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With the overall GDP valued at USD 4. 18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next three years with a projected GDP of USD 7.30 trillion by 2030. The growth momentum is a healthy indicator with the GDP expanding to a six-quarter high in the second quarter of 2025-26, reflecting India’s resilience in the midst of persistent global trade uncertainties. Domestic drivers-led by robust private consumption-played a pivotal role in supporting this growth.

Doing a deep dive of the growth indices its quite obvious that 2025 was India’s “Goldilocks Moment” which is a period characterized by high growth and low inflation. As per the ministry of statistics and program implementation, in the second quarter of the Financial year 2025-26, India’s real GDP grew by 8.2%, up from 7.8% in the first quarter and 7.4% in the last quarter of 2024-25. The Reserve Bank of India has revised the growth forecast for 2026-27 to 7.3%, from its earlier estimate of 6.8%.  The key drivers that would fuel the GDP growth are robust domestic demand, rationalization of GST and Income tax, softer crude oil prices and ongoing economic reforms. The other factors that would influence the economic growth are as follows.

Easing Consumer Price Index Inflation:

Consumer price index (CPI) is the change in the price of a basket of goods and services that are typically purchased by specific groups of households. CPI inflation softened to 0.71% in November 2025 from 4.26% in January 2025. In 2025, India experienced an overall benign inflation environment, wherein the general increase in prices is moderate and slow, with an average of 2.5%. Controlling the CPI inflation and maintaining it within the range of 1% and 3% would boost the confidence of corporates to take long term decisions with respect to investment. This would also enable consumers to rationalize heir spending.

Falling Unemployment Rates

According to the ministry of labour and employment the unemployment rate reduced to 4.7% in November 2025 from 5.2% in October 2025, making it the lowest since April 2025. The key challenge for the government in the ensuing financial year would be to maintain the unemployment rate between 3.0 to 4.5%, facilitating the job seekers to find employment without causing inflation in wages.

Trade Performance:

As per the ministry of Trade and Commerce, in January 2025, Indias foreign trade commenced on a solid footing with total exports (merchandise and services combined) valued at $:74.97 billion, registering a growth of 9.2% over January 2025. The cumulative exports in the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 reached $: 210.31 billion (up by 5.94%) versus same period last year. These early and mid-year trends were clear indicators of steady export expansion and diversified external demand across various sectors.

These early and mid-year trends demonstrated steady export expansion and diversified external demand   However the share of merchandise exports and its growth to the total exports needs to show significant improvement in the next financial year, in order to fuel the overall economic growth. Merchandise exports expanded to US$ 38.13 billion in November, 2025 compared to US$ 36.43 billion in January 2025, with a growth of 4.7%, whereas the service sector exports registered a growth of 8.65%. More focus on broadening the scope of the merchandise exports with impetus on electronic and engineering goods would be the key in this direction. India had broadened its global footprint by strengthening the trade partnerships with countries like United Kingdom, New Zealand, Oman and Jordan recently. Merchandise exports to these markets would play a pivotal role in boosting the nation’s overall foreign trade.

Rationalize Imports:

Concrete and positive policy measures are warranted to rationalize the imports in order to reduce the Current Account Deficit of the nation. Gold which is ideally a non-essential commodity accounts for 13% of the total imports of the country, which is second to Petroleum, which accounts for 31%. While petroleum is a highly essential commodity that meets the nation’s energy needs, gold hardly adds value to the economy. Curbs on the import of gold is highly warranted as it’s a drain on the foreign exchange reserves, resulting in higher current account deficit and weakening of Indian rupee.

Author is a member of the Loka Kerala Sabha

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“It’s taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system – but we’re glad we’re finally here,” the company said in a statement.

“Starting this week, Meta AI will begin rolling out across 41 European countries.”

Meta AI was first unveiled for the US in September 2023, then rolled out across all the group’s applications in April 2024.

Although image generation is available in the US, in the EU the generative AI tool will craft text-only responses to users’ questions. Meta AI can also draw on web search for its answers.
The company said the bot’s inclusion in conversations could help “deep dive on topics of interest, or get help with a ‘how-to’ or a problem that needs solving” such as planning a trip.

Developing “large language models” (LLMs) like Meta AI requires vast reserves of data, which is heavily regulated in the European Union where it relates to individual users.

Meta’s bot available in the EU was not trained on data from EU users.

Until now, the company had held off on introducing its AI in the bloc, saying it was unclear how authorities might interpret overlapping rules on data protection, AI and digital markets.

Europe suffers from a “fragmented regulatory structure riddled with inconsistent implementation,” chief executive Mark Zuckerburg said in an August op-ed piece for the Economist newspaper co-written with Spotify chief Daniel Ek.

700 million users
Meta now appears to have overcome those hurdles for the 41 European countries and six languages it operates in.

AI is an overriding priority for Meta as for other Silicon Valley giants.

The group plans to invest $60-65 billion this year, with much of the cash going into data centres, servers and network infrastructure necessary to develop AI models.

“This is a massive effort, and over the coming years it will drive our core products and business, unlock historic innovation, and extend American technology leadership,” Zuckerberg said in January as he announced Meta’s 2024 financial results.

For now, Meta claims around 700 million monthly active users for its AI assistant — still somewhat shy of the one billion Zuckerberg said was needed to secure “a durable long-term advantage”.

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The shares will be divested through a so-called offer-for-sale window of the stock exchanges at a floor price of INR 275 rupees apiece, the company said in a stock exchange filing Thursday.

Adani Commodities LLP, one of the founders of the company, will sell 175.45 million shares or a 13.5 per cent stake, with a greenshoe option to offer another 84.5 million shares or 6.5 per cent, the filing said.

The issue was fully subscribed on Friday — the first day of the share sale reserved for institutional investors and wealthy individuals – getting 111 per cent bids at 4.15 pm in Mumbai, according to exchange data. It continues on January 13 for retail buyers.
Adani Wilmar shares slumped 10 per cent — the most since November — to close at 291.10 rupees, pushing the past year’s decline to 21 per cent.

This is the first phase of the port-to-power conglomerate’s exit from the joint venture in which it holds 44 per cent. In the second phase, Singapore’s Wilmar International Ltd. has agreed to acquire the residual stake at a price not exceeding 305 rupees.

After the transactions, the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate will fully exit the firm and use the proceeds to bolster its core infrastructure ventures that include airports and renewable energy.

The stake sale is happening amid legal challenges faced by Adani in the US, where federal prosecutors have alleged that the Indian billionaire was part of a bribery scheme to win solar energy contracts in India. Rating agencies cited that as a potential risk to fund raising for the group, and placed multiple Adani firms on negative watch.
Adani Wilmar was slated to start a share sale last year to comply with a local securities law that requires at least 25 per cent of the holding to be with public shareholders within three years of listing.

The company listed in 2022 and has until February to meet the rule. Bloomberg reported in August 2023 that Adani Enterprises was exploring selling a stake sale in its consumer-staple joint venture for freeing up capital for core business.

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Relatively constrained volatility across assets provided a foundation for the gains, so much so that the question now is whether bigger swings are all but inevitable in 2025. For the year just gone, MSCI Inc.’s global stock gauge fell 2% or more on only three days, on the way to an annual climb of almost 16%.

The US drove the equity rally, notably a surge of 67% in an index tracking the Magnificent Seven megacap tech firms of Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp. and Tesla Inc.

That reflects “an extraordinary phase of outperformance” for the US as inflation cooled, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates and the global economy avoided recession, according to Nick Ferres, the chief investment officer at Vantage Point Asset Management.

Other big performers included controversial cryptocurrency Bitcoin, which rose just over 120% and punched through $100,000 for the first time on President-elect Donald Trump’s support for digital assets. Gold, the more established store of value, posted a 27% jump “- the largest in 14 years “- as central banks and others sought a hedge for the panoply of geopolitical and economic threats.

Trump’s Crypto Pivot
Speculators flocked to crypto anticipating a boom from Trump’s promise to make the US the global linchpin of the sector. Meme-crowd favorite Dogecoin’s 253% advance would have turned a $10,000 wager into $35,345. A similar bet on market-leader Bitcoin would have ended up at $22,046. Along the way, Bitcoin scaled a record high of $108,316 before pulling back.

US Megacap Tech
While enthusiasm about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence lifted the US megacap tech sector as a whole, chipmaker Nvidia was the clear winner among major names, turning $10,000 into $27,117. By contrast, Microsoft lagged behind, adding $1,209 to such a notional investment.
Milei’s Shock Therapy
Argentina’s S&P Merval Index was by far the best performer in a group of 92 primary equity indexes globally, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That reflects investor optimism about President Javier Milei’s efforts to quell inflation and reverse years of endemic budget deficits. A sum of $10,000 plowed into the gauge would have become $21,377, adjusting for currency moves.

Gold, Silver
Gold received a boost from purchases by central banks “- especially the People’s Bank of China and others in emerging markets “- as well as Federal Reserve monetary easing and haven demand during periods of global tension. A $10,000 investment in the precious metal would have increased to $12,722. Silver got a tow from the gold rally and would have lifted $10,000 to $12,146.

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The world’s top economy, the US, on Wednesday, cut interest rates for the third straight month, with central banks like the UAE also following suit. However, US officials lowered their forecast to just two interest rate cuts next year from four cuts seen in September, jolting investors and markets worldwide.

With the US policymakers now more inclined to pencil in just two rate cuts next year, down from the three cuts recorded this year, how would this affect you and your plans to take on loans this year? You may have to now postpone your plans, experts flag.

How higher interest rates affected borrowing demand
“Higher interest rates in recent years have clearly affected spending on a global level because the cost of borrowing money went up,” said Brody Dunn, an investment manager at a UAE-based asset advisory. “So, if you have any type of credit card or loan, you end up paying more for the money you borrowed.

“This is why potential borrowers become more hesitant to borrow money because of the higher cost. Also, with interest rates not seeing huge dips this year, it didn’t get a whole lot easier to borrow money even as there was a definite marked improvement in rates.
“The only saving grace for borrowers would be: the more the number of rate cuts, the more borrowing costs will drop. With lesser interest rate cuts planned for next year, the trickledown effect leading to cheaper loans diminishes, meaning loans will stay costly for longer.”

How soaring inflation resulted in multiple rate hikes
For economies worldwide, there has been a prevalent threat of inflation re-accelerating and requiring even more of such drastic rate hikes in the future, if central banks don’t keep reining in a surge in prices by making it more expensive for businesses and people to borrow money.

“Making debt more expensive is an intended consequence of tightening monetary policy to contain inflation,” explained Abbud Sharif, a banking industry analyst based in Dubai. “The good news now is inflation has slowed – suggesting the world economy is playing out the way central banks had hoped.
“The risk, however, is borrowers might be in precarious positions financially. Higher interest rates could amplify these fragilities, leading to a surge of defaults, and with the cost of repayments rising for you, lenders want to ensure that they are lending to those who can handle higher rates.”

Borrowing rates still high, wait till 2026 to benefit
Higher interest rates mean it’s more expensive to borrow money, which slows or delays big purchases, lower rates encourage borrowing and tend to increase money supply in the market. For example, the lower the interest rate the lower the mortgage payments on a newly purchased house.

“As interest rates are peaking now and start to drop later this year, if you’ve been considering a large financial decision now, such as buying a house or purchasing a car, consider postponing plans until you get favorable loan terms towards the start of 2026,” Sharif added.
“Also, credit cards with variable rates tend to drop when the rates start to slow. So, if you’re trying to catch up on credit card debt, this can be of some help. If you already have a loan, lower interest rates might mean it is a good time to evaluate your current terms and consider refinancing it.”

How to benefit from three interest rate cuts in 2024?
“Only a few investments stand to benefit when interest rates start to go down, compared to when they are paused or continue at existing levels,” added Dunn. “For instance, your bond investments give good returns in a high-rate environment.

“When it comes your investments in stocks, high interest rates tend to make stocks more attractive to investors, as they can generate higher returns than fixed-income investments. This can lead to a rise in stock prices, which can result in higher returns for those who have invested in stocks.”
Dunn reiterated that lower rates also incentivise borrowing, so as businesses make more investments in their business, their stock prices tend to rise again. “So depending on where you invest, lower or higher interest rates could affect you positively or negatively,” he added.

Bottom line
While increasing rates made borrowing more costly and reigns in spending in favor of saving, looming lower interest rates will make borrowing cheaper – allowing people to borrow more freely. As rate hikes are expected drop further by the end of next year, borrowing and spending will rise in tandem.

“While borrowing may provide better terms when interest rates are low, it’s still wise to be cautious. In contrast, some areas that could offer lower rates of return when interest rates go down include savings accounts, deposits, bonds, and money market accounts,” added Sharif.

“When choosing to borrow now or early 2025, choose your interest rates based on the loan’s term. If it’s a smaller amount, factor in no immediate rate cuts, so a fixed rate might be better. If you’re comfortable with risk and expect more reductions than currently forecasted, a variable rate could save you money.”

However, realistically, financial planners often reiterate that for most people, if you have an established savings plan and financial goals, a lower interest rate will most likely not be a significant reason to materially change your saving strategy.

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Bitcoin (BTC) hit an all-time high or $106,488.25 at 12:40am UTC, after rising straight for 25 minutes, before pulling back to $104,063.03 as of 7.13am UTC on Monday.
“This announcement has sparked significant excitement in the cryptocurrency market, reinforcing Bitcoin’s perception as a strategic asset and opening new discussions about its role in the global economy,” remarked Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com.

Favourable climate
While the market buzz is palpable, Di Giacomo cautioned that this historic price surge benefits from a politically favourable climate for cryptocurrencies.
Since Trump’s election, Bitcoin has risen more than 50 per cent, propelled by his own pro-crypto narrative and the election of numerous blockchain-friendly candidates advocating for innovation and leadership in blockchain technologies.
“In this context, Trump’s proposal for a strategic Bitcoin reserve is seen as a step toward institutionalising cryptocurrencies,” Di Giacomo added.

In September, when Bitcoin was hovering around $60,000, BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink (whose company manages $13 trillion in assets), admitted he was “wrong” about Bitcoin.

“As you know, I was a skeptic. I was a proud skeptic (of cryptos in general),” he told CNBC. Now Fink has changed his tune: “I studied it, and learned about it. And then said: ‘OK, my opinion five years ago was wrong’. Here’s my opinion today: believe Bitcoin is a legitimate financial asset.”

Factors behind Bitcoin’s spike
Bitcoin’s rally has been driven by multiple factors. Among the most notable is its growing institutional adoption.

For example, the inclusion of MicroStrategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, in the Nasdaq-100 index underscores its increasing legitimacy.
This development positions Bitcoin as a strong competitor to traditional assets, elevating its reputation as a credible investment choice.

Global response
Globally, responses to Bitcoin’s rise are varied.

Vladimir Putin has endorsed cryptocurrencies as viable alternatives to the US dollar, while Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell remains skeptical, questioning Bitcoin’s value as a reliable store of value due to its notorious volatility.

Bitcoin reserve
Trump’s strategic Bitcoin reserve proposal is also being viewed as part of a broader geopolitical strategy, signaling US intent to challenge nations like China, which has advanced significantly with its state-backed digital yuan.
In this emerging “digital supremacy” race, Bitcoin could become a pivotal asset in the US’s economic and technological strategy.
Challenges, opportunities
Despite its record-breaking price, Bitcoin’s future faces hurdles. Issues like regulatory frameworks, scalability, and market stability will play a decisive role in determining whether Bitcoin sustains its upward trajectory.

Yet, the new high of $106,000 demonstrates the cryptocurrency’s growing importance in global finance and affirms its evolution from a speculative asset to a strategic financial tool.

Shift in perception
Bitcoin’s recent milestone signals more than market enthusiasm; it marks a shift in global perceptions of digital assets, said Di Giacomo.
Trump’s proposal, coupled with growing institutional support, highlights the expanding strategic role of cryptocurrencies.

However, the path ahead is fraught with challenges, particularly concerning volatility and regulation.

Still, the narrative of Bitcoin as a geopolitical and economic instrument is gaining momentum, heralding a new era for the global financial system.

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The largest digital asset rose more than 3 per cent to a record high of $97,659 as of 12:57 p.m. Thursday in Singapore. The crypto market as a whole added to gains of approximately $900 billion since Trump’s election victory on Nov. 5.

Trump’s transition team has begun to hold discussions over whether to create a White House post dedicated to digital-asset policy. The industry is pitching for the position – which would be the first of its kind in the US – to have a direct line to the president-elect, who is now one of crypto’s biggest cheerleaders.

The talks are the latest US boost for digital-asset market sentiment, alongside Bitcoin accumulator MicroStrategy Inc.’s plans to accelerate purchases of the token and the debut of options on the nation’s Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
Speculators are increasingly focused on when rather than if Bitcoin will make a further leap to $100,000. Advocates of its claimed role as a modern-day store of value cherish the six-figure level as a symbolic rebuttal of skeptics who see little utility in crypto and decry its links to money laundering and crime.

“Buyers are strangling the sellers,” said IG Australia Pty Market Analyst Tony Sycamore. “While I’m not sure it’s all going to be smooth sailing as it edges closer to the $100,000 mark, the demand appears to be insatiable.”

Sycamore also flagged speculation that “a big seller” has been disposing of tokens in the low $90,000s, taking advantage of the strong market.

In a recent post on X, billionaire Michael Novogratz, founder of Galaxy Digital LP, highlighted a Bitcoin “sell wall” of more than $10 billion, while adding that a large amount of the token was also bought in the past six days.

MicroStrategy, the largest publicly traded corporate holder of Bitcoin, on Wednesday announced an almost 50 per cent increase in planned sales of convertible senior notes, to $2.6 billion, to fund purchases of the token.

The once obscure software maker now bills itself as a Bitcoin treasury company and has a roughly $31 billion stockpile of the digital asset.
Trump has vowed to create a supportive US crypto regulatory framework and set up a strategic Bitcoin stockpile. The timeline for implementation of his promises and the feasibility of the Bitcoin reserve remain uncertain. The president-elect used to be a crypto skeptic but changed tack after digital-asset firms spent heavily during election campaigning to promote their interests.

The current bout of optimism in crypto has dulled memories of a market rout in 2022 that exposed fraud and other risky practices and led to the collapse of platforms including Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange. The turmoil precipitated a flurry of enforcement actions by the US Securities & Exchange Commission, a clampdown the industry expects will peter out under Trump.

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The steep losses in the Adani group’s key firm was matched by heavy selling in its other key businesses, with Adani Power losing 11 per cent and Adani Energy Solutions tanking 20 per cent.

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With high-value prizes, exclusive benefits for cardholders, and significant discounts on the latest gadgets, the anniversary sales, running until November 24, is set to be one of the most anticipated shopping events of the season. What’s more, shoppers who spend Dh2,000 and above can walk away with a guaranteed gift such as a voucher, discount or a prize.
Prizes worth Dh250,000
As part of the celebrations that mark Jumbo Electronics’ 50 Years of Trust That Transforms, customers stand a chance to win a stellar range of prizes worth Dh250,000. If you are lucky, you can get your hands on highly sought-after tech products such as 85” Samsung TVs, Lenovo gaming laptops, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Sony noise-cancelling earbuds, and Huawei smartwatches.
Extra savings
Discount vouchers valued at Dh100, Dh200 and Dh300 are also up for grabs, providing extra savings across an extensive range of products. These can be redeemed on purchases of Dh1,000 and above, Dh2,000 and above, and Dh3,000 and above, respectively, ensuring significant savings across a wide range of products.

Exclusive discounts
Shoppers will also enjoy exclusive discounts like flat Dh200 on a minimum purchase of Dh2,000 on HSBC cards, 10 per cent discounts up to Dh200 on minimum purchase of Dh1,000 on Emirates Islamic Bank or Sharjah Islamic Bank cards, as well as additional savings for Esaad and Fazaa cardholders. Terms and conditions apply on the offers and discounts.

Adding another layer of value for customers during this anniversary sales, members of Majid Al Futtaim’s SHARE programme will receive five times the points on all purchases.

Celebrating customer loyalty
“Our 50th anniversary is a tribute to our customers who have supported us through the years and been at the heart of our journey,” said Vikas Chadha, CEO of Jumbo Electronics. “We’ve crafted this sale with unbeatable offers and prizes to celebrate their loyalty and make this milestone truly memorable. From the latest tech to exclusive deals, we’re excited to continue bringing the best to our community and look forward to many more years of excellence.”
The anniversary offers are available both online at Jumbo.ae and onsite across all the 17 Jumbo stores in the UAE. Anniversary celebrations include roadshows in key malls for loyal customers, where Jumbo will reward them, making this milestone truly unforgettable.

“Jumbo invites all customers to be a part of the festivities at the Mall of the Emirates from November 22-24 that visitors can participate in and share their love and stories of loyalty with Jumbo,” added Chadha.

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary chance to win fantastic prizes and enjoy exclusive discounts as Jumbo marks five decades of reliability, innovation, and customer trust in the UAE.

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Korea’s biggest company will repurchase the stock in stages over the coming 12 months, it said in a regulatory filing Friday. As a first step, it will buy back about 3 trillion won of paper starting Monday and up till February 2025, all of which it will cancel. The board will deliberate how best to effect the remaining 7 trillion won of buybacks.

The move coincides with investors’ growing concern about the firm’s memory chip business, which is struggling to keep pace with SK Hynix Inc. Samsung’s smaller rival has become the dominant supplier of high-bandwidth memory to Nvidia Corp., which uses the cutting-edge chips in its popular AI accelerators.
That’s fueled fears that Samsung – long the dominant force in global memory semiconductors – is missing out on the artificial intelligence boom. Investors are also trying to gauge its vulnerability to Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policy, given its exposure to China.
Samsung’s shares rose as much as 8.6 per cent Friday before the buyback announcement, though it remains down 32 per cent on the year. The world’s largest maker of smartphones is also grappling with a consumer electronics slump globally.

Its stock is trading at a discount of more than 10 per cent to the consensus estimate for its one-year forward accounting book value, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.In October, Samsung declared progress in qualifying and supplying its most advanced AI memory chips to Nvidia. The Korean company now expects to sell its most advanced HBM3E memory chips in the fourth quarter, Jaejune Kim, executive vice president of Samsung’s memory business, said on an earnings call at the time.
Still, some investors remain cautious about the outlook.

“A lower valuation is justified given trade risks around Korea and also the catch-up in HBM, which will take time, and a weak memory environment,” said Sat Duhra, a fund manager at Janus Henderson Group, referring to high bandwidth memory. “There are better tech stocks to own here “- most of them are in Taiwan.”

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The largest token has jumped about 32 per cent since the US election on Nov. 5, hitting an all-time high of $89,599 on Tuesday. The original cryptocurrency changed hands at $88,450 as of 5.45 am in London.

Trump has vowed friendlier crypto rules and his Republican Party is tightening its grip on Congress, boosting his odds of pushing through his agenda. Trump’s other pledges include setting up a strategic Bitcoin stockpile and fostering domestic mining of the token to make the US the crypto capital of the planet.
His stance is a sharp break from a Securities & Exchange Commission crackdown on the divisive industry under President Joe Biden. The change of tone has energized speculative buying of large and small tokens alike, raising the value of digital assets overall to about $3.1 trillion, CoinGecko data show.
‘Red-hot’ play
Bitcoin is in “beast mode,” Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group, wrote in a note. “The question for traders not already set is whether there is still room to chase this red-hot play or wait for a slight retracement and for some of the heat to come out of the impulsive trend.”

Investors are lining up bets in the options market that Bitcoin will pass $100,000 as soon as the end of the year, according to data from the Deribit exchange. Open interest – or outstanding contracts – for CME Group Inc. futures for Bitcoin and second-ranked Ether scaled records on Monday, a sign of growing engagement by US institutional investors.

Meanwhile, software firm MicroStrategy Inc. – the largest publicly-traded corporate holder of Bitcoin outside the exchange-traded fund sector – bought about 27,200 Bitcoin for some $2 billion between Oct. 31 and Nov. 10.

Traders for now are paying little heed to questions such as how quickly Trump will implement his agenda or whether a strategic stockpile is a realistic step. The febrile mood is illustrated by a recent doubling in the price of Dogecoin, a meme-crowd favorite promoted by Trump supporter Elon Musk.

Stretched rally
Bitcoin is up roughly 110 per cent in 2024, helped by robust demand for dedicated US ETFs and interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The token’s rise exceeds the returns from the likes of global stocks and gold. Turnover in BlackRock Inc.’s $39 billion iShares Bitcoin Trust reached an all-time high on Monday.

Fairlead Strategies LLC technical analyst Katie Stockton in her latest research note said “it would be natural to see a period of digestion after such a steep run-up” in Bitcoin, recommending a “short-term neutral bias.”
Digital-asset companies spent heavily during the US election campaign to boost candidates viewed as favorable to their interests. Against that backdrop, Trump did an about-face, becoming a supporter of an industry he once labeled a scam.

His backing turned Bitcoin into one of a range of so-called Trump trades. Others include US stocks and the dollar, both of which have also been advancing given Trump’s focus on domestic economic growth, tax cuts and protectionist tariffs.

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The company filed with regulators on Tuesday to sell any combination of bonds and shares, known as a shelf registration. Boeing is looking to shore up its balance sheet and boost access to cash, as it tries to avoid getting cut to junk status by bond graders and facing much higher borrowing costs.

“This universal shelf registration provides flexibility for the company to seek a variety of capital options as needed to support the company’s balance sheet over a three year period,” Boeing said in a statement.

The company said that it has a separate new credit agreement in place for $10 billion, giving it “additional short term access to liquidity as we navigate through a challenging environment.”
The added firepower will help Boeing improve its bargaining position with striking workers, who have halted production at key Seattle-area facilities for weeks. Union members are seeking higher wages and a reinstatement of pensions, and talks broke down last week again as both sides dug in on their demands.

The company is also working through quality issues on its top-selling 737 Max jets, under the supervision of regulators who have capped production. The long-delayed 777X program was pushed back further last week as well, to 2026.

Bloomberg reported this month that Boeing was considering a capital increase of at least $10 billion, citing people familiar with the discussions. Should Boeing proceed, a sale of that magnitude would stand to be the biggest by a public company since Saudi Arabian Oil Co.’s $12.3 billion sale in June.
“The strike is still going on with no end in sight, so it could definitely be downgraded,” said CreditSights analyst Matt Woodruff said of Boeing’s credit rating. “This buys them a little bit of time.”

Boeing shares rose less than 1% at 10:48 am in New York, as investors weighed the impact of potential dilution along with a stronger balance sheet. The stock has lost 43% in value this year, the second-worst performance among the members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Credit facility
The company has 120 days to draw on the new credit, and any outstanding loans mature within 364 days of the agreement, according to a filing. Boeing hasn’t drawn on the new facility or its existing revolving line, it said. If the planemaker were to tap the new facility, and then raise capital publicly or sell assets, it has to pay back the credit facility immediately.

The shelf registration gives Boeing a number of options for raising money, including selling any combination of common shares, preferred shares, senior bonds and subordinated bonds, among other instruments.

The manufacturer is working to stave off potential ratings downgrades from Moody’s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, which have both said within the last five weeks that they might cut Boeing’s credit grades to junk status, steps that would boost the company’s interest costs in short order and make Boeing a less attractive investment for some funds.

Boeing revealed late last week that it has only a small buffer on top of the $10 billion of cash and short-term securities that it needs to avoid slipping to junk status. The strike by members of a machinist union in the Pacific Northwest, a crucial hub of Boeing aircraft production, is costing the company more than $1 billion a month even after cost-saving moves, according to an estimate from S&P last week.

The strike is just one of a series of mishaps for a company that has been suffering all year. In January, a freak accident blew a door-size hole into the fuselage of an airborne 737 Max, forcing the company to slow production to fix problems with its manufacturing process. The stock is heading for its worst annual performance since the 2008 financial crisis, and Boeing said last week that it plans to cut 10% of its workforce, equivalent to about 17,000 people.

Rating review
While Boeing finds itself in a protracted crisis, the company still has longer-term prospects. It has a backlog of 5,490 aircraft, representing about half a trillion dollars worth of revenue. That may give investors confidence that cash will flow again once the company gets production back in shape.

And airlines and leasing firms have few alternatives if they want to buy large commercial jetliners: Boeing is part of a global duopoly with Airbus SE.

Obtaining the loan shows that banks are still willing to lend to Boeing. But if the company were to draw on the loan, it would add debt to its balance sheet, which it’s trying to avoid.

There is some precedent for Boeing’s new credit agreement. In early 2020, during the early part of the pandemic, the company entered into a $13 billion credit agreement, in the form of a delayed-dra

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The partnership aims to unlock unparalleled opportunities for investors in the UAE and Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Brennan Sim, Head of Global Sales at EB-5 United, stated, “By joining forces with 12 Star Capital, we can offer a diverse portfolio of EB-5 projects with strong growth potential that meet all program requirements. Our goal is to provide investors with the best opportunities to achieve their financial and residency goals.”

Stuart Ferguson, Director of 12 Star Capital, added, “This tactical partnership combines the expertise of both entities to unlock new investment avenues and create a synergy greater than the sum of its parts. Our offerings empower families to secure wealth for generations and carve a new direction for their future.”

With over a century of combined experience, EB-5 United and 12 Star Capital stand at the forefront of investment innovation. EB-5 United, a leader in the EB-5 landscape, has successfully raised over $950 million for various projects, consistently delivering strong returns while meeting program requirements. Together, both firms offer deep industry expertise, strategic foresight, and a commitment to maximizing investor returns while providing seamless pathways to US residency.
The EB-5 program offers substantial advantages. Investors and their immediate family members receive non-restrictive Green Cards, allowing them to live, work, study, or do business anywhere in the US. After five years, they can apply for US citizenship. Children gain access to over 4,000 US higher education institutions, including Ivy League universities, while families benefit from top-tier healthcare and visa-free travel to 160 countries.

Investors can choose from several prestigious projects, including: One&Only Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, Montana. A six-star luxury resort within the Moonlight Basin community, offering 123 accommodation options, including hotel rooms, cabins, and private residences. It features a world-class spa, ski lodge, and high-speed gondola, with proximity to the exclusive Yellowstone Club.

The Lakefront Estates & Villas, Okeechobee, Florida: A master-planned community with 1,000 single-family lots, 300 rental units, and 780,000 sq ft of commercial space, designed to foster a vibrant lifestyle through multiple amenities.
One of the benefits of investing in the Moonlight Basin project is that it qualifies under the rural EB-5 visa category, offering expedited processing for faster permanent residency. To qualify, investors must commit $800,000.

To further support this partnership, EB-5 United and 12 Star Capital will conduct a joint roadshow across Dubai (UAE), Lagos (Nigeria), and Nairobi (Kenya) in October and November. These events will provide potential investors with personal consultations and insight into curated projects supported by industry-leading professionals.

For more information about EB-5 projects or to schedule a personal consultation during the roadshow, visit: https://12starcapital.com/eb5-road-show.

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The impact of ‘rich valuations’ can be seen in the grey market premium (GMP) of Hyundai Motor India, which has plunged sharply to Rs 111 per share, suggesting mild gains of about 6 per cent to the investors. However, the premium in the unofficial market stood at Rs 270 apiece a couple of days ago, while it was somewhere around Rs 400 in the beginning of the month.
Brokerage firms, market analysts and experts continue to remain divided on the Hyundai Motor IPO. Some believe that the Chennai-based auto maker deserves command a premium considering its current market share, while others believe that the Indian entity is richly priced considering its little contribution to the global peer.

Hyundai Motor India might not be a great deal for Indian investors, Aequitas Investments said in a recent note. “Despite contributing only 6.5 per cent of Hyundai’s global revenues and 8 per cent of its profitability, Hyundai’s India unit will be valued at 42 per cent of the South Korean parent’s market capitalisation on listing,” it said.

Both Indian and global car makers have been cutting down their guidance for the current year. Aequitas Investments said that car sales were down in September for the third straight month. Maruti Suzuki India commanded a PE of 27 times. Only Ford Motors in the global peer commanded a double digit PE of 11 times, it suggested.

On the contrary, Nomura India differs. Hyundai Motor India deserves a valuation premium vis-a-vis Maruti Suzuki India, said the global brokerage firm in its note in September, considering the latter’s ongoing market share decline. “As the second-largest automaker in India, Hyundai Motor India’s market share has been stable at 15-17 per cent since 2008,” Nomura said.

Other market participants also have a mixed view on the Hyundai Motor IPO and more clarity shall emerge after the company’s analyst meet later on Wednesday. Kranthi Bathini, Director of Equity Strategy at WealthMills Securities said that Hyundai Motor India’s IPO is aggressively priced, considering the current market sentiments.
“However, if an investor looks at the 25 years journey of the company, it has been able to stand out despite all challenges, where a number of companies have entered the Indian market and lost steam. Hyundai has been consistent in the Indian market and has a strong offering for India’s middle-and-upper middle class,” he added.

On the other hand, highlighting more positives, Master Capital Services noted that the business’s stated RoNW for FY23 was 23.48 per cent, the highest among its peers. This indicates that the company is making good use of the money provided by shareholders to create profits, it said.

“The PV industry saw strong growth and Hyundai is well positioned to take advantage of this growth due to their diverse offerings within the industry as compared to its peers, highlighting diverse market strengths,” Master Capital added. “Hyundai’s IPO offers potential value growth by expanding investment prospects in the underdeveloped Indian auto market.”

Market experts believe that the ongoing robust sentiments for primary markets, renowned brand name of Hyundai Motors and upcoming festive season may attract investors to Hyundai Motor India IPO. However, they believe that such a mega issue may pump-out liquidity from the secondary market, where we may expect some volatility.

The market is abuzz with excitement as Hyundai remains one of the strongest players in the Indian car market, consistently increasing its market share, said Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart. “Strong demand is expected for the IPO, with robust liquidity in the market. However, it may lead to a potential drying up of liquidity in the secondary market, he said.

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The Industries Integrated International Trade-Flow System, a pioneering private sector initiative in the UAE for Global Economic Empowerment, supporting projects and trade.

International Trade Flow System to bolster non-oil sector diversification for SMEs, corporates and MNCs.

To launch Global Multi-Asset Exchange (Stocks, Commodities, and Currency) project, a new model focusing on increasing trade.

ABU DHABI:

IBMC, the UAE-based financial services consultancy and eMarket Place Trade Flow Service Providers, has launched an innovative Integrated International Trade-Flow System, an innovative platform connecting 100+ countries and 30+ sectors to empower economies, industries and corporates supporting their projects and trades.

The project was launched as part of IBMC Vision 2025 at a ceremony held at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of ministers, diplomats, senior representatives of MNCs, large corporate entities, and invited guests from industries.

The system will enable Gulf countries to boost growth in the non-oil sector and empower SMEs, large and medium-sized corporates and MNCs to explore international markets using the best-in-class industry practices.  A streamlined five-step compliance procedure has also been  prescribed to enhance international trust for attracting global partners and investors.

The Industries Integrated International Trade-Flow System has over 15 corporations empaneled from more than 15 industry sectors.

As part of its Vision 2025, IBMC will also launch a global multi-assets exchange (stocks, commodities and currency), a unique model from the UAE, designed to increase exports, imports and re-exports by utilizing highly compliant stock and commodity exchange platform, enabling dual listing and commodity listing.

The Chief Guest, H.E. Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General of the Federal Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce and Industry officially inaugurated IBMC’S Industries International Trade-Flow System in the presence of   H.E. Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Hamed, Group Chairman of IBMC International; Mr. Sajith Kumar P.K., Group CEO & Managing Director of IBMC; and H.E. Hon. Henry Jons Amuli MP, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Papua New Guinea, and diplomats and special guests.

Papua New Guinea was the first country to launch into the Industries Integrated International Trade-Flow System from the gold industry.

HummingbirdEV USA was the first corporation from the EV Industry, followed by SUSTAINOLOGY UAE for Carbon Credit.

The Industries Integrated International Trade-Flow System will prepare corporates in the Gulf countries to understand international norms and procedures for using the upcoming Exchange, thus enhancing their international business capabilities.

“For the past five years, IBMC has continuously worked towards supporting businesses of all classes, from startups to MNCs and listed companies, through various corporate awareness and empowerment programs and systems. This aligns with the changing economic scenario in the Gulf economies, focusing on non-oil growth in the post-Covid pandemic times to expand their markets internationally,” said Mr. Sajith Kumar, Group CEO & MD, the Strategist, Investment Manager & International Compliance Officer.

“We are proud to introduce yet another innovative system to the global economies, industries, and corporates to empower them in the global open markets,” said HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Hamed, Group Chairman, industrialist, and influential UAE National in the UAE’s private sector.

Another initiative is the creation of sectoral companies. This initiative supports industries by adhering to the best industry practices and international standards, providing additional assistance to economies in empowering their industries with updated practices and policies.

HE Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General of UAE Chambers and Chairman of ICC UAE, expressed his support for the initiative.

“Having successfully concluded five years of visionary planning, IBMC is now entering the implementation phase by launching the Industries Integrated International Trade-Flow System, a pioneering system from the private sector in the UAE,” said Mr. Sajith Kumar.

The projects under the IBMC Vision have been started jointly under the leaderships of HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Hamed, and Mr. Sajith Kumar P.K. The projects have been structured and implemented with a highly professional international team under the leadership of Mr. Sajith Kumar.

The IBMC Vision 2022 Project Structuring Phase, a five-year endeavor, commenced in 2017 and culminated successfully in December 2022. This project was dedicated to bolstering the diversification of the non-oil sector in the Gulf countries, primarily through the UAE. Its overarching aim was to extend significant opportunities from the Gulf region to the global business community, including traders and investors. IBMC adopted a strategic and innovative approach to empower a wide spectrum of businesses, ranging from startups and SMEs to multinational corporations. It sought to provide diverse opportunities for business, trade, and investment diversification. The project was propelled by a series of major and creative steps, including initiatives focused on industry awareness, corporate empowerment, and economic enablement.

IBMC’s Trade Flow emerged as a prominent portal that facilitated connections within the global business class during EXPO 2020 through the pavilions of respective countries. During EXPO 2020, IBMC actively supported participating countries in hosting economic forums, industry events, and industry roundtable discussions, aiming to attract business class, traders, and investors to their respective nations.

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MUMBAI:

Benchmark indices were trading higher in the afternoon session with Nifty above 18400.The Sensex was up 369.32 points or 0.60 per cent at 62,397.22, and the Nifty was up 99.60 points or 0.54 per cent at 18,414.40. About 1,799 shares advanced, 1,422 shares declined, and 155 shares were unchanged.

Nifty Bank index rose 0.5% led by Bandhan Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDFC First Bank.

Asian stocks started cautiously on Monday as investors braced for a China policy rate decision and economic data this week, while awaiting a host of U.S. Federal Reserve officials to speak to vindicate market pricing of rate cuts this year.

Early action was sluggish following a report on Friday showed U.S. consumer sentiment slumped to a six-month low in May and long-term inflation expectations jumped to the highest since 2011, boosting the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields.

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With such an ingenious reference guide, Indians in the UAE will get great acclamation for their initiatives. Data entry forms are provided .Database collected is totally free of cost. With 25 years of experience behind us, unlike magazines and newspapers, this reference guide will be an exclusive information provider with a shelf-life of a lifetime.

For further details please contact :

Sajith Kumar PK (Chief Coordinator)
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Nirmala (Executive Editor)
Mobile no. – +971 542744942

Official Mail id – info@globalindians.directory
Chief Editor & Publisher P.Sukumaran & Chief Advisor Adv.Binoy Sasi have informed.

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MUMBAI: Sensex and Nifty declined on Tuesday due to profit booking in heavyweights like HDFC twins. After a sharp rally on Monday, Sensex ended 435 points lower at 60,176.50, while Nifty lost over 0.5% to end below the 18,000 mark. The markets started the day on a positive note but slipped into red soon after opening in volatile trade.

While banks and financials were the biggest laggards among sectors, auto and FMCG were the outperformers.

HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank that had led the stock market’s rally on Monday, declined on profit booking and were the biggest laggards on the indices. NTPC, Power Grid and Adani were among the major gainers in trade on Tuesday.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were the outperformers, ending with stellar gains of over 1.3% each.

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The Sensex was down 283 points or 0.49% at 57705.61, and the Nifty was down 78.2 points or 0.45% at 17237.3. Of the 3,476 stocks traded on the BSE, there were 1,834 declines; 1,508 advances and 134 stocks were unchanged.

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The rebalancing of FTSE paved the way for the market to recover. Following the rebalancing, the Indian stock market is expected to receive between $ 800 million and $ 900 million.

At the same time, the market ended the week with a general loss. The Sensex and Nifty lost two per cent each this week.

The Nifty FMCG index was up 2.4 per cent and the metal index was up 2.1 per cent today. The public sector bank index rose 1.5 per cent and the pharma index 1.3 per cent.

The Nifty Midcap Index was up 1.2 per cent and the Smallcap Index was up 0.7 per cent. 1011 shares of the Nifty gained while 868 shares lost.

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