CATEGORIES

Markets slump over 1%

● Investors' wealth down ₹4.92 lakh cr

EPFO weighs higher equity investments

● Labour ministry panel to look at ways to raise exposure

Indian firms turn to euro, yen swaps to trim borrowing cost

INDIAN FIRMS ARE opting for cross-currency swaps to convert part of their debt into the euro or the Japanese yen in order to trim borrowing costs, said bankers.

IIT-Madras to offer fine arts, culture courses

IN A FIRST for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), IIT-Madras on Tuesday said it would offer two supernumerary seats in each undergraduate programme to students who have achieved excellence in fine arts and culture, starting from the upcoming academic session.

Not even 2% work-linked higher education courses yet: Report

EVEN AS ASSORTED government schemes are a national skill mission aiming to make India's workforce more employable, the latest TeamLease EdTech survey has revealed that barely 2% of the higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country are offering degrees that are work-linked.

The world's busiest airline routes in 2024 are largely in Asia

● Leisure continues to outshine corporate trips

Indian firms use euro, yen swaps

ECB president Christine Lagarde hinted at a bigger 50 basis point rate cut to buffer the euro zone economy

SME IPOs fetch rich returns in Dec

THE SME IPO market continues to see heightened interest and is delivering multibagger returns despite being under the lens of the markets regulator.

EPFO weighs higher equity investments

IN FY23, the interest rate was fixed at 8.15% and 8.10% in FY22.

KYC masking to go live on Jan 20

IN A MOVE that provides relief to financial institutions, the Central KYC Records Registry has extended the deadline for masking Know Your Customer (KYC) documents to January 20 next year.

Trudeau govt adrift after FM quits, Trump tariffs loom

The abrupt resignation of Canada's finance minister leaves the government adrift less than a month before the inauguration of a new US administration that could impose crippling sanctions on Canadian exports.

TikTok turns to top US court in last-ditch attempt to avert ban

TikTok made a last-ditch effort on Monday to continue operating in the United States, asking the Supreme Court to temporarily block a law intended to force ByteDance, its China-based parent company, to divest the short-video app by Jan. 19 or face a ban.

China plans record budget deficit of 4% of GDP in 2025

• New plan compares with an initial target of 3% of 2024 GDP

Markets slump over 1%

ALL MAJOR ASIAN markets ended in the red on Tuesday, a day ahead of the US Federal Reserve's meeting outcome.

Lanka bondholders sign off on $12.55-bn debt overhaul

SRI LANKA'S BONDHOLDERS SIGNED off on the government's proposal to restructure its $12.55 billion of international bonds, a key step in finalising the island nation's debt overhaul.

Broadcom's 'Nvidia moment' has arrived. Now it needs to deliver

after last week's earnings report is reminiscent of when Nvidia Corp. shares first started to take off back in 2023. The chipmaker now needs to prove it can follow through to become another giant of the artificial intelligence era.

Wang, Trump raise prospects of US-China working together

CHINA'S TOP DIPLOMAT said on Tuesday he hoped the incoming Trump administration would \"make the right choice\" and work with Beijing, hours after Donald Trump told reporters the Covid-19 pandemic had strained his relationship with \"friend\" Xi Jinping.

Ukraine kills Russian chemical weapons chief in Moscow blast

A top Russian general accused by Ukraine of being responsible for the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops was assassinated in Moscow by Ukraine's SBU intelligence service on Tuesday morning in the most high-profile killing of its kind.

Line of control

● When should a brand stop trying to jolt the audience?

Porsche billionaires are in a tight spot, again

PORSCHE AUTOMOBIL HOLDING SE sure knows how to do drama. Last week, the listed holding of the Porsche and Piech families warned it may have to book up to €22 billion ($23 billion) of impairments amid a decline in the market value of its 31.9% stake in Volkswagen AG and 12.5% economic interest in the Porsche AG automaker.

Emami versus HUL over 'Glow & Handsome'

In April this year, the Calcutta High Court restrained Hindustan Unilever (HUL) from using the 'Glow & Handsome' trademark for its men's fairness range following an application by Emami.

Wealth tax: A bad idea

More revenue is needed for health and education, but Piketty's recommendation is problematic

Transforming rural health systems

ADDRESSING THE RURAL-URBAN HEALTHCARE DIVIDE REQUIRES A SYSTEMS-FOCUSED APPROACH

The upkeep of urban infrastructure

Creative financial solutions, such as charging fees for high-emission vehicles, can help alleviate toll burdens for city natives while keeping urban infrastructure viable

Regulator introduces new asset class for high-risk users

MARKETS REGULATOR SEBI has notified norms for introducing a new asset class -- Specialised Investment Fund -- for high-risk profile investors along with liberalised mutual funds lite (MF Lite) framework for passively managed schemes.

Indian firms raise $16 billion via QIP

ROBUST RESPONSE

FPI instruments with derivatives as underlying assets barred

THE SECURITIES AND Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from issuing offshore derivative instruments (ODIs) with derivatives as underlying assets or using derivatives to hedge their ODIs in India in bid to curb regulatory arbitrage.

Sebi likely to relax AIF norms

● Participants asked to adopt accredited investors concept

Platform proposed for tracking unclaimed mutual fund folios

BRINGING BACK TO LIFE

RBI lifts curbs on two Edelweiss Group entities

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday lifted the restrictions imposed on Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company (EARCL) and ECL Finance, effective immediately, after the companies engaged with the regulator on remedial measures.