Gold prices back in limelight after mild correction

Gold prices back in limelight after mild correction

Spot gold tested a new lifetime high last week due to a combination of factors that have converged to propel the demand for the yellow metal. Multiple catalysts like US rate cut speculation, China’s economic stimulus, and renewed geopolitical tensions attributed to the rise in prices. Prices on the London spot market surged near to … Read more

Robust govt capex, improvement in business confidence to push growth: Official

Robust govt capex, improvement in business confidence to push growth: Official

Robust capital expenditure by the government and improvement in business confidence will push the country’s economic growth in 2024-25, an official said on Tuesday. Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Rural Development Kuntal Sensarma said that the focus areas in 2024-25 should be infrastructure growth, inclusive development and harnessing demographic dividend, among others. “The … Read more

IMF head projects slightly stronger global growth in 2024 and warns of potential long-term pitfalls

IMF head projects slightly stronger global growth in 2024 and warns of potential long-term pitfalls

Washington: Strong economic activity in the United States and emerging markets is projected to help drive global growth by about 3% this year, the International Monetary Fund’s chief said Thursday, below the annual historic average and a warning sign about potential lackluster performances through the 2020s. “Without a course correction, we are indeed heading for … Read more

Global trade growth to rebound this year; geopolitical tensions pose downside risks: WTO forecast

Global trade growth to rebound this year; geopolitical tensions pose downside risks: WTO forecast

New Delhi: The global trade growth is expected to pick up gradually this year after a contraction in 2023 but regional conflicts, geopolitical tensions and economic policy uncertainty pose substantial downside risks, according to a WTO forecast released on Wednesday. The World Trade Organisation (WTO), however, lowered the trade growth projection for 2024 to 2.6 … Read more

Poor nations are writing a new handbook for getting rich

Poor nations are writing a new handbook for getting rich

For more than half a century, the handbook for how developing countries can grow rich hasn’t changed much: Move subsistence farmers into manufacturing jobs, and then sell what they produce to the rest of the world. The recipe — customized in varying ways by Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and China — has produced … Read more

Western powers tangle over Russian assets at G20 finance meeting

Western powers tangle over Russian assets at G20 finance meeting

Western powers butted heads over how to handle frozen Russian assets on Wednesday as G20 finance ministers kicked off a discussion of challenges for the global economy, trying to set aside deep geopolitical divisions. Brazilian officials hosting the two-day meeting in Sao Paulo sought to focus talks on economic cooperation to tackle issues such as … Read more

Decoding the impact of Israel-Hamas war on global and Indian economy

Decoding the impact of Israel-Hamas war on global and Indian economy

The impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the world economy may take time to become apparent but it would worsen if it spread to the Middle East, notably Iran, a major oil producer and Hamas sponsor. The global economy would be affected by rising oil prices near $90. Further escalation of the conflict towards other … Read more

India is in a good place but global economy is getting weaker, riskier: ​World Bank ​chief economist ​Indermit Gill

India is in a good place but global economy is getting weaker, riskier: ​World Bank ​chief economist ​Indermit Gill

There is now a consensus that interest rates are going to be higher for longer, but there is less agreement about how much higher and how much longer, said Indermit Gill, chief economist, World Bank. In an interview with Deepshikha Sikarwar on the side lines of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in … Read more

China’s factories storm ahead, output growth returns to euro zone

China’s factories storm ahead, output growth returns to euro zone

China‘s factory sector grew in February at the fastest pace in more than a decade, a standout in Asia where manufacturing growth stalled elsewhere, while in the euro zone output expanded for the first time since May, surveys showed on Wednesday. Slowing global demand coupled with high inflation and interest rates have hit manufacturers, but … Read more

From condoms to cosmetics, China sales grow as lockdowns end

From condoms to cosmetics, China sales grow as lockdowns end

The world’s top consumer and luxury goods companies have seen sales of everything from cosmetics to condoms grow in China since Beijing ended strict COVID-19 curbs, another sign that the world’s No. 2 economy is reviving after the pandemic. Upbeat comments on Wednesday from Reckitt Benckiser, Nivea-maker Beiersdorf, Moncler and Puma came after data showing … Read more