India Inc's equity investment abroad dips 22% in July, RBI data shows
Equity investment by Indian companies abroad witnessed a 22% decline in July compared to the previous year, totaling $1.592 billion, according to RBI data. This decrease occurred amidst stricter regulations on outward foreign direct investment. However, total financial commitment increased due to a rise in guarantees issued, reaching $3.512 billion.
TIL Creatives Representational Kolkata: Equity investment on foreign shores by Indian companies reduced by 22% in July as compared with the same month last year, Reserve Bank of India data showed.India Inc invested $1.592 billion in overseas companies in July against 2.047 billion in the year ago period. Their equity investment was at $2.098 billion in June.
The fall in investment volume was seen amid a tighter regulation on outward foreign direct investment. The RBI told compliance heads of banks to inform their corporate clients that if they do not fix their old lapses by August this year, they will have to follow higher scrutiny and tighter rules before making fresh financial commitments outside.Total financial commitment by India Inc towards overseas companies however stood higher in July as compared to the year-ago position, on account of a rise in guarantees issued. Their total financial commitment overseas stood at $3.512 billion against $3.319 billion seen a year back. Total commitment however dipped when compared with $5.138 billion seen in June this year.
Indian companies issued guarantees amounting to $1.614 billion in July against $987 million a year back.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
44 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
As tensions ebb, Indian exports to China jump 20% in Q1
India's merchandise exports to China have recorded a double-digit monthly growth thus far in 2025-26, cumulatively growing by 20% to $5.76 billion in the first four months of the financial year compared to $4.80 billion in the same period in 2024-25, driven by energy, electronics, and agricultural products, and raising hopes that this could help offset some of the losses arising from US tariffs. Containers are seen at the port in Qingdao, in China�s eastern Shandong province on August 11,(AFP FILE) India's exports to China in the first four months of 2025-26 have grown at an annualized rate of 19.97% compared to a 4.5% year-on-year contraction in the same period last year (April-July 2024), according to government data. If this trend continues, India will witness a positive growth in exports to China this financial year (2025-26), people familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity. In 2024-25, Indian merchandise exports to China contracted by 14.5% to $14.25 billion as compared to $16.67 billion in 2023-24. Out of 12 months in 2024-25, Indian exports to China contracted in 11 , barring May 2024. In contrast to FY25, a consistent upward trend in exports to China has been witnessed in the current financial year (FY26) , from April itself, they added citing data. In April, they grew 12.9% (over last April) to $1.4 billion; in May, they rose by 24% to $1.63 billion; in June, they grew 17% to $1.38 billion; and in July, they rose 27% to $1.35 billion. This trend is likely to strengthen further with recent positive engagements between the two countries, the people mentioned above said. India and China agreed to enhance bilateral trade relations during Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's New Delhi visit earlier this week. According to the official statement issued by the ministry of external affairs on August 19, both sides agreed to the re-opening of border trade through the three designated trading points — Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass. They also agreed to facilitate trade and investment flows between the two countries 'through concrete measures'. 'The two [countries] are keen to boost bilateral economic relations amid global trade uncertainties triggered by the US,' one of them said. Granular analysis of data showed that demand for Indian petroleum products, agricultural goods and marine items have immense potential in the world's second biggest market after the US, he added. A second official said the ' rise underscores the strengthening demand for Indian goods in the Chinese market and highlights India's growing export competitiveness despite global trade uncertainties. The steady growth in exports also signals a gradual rebalancing of trade between the two Asian economies, where India has traditionally faced a large trade deficit.' In 2024-25, India had a $99.2 billion trade deficit with China. 'This upswing is a promising development that could help India diversify its export base and consolidate its presence in one of the world's largest import markets,' a trade expert said, requesting anonymity.. India's export growth to China in the first quarter of FY25 was powered by a strong performance across energy, electronics, and agri-based products, according to official data. Exports of petroleum products nearly doubled to $883 million (95.3%), while those of electronic goods surged to $521 million (202.7% growth), reflecting strong demand from China's industrial and consumer segments. Agricultural commodities recorded extraordinary growth, with oil meals exports aggregating $41.7 million (2656.1% growth), rice, $32.2 million (1383.3%), and oil seeds $16 million (1791.7%). Traditional sectors also added to the momentum — exports of organic and inorganic chemicals reached $335.1 million (16.3%), spices $234.5 million (21.9%), tea $8.9 million (93.9%), and gems and jewellery $11.5 million (72.7%). Moderate gains were recorded in marine products (5.1%), mica, coal and ores (3.0%), and ready-made garments (14.8%).
News18
an hour ago
- News18
NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul passes away in London
Last Updated: London, Aug 21 (PTI) Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul passed away in London on Thursday evening, family sources said. He was 94. Lord Paul, founder of UK-based Caparo Group of industries, had been taken ill and hospitalised recently, where he passed away surrounded by members of his family. The House of Lords peer was born in Jalandhar and relocated to the UK in the 1960s in pursuit of treatment for his little daughter Ambika's cancer. After she passed away aged four years old, he set up the Ambika Paul Foundation as a charitable trust that went on to donate millions to promote the wellbeing of children and young people all over the world through education and health initiatives. 'The London Zoo is where she was always the happiest," recalled Lord Paul last month, during the annual commemoration he hosted at the Ambika Paul Children's Zoo in London – one of the major beneficiaries of the foundation. After he lost his son Angad Paul in 2015 and his wife Aruna in 2022, he went on to undertake similar philanthropic endeavours in their memory. 'This hall is a tribute to my wonderful wife whom I miss very much; we never had an argument during our 65 years of marriage," said Lord Paul, when he inaugurated the Lady Aruna Swraj Paul Hall at the historic Indian Gymkhana Club in London in February 2023. A regular in the annual 'Sunday Times Rich List', this year he was ranked 81st with an estimated wealth of GBP 2 billion, largely derived from the steel and engineering multinational Caparo Group. Headquartered in London, Caparo operates internationally from over 40 sites, with operations based in the UK, North America, India, and the Middle East. His son, Akash Paul, is Chairman of Caparo India and Director of the Caparo Group. Last year, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Lord Paul awarded an honorary doctorate to Akash Paul for services to business administration. 'Perhaps, I am the only graduate to get a degree from his own father, independently approved by the University Board, of course, I may add," said Akash Paul, who was accompanied by wife Nisha and son Arush at the ceremony held at the London Zoo. 'My son has worked alongside me at Caparo since 1982. Akash was appointed CEO of Caparo Group in 1992. During this time, he furthered Caparo's growth strategy in UK, Europe, USA and India, as well as expanding capacity and increasing profitability of the companies in the United Kingdom and was president, Caparo Automotive Espana, Spain and Executive Board, Bull Moose Tube, USA," said Lord Paul, who had served as Chancellor of Wolverhampton University for over 26 years. An active member of the Indian diaspora in the UK, Swraj Paul maintained his daily routine of attending the House of Lords despite his frailty in recent months. 'We pray for the departed soul. May the noble Lord rest in peace," said Lord Rami Ranger, his colleague in the Upper House of Parliament. PTI AK SCY SCY view comments First Published: August 22, 2025, 02:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT, Perplexity: Which AI plan is right for you?
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) grows in India, more companies are launching premium subscription plans at discounted rates for Indian users. A look Gemini premium Google's AI, Gemini, now has a Pro plan in India priced at ₹1,950 per month. It unlocks Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google's most advanced AI model, which is far more powerful than the free version. With Gemini Premium, users can write better code, analyze large amounts of information, and create fresh ideas with ease. One of the biggest advantages of Gemini is that it works inside Google apps people already use. In Gmail and Docs, it can write emails, create documents, summarise long texts, and check grammar. In Google Meet, it improves video quality by fixing lighting and background noise. The plan also comes with creative tools like Veo 3 Fast and Flow, which generate high-quality images and short videos from text prompts. For researchers and students, the Deep Research feature can scan hundreds of websites and produce a detailed report within minutes. To top it off, Gemini Premium gives 2 TB of Google Drive storage and exclusive access to NotebookLM, a research and writing assistant that can even create audio summaries. ChatGPT Premium: Go, Plus, and Pro OpenAI has introduced India-specific pricing, making ChatGPT more affordable than ever. The highlight is ChatGPT Go, a new entry-level plan available only in India at ₹399 per month. It includes GPT-5 access, 10× more messages, image generations, file uploads, and 2× longer memory compared to the free plan. However, Go does not include video generation (Sora), connectors, or deep research, which are part of higher plans. For power users, the ChatGPT Plus plan costs ₹1,999 per month. It adds GPT-4o access, advanced video creation with Sora, connectors for third-party apps, and research tools. For businesses and developers, ChatGPT Pro is available at ₹19,900 per month, offering enterprise-grade features, priority access, and early testing of new tools. The introduction of Go at ₹399 with UPI support shows OpenAI's push to bring AI to students, freelancers, and everyday users in India.
