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    Investing – (Not) A woman’s world.

    They multitask; managing home, work, family and social life with efficiency that could put machines to shame. They are also amongst the most hardworking and emotionally strong people that we come across. Yet women; who handle household budgets with precision, often take a backseat, when it comes to investing. But is that narrative changing in the wake of a changing socio-economic setup? A global research from October 2023 concluded that about 60% women of the 2000 adults surveyed invested in the stock markets. In fact, women seem more resilient as compared to men when it comes to investing. Source:Fidelity In…

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    Fed’s Pause – A positive signal for India?

    The US Central Bank kept rates unchanged for a third time in a row based on factors like a lower inflation rate, lower unemployment and expectations around an expanding GDP.  A strong consumer demand and improving supply conditions have led to an easing of the monetary policy. This is despite the fact that mortgage rates continue to remain amongst the highest ever in the US. The impact of FED’s decision to keep rates stable resulted in a wide spread implication across global markets. In the US, The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 37000. The S&P 500 touched the 4700…

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    No Peeking Please!

    Key Takeaways: When we learn to cook, we all make mistakes and learn from our errors. We understand that some dishes take salt, some sugar and some time. So is the case with baking; there’s not a baker in the world who knows not to constantly peek or poke into a loaf of bread that’s still cooking. So is the case with our investments. The cooking metaphor is one that I love using – because it brings out the interplay between multiple ingredients, which when used in the right manner and right quantity yields a beautiful palatable dish. As Thomas…

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    Monthly Market Outlook – December 2023

    From the Chang Mai Lantern Festival in Thailand, the Blackpool Christmas Lights in England and the Niagara Falls festival of lights, November is a month that marks festivities and celebration, largely connected to lights. In India too, Diwali is a festival of lights that is celebrated with a lot of fervor across the country. It’s a month that brings in the warm fuzzy feeling as we inch closer towards Christmas and the end of another stupendous year. This sentiment of positivity is reflected across global markets especially as there have been signs of economic activity expanding across the globe. Disinflation,…

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    Is FED’s Pause, India’s gain?

    The Federal Reserve hit the pause button for a second time in a row, by keeping Interest rates unchanged. Jerome Powell however, didn’t rule out future rate hikes. Also consider this – the Fed has, over the past 16 months, raised rates by about 5%. An aggressive rate hike of this magnitude has not been witnessed since the 1900 and this has brought about a significant change in the US economy. The US Fed adjusts interest rates with two goals in mind – the first being inflation and the second being the rate of employment. Typically, we see the fed…

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    Monthly Market Outlook – November 2023

    Dussehra, Navratri, Durga Puja, Diwali and Halloween – the month of October marks the beginning of festivities.  As the nation lights up in myriad colors to celebrate the various aspects of spirituality, the verve and the vibe also signifies the capability and the willingness of the retail consumer to be able to spend. An increased consumer spending and the magnitude of the festivities, signify many positive things. To start with, it highlights the increased purchasing power in the hands of the consumer. It is also reflective of the overall positive sentiment and the economic growth that the country has been…

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    The Name’s Bond !

    The Indian bond markets have been witnessing a significant level of transformation over the years. The Central Bank’s measures to improve liquidity and promote foreign investments in the Indian Bond markets have led to the deepening of the capital markets and in no small measure. But in order to understand these events, let’s take a step backwards and look at the origin and growth of Bond Markets in India. The East India Company pioneered the concept of public debt, largely to finance its campaigns in South Africa. This eventually took the form of a more established means of creating sources…

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    Israel, Palestine and India:

    ‘Al Nakba’ also meaning catastrophe in Arabic – is a term that’s used to describe the first war that occurred immediately after the formation of Israel. The war resulted in the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinians and resulted in the formation of three parts namely: The state of Israel, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since then, we’ve witnessed multiple wars, cease fires and peace treaties in this region. October 7, 2023 marked a dark day in history – one that is likely to have far reaching repercussions – not only for the Arab countries, but for the world.…

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    Monthly Market Outlook – October 2023

    From the Green, White, Blue and Yellow Revolution, to the ‘Amrit Kaal’, the journey has been a long and fruitful one. This could very well be India’s Golden Decade. Even as global economies grapple with inflation and a slowdown in growth led by political and financial headwinds, the India story continues to witness strong growth. Rooted in ancient Vedic culture, the Amrit Kaal is laid on the foundation of the 5 ‘Panch Pranas’ or the 5 fundamental pillars that will remain the focus areas for growth – economy, infrastructure, systems, demography and demand. Creating a mindset of growth and innovation;…