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Did you know that your high-speed <keyword id="6357247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet" source="Orion">internet</keyword> might be making you a bit, well… sluggish? According to new research, faster internet connections could actually be helping to drive up <keyword id="6364492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Obesity" source="Orion">obesity</keyword> rates in Australia. The study examined years of data from the Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, tracking the expansion of high-speed internet across the country from 2006 to 2019. The result? The faster the internet, the more likely people are to gain weight. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Fast internet changing daily habits</h3>According to Dr. Klaus Ackermann from Monash Business School, the connection between fast internet and weight gain has to do with “sedentary behavior.” He explains, “Access to high-speed internet connection decreases the likelihood of individuals meeting the minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the WHO. That is, individuals become more inactive and exhibit more sedentary behaviour.” Basically, with high-speed internet, we’re more likely to spend hours watching streaming shows or playing online games. And, as Dr. Ackermann says, “Sedentary behavior is induced by the need to stay connected online for longer hours, which leads to lower metabolic rates and contributes to obesity.” And that’s not all — the more we’re sitting around, the more we’re likely to snack. “This problem is elevated by the need to frequently consume snacks during computer usage, which increases the daily intake of calories that contribute to obesity,” Ackermann points out. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">A growing (and costly) problem</h3>Beyond individual health, Australia’s obesity crisis is also creating a big economic issue. Obesity cost the country $11.8 billion in 2018, and that number is projected to reach an astonishing $87.7 billion by 2032. According to the study, a mere 1% increase in National Broadband Network adoption is linked with a jump in <keyword id="20107050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Body-Mass-Index" source="keywords">Body Mass Index</keyword> (BMI) of 1.57 kg/m² and a 6.6% increase in the prevalence of obesity. In simple terms, fast internet is allowing people to live slower lives—lives that involve a lot more sitting and a lot less moving. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Breaking the cycle</h3>So, what’s the solution? Dr. Ackermann suggests that we might need <keyword id="21876118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-campaigns" source="keywords">public health campaigns</keyword> to remind people of the risks that come with endless screen time. “One avenue of suggestion could be creating awareness of the potential increase in <keyword id="23729054" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sedentary-behavior" source="keywords">sedentary behavior</keyword> with internet access; this could motivate people to take breaks between screen time to reduce sedentary behavior and engage in physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle,” he says. He adds that encouraging people to take breaks and do more physical activities might be key. “Such public health campaigns could encourage the need to physically engage in errands, if possible, as opposed to strictly accessing goods and services online,” Ackermann advises. High-speed internet may be part of modern life, but maybe it’s worth taking a step back now and then to get off the couch. As Dr. Ackermann puts it, “Public health campaigns that encourage short but vigorous physical activity… could be useful for individuals with busy lifestyles who may only have limited time.” The findings of this research have been published in Economics &amp; Human Biology.

The faster your internet, the more likely you are to be obese, a study has found

<keyword id="19894908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season" source="keywords">Festive season</keyword> in India is in full swing and kickstarted with the first day of <keyword id="20023931" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navratri" source="keywords">Navratri</keyword> on Thursday (October 3). The day marks the onset of a nine-day long festival which people celebrate in their own ways. The festival of Navratri will end with <keyword id="20211589" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dussehra" source="keywords">Dussehra</keyword> or Vijayadashami on Saturday, October 12 this year. This will be followed by various other festivals such as Karwa Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja, and Tulsi Vivah. Each year, when people are in festive mode, the demand for <keyword id="21040964" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-goods" source="keywords">Indian goods</keyword> reaches its peak and drives business. And this year, economic activities in the country are set to get an even bigger boost. The Confederation of All India Traders (<keyword id="20143308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAIT" source="keywords">CAIT</keyword>) is expecting a significant rise in <keyword id="20337020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-business" source="keywords">retail business</keyword> during the Navratri festival, projecting a 43% increase in sales over the next 10 days. A CNBC report says that according to CAIT, last year’s 10-day Navratri period saw a business of ₹35,000 crore. This year, the organisation expects an even bigger boost in <keyword id="19950652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-activity" source="keywords">economic activity</keyword> across India, with Delhi alone projected to contribute over ₹8,000 crore during the festive season. The festive period, which began with Ganesh Chaturthi and includes major celebrations like Diwali and Christmas, resulted in a cumulative business of ₹3.75 lakh crore last year, as per CAIT’s data. Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT’s Secretary General Emeritus and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, pointed out that there is a growing trend among consumers to prefer Indian-made products, especially traditional clothing like sarees, lehengas, and kurtas. Additionally, small vendors selling flowers, lamps, incense sticks, and other festive decorations are also expected to see a boost in demand during this period.

Navratri 2024: Delhi might witness business of ₹8,000 crores this festive season, predicts CAIT

India’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), <keyword id="20690607" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="V-Anantha-Nageswaran" source="keywords">V Anantha Nageswaran</keyword>, remains optimistic about the nation’s economic prospects despite a slower-than-expected <keyword id="19972825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GDP-growth" source="keywords">GDP growth</keyword> in the second quarter of FY2024-25. Speaking at the Bharat @100 Summit hosted by Assocham, he said that the fundamental health of the economy remains robust, according to a report by aNI. Nageswaran highlighted several indicators demonstrating the economy’s resilience. “If you run through the checklist for the <keyword id="19948184" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-economy" source="keywords">Indian economy</keyword>, the health is pretty robust,” he noted, pointing to controlled levels of external debt as a share of GDP, declining non-performing assets in the banking system, and stable inflation trends. Although certain food items have caused inflationary spikes, their impact is limited within the overall consumer price index basket, he explained. The CEA praised the shift in fiscal expenditure priorities over the past seven years, with greater focus on capital investments rather than revenue spending. This reallocation, he suggested, has bolstered long-term economic stability and growth potential. India’s GDP growth for the July-September quarter was 5.4%, significantly below the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7%. While this has sparked concerns among economists, Nageswaran urged against overreacting. Erratic monsoons and excessive rainfall disrupted economic activity in Q2, he explained, while global uncertainties and supply chain pressures further weighed on growth. Despite these challenges, he maintained confidence in the broader growth narrative, citing improvements in key economic metrics. For instance, India’s gross capital formation has risen from 27.3% of GDP in the second decade of the 2000s to 30.8% today. Private consumption remains steady, and exports—spanning both services and manufacturing—continue to perform well even amid challenging global conditions. Nageswaran also underscored India’s growing competitiveness in international trade. He noted that the nation’s total <keyword id="24325087" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exports-as-a-percentage-of-GDP" source="keywords">exports as a percentage of GDP</keyword> now surpass China’s, showcasing its resilience and adaptability in a shifting global trade environment. However, he cautioned against reading too much into quarterly fluctuations, highlighting the impact of geopolitical developments such as trade restrictions from the US on critical minerals and rare earths, as well as policy shifts in China. These external factors, he suggested, are likely to persist and may continue influencing short-term economic trends. (with ANI inputs)

Indian economy is resilient despite Q2 challenges, says CEA Nageswaran

India's services sector showed robust expansion in October, per the <keyword id="22267674" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HSBC-India-Services-PMI" source="keywords">HSBC India Services PMI</keyword> (Purchasing Managers' Index), which rose to 58.5 last month, up from September's ten-month low of 57.7. October's figures managed to exceed even the long-run PMI average of 54.1, largely on the back of a strong sales pipeline and elevated demand. Employment, or job creation in this sector accelerated to its fastest growth rate in 26 months. Anticipating solid, sustained demand in the near term, firms added new employees at the most rapid pace in over 2 years. October also saw <keyword id="23834175" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="input-costs-rise" source="keywords">input costs rise</keyword> at their fastest pace in 3 months, indicating renewed demand and economic activity in the country. The ISM Services PMI, an indicator of the economic health of the US, also exceeded expectations, reaching 56.0 compared to the forecasted 53.8, suggesting strong growth within the services sector. "During October, the Indian services sector experienced strong expansions in output and consumer demand, as well as job creation, which achieved a 26-month high," said Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC. The sector saw increased business activity across multiple fronts, with export sales showing significant growth and companies reporting stronger demand from international markets including Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the UK. However, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic about the sector's prospects. Suman Chowdhury, Chief Economist at Acuité Ratings &amp; Research, noted that while the October recovery is promising, several factors warrant careful monitoring. “The recovery in the PMI indices in October 2024 is promising for the second half of the fiscal after the dip in several high-frequency indicators in September 2024. Industrial and service activity has expectedly received a boost from the anticipated spike in consumption demand in Q3 FY25, driven by the festivities and the marriage season," she said. Chowdhury added that it will be crucial to monitor the sustainability of these PMI indices at these elevated levels, given the reported weakness in urban demand in Q2 as flagged by FMCG companies. She also noted that potential increases in wholesale and core retail inflation, combined with higher input costs and wage pressures, could delay expected interest rate cuts. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das also noted that inflation and CPI figures for October might be elevated, pushing ahead any chances of interest rate cuts in the near future. Acuité Ratings &amp; Research maintains its GDP growth forecast at 7.0% for FY25 while acknowledging the multiple downside risks that will require close observation in the coming months.

India's Services Index jumps to 58.5 in October as employment grows the fastest in 26 months

No one's going to sound an alarm, blast out a text message, or shoot you an email about it, but the US economy is undergoing a historic shift. We are leaving one long period of expansion — what economists refer to as a "supercycle" — and entering a very different one.Over the past 15 years, the economy has been characterized by weak demand and low interest rates — a decade-and-a-half hangover from the Great Recession. Now, experts tell me, that is coming to an end. The world has changed, and we are entering an era of higher growth, creeping inflation, and geopolitical instability that will reroute the flow of money around the world. A new era has arrived, but it's going to be bumpy.The good news is that this new era looks as if it will be unencumbered by some of the problems that put a ceiling on growth during the previous era. The most salient feature of the old period, economists say, was the risk of deflation — the possibility that a lack of demand would cause wages and prices to spiral downward, a trap that is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-economy-deflation-unemployment-job-market-recession-outlook-paul-krugman-2024-7">extremely difficult to escape</a>. In an effort to avoid that fate, policymakers in Washington pushed interest rates down to zero and encouraged <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-crashing-investments-uber-wework-monopoly-failure-2019-11">all kinds</a> of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/charlatans-show-up-when-wall-street-stock-market-gets-weird-2021-3">risky</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twilight-of-tech-gods-recession-stock-market-crash-silicon-valley-2022-5">behavior</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackmans-big-pharma-trade-is-making-wall-street-a-super-awkward-place-2014-10">among</a> investors, businesses, and everyday consumers. Investors trying to reach their benchmarks "had to creep out on the risk spectrum," Josh Hirt, a senior economist at Vanguard, tells me. "Supercheap debt," he says, made it easy for businesses to "overexpand and overhire."The pro-risk environment had some earth-shifting consequences. Silicon Valley put the internet on our phones, China blew a massive bubble in its property market, and the world started investing in renewable energy. But low interest rates did little to boost demand, and the economy consistently grew slower than it did before the crash, never notching above 3% GDP growth. It was only after the massive government stimulus, spurred by the pandemic, that the economy reached escape velocity, pushing up wages and starting to grow at a healthy clip.Now, economists say, we're entering a supercycle that will be characterized by three sweeping forces. First, higher interest rates will reward savers, making it more expensive to take risks. Second, geopolitical and economic volatility will generate inflationary effects, reintroducing the specter of soaring prices. And third, industrial planning will be increasingly influenced by national-security concerns, altering supply chains across industries. How low interest rates wind up settling will establish a new gravitational pull in global markets, recalibrating the forces that determine where the economy is most likely to grow — and where investment is most likely to flow.The new supercycle "puts the economy in a completely new era," says Silas Myers, the CEO of Mar Vista Investments, which oversees $4 billion in assets. He warns that an entire generation of investors, lenders, and entrepreneurs have failed to embrace the "profound impact" that the new economic era will have on their businesses."We were in a time that was less demanding and more forgiving," Myers says. "But that time is ending."One of the clearest signs that a new economic supercycle has arrived is when the financial rules go topsy-turvy. The previous supercycle was ushered in when the Federal Reserve, in response to the destruction caused by the financial crisis, cut its benchmark interest rate to 0% — the first time the central bank went all the way to the bottom.The structural shift sent shockwaves throughout the world. Yields on Treasury bonds tanked, meaning investors had to start taking some serious risks if they wanted to make money. This new adventurism pushed stocks higher and higher. Capital went flying into China and other emerging markets in record amounts — some $1 trillion in 2010 alone. Venture capitalists sank billions into companies like Juicero and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wework-adam-neumann-apartment-startup-investment-silicon-valley-vc-apocalypse-2022-8">WeWork</a> that had no viable plan to turn a profit. And with interest rates so low, companies could suddenly load up on debt: From 2007 to 2017, global nonfinancial corporate debt doubled, to $66 trillion. Until the pandemic hit, inflation and wage growth both remained below 3.9%. The world had changed. Now, with the arrival of a new supercycle, money managers are once again being forced to adapt to a changing set of economic realities. Normally, when the Fed hikes interest rates rapidly, the stock market tanks. But that's no longer true. From 2022 to 2024, as the benchmark federal funds rate shot up to 5.5% from 0.5%, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&amp;P 500 soared by 23% and 22%. Higher interest rates also failed to spur widespread layoffs or crater the economy. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-report-labor-market-hiring-layoffs-quits-recession-sahm-rule-2024-8">Unemployment has stayed below 4.3%</a>, and GDP growth has remained solid, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gdp-gross-domestic-product-second-quarter-2024-us-economy-2024-7">defying fears of a recession</a>. In short, something has scrambled the natural interactions of the marketplace. It's as if you put your hand over a hot stove and your fingers turned ice cold.One explanation for the economy's topsy-turvy behavior is a change in what economists call the neutral interest rate — the optimal point for encouraging growth without triggering inflation. After the financial crisis in 2008, the economy was so weak that the neutral rate went to zero to encourage money to flow more freely. But now the market's weird nature may be signaling that the neutral rate has risen above the Fed's ideal target of 2%. That would explain why the Fed's higher rates are no longer putting the brakes on growth. Fueled by the post-pandemic government stimulus, the economy's baseline has shifted. Over at Vanguard, Hirt and his colleagues predict that the neutral rate will stay higher for the foreseeable future, eventually settling at about 3.5%."Even if we do dip below 3.5%, the Fed will be anchored at that higher rate," Hirt says. "If the economy were to experience weakness and we have to cut rates, we still don't think that means taking rates back to zero."Unless you're a boomer, you've probably never experienced a world with this high a neutral rate. It changes the nature of risk, which changes what people decide to do with money on micro and macro levels. If you can get a decent return parking your money in ultrasafe government debt, why risk investing it in a startup or stomach the stock market's volatility? This isn't to say no one will be out here taking risks with their cash — it will just flow in different directions. That's because consumers are in a better place now than they were in the era that emerged after the Great Recession.The economy is "an extraordinarily diverse and dynamic animal," Joe Quinlan, the chief market strategist at Bank of America, assured clients in a recent note. It's "a $28 trillion hydra-headed behemoth that beats to the tune of many different sectors." As the Fed's higher rates were putting a strain on rate-sensitive sectors like housing — which makes up 16% of the economy — Big Tech and travel-starved households were spending money fast and loose. The experience showed that overall consumption can continue to rise even when significant swaths of the economy are struggling.So what can we expect from the new economic supercycle? Like every cycle, it will have its upsides and downsides. Rising interest rates will make loans more expensive, forcing businesses to make more-thoughtful decisions about debt. But they'll also boost savings accounts and interest income. In addition, a faster-growing economy will tighten the labor market, empowering workers to continue to fight for a larger slice of the pie. Since 2019, the bottom 10% of earners have seen a wage increase of 13%.Shifting away from the "grow at all costs" mindset of the previous supercycle has also incentivized governments — especially in the developed world — to do more to police markets and protect consumers. Whether it's capping the price of drugs or enforcing antitrust rules more aggressively, polls suggest Americans want to see <a target="_blank" href="https://prospect.org/economy/2024-08-27-polling-voters-action-corporate-power/">more limits</a> on <a target="_blank" href="https://today.yougov.com/economy/articles/47798-most-americans-oppose-monopolies-and-support-antitrust-laws">corporate power</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/20/56-of-americans-support-more-regulation-of-major-technology-companies/">more regulation</a> to safeguard citizens. For the first time in years, the Federal Trade Commission has begun going after pharmaceutical middlemen, opposing mergers between grocery giants, and taking big swings at Big Tech.The new supercycle will also have profound consequences worldwide, upending how and where money is most likely to flow. In China, the debt bubble that formed in the property sector during the previous cycle is sucking cash away from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-stimulus-plan-wall-street-stock-market-economy-2024-9">businesses and households</a>, undermining China's bid to become the world's leading economic superpower. And with Europe growing more slowly than the US, foreign investors are steering more of their money to America. In the second quarter of this year, foreign investors owned $8.2 trillion worth of US Treasury bonds, up by 7.3% from a year earlier. Foreign investment is also soaring in US corporate bonds (up by 9.8%) and US equities (up by 23%). Quinlan says he expects the US economy to continue outperforming the rest of the world, given the fiscal and demographic challenges facing the European Union, Japan, and China. In an era of increasing instability, when former sources of growth are flailing, the United States is widely viewed as the safest place to find returns."Not lost on investors is the fact that the US economy remains among the most competitive, innovative, and resilient in the world," Quinlan wrote in a recent note to investors. "Aerospace or agriculture, energy or entertainment, transportation or technology, goods or services — pick any sector or activity, and there's a good chance the US leads the rest of the world. All of this has helped fuel demand among foreign investors for US securities of all stripes." America's economic diversification is also expected to give it a leg up in one of the most volatile features of the new era: trade conflict. The US and China are already battling for control over critical industries like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jiinping-future-tech-global-economy-semiconductors-military-failing-2022-9">semiconductors</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-crushing-us-america-battle-energy-evs-batteries-tech-war-2023-5">batteries</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2">electric cars</a> — and the tit for tat will be especially costly for less diversified economies. Germany's dependence on manufacturing, for example, places its most essential industries on a collision course with China's ambitions. And while the United States is well positioned to weather the storm, that doesn't mean it won't be rough. The world has never faced a challenge like the skyrocketing flow of exports from China up and down the value chain. It's a dynamic that threatens to imbalance international trade by flooding the market with cheap goods of all kinds. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-shock-explainer-us-economy-trade-dumping-supply-glut-yellen-2024-4">China Shock 2.0</a> "will not go down easily," Quinlan tells me.For over a decade we have become accustomed to the economy working a certain way — if this, then that. As a new supercycle emerges, investors, businesses, and governments that structured themselves around the old model may experience acute shocks. To succeed in this unfamiliar new world, they'll have to adjust their expectations and find ways to harness the supercycle's opportunities. It's the economic equivalent of natural selection: As the economy evolves, those who adapt will be most likely to survive. The days of economic growth are back. The future belongs to those who can grow with it.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/linette-lopez">Linette Lopez</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider.

America is entering a new 'economic supercycle'

<ul><li><keyword id="19920097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karwa-Chauth" source="keywords">Karwa Chauth</keyword> is set to add ₹22,000 crore worth of business to the <keyword id="19948184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-economy" source="keywords">Indian economy</keyword>.</li><li>This year's spending is expected to surpass last year's ₹15,000 crore mark.</li><li>Karwa Chauth will be celebrated across India on Sunday.</li></ul>Deeply rooted in Indian culture and spirituality, the festival of Karwa Chauth has grown into a significant economic event, with an estimated ₹22,000 crore worth of business anticipated in markets nationwide. The traditional festival will be celebrated across India on Sunday, marking a day of fasting and prayer for the well-being and longevity of spouses. This year's spending is expected to surpass last year's ₹15,000 crore mark, reflecting a surge in enthusiasm and <keyword id="23410660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-activity" source="keywords">consumer activity</keyword>. Over the past week, markets across the country have witnessed a lively atmosphere, with bustling crowds shopping for clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, gift items, and puja essentials in preparation for the occasion. Delhi, one of the central hubs for the festivities, is expected to contribute significantly to this economic boom, with sales projected to reach approximately ₹4,000 crore. The shopping spree spans a variety of items associated with Karwa Chauth, including jewellery, traditional clothing, makeup products, sarees, and religious items like Karwa pots, sieves, lamps, wicks, and prayer books. In addition, red glass bangles, anklets, toe rings, lockets, and intricately designed Karwa thalis are among the popular items being purchased. This year, silver Karwas have also been introduced to the market, and they are expected to be in high demand. Henna (mehendi) application, considered auspicious for the festival, has also seen a surge in popularity, with markets, temples, and public places filled with women lining up to get their hands decorated. In Delhi, Connaught Place's Hanuman Temple has become a prominent spot where thousands gather for mehendi, while beauty parlours and private mehendi sessions are booked solid. Henna artists find a valuable opportunity to earn a livelihood during this period. Karwa Chauth not only boosts retail activity but also sets the stage for the upcoming <keyword id="19896655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wedding-season" source="keywords">wedding season</keyword>, with many shoppers placing orders for <keyword id="20242079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-jewellery" source="keywords">gold jewellery</keyword>. The wedding season, commencing in November, traditionally sees a rise in bookings for bridal jewellery, and the festival serves as an early catalyst for these purchases. With inputs from ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping-in-india/articleshow/114354358.cms">Best credit cards for online shopping this festive season</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india-in-october-2024/slidelist/114339207.cms">Best smartphones under ₹25,000 in India in October 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/waaree-energies-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114350114.cms">Waaree Energies IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a>

Karwa Chauth festivities to boost economy by ₹22,000 crore

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

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The faster your internet, the more likely you are to be obese, a study has found

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Navratri 2024: Delhi might witness business of ₹8,000 crores this festive season, predicts CAIT

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Indian economy is resilient despite Q2 challenges, says CEA Nageswaran

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India's Services Index jumps to 58.5 in October as employment grows the fastest in 26 months

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America is entering a new 'economic supercycle'

Linette Lopez

Karwa Chauth festivities to boost economy by ₹22,000 crore

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SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

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