 [5] - Supports are at 59,150 and 59,000, while resistances are at 60,200 and 60,500 [5] Companies to Monitor - IndusInd Bank Ltd is highlighted as a company to follow in the current market context [5]

Core Insights - The recent depreciation of the rupee to 90 against the US Dollar highlights the importance of selecting the right travel card to manage foreign spending effectively [1][19] - A forex card allows users to preload foreign currency, securing the exchange rate in advance, while a credit card converts INR at the current rate, exposing users to exchange rate fluctuations [2][19] Exchange Rate Impact - If planning to spend $1,000, the budget can be significantly affected by the rupee's exchange rate fluctuations, with potential costs ranging from Rs 86,000 to Rs 94,000 depending on appreciation or depreciation [3][19] - The table illustrates that a depreciation of the rupee results in an additional cost of Rs 4,000, while appreciation leads to savings of Rs 4,000 [3] Forex Card vs Credit Card - Forex cards are ideal for travelers who want to stick to a fixed budget, as they allow preloading of funds, while credit cards may lead to overspending due to higher credit limits [16][20] - Credit cards may be more suitable when foreign exchange markups are low or when they offer strong rewards [17][20] Zero Forex Markup Cards - Many cards claim "zero forex markup," but the distinction between interbank rates and platform rates (like Visa) can significantly impact costs [4][5][19] - Cards that claim zero markup may still use network forex rates, which can be up to 1% higher than actual interbank rates, leading to higher final costs [7][19] Product Comparisons - IDFC FIRST Bank's FIRST WOW! Black credit card offers zero forex markup on network exchange rates, which may carry high currency risk due to INR fluctuations [10][20] - DCB Niyo secured credit card also offers zero forex markup on Visa's exchange rate and includes tiered rewards, making it attractive for new-to-credit customers [12][13][20] - BookMyForex's multi-currency forex card uses live interbank rates and allows users to load multiple currencies, providing zero currency fluctuation risk during travel [14][15][20]

Core Insights - The First Bancorp, Inc. (FNLC) is the holding company for the First National Bank in Maine, with a stable share price since the last article was published despite a significant increase in net income [1] Group 1: Company Overview - The First Bancorp, Inc. operates as a holding company for the First National Bank in Maine [1] - The bank's share price has remained relatively flat over the recent period [1] Group 2: Financial Performance - There has been a substantial increase in net income for the bank, indicating positive financial performance [1]

Group 1 - The core focus of the research service is on identifying Asia-listed stocks that exhibit a significant gap between their market price and intrinsic value, particularly emphasizing deep value balance sheet bargains and wide moat stocks [1][2] - The service aims to provide value investors with investment opportunities in the Asian equity market, with a specific emphasis on the Hong Kong market [2] - The analyst views the latest corporate moves favorably, noting that the stock is currently valued at a substantial discount compared to other trading companies in Japan [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in stock prices for short-term investing, highlighting that while trends can be profitable, ensuring their longevity is challenging [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - First Bank (FRBA) has shown a solid price increase of 0.2% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - Over the last four weeks, FRBA's price has increased by 7.9%, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - FRBA is currently trading at 91.2% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - FRBA holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for investors to identify stocks like FRBA that are on an uptrend supported by strong fundamentals [3]. - The article suggests that there are other stocks passing through the "Recent Price Strength" screen that may also be worth considering for investment [8].