The Core Report
Every Monday to Saturday, tune in as financial journalist and host Govindraj Ethiraj gives you the latest news in business, economy and technology
Latest episodes
May 21, 2025 • 28min
#587 Markets Rise After Gaining Confidence
On Episode 587 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Rajnikant Behera, Executive Director, Finance at RSB Group as well as Advocate Shirish Deshpande, consumer court expert. SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) Markets rise after gaining confidence(01:34) Morgan Stanley quotes India’s new terror doctrine as part of the bull case for 89,000 Sensex(07:19) India’s auto components industry is holding steady(17:16) Another bank shuts down, will depositors be in the lurch?Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 20, 2025 • 30min
#586 Markets Slide Down Again
On Episode 586 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Mirai Chatterjee, Director at Self-Employed Women’s Association, or SEWA as well as K. Ramakrishnan, Managing Director - South Asia at Worldpanel Division, Kantar. SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) Markets slide down(02:37) Monsoon is arriving even earlier than the early projections(05:01) How Chinese businesses are gearing up for a new trade world even if the tariff tantrum goes away(06:55) How SEWA wants to use blockchain to help women in poorer sections of society build their identities(18:29) Tracking FMCG sales trends with Kantar. How categories like homecare are showing unusual growthListeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 19, 2025 • 22min
#585 Markets Slide Down In Search of Fresh Traction
On Episode 585 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Vinay Singh, Co-Founder and Partner at Fireside Ventures as well as Sheetal Sapale, VP Commercial at Pharmarack. SHOW NOTES(00:00) The Take(01:00) Markets slide down in search for fresh traction(02:49) Gold prices are back up(04:10) Britain has kissed and made up with the EU as it signs another trade deal(05:42) Why sales of cardiac drugs are shooting up and the segments driving it(11:26) How silver consumers are driving demand for new types of products and servicesListeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 18, 2025 • 22min
#584 Indian Markets Hold Gains Of Last Week
On Episode 584 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ankit Mehta, CEO at ideaForge Technology. SHOW NOTES(00:00) The Take(04:41) Indian markets hold gains of last week, valuation concerns return(07:12) Gold prices ease off but are still high for jewellery purchases(08:08) Turkish airport services company Celebi goes to court in India(09:24) China steps up buying of Canadian crude(11:16) How the India-Pakistan war has changed the dynamics for India’s largest drone makersListeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 16, 2025 • 20min
#583 How Mann Deshi Is Empowering Women Entrepreneurs In Rural India
In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj interviews Chetna Sinha, founder of Mann Deshi Foundation and Mann Deshi Bank, about the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face in rural India when accessing business loans and capital. Learn how Mann Deshi is empowering thousands of rural women by overcoming barriers like lack of collateral, no credit history, and lengthy loan approval processes.Discover the innovative ways technology and financial inclusion are enabling women-owned microenterprises in sectors such as tailoring, catering, and grocery retail to thrive and grow. Chetna shares insights on digital KYC, credit rating tools, and working capital support that are transforming lives and boosting rural economies.If you’re passionate about women entrepreneurship, microfinance, rural business development, and financial empowerment, this podcast episode is a must-watch.Timestamps:(00:00) Women Entreprenuers getting loans(01:45) Lack of Assets(02:14) Credit Score(02:50) Other documents + Statistics(04:21) Average customer of Mann Deshi Bank(05:20) Typical business categories of Women Entrepreneurs(07:25) What blockchain enables for Women Entrepreneurs(08:22) KYC(09:50) Mann Deshi’s Credit Rating Tool(11:54) Ease of getting loans(13:13) Tokenisation of Assets with Blockchain(15:20) The role of software companies(17:03) The state of the rural economy(17:56) Mann Deshi’s achievements(18:30) Microcredit is outdatedListeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inJoin and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 15, 2025 • 21min
#582 Sensex Up 1,200 Points In Sudden Jump
On Episode 582 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Anand Kulkarni, Director at Crisil Ratings.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) Indian stocks hit 7-month high since October, Sensex up 1,200 points in sudden jump.(02:48) Oil prices slide sharply as the US and Iran engage with each other.(04:20) Trump tells Apple to pause manufacturing in India(08:00) India has offered zero tariffs, says Trump, India denies, once again(08:55) Rural India’s telecom consumption is rising sharply even as urban slows down. What does that mean?Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 14, 2025 • 22min
#581 Markets Claw Back After A Roller Coaster Ride
On Episode 581 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer at Ananta Centre as well as Garima Kapoor, Economist & Executive Vice President at Elara Securities (India).SHOW NOTES(00:00) The Take(04:31) Markets claw back after a roller coaster ride(05:29) Bank of America replaces Japan with India as top Asian stock pick(07:27) Are India-US relations breaking down right now?(13:58) Inflation is at a 6-year-low. What does that mean and can it sustain?Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 13, 2025 • 38min
#580 The Markets Reverse Some Of The Post Ceasefire Gains
On Episode 580 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajay Srivastava, Founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder and Chair at Mann Deshi Bank & Mann Deshi Foundation as well as AVM GP Sharma, President (Meteorology & Climate Change) at Skymet Weather.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(00:50) The markets reverse some of the post ceasefire gains(03:51) Inflation hits a 6 year low of 3.16%(05:50) What happens to India' s China + 1 plans?(18:11) Decoding the arrival of the rains and monsoon 2025, the early forecasts (27:53) Build On Blockchain: Why women entrepreneurs find it tough to get loansListeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 12, 2025 • 26min
#579 Indian Stock Market’s Best Session In More Than 4 Years
On Episode 579 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ambareesh Baliga, Veteran Market Expert as well as Abhishek Goenka, Founder and CEO at India Forex & Asset Management.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(00:50) Indian stock markets have their best sessions in more than 4 years(03:17) Gold prices drop as its safe haven(04:30) Where will the markets go from here?(15:07) The dollar is strengthening once again, which trajectory will the Rupee take here on?(23:07) India’s closed airports are open again for business Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
May 11, 2025 • 31min
#578 Markets Set To Edge Up On Ceasefire Moves
On Episode 578 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist, Crisil Limited.SHOW NOTES(00:00) The Take(04:21) Markets set to edge up on ceasefire moves(10:54) Oil prices are holding steady in the lower 60s(13:52) Decoding India’s positive macroeconomic data that starts with the monsoons and analysing its potential impact Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
