Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Dear readers, As we approach yet another weekend, here are some key developments across various sectors. Nvidia has surpassed Apple to become the world’s largest company, driven by the AI boom. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates, by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the second such reduction in 2024. In the workplace, Gen Z’s approach to mental health got attention, with one employee taking a week off after a breakup. Additionally, Indian banks are expecting steady growth, despite challenges in unsecured lending. Read on for all the details! <h2>Top stories from the week </h2> Indian banks to have steady growth in earnings over next 3-4 years, fees from unsecured lending may dip, notes Jefferies report Jefferies forecasts steady earnings growth for Indian banks over the next 3–4 years, with a 13% annual loan growth rate. However, a decline in unsecured lending could reduce fee income. While net interest income is expected to grow at 12%, challenges such as rising defaults and a potential dip in rate cuts could affect profitability. Despite this, banks’ return on equity and assets remain promising. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/indian-banks-to-have-steady-growth-in-earning-over-next-3-4-years-fees-from-unsecured-lending-may-dip-notes-jefferies-report/articleshow/115048179.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Nvidia becomes world’s largest company amid AI boom, surpasses Apple in the race Nvidia has surpassed Apple to become the world’s largest company by market capitalization, driven by the AI boom. The company’s strong performance is fueled by surging demand for its chips used in AI technologies. With a market cap hitting $3.43 trillion, Nvidia continues to dominate the AI hardware sector, powering data centres and AI research. The company’s revenue growth of 122% YoY further cements its leadership in the AI space. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nvidia-becomes-worlds-largest-company-amid-ai-boom-surpasses-apple-in-the-race/articleshow/115003223.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> ‘He had a breakup and took a one-week leave’: Manager shares about his Gen-Z employee, internet reacts A manager’s tweet about granting a Gen Z employee a week off for a breakup sparked widespread debate. While the manager expressed frustration over project delays, internet users defended the employee’s mental health needs, criticizing the manager’s lack of empathy. Some supported the manager’s view, pointing out generational differences in work culture. The incident went viral, furthering discussions about Gen Z’s unique workplace expectations. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/he-had-a-breakup-and-took-a-one-week-leave-manager-shares-about-his-gen-z-employee-internet-reacts/articleshow/115041747.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 bps, Powell notes Trump’s victory to have no impact on policy decisions The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the second such reduction in 2024. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the Fed’s independence despite Trump’s criticism and suggested that the economic outlook remains uncertain, though the Fed is focused on inflation targets. Trump’s policies may lead to higher inflation, adding complexity to the Fed’s efforts to stabilize prices. Experts anticipate that bond yields will stabilize, benefiting emerging markets like India. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/us-fed-cuts-interest-rates-by-25-bps-powell-notes-trumps-victory-to-have-no-impact-on-policy-decisions/articleshow/115070690.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Big Tech’s winners and losers from Donald Trump’s win, according to the market After Donald Trump’s election victory, tech stocks surged, with companies like Tesla seeing significant gains. Tesla’s rise was fueled by Trump’s public support for CEO Elon Musk. Conversely, companies like Apple faced challenges due to fears over potential tariffs on China. While some, like Google, might benefit from lighter regulations, others like Meta could face political challenges. Overall, the election results reshaped market expectations for Big Tech’s future. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/here-are-big-techs-winners-and-losers-from-donald-trumps-win-according-to-the-market/articleshow/115067798.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> <h2>Top web stories</h2> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/webstories/donald-trump-on-screen-a-look-at-his-iconic-cameos/slidelist/115045250.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Donald Trump on screen: A look at his iconic cameos</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/webstories/8-lifestyle-mistakes-contributing-to-health-problems-in-india/slidelist/115051791.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">8 lifestyle mistakes contributing to health problems in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/webstories/10-magical-indian-experiences-every-traveller-should-try/slidelist/115052527.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">10 magical Indian experiences every traveller should try</a>

Weekend wrap: Nvidia’s AI-driven surge, Indian banks’ steady growth and more

During the coronavirus pandemic, offices around the world had to alter their way of working and make work from home the norm to keep people safe. For two years, almost all companies in the world offered <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> and there were reports that this would become the future of working. Employees enjoyed the new flexibility and realised how remote work can help them balance work and life with ease. However, contrary to what was perceived, companies began calling employees <keyword id="9081434" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="back-to-office" source="Orion">back to office</keyword> as soon as it was safe. <h2><keyword id="20122085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CEOs" source="keywords">CEOs</keyword> want employees back in offices </h2> In the last few months, there have been ample studies that show how employees are more productive while working from home or in a hybrid setup where they are required to come to office for 2-3 days in a week. Yet, companies are adamant on calling their employees back to offices. For instance, Amazon recently ordered its employees to return to office for five days a week, putting an end to remote work forever. Now, a new study by <keyword id="19896405" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="KPMG" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="KPMG" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="KPMG">KPMG</keyword> has revealed that majority of Indian CEOs are ready to incentivise employees who work from the office, marking a shift towards a more traditional work model post-pandemic. According to the KPMG 2024 India CEO Outlook, 91 percent of Indian CEOs are considering linking rewards, such as promotions and pay raises, to <keyword id="21386806" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="office-attendance" source="keywords">office attendance</keyword>. This figure is slightly higher than the global average of 87 percent, indicating a stronger push in India to encourage in-person work. The report, based on responses from 125 Indian CEOs, highlights a growing belief that office-based work fosters better collaboration, innovation, and productivity. As many as 78% of Indian CEOs expect their entire workforce to return to the office within the next three years, a trend mirrored globally, though at a slightly higher rate of 83%. <keyword id="20142903" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-companies" source="keywords">Indian companies</keyword> are increasingly focused on improving their employee value proposition—the set of benefits and incentives offered to employees. CEOs are prioritising a supportive and engaging office environment as key to attracting and retaining top talent. By linking rewards to in-office work, companies aim to align employee satisfaction with long-term growth objectives. <h2>Understanding what employees want </h2> Sunit Sinha, Partner and Head of Human Capital Advisory Solutions at KPMG in India, pointed out that in the post-COVID-19 era, it is crucial for businesses to understand the evolving preferences of employees. As workers reconsider their options, businesses need to adapt to remain competitive in the talent market. Sinha said that companies must use data to address employee needs, saying, “The power to shape the future of talent lies in staying informed and adapting proactively.” In addition to in-office incentives, the KPMG report also talked about the increasing role of technology, particularly generative AI, in workforce development. Half of the CEOs surveyed are prioritising the enhancement of workforce skills alongside their investment in AI. Indian CEOs believe generative AI can help develop diverse skills and prepare their teams for a future where technology plays a central role in operations. However, while CEOs are optimistic about the potential of AI, they also expressed concern over the lack of regulations governing the technology. Seventy-seven percent of Indian CEOs are apprehensive about the pace of AI regulation, higher than the global average of 69%. Despite these concerns, Indian business leaders remain confident in AI’s ability to enhance organisational performance and secure a competitive edge.

91 percent Indian CEOs want to reward employees who work from offices, majority expect to end remote work in three years

Luxury carmakers <keyword id="19980471" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mercedes-Benz" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mercedes-Benz" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Mercedes-Benz">Mercedes-Benz</keyword>, <keyword id="19911529" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Audi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Audi" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Audi">Audi</keyword>, and <keyword id="19911528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BMW" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BMW" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BMW">BMW</keyword> are eyeing robust sales during the festive period this year with demand for <keyword id="20194571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="High-end-cars" source="keywords">high-end cars</keyword> continuing to see an upward trend in India. In an interaction with PTI, Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said the luxury car segment is set for its best-ever performance this year with <keyword id="19894908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Festive-season" source="keywords">festive season</keyword> offtakes playing a major role in the overall performance. He noted that the festive season generally gives high double-digit <keyword id="20040491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sales-growth" source="keywords">sales growth</keyword>, helping the automaker to average out single-digit growth of the earlier quarter. "So in that sense, on an average, then we are able to get a double-digit growth during the festive season," Iyer stated. Elaborating on the overall industry, which still remains a very small part of the overall passenger vehicle market in the country, he said the segment is headed for record volumes this fiscal year but not all players are witnessing growth." Some (companies) are even degrowing, some are flat and they are facing headwinds, but because we are the primary player in the market, we still feel the luxury car market should cross 50,000-51,000 cars this year," Iyer said. The luxury car market in India currently remains very small accounting for less than 2 % of the overall passenger vehicle market in the country. Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said the automaker anticipates positive buying trends to continue during the festive season. "Our best-selling models - the A4, A6, Q3, Q3 Sportback, Q5, Q7, and the newly launched Q8 - continue to drive robust demand," he added. The company is equally optimistic about the e-tron range, the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT, Dhillon said. BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah said the fundamentals of the Indian economy are sturdy and consumer confidence in the luxury segment is on the rise. "For BMW Group India, the order bank is solid and we are trying our best to speed up deliveries for our customers. Along with additional bookings around Diwali and Dussehra, we are confident of closing the year on a high note while clocking impressive growth," he stated. He noted that the group is witnessing very strong demand for products across all segments. Pawah said that in the run-up to the festive season, the company has introduced several special editions of its existing model range. The festive season usually commences with Onam and ends with Diwali every year.

Luxury carmakers Mercedes, Audi, BMW expect robust sales this festive season

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around USD 3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years. Addressing CEOs of the large US tech firms on Sunday, Modi said India will make every effort to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term (2024-29). Companies should take advantage of India's growth story for collaboration and innovation by co-developing, co-designing, and co-producing in India for the world, harnessing the opportunities from the country's economic and technological growth, he said. Assuring the business leaders of India's deep commitment to the protection of intellectual property and to fostering tech innovation, Modi highlighted the economic transformation happening in the country, particularly in electronics and information technology manufacturing and semiconductors. Modi asserted that his government was committed to making India a "global hub of <keyword id="20073013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-manufacturing" source="keywords">semiconductor manufacturing</keyword>". The meeting took place at the Lotte <keyword id="19904497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-York" source="keywords">New York</keyword> Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. During the conference, Modi said technology collaboration and efforts such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) lie at the core of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs press release. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended the meeting. Others who participated in the roundtable included AMD CEO Lisa Su, HP Inc. CEO Enrique Lores, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Dr Noubar Afeyan, Chairman of Moderna, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Modi also talked about India's BIO E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy to develop the country into a biotech powerhouse and on the topic of AI, noted that India's policy is to promote AI for all, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use. The CEOs appreciated India's growing prominence as a global technology hub, driven by its innovation-friendly policies and flourishing market opportunities. They also expressed strong interest in investing and collaborating with India, agreeing that investing in startups would be a synergistic opportunity to innovate and develop newer technologies in the country. Others who attended the conference included Biogen Inc CEO Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris Boerner, Eli Lilly and Company CEO David A. Ricks, LAM Research CEO Tim Archer, GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield, and the CEO of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter. "Further cementing technology and business connect. PM @narendramodi interacted with the top tech leaders and CEOs of USA, in a Roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, in New York today. PM emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster collaborations and innovation across diverse sectors," the official account of the MEA said in a post on X. The prime minister had a separate meeting with Krishna P Singh, CEO of Holtec International, which is into nuclear and solar power generation. They discussed Holtec's plan for expanding manufacturing in India and advancing energy cooperation, PMO India said in a post on X. Earlier on Sunday, Modi addressed the <keyword id="20115166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-diaspora" source="keywords">Indian diaspora</keyword> at the packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island in New York. He also held bilateral meetings with world leaders at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here. Modi reached New York on Saturday after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113516805" title="Why is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the US this weekend?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

<ul><li><keyword id="19912297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NVIDIA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NVIDIA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NVIDIA">NVIDIA</keyword> and <keyword id="19896380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Industries" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Industries">Reliance Industries</keyword> have partnered to build AI computing infrastructure.</li><li>NVIDIA will also supply the latest Blackwell AI chip for Reliance Industries’ new data centre.</li><li>The partnership was announced at the NVIDIA AI Summit India.</li></ul> <keyword id="16173150" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NVIDIA-CEO-Jensen-Huang" source="Orion">NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang</keyword> at the NVIDIA AI Summit India announced a partnership with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries to an artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure and an innovation centre in India. As part of the partnership between the two companies, Reliance Industries will use the latest Nvidia Blackwell AI chip for its new major data centre. The company will use NVIDIA's cutting-edge technology, including the GB200 GPUs. The two companies are aiming to accelerate India's transformation into a global AI powerhouse with the partnership, banking on the nation's talent pool and growing digital infrastructure. "India is already world-class in designing chips, Nvidia's are designed here in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune. A third of Nvidia is Indian, maybe more," Huang said. While praising the country’s rapid digitalisation in recent years and talking about the country’s potential in the AI sector, Huang said, “Very few countries have this amazing natural resource called IT and computer science expertise.” "We are at the doorsteps of the new intelligence age. India will be one of the biggest intelligence markets. It's not just our aspiration, but also the raw gene power which will help drive intelligence,” said Reliance Industries chairman <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword>. "India will not just deliver CEOs to world, but also AI services. Like we did with data, in few years from now we can surprise the world with what Indians can achieve in intelligence," Ambani added. Ambani revealed the company’s plans to establish a scalable infrastructure capable of expanding beyond 1 gigawatt, powered by green energy. "We are building this so we can scale, and we think big," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/deepak-builders-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/114533208.cms">Deepak Builders IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/synology-introduces-new-enterprise-solutions-reports-significant-growth-in-india/articleshow/114504353.cms">Synology introduces new enterprise solutions, reports significant growth in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/diwali-gift-zomato-platform-fee-increased-to-rs-10-ahead-of-the-festive-season/articleshow/114493617.cms">Diwali gift from Zomato – Platform fee increased to ₹10 ahead of the festive season</a>

NVIDIA and Reliance Industries to build AI computing infrastructure in India

<keyword id="20242552" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adar-Poonawalla" source="keywords">Adar Poonawalla</keyword>’s <keyword id="23624211" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serene-Productions" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Serene Productions" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Serene Productions">Serene Productions</keyword> is set to acquire a 50% stake in <keyword id="19901337" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karan-Johar" source="keywords">Karan Johar</keyword>’s <keyword id="20050088" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dharma-Productions" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Dharma Productions" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Dharma Productions">Dharma Productions</keyword> and Dharmatic Entertainment for ₹1,000 crore. The deal, which was officially announced in a joint press release, marks a strategic partnership that aims to capitalise on the growing opportunities within the global entertainment sector, driven by India’s digital expansion and a diverse, content-hungry audience. Under this new agreement, Johar will retain the remaining 50% stake in the company, continuing in his role as Executive Chairman, while Apoorva Mehta will stay on as Chief Executive Officer. The collaboration between Serene Productions and Dharma is expected to transform content creation, distribution, and audience engagement through the integration of advanced technologies and innovative production techniques. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come," Poonawalla said. For the unversed, he is the CEO of Serum Institute of India and leader of Serene Productions. Karan Johar also shared his excitement about the partnership, describing it as the perfect blend of Dharma’s emotional storytelling legacy and Poonawalla’s forward-thinking business strategies. "From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I've dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we're poised to elevate Dharma's legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies," Johar said in the release. The Raine Group acted as the exclusive financial advisor for Dharma, with legal counsel provided by AZB &amp; Partners. Serene Productions was advised by JSA on legal matters. This partnership comes at a time when India’s entertainment industry is undergoing rapid growth, driven by digital penetration and demand for high-quality content across multiple platforms. Together, Serene Productions and Dharma aim to push the boundaries of creative storytelling while meeting the demands of digital-first audiences and shaping the future of entertainment.

Adar Poonawalla gets 50% stake in Karan Johar's Dharma Productions for ₹1,000 crore

Google Play has revealed its annual Best of 2024 awards for India, celebrating the apps and games that defined the year. With five of the seven top apps developed by Indian creators, the awards underscore India’s rising prominence in the global tech ecosystem. Mobile gaming also continues to boom, as the country solidifies its position as the second-largest market for gaming downloads worldwide. In a blog post announcing the winners, Google also shed light on how India is the world's second largest market in terms of mobile gaming downloads. "On the gaming front, the Indian gaming scene continues to thrive, with India adding 23 million new gamers in FY24, reaching a total of 590 million. In fact, India now boasts the world's second-largest market for mobile gaming downloads, with average weekly playtime increasing by 30%." Leading Apps: India at the Forefront of AI Innovation The blog post revealed that this year’s top apps showcased India’s innovative spirit, particularly in harnessing AI to meet user needs. Alle - Your AI Fashion Stylist, developed by Hey Alle, emerged as the year’s Best App and also won the Best for Fun award. Leveraging AI, Alle provides personalised fashion advice tailored to users’ occasions, body types, and preferences, reflecting the growing trend of AI-powered app experiences in India. Prateek Agarwal, Co-Founder &amp; CEO, Alle, said in a statement, “We noticed that the recent developments in Gen AI, combined with evolving consumer preferences for visual inspirational content, will create a massive opportunity to reimagine &amp; rebuild how people discover and shop for fashion. This realization led us to start Alle...As a new startup, Google Play has been crucial in helping us reach our early users organically. The platform's detailed analytics and crash reporting have been invaluable - they've helped us quickly identify and fix issues, improving our app stability.” Other app winners included: • Headlyne: Daily News with AI (Best for Personal Growth), offering curated news tailored to individual preferences. • Sony LIV: Sports &amp; Entertainment (Best for Large Screens), delivering immersive content on tablets and other big-screen devices. • WhatsApp Messenger (Best Multi-device App), enabling seamless communication across devices. • Fold: Expense Tracker (Best Everyday Essential) and Rise: Habit List (Best Hidden Gem) also captured user interest with practical and engaging features. The blog post added that India’s dominance in the AI app space is significant, accounting for 21% of global AI mobile app downloads this year, with nearly 1,000 Indian apps and games incorporating AI. Games that thrilled millions India’s gaming industry continued its upward trajectory, adding 23 million gamers this year, taking the total to 590 million. With gaming preferences increasingly reflecting local culture, many award-winning titles integrated Indian storylines and visuals. Squad Busters, a fast-paced multiplayer game, won Best Game for its simple yet engaging design. Meanwhile, Indus Battle Royale Mobile by SuperGaming earned the Best Made in India title for the second year running. Roby John, Co-Founder and CEO of SuperGaming, said in a statement, "We are committed to making Indus a standout Battle Royale experience. Our team has spent over three years thoughtfully crafting its characters, environments, and gameplay features to represent Indian Art and Culture authentically. The community's enthusiasm validates our vision of Indian games thriving globally. Winning this award is an incredible honor, not just as a milestone but also a motivation to keep striving for excellence. Google Play’s expertise and responsiveness have empowered us to deliver world-class gaming, pushing the boundaries of Indian gaming. We’re more committed than ever to raising the bar and making Indian gaming shine on the global stage.” Other top games included: • BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) (Best Ongoing), for its India-centric updates featuring cricket, festivals, and celebrity collaborations. • Bloom – A Puzzle Adventure (Best Indie), for its unique mechanics and creativity. • Clash of Clans (Best Multi-device Game) and Yes, Your Grace (Best Story) also stood out for their engaging gameplay.

Google Play announces best apps and games of 2024 in India: All you need to know

New Delhi: After two <keyword id="19945688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="acquisitions" source="keywords">acquisitions</keyword> this year, India's second-largest IT services company <keyword id="19906778" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Infosys" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Infosys" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> is on the lookout to scoop-up more firms and says the acquisition matching scale of recent in-tech buy is certainly a possibility. In an interview to PTI, <keyword id="24144" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="infosys-ceo" source="Orion">Infosys CEO</keyword> <keyword id="20115570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="salil-parekh" source="keywords">Salil Parekh</keyword> said the company is keen on acquisitions in areas like data analytics, SAAS, and may look at some geographies within Europe, and the US. Asked if more acquisitions could be of the scale matching in-tech, which came with a price-tag of 450 million euros, <keyword id="20039787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parekh" source="keywords">Parekh</keyword> said, "Absolutely, I think those would be the size that we will look at in terms of scale, and given our structure we could do a few of those." Back in January, Infosys announced a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the equity share capital in InSemi Technology Services, a semiconductor design services company headquartered in India, for a consideration (including earn-outs, and management incentives and retention bonuses) totalling up to Rs 280 crore. A bigger acquisition followed in three months. In April, Infosys Germany, a wholly-owned step-down subsidiary, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the equity share capital in in-tech Holding -- leading provider of engineering R&amp;D services headquartered in Germany -- for a consideration of up to 450 million euros (about Rs 4,045 crore). "We have very good business in engineering services already within Infosys and then we did those two acquisitions, both of them in engineering services, one on semiconductor side and one on the automotive side... very strong businesses, and we feel quite good about expanding that footprint," Parekh said. Infosys is eyeing more acquisitions, he said, adding that the company is evaluating several firms. "We have a good balance sheet and good cash generation and now we are quite comfortable with the integration of acquisition in different areas. We have done engineering services, we will look at other areas... for example data analytics... may look at SAAS (software as a service) areas, and maybe at some other geographies in Europe, maybe the US as well," he said. Parekh, however, said a lot depends on strategic synergies, financial cost, cultural fit and integration aspects. "We are continuing to look, and we have things that are normally in the pipeline but those take their own time... there are a lot of discussions on strategic fit, on financial cost of it and cultural fit into the company and then how will we integrate them. Many of those discussions are ongoing and we will see what comes out," the Infosys top honcho said. On whether he is hopeful of closing more acquisitions this fiscal year, Parekh indicated that it is tough to put a timeline on the outcome of ongoing discussions. "It is difficult to say... we are evaluating several (of them). But to get a fit on the strategic parameters, financial parameters, culture, integration... all of it may not work out. But these two (InSemi and in-tech) happened relatively quickly... before that for some quarters we had not done anything. It is not a predictable thing, but the evaluation is ongoing," he said. According to the Grant Thornton Bharat Dealtracker Q2 2024 report, Indian dealmaking saw overall 501 deals, valued at USD 21.4 billion. The report said the second quarter of 2024 witnessed the highest quarterly volumes since the second quarter of 2022, while values declined due to the absence of big-ticket merger and acquisition transactions. Grant Thornton Bharat Dealtracker further said the merger and acquisition (M&amp;A) activity during the second quarter saw 132 deals worth USD 6.2 billion, marking a slight increase in volumes but a substantial 50 per cent drop in values. As per the report, domestic deals drove growth with volumes rising 29 per cent and values increasing 2.5 times compared to the first quarter of the current year. In contrast, cross-border deals experienced a decline, with volumes decreasing 24 per cent and values plummeting 85 per cent from the first quarter of 2024.

Infosys is keen on more acquisitions, says CEO Salil Parekh

India’s <keyword id="20312255" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Process-Management" source="keywords">Business Process Management</keyword> (<keyword id="700088" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bpm" source="Orion">BPM</keyword>) industry is defying predictions that generative artificial intelligence (Gen-<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ai" source="Orion">AI</keyword>) could pose challenges for them. Instead, the sector is making a bold bet on AI and skilled talent to fuel its resurgence. With significant investments underway, industry leaders are confident that these efforts will show results within the next 3-5 years. “All of us are investing. And, the ROI will start coming in the next 3-5 years,” Harita Gupta, Head of Global Experience, SVP Global Business Operations Solutions and Support at Sutherland and the chairperson of <keyword id="19955786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasscom" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Nasscom" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Nasscom">Nasscom</keyword> BPM Council. She shared these insights during a panel discussion on “Data, Technology, Skill and Customers – The New Value Levers for BPM in India,” hosted by Business Insider India. Leaders in the <keyword id="21482461" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BPM-industry" source="keywords">BPM industry</keyword> are confident about <keyword id="19985355" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gen-AI" source="keywords">Gen-AI</keyword>’s potential to create markets that have never existed before, help them do what they have already been doing for a decade more efficiently, and transform their companies into AI-driven enterprises. The Indian BPM industry generated $48.9 billion revenue as of FY24. <div type="Youtube" id="utbJS9i9RgA" title="Unlocking New Value Levers For BPM In India: The Role Of Data, Tech, Skill And Customers" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/utbJS9i9RgA/mqdefault.jpg"><url><![CDATA[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utbJS9i9RgA]]></url></div> <h2>Tapping into emerging <keyword id="21859797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="talent-hubs" source="keywords">talent hubs</keyword></h2> Traditionally, it is present in India’s metro cities, like Delhi, Bombay, Bombay and Pune. In its second innings, the BPM industry has shifted its focus to Tier-II and Tier-III cities, which offer a wealth of talent, lower operational costs and more accommodative regulations. “The industry has started to take jobs to where the talent is rather than the other way around,” remarked Sapna Bhambani, the Senior VP of Operations and Geo Leader at TaskUs. She highlighted that over half of TaskUs’ business is now based out of Tier-II cities with Indore and Mohali leading the way. “The states where the government is extending a helping hand are the most successful emerging hubs,” Bhambani added. Nasscom too is keen on Tier-II and Tier-III cities for the expansion of the BPM industry, identifying Lucknow, Kanpur, Coimbatore, Trichy, Indore, Bhopal, Vizag and Vijayawada as notable emerging hubs. Gupta emphasised that the industry body will be working hand-in-hand with the universities and institutions in the area to build talent pipelines and garner support. And hiring from Tier-II cities is not just about tapping into new talent pools; it’s also improving employee retention, which has been a pain point for the industry in recent years. Tech Mahindra has tried to counter this by hiring for non-frontline roles from within the company, rather than hiring new talent. However, as Venkatesh Korla, the CEO of Americas at Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) pointed out, a cultural shift is still needed to rebrand BPM jobs. “It’s changing. It’s not 100 percent there yet… They’ve realised there’s a lot more stickiness and a lot more opportunity in the BPM space, and we see talent also want to take on these jobs,” Korla explained. <h2>Creating new markets</h2>Most AI processes are trained using large language models (LLMs). Many, GPT-Neo and BERT, are open-source, which means they’re free for anyone to use. However, enterprises are looking to build their own LLMs in-house to train their AI products primarily to maintain control over proprietary data – a move that opens up new opportunities for BPM firms. “Large SAS companies want to integrate their own LLM in their products and they require the same BPM services to actually train their models. That’s a huge opportunity,” Birendra Sen, the President of Business Process Services at Tech Mahindra, told Business Insider. <h2>The need for experimentation</h2>While the use of Gen-AI in the BPM industry is widespread, many initiatives are still in the Proof of Concept (POC) stage. This implies that while there is investment, both in terms of money and manpower, directed at creating more Gen-AI led solutions, they may not necessarily succeed. “If something fails, we just fail fast and move,” Gupta told Business Insider. Moreover, leaders like Venkatesh Korla view AI as a transformative tool that complements human expertise rather than replacing it. “AI is going to help in coaching, compliance, and in quality control. I call this the Iron Man's suit or the J.A.R.V.I.S. for Iron Man because it never replaces the human inside the suit. So, that's really how we need to look at it,” Korla remarked. India’s BPM sector has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of previous challenges, such as the rise of automation and the shift towards digital services. It is now poised to reinvent itself, this time by integrating AI with human expertise and expanding into new talent hubs. With a strong focus on innovation and upskilling, industry leaders are optimistic about the future, anticipating that these strategic moves will secure India’s position as a global leader in the BPM landscape over the next few years. This article is part of a four-part webinar series in partnership with Nasscom. These monthly webinars aim to delve deep and offer insights into the evolving BPM landscape. You can watch the full video of the first session <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utbJS9i9RgA">here</a>. Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on insiderstudios@businessinsider.in

The future of BPM in India: AI, talent hubs and a new growth strategy

<keyword id="24068881" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Equity-investments-in-Indian-real-estate" source="keywords">Equity investments in Indian real estate</keyword> may rise 49% to $11 billion this calendar year amid strong demand for properties, according to CII and CBRE. In the 2023 calendar year, the equity investments in real estate stood at $7.4 billion. Industry body CII and real estate consultant CBRE on Wednesday released a joint report titled 'Leading the Charge: Crafting the Skylines of Tomorrow' at the annual CII Realty 2024 conclave. Equity capital inflows touched $8.9 billion between January and September, registering a 46% year-on-year growth. "Overall equity investments in 2024 in the real estate sector are set to hit a new record surpassing $10 billion for the first time," the report said. With a resurgence in investment inflows in built-up office assets and a strong acquisition pipeline for land in the residential sector, the overall equity investments in 2024 would be in the $10-11 billion range. During January-September, institutional and collective vehicle investors accounted for nearly 40% of the overall investments. Developer companies led the total capital inflows with more than 41% share in this period. Domestic investors (predominantly developers) invested nearly USD 6 billion during the first nine months of the calendar year, dominating the overall capital inflows with an almost 65% share. In comparison, foreign investors contributed about $3.1 billion during the same timeframe. Notably, North American and Singaporean investors were the significant contributors, representing about 85% of all foreign capital inflows. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman &amp; CEO, India, South-East Asia, Middle East &amp; Africa, CBRE, said, "Projection for 2024 equity investments between $10-11 billion, highest-ever, underscores continued investor interest in the growing <keyword id="23870227" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate-market-in-India" source="keywords">real estate market in India</keyword>." With SEBI's SM-REIT framework, he said, smaller but high-quality assets in Tier-II markets would also present new avenues for strategic capital deployment. "We believe this regulatory support will add much-needed transparency, enabling a more diversified investment base and encouraging institutional participation across these markets," Magazine said. Going ahead, he said this growing diversification will not only solidify India's real estate sector but also pave the way for future growth across emerging asset classes.

Equity investments in Indian real estate may rise 49% to record $11 billion this year, says CII-CBRE report

<keyword id="19991358" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-markets" source="keywords">Indian markets</keyword> are navigating choppy waters as global economic shifts, from rate cuts to evolving political climates, create new pressure points across the financial landscape, according to a recent report by ANI attributed originally to the Union Bank of India. The domestic stock and bond markets showed signs of strain, with <keyword id="19910363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bond-yields" source="keywords">bond yields</keyword> witnessing slight adjustments. India’s 10-year government bond yield dipped to 6.82%, a decrease from the previous session, reflecting cautious investor sentiment as the markets react to shifting global indicators. Meanwhile, the 5-year bond yield remained steady at 6.76%, a signal of lingering hesitation amid economic unpredictability. In the currency market, the rupee faced a notable decline, ending the day at ₹84.3725 against the US dollar, slipping from its prior close of ₹84.2800. Market analysts point to significant capital outflows as a key factor, with investors moving funds to perceived safer assets overseas. This migration has weighed heavily on the rupee, underlining the currency’s vulnerability in an environment of global economic flux. India’s stock market bore the brunt of this volatility, with key indices falling over 1%, effectively erasing the gains of a previous rally. This abrupt drop reportedly reflects renewed investor anxiety, largely triggered by the recent <keyword id="20189882" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-presidential-election" source="keywords">US presidential election</keyword> results. Experts suggest that the election has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty, not only for the US economy but for global markets, impacting everything from policy decisions to investor sentiment. Analysts are also keeping a close eye on upcoming decisions by central banks, which will likely shape the path forward for the Indian equities market. Commodities showed contrasting trends, with Brent crude prices falling on lower demand expectations, as economic indicators point toward cautious spending globally. Gold, on the other hand, experienced a modest rise as investors sought refuge in safe-haven assets, highlighting a shift towards risk aversion among market participants. Globally, major central banks made coordinated efforts to sustain economic growth, with the Bank of England (BoE) announcing a 25 basis-point cut, lowering its benchmark rate to 4.75%. The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) largely backed this move to counter inflation, which has been declining, albeit gradually. Across the Atlantic, the US Federal Reserve mirrored this action with its own 25 basis-point cut, a sign of confidence in the ongoing economic recovery. Both rate cuts, though modest, signal a global trend towards caution as economies work to balance growth with stability. In Asia, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) maintained its supportive stance. Governor Pan Gongsheng sought to reassure foreign investors by reaffirming the PBoC’s commitment to growth-oriented policies. Pan emphasized enhanced communication and pledged to open China’s financial services sector further, aiming to attract more international participants. Europe, meanwhile, faced mixed economic signals. Germany reported a steep 2.5% drop in industrial production in September, signalling a slowdown in manufacturing, while the Eurozone saw a mild 0.5% rise in retail sales, reflecting cautious consumer optimism in the region. Adding another layer to the global economic landscape, the European Union’s Climate Change Service warned that 2024 could be the hottest year on record, underscoring urgent climate challenges just as the UN COP29 climate summit approaches. The summit, set to take place in Azerbaijan, aims to rally increased funding for climate action, though tempered expectations linger in light of recent US political shifts. On the domestic front, Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam spoke about India’s potential role in pivotal global trade agreements, specifically the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). These partnerships, Subrahmanyam suggested, could bolster India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, which currently accounts for 40% of India’s exports, offering a strategic advantage for Indian trade in an interconnected world. As the Indian markets digest these developments, experts believe continued volatility could be the theme for the coming months. (with ANI inputs)

Indian markets under pressure as global rate cuts stir uncertainty, new report says

<ul><li>33% of the <keyword id="181580" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-CEOs" source="Orion">Indian CEOs</keyword> surveyed had an optimistic view about the economic outlook over the next 3-5 years. </li><li>60% of Indian CEOs intend to increase spending, and 33% aim to maintain spending levels. </li><li>Globally, 60% CEOs want to explore new technologies, and 27% believe the metaverse and VR will impact their business. </li></ul>When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Despite economic challenges and dark macroeconomic predictions for 2023, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>’s top CEOs are targeting growth through investments and innovation, rather than retreating into their shells and focusing on cost-cutting strategies, as per a study by consultancy <keyword id="294267" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="arthur-d-little" source="Orion">Arthur D Little</keyword>. Arthur D. Little’s 2023 <keyword id="14566794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CEO-Insights" source="Orion">CEO Insights</keyword> study spoke to nearly 250 CEOs from companies with turnover of more than $1 billion, including 21 CEOs from India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘A new generation of ambidextrous Indian CEOs’" comment="subhead2" text="‘A new generation of ambidextrous Indian CEOs’">‘A new generation of ambidextrous Indian CEOs’</cmsannotation> The current economic crisis triggered a tsunami of challenges across industries. Businesses have seen a large-scale drop in customer demand, while input costs, especially for energy, have skyrocketed. Combined with serious strains and breakdowns in supply chains, it has led many commentators to predict the end of globalization as we know it. However, most Indian CEOs are optimistic for the future, with nearly two-thirds (62%) expecting a stable or positive global economic outlook over the next three to five years. Says Barnik Chitran Maitra, managing partner, Arthur D Little India &amp; South Asia, “Our research reveals that Indian CEOs are more optimistic about the future than their global counterparts. We are certain that this new generation of ambidextrous Indian CEOs and companies can potentially become national and global champions.” When facing a downturn, conventional business wisdom is to cut costs, focus on the core business, and aim to ride out the recession. However, 60% of Indian CEOs intend to increase spending and 33% aim to maintain spending levels as they anticipate growth. As many as 75% of Indian CEOs are looking to beat or meet market growth. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ESG: A source of competitive advantage" comment="subhead2" text="ESG: A source of competitive advantage">ESG: A source of competitive advantage</cmsannotation> According to the study, CEOs globally are focusing on technology innovation to drive growth. They are contemplating the future with open minds. While 60% want to explore new technologies, 27% believe the metaverse and virtual reality (VR) will impact their business. They are monitoring and piloting these technologies now, preparing to exploit opportunities once they mature. The study findings also reveal that ESG is becoming a full part of the <keyword id="5645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CEO" source="Orion">CEO</keyword> agenda globally. It is seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. While two-thirds of global CEOs admit they pursue ESG targets and goals for compliance reasons, 80% see it as a source of competitive advantage, with 67% referencing consumer pull as a further reason for pursuing greener, more sustainable strategies. ESG is also rising in strategic importance, with 41% of CEOs making it a higher priority than other initiatives. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/double-digit-salary-hikes-are-here-to-stay-aon-predicts-10-3-pay-hikes-for-indians-in-2023/articleshow/98176759.cms">Double digit salary hikes are here to stay: Aon predicts 10.3% pay hikes for Indians in 2023</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/look-to-refinance-your-home-loan-to-save-on-emi-payments/articleshow/98112492.cms">Look to refinance your home loan to save on EMI payments</a>

60% of Indian CEOs plan to increase growth investments: Arthur D Little

“Ye le beta, humare khaandani sone ke gehne. Ise girvi rakhva de, shayad kuch paise aa jaye ghar main.” How many times have we seen similar dialogues repeat itself in Bollywood films of the 70s and 80s—abject poverty and a frail-looking old mother pleading to her son to pawn the family’s heirloom gold ornaments to a jeweller, all to get a few bucks? Well, if you’d ask that son in 2024, he’d rather hit the loan button on his <keyword id="105386" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Demat-account" source="Orion">Demat account</keyword> than pawn his mother’s gold jewellery. Given how Indians are rapidly resorting to taking loans against their investments in shares and mutual funds, these might as well be a cherished family heirloom in today’s time. Fair warning though; it's not as if gold and loans against it are going down in India’s lending scene. It's very much the opposite, shining brighter than ever! The secured loan category is having its time in the spotlight, and people are certainly looking beyond land and property to get their hands on some extra monies! But what is funding the steep rise behind these loans? And are they as failsafe and secure as they’re made out to be? We decode for you in this week’s Simply Put. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">The great Indian pawning party</h2>Pawning one’s gold has been, by far, the OG Indian financial move to get a loan. That continues well into 2024, and apparently, more so when India decides to wed and celebrate! Data from <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> suggests that the outstanding amount on gold loans has swelled from Rs 85,009 crore in September 2022 to Rs 1,47,081 crore in September 2024. It looks like Gold took the motto of rise and shine too seriously! Table 1: Growth in gold loans <table class="redcator-table-advance" style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; box-shadow: none; width: 468pt; font-family: Merriweather; table-layout: fixed; padding-bottom: 10px !important; background-image: inherit !important; background-position: inherit !important; background-size: inherit !important; background-repeat: inherit !important; background-attachment: inherit !important; background-origin: inherit !important; background-clip: inherit !important;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Year </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Amount (In Rs crore) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2022 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">85,009 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">March 2023 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">89,370 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2023 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">97,426 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">March 2024 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1,02,562 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2024 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1,47,081 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> Source: RBI data While the world continues to be riled up in multiple geopolitical crises in 2024, gold has been making merry of these tough times. Thus far this year, <keyword id="3886593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-gold" source="Orion">domestic gold</keyword> prices have grown by 23%, outperforming benchmark indices like Nifty and Sensex by a mile, which have gone up by 9.85% and 8.86%, respectively. The growth in gold loan disbursal rates month on month this year could also put Nifty and Sensex’s growth to shame. In just September 2024, gold loans grew an astounding 51%, up from 40.9% in August, 30.5% in June, and just 14.8% in March. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Hey, wait up for me, says LAS</h2>In lockstep with the elder, gold loan sibling, advances against shares and bonds have also been inching up since 2022. Data from RBI (Reserve Bank of India) notes that as of September 2022, the outstanding quantum of loans that were taken against shares (LAS) and bonds stood at Rs 7,397.94 crores. This inched up to Rs 7,764 crore in September 2023. Come 2024, and it looked like this was LAS’ time to shine. Loans swiftly skyrocketed, with outstanding loans in this category going up from Rs 8,492 crore in March 2022 to a staggering Rs 9,546 crore at the end of September 2024. Naturally, the smoke of LAS has its fire in the record inflows that Indians are pouring into the stock market and mutual funds month on month. Per AMFI (<keyword id="134904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Association-of-Mutual-Funds-in-India" source="Orion">Association of Mutual Funds in India</keyword>), the net AUM (assets under management) of India’s mutual fund industry grew to Rs 67,25,614.61 crores in October 2024, up from Rs 67,09,259.24 crores in September 2024. Even the number of retail mutual fund folios, which include equity, hybrid, and solution-oriented mutual funds, burgeoned to 17,23,52,296 in October, as compared to 16,81,61,366 in September. The same goes for stock investments in India, where the number of new demat accounts that are added every month just simply refuses to climb down. As of last month, total demat accounts in the country stood at 17.9 crore, which is more than the entire population of full-fledged nations like Japan (12.45 crore), Russia (14.38 crore), and Bangladesh (17.3 crore). In fact, since February this year, the monthly growth of LAS has been hitting double digits. From 11.3% in March to 21.6% in May to 26.8% in August, growth in LAS has been exceptional, hitting 22.9% in September this year. For context, monthly growth in the LAS segment was at a mere 5% in September 2023. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What's driving the growth?</h2>It's a win-win for both the bank and the customer. Customers love them because LAS is available at a lower interest rate compared to unsecured personal loans. You can get a loan at an interest rate of anywhere between 9 and 12% by pledging your gold, MF units, or shares. Compare this to over 10-28% rates, which is the range where unsecured personal loans charge interest. Banks love <keyword id="827883" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Secured-Loans" source="Orion">secured loans</keyword> since they are well-secured. In case you default on paying back, the bank can sell off your gold, shares, or mutual fund units to recover the amount. This takes a lot of stress off the banks, which are already dealing with secured loans’ riskier sibling-<keyword id="947940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unsecured-lending" source="Orion">unsecured lending</keyword>. High NPAs (non-performing assets) and non-payments in the unsecured borrowing space have already put RBI on red alert, which is why the apex bank is tightening the screws on unsecured lending, which was well on its way to becoming a ticking time bomb. As a result, credit growth has moderated to 12.8% YoY in October, as against the 19.3% rise recorded in the year-ago period. Yet it's not like the banks won't feel the heat. Analysts at Nomura note that <keyword id="23954457" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-loan-delinquencies" source="Orion">personal loan delinquencies</keyword> in India that have been overdue by over 90 days rose to 5.1% in the last financial year, as opposed to just 3.9% in the year prior. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">How does it work?</h2>Both these loans work on a similar principle: Your <keyword id="857141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-amount" source="Orion">loan amount</keyword> is equal to a certain percentage of the actual market value of your asset. This is known as the LTV (loan-to-value ratio). In the case of gold and debt mutual funds, RBI mandates that this LTV be about 75-80%. So, for every Rs 100 of gold or debt mutual fund unit you pledge, your maximum loan amount cannot exceed Rs 80. If you pledge gold, which has a market value of Rs 10 lakh, you can take a loan of up to Rs 8,00,000. In the case of shares and mutual fund units, this limit is set at 50%. So, your shares worth Rs 5,00,000 can only get you a loan worth Rs 2,50,000. But the bright side? You can continue earning returns on your investments and pay interest only on the amount you use, since this loan works as an overdraft facility. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Super safe, you say?</h2>Interest rates on both of these loans are very much dependent on the market value of the asset, which wildly fluctuates on a day-to-day basis. So, in case the value of your asset falls, you’ll have to keep a margin or more of the same asset in order to continue with the loan and maintain the LTV balance. Failure to do so could mean the bank can even sell off your asset. Says financial planner Nema Chaya Buch. “Yes, LAS offers easy availability of funds since these loans come with a lower interest rate as compared to personal loans. Also, you continue to earn average returns of 10–13% on your equity investments. But the downside is, in case of emergency, those pledged securities cannot be sold. Also, if the equity market goes down, then the bank may ask for additional collateral. Raghvendra Nath, MD, Ladderup Wealth Management notes that taking a LAS is best when the value of your securities has appreciated significantly. “This allows you to maximize the loan amount based on your collateral while also addressing financial needs without having to liquidate your investment portfolio. However, there are notable disadvantages to consider. The market risk is significant; a substantial decline in market value could lead to margin calls, which may incur fees and charges if there are delays or prepayments, ultimately increasing the effective cost of borrowing. Furthermore, failure to make timely payments could result in the loss of your assets.”. Umesh Mohanan, ED &amp; CEO, of Indel Money, cautions that one should have a sufficient quantity of gold to get the loan amount one wants. "According to the current RBI rules, the loan applicant/borrower can draw up to 75% of the total market value of the collateral/gold jewellery. So, always carry a sufficient quantity of gold based on one’s loan requirement. “The most important thing is that the valuation of the gold depends on the purity of the gold. If the borrower pledges gold with higher purity, such as 24 carats or 22 carats, he will get the maximum loan amount," he adds.

You Searched For "indian ceo growth" and got 13 results

Weekend wrap: Nvidia’s AI-driven surge, Indian banks’ steady growth and more

Divyanshi Sharma

91 percent Indian CEOs want to reward employees who work from offices, majority expect to end remote work in three years

Divyanshi Sharma

Luxury carmakers Mercedes, Audi, BMW expect robust sales this festive season

PTI

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

PTI

NVIDIA and Reliance Industries to build AI computing infrastructure in India

Sourabh Jain

Adar Poonawalla gets 50% stake in Karan Johar's Dharma Productions for ₹1,000 crore

BI India Bureau

Google Play announces best apps and games of 2024 in India: All you need to know

Divyanshi Sharma

Infosys is keen on more acquisitions, says CEO Salil Parekh

PTI

The future of BPM in India: AI, talent hubs and a new growth strategy

Insider Studios

Equity investments in Indian real estate may rise 49% to record $11 billion this year, says CII-CBRE report

PTI

Indian markets under pressure as global rate cuts stir uncertainty, new report says

BI India Bureau

60% of Indian CEOs plan to increase growth investments: Arthur D Little

Anagh Pal

Secured Loans 2.0 — why more and more Indians are turning to gold, shares and mutual funds to get loans

Ira Alok Puranik

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides