By K Raveendran As we enter 2025, the accelerating proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape the global landscape in ways akin to the transformational impact the internet had in the late 20th century. Within the first few days of the year, AI-driven technology stocks have seen substantial surges, with shares of major […]
By K. Raveendran The government has notified draft rules relating to the digital privacy protection law. Undoubtedly, this underscores a critical moment in the ongoing evolution of privacy legislation. The law, ostensibly designed to safeguard citizens, particularly children, from the darker corners of the digital realm, also raises profound concerns about the potential for governmental […]
By K Raveendran The year 2024 marked a historic period for gold, perhaps fit to be called the ‘Year of Gold’ due to the yellow metal’s remarkable performance across various metrics. Total demand for God surpassed an unprecedented US $100 billion, underpinned by robust investment activity and a supportive macroeconomic backdrop. This astounding demand surge […]
By K Raveendran While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘friend’, the US President-elect Donald J Trump, is set to move into White House, once again, it need not be particularly beneficial for India. If anything, Trump can be said to be “anti-India” even while remaining “pro-Modi”. The camaraderie contrasts starkly with the president-elect’s anti-India economic stance, […]
By K Raveendran OPEC+ has recalibrated its production strategy, extending voluntary output adjustments to stabilize oil markets in the face of uncertain global demand and geopolitical pressures. The alliance’s decision to prolong cuts until the first quarter of 2025 aims to counterbalance potential oversupply and demand fluctuations, particularly linked to Donald Trump’s policies and China’s […]
By K Raveendran The defence mounted by the Adani Group, both by its leadership and by the Indian government, in the face of damning allegations of corruption and irregularities levelled by U.S. authorities, raises serious questions about the interplay between corporate interests and political power in India. While the U.S. investigation exposes what it claims […]
By K Raveendran The US chargesheet against the Adani group and the arrest warrant issued against Gautam Adani are the strongest indictment yet of the crony capitalism that has been playing out on the sides under the Narendra Modi government. The new developments shed light on the group’s rapid expansion, often facilitated by connections to […]
By K Raveendran Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure has had an eventful start with the Supreme Court delivering the landmark ‘bulldozer justice’ verdict that grabbed global headlines. That the verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Vishwanathan, of which the chief justice was not a part, is a […]
By K Raveendran Recent interventions by the Supreme Court into actions taken by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have underscored mounting concerns about systemic issues within the country’s chief market regulator. SEBI’s actions in several high-profile cases—particularly its record of imposing significant penalties and its alleged tendency to either delay or condone […]
By K Raveendran Trump divides people like nobody else does. The liberal Left all over the world are united in their assessment that there would be a presidential onslaught against whatever they stand for. It is not just people who detest Trumps return; even the elements are affected. Gold is particularly allergic to Trump, as […]
By K Raveendran The tenure of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who is set to succeed Justice D Y Chandrachud as the new Chief Justice of India, is too short to become a pivotal phase and as such promises more continuity than breaking new ground. At the same time, his nuanced perspectives and unwavering commitment to justice, […]
By K Raveendran With clear indications that Israel is sparing Iranian oil facilities from attack, the downward pressure on oil has further increased and there is renewed talk of oil settling down around the level of $50 to the barrel. Crude has already fallen to early 70s and the demand-supply equations have not been particularly […]
By K Raveendran The desperation shown by BJP members of the parliamentary accounts committee to shield SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch from criticism for her failure to appear before the panel shows how her acts of commission and omission were not just a reflection of certain deficit in personal integrity, but how a sinister plot […]
By K Raveendran Successive pronouncements by the Supreme Court have revealed a growing judicial sense against the potential for abuse in the draconian anti- money laundering laws. This has an important bearing on the pending petitions for the review of the apex courts verdict in the 2022 verdict by a three-member bench upholding all […]
By K Raveendran It was vintage Modi on Tuesday night all the way. The prime minister’s victory speech after the BJP success in Haryana sounded as if he had won a convincing national election. And he said everything he had apparently planned to say after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but could not due to […]
By K Raveendran The outcome of the much-anticipated SEBI board meeting on Monday showed beyond doubt that the board has become a captive in the hands of chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, who is facing serious allegations of misconduct. The toxic work culture and unprofessionalism that the SEBI employees have been complaining about have now engulfed […]
By K Raveendran SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch has revealed her mantra: regulatory humility. “Markets today are so complex; any arrogant regulator is doomed to fail,” she said addressing an event in Mumbai, held by the Association of Mutual Funds of India this week. Obviously, she has seen how a ‘friendly neighbourhood regulator’ is the […]
By K Raveendran SEBI would be a nice name for a new range of washing machines. The brand name is short, sweet and has good connect with its namesake market regulator, which has by far excelled in the act of cleaning. Additionally, the new range may not require a detergent, as the machine by itself […]
By K Raveendran The Supreme Court of India is finds itself at the threshold of a unique opportunity to create history when a bench headed by chief justice D Y Chandrachud takes up next month a clutch of petitions seeking a review of the 2022 verdict concerning the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Seldom […]
By K Raveendran Narendra Modi’s administration, since its rise to power, has been actively distancing itself from the tradition of naming state-sponsored initiatives after members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. This practice has long been a hallmark of the Congress era, but the trend of eliminating or renaming these projects took on a new momentum after […]
By K Raveendran Narendra Modi is not a friend of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud; nor is he a family member of the CJI. Had Modi fulfilled either of the conditions, his presence at the Ganesh Pooja organized by the Chief Justice would have been fine. Considering that the CJI is also a private person, […]
By K Raveendran India’s economic aspirations have long been anchored in the expansion of its manufacturing sector, a goal that has become increasingly critical as the country seeks to position itself as a global economic powerhouse. It is widely believed that the realisation of this goal would be impossible without Chinese investments, which however, come […]
By K Raveendran The allegations of misconduct and irregularities surrounding SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch’s tenure have cast a long shadow over the institution, shaking public confidence and raising questions about the integrity of India’s financial regulatory system. This development gains even more significance in the light of the Supreme Court’s 2018 observation on institutional […]
By K Raveendran The drop in crude oil prices below the $75 per barrel threshold has raised significant concerns within the oil market, particularly for the OPEC+ cartel, which has been striving to maintain prices near the desired $100 mark. The decline, influenced by a potential resolution of the Libyan political crisis and underlying economic […]
By K Raveendran The Supreme Court’s recent judgments granting bail to Delhi minister Manish Sisodia and others in the Delhi excise and similar cases mark a significant shift in how the judiciary approaches money laundering charges, particularly those pressed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The rulings not only highlight the evolving judicial perspective but also […]
By K Raveendran The squabble between Rahul Gandhi and Union minister Kiren Rijiju over the lack of representation of backward classes and tribals in beauty pageants has accorded a bit of glamour to the debate surrounding castes. Rahul’s remark, might seem trivial at first glance, but on closer scrutiny, it turns out to be a […]
By K Raveendran The Centre’s abrupt reversal on its proposal to permit lateral entry into senior government and public sector positions can be traced back to a complex interplay of political dynamics, strategic manoeuvring and to a large extent pragmatism. The change is widely attributed to the formidable pressure applied by Chirag Paswan’s Lok […]
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES FORCE CHANGE IN CUSTOMER BEHAVIOUR, DESIGN TRENDS K Raveendran Gold has touched $2,500 an ounce for the first time ever, marking a historic milestone in the precious metals market, a development with profound implications both globally and particularly for India, where gold holds significant cultural and economic importance. The unprecedented surge […]
By K Raveendran By suggesting that the alleged Hindenburg offensive against the Adani group is an attack against India, the ruling party is, though inadvertently, acknowledging the sway the group has on the Modi government. This assertion not only underscores the influence wielded by Adani but also serves to validate Rahul Gandhi’s persistent criticism that […]
K Raveendran It was clear to everyone that SEBI was stonewalling a proper investigation into the charges levelled by the Hindenburg report, except those who had other reasons to pretend otherwise. But there was no clarity as to why SEBI was doing so. Now that Hindenburg has disclosed SEBI chairperson’s and her husband’s investment in […]
