The Core Report

Indrani Bagchi, a columnist and CEO at Ananta Aspen Centre, shares insights on India's diplomatic position, particularly regarding Putin's visit and the implications for India-Russia trade relations. Venkata Satish Guttula, an independent cybersecurity consultant, discusses the controversial Sanchar Sathi app aimed at combating cybercrime. He highlights its limitations against international scams and suggests better user awareness strategies. Together, they navigate the intersections of geopolitics, trade, and cybersecurity.

Anindya Banerjee, Head of Research at Kotak Securities, dives into the intricacies of the rupee's current lows and explains the impact of non-deliverable forwards. Alongside him, G. Chokkalingam, founder of Equinomics Research, shares insights on historical market peaks, forecasting a consolidation in Sensex and Nifty, and sectors like IT and solar poised for growth. Together, they unravel the challenges and dynamics surrounding Indian markets and currencies, providing listeners with a valuable perspective on upcoming trends.

Join Ajay Kedia, a commodity expert, as he explores why silver prices are soaring due to heightened demand and central bank purchases. Akhilesh Tuteja discusses the complexities of adapting to new data protection rules, emphasizing the need for cultural shifts in organizations. Meanwhile, Venkat Mangudi highlights the compliance challenges for MSMEs and offers practical advice for data retention. The conversation wraps up with a winter health outlook—setting the stage for a season of change.

Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA, shares her insights on India's surprisingly strong GDP growth. She attributes this boost to public administration and services, amid some expenditure discrepancies. The conversation dives into potential future challenges like adverse base effects and trade uncertainties that could hinder growth. Aditi also discusses the implications of a rising gold-driven current account deficit, painting a complex picture of India's economic landscape.

Devina Mehra, founder and CMD of First Global, shares her extensive investment insights. She warns against the emotional attachment to stocks and emphasizes the critical need for risk management and data-driven decisions. Devina discusses the dangers of IPO frenzies, small-cap euphoria, and how missing just a few key market days can devastate long-term returns. She also explores the importance of global diversification, the unique challenges of AI investments, and offers practical tips for building resilient portfolios. Perfect for navigating India’s evolving market landscape!

In this discussion, Devina Mehra, Chairperson and Managing Director at First Global, shares her insights as a seasoned market professional. She analyzes the recent record highs of Sensex and Nifty, attributing the gains to a narrow range of large-cap stocks. Devina dives into the risks posed by small-cap collapses, examines sector rotations, and discusses portfolio positioning strategies. Additionally, she highlights their innovative 'human plus machine' investing approach, which aims to minimize biases in stock selection.

Arvind Chari, the Chief Investment Strategist at Q India UK, shares valuable insights on the Indian equity market. He discusses the recent surge in markets and JP Morgan's bullish Nifty 30,000 prediction. Chari dives into the implications of peaking IPO supplies and contrasts large-cap valuations with those of mid and small caps. He also forecasts strong economic momentum with GDP growth expected to reach 7%, shedding light on factors influencing foreign investments in India and the challenges posed by capital gains tax.

Sajjid Chinoy, an economist at JPMorgan, discusses the implications of Google and Nvidia's rivalry, linking it to deglobalization's effects on emerging markets like India. He highlights Taiwan's booming chip industry as both remarkable and troubling. Meanwhile, Manish Garg, CEO of Interarch, dives into the dynamics of the pre-engineered steel buildings sector, detailing how import duties impact prices and the growing demand for steel construction. Both guests shine a light on current economic realities and their operational challenges.

Kunal Sodhani, Treasury head for India at Shinhan Bank, and Sachin Seth, Regional Managing Director for CRIF High Mark, share insights on crucial financial trends. Kunal discusses the Indian rupee's volatility amid US-India trade uncertainties and the RBI's strategic moves. Sachin reveals a shift in consumer lending towards secured loans and the credit behaviors of Gen Z. They explore how tech-driven lending is reshaping strategies and mitigating risks in the evolving economic landscape.

Suhail Nathani, a regulatory expert at Economic Laws Practice, discusses India's new labour codes, emphasizing their role in reducing litigation risk and clarifying worker rights. Paul Jeruchimowitz from Accenture dives into the growth of Global Capability Centres, explaining innovative incubation models that allow for rapid setup and the importance of a strong employee value proposition to attract talent. The conversation touches on the significant shifts in market volatility, the rupee's decline, and the challenges faced by U.S. oil producers amidst fluctuating prices.