Currency Depreciation, tariffs and its impact on exports, and an economy that is significantly impacted; these have been a few of the bustling discussions that we have been hearing all across the news and media. But the waters are slightly murkier than they seem. India was one of the first countries to confirm that it would negotiate a trade deal with the US at the start of the year. With talks accelerating in April, Trump whacked the so-called reciprocal tariffs, which were paused till July.  However, much of the early optimism faded as we neared July, and entered into a…

Often referred to as the “poor man’s gold,” Silver has been in existence since 2500 BC. First discovered in Turkey, the white metal was used in making jewelry, household items and as a medium of exchange. A precious metal of choice for investors worldwide, Silver’s malleability and excellent conductivity makes it valuable in electronics, solar and green energy equipment. From circuit boards in Televisions and mobile phones to RFID tags and children’s toys, silver has become an irreplaceable metal. The industrial uses of Silver in Electric Vehicles, solar panels and other related sectors lead to an increased demand for Silver.…

The confluence of a strengthening US Dollar, hardening US bond yields and heightened geopolitical risks continue to exert pressure on emerging economies globally. Despite the resilience that the Indian economy has demonstrated so far, it has not been entirely immune to these headwinds. India’s GDP numbers of 6.2% till Q3 FY2025 have been lower as compared to the 9.2% and 7.6% growth seen in the past two years. The current tariff rates of 26% is likely to lead to some drawdowns in the country’s GDP. However, India seems largely cushioned as compared to peers owing to a lower share of…

A weak manufacturing sector, a slowdown in growth, lower corporate earnings led by a weak consumption have led to a slowdown in the Indian economy. Investors who enjoyed over 20% returns each year for over 4 years until September 2024 are seeing red in their one-year returns.  A look at the 5-year returns, however, continues to look impressive. Capital outflows from India (particularly in the equity segment) have been driven by steadily climbing yields on the US 10-year Treasury bonds, increasing from an average of 3.72% in September 2024 to 4.45% in February 2025. A significant slowdown in manufacturing is…

The year ended on a positive note, with the Indian markets remaining resilient and ending on a positive note. 2024 remained a marquee year, with multiple events that marked the year including delayed rate cuts owing to the US elections.  While the ‘December effect’ could have had a role to play, the markets failed to make good all the losses that it made over the past year. We witnessed a slowdown in the Indian economy with the GDP growth failing to meet projections. Indian wages too seemed to contract as corporate profits slumped and consumer spending was cut sharply. Small…