India Economics Update Rise in coal production belies long-term challenges A rise in domestic coal production this year has led some to suggest that the government could yet achieve its goal of ending its reliance on imports within the next three years. But the sector... 6th July 2017 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economic Outlook Cycles start to turn in the BRICs The growth outlook for major EMs is starting to diverge. While there are signs that a slowdown is now underway in China, cyclical rebounds lie ahead in India, Brazil and Russia. 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update GST likely to cause some near-term disruption The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was finally rolled out in India over the weekend, over a decade after its conception. There are bound to be some teething problems in the coming weeks and months, but... 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
India Data Response Manufacturing PMI (Jun.) June’s PMI reading suggests that India’s manufacturing sector weakened a touch last month, but remained in relatively good shape on the eve of the implementation of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST... 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian equities continue to rally Asian equity markets have continued to rally, with stock markets in Taiwan, Korea, India and Indonesia all recently hitting new record highs. 29th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Overhauling financial year would bring little economic benefit Shifting the start of India’s financial year from April to January, as the government appears to be considering, would align it with the norm in most other countries and therefore make life easier for... 29th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update State profligacy is undermining centre’s gains Discussions on the health of India’s public finances often focus exclusively on the national level, where relatively good progress has been made reining in the budget deficit in recent years. Less... 28th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack RBI wields new powers The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started to put to use its new powers to clean up the banking sector. Earlier this month it instructed several commercial banks to begin insolvency proceedings... 22nd June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Equities rise to fresh record highs The surge in Indian equities over the past few months has continued in June, with the benchmark Sensex stock index closing at a fresh all-time high on the 19th. The rally reflects in part a broader... 20th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Oil imports to remain in check India’s monthly trade deficit widened to its highest level in two and a half years in May, but we don’t think this is much of a concern. With imports of key commodities such as oil likely to stay in... 19th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update External vulnerabilities remain low There was a slight widening in India’s current account deficit in Q1, but the bigger picture is that the external shortfall remains small. In addition, FDI inflows remain strong. Given this, the... 16th June 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Focus Short-term and long-term determinants of India’s gold demand India is one of the world’s largest consumers of gold and relies solely on imports to meet domestic gold demand. This has, at times, resulted in a deepening of the country’s current account deficit... 14th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Data Response Wholesale Prices (May) The drop in headline Indian wholesale price inflation in May will increase the clamour for rate cuts. But stripping out the effect of volatile fuel and food prices, our measure of core WPI inflation... 14th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Loan waivers are setting a dangerous precedent The announcement over the weekend of a debt write-off for farmers in Maharashtra extends the precedent set in Uttar Pradesh in April. Other states may now follow, at a significant fiscal cost. 13th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Data Response Consumer Prices (May) & Industrial Production (Apr.) The sharp drop in Indian consumer price inflation in May is likely to raise further questions about the RBI’s reluctance to loosen policy. But we think the central bank’s unwillingness to cut rates is... 12th June 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Government pressure risks undermining RBI credibility The Indian government is treading on dangerous ground with calls for monetary easing and other moves that could put the independence of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at risk. A loss of credibility... 12th June 2017 · 1 min read