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Hans India
26 minutes ago
- Hans India
Trump tariffs-A dark cloud and a silver lining
US President Donald Trump has suffered a bad press in India. Still, it is indisputable that the crisis his tariffs have triggered for our economy may not be such a bad thing: it has already goaded the government to reset the GST and FDI regimes. It is a truism that crises force governments into long-overdue reforms, and the present turbulence may, paradoxically, prove to be an inflection point for India's economy. Early signs indicate that Trump's tariffs have broken the policy inertia of the Narendra Modi government; it is rethinking the goods and services tax (GST), foreign direct investment (FDI), and export promotion policies. The government is reportedly working on a 100-day reform agenda prepared by the Commerce & Industry Ministry. It is not merely a firefighting exercise but a comprehensive strategy to improve India's global competitiveness. This is significant because, for too long, India has managed its trade policies reactively, focusing on ad hoc measures rather than laying down forward-looking, structural reforms. Another key area under review is the GST regime. While GST has streamlined indirect taxation, its complexity and compliance burdens have stifled smaller exporters and startups. Rationalising and reducing GST slabs, simplifying compliance, and ensuring quicker refunds could ease liquidity pressures and incentivise export-oriented businesses. If the current crisis accelerates this process, Indian exporters may be better positioned in the medium term, not just against US tariffs but also against rising competition from countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh. Equally important is the prospect of further liberalising the FDI regime. India has already been one of the top global recipients of foreign investment, but procedural hurdles, sectoral restrictions, and unpredictable regulatory interventions have often diluted the benefits. A push to ease investments—particularly from neighbouring countries and emerging Asian markets—signals a pragmatic recognition that India must diversify its capital inflows rather than remain overly reliant on Western investors. Such reforms could open up capital for high-growth sectors like digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. The government's reported plan to provide more tax incentives for startups also reflects an awareness of the shifting global economic landscape. With traditional manufacturing exports facing headwinds, India must increasingly rely on knowledge-driven industries, digital services, and innovative startups to power growth. A supportive tax regime, combined with easier access to foreign capital, could help create globally competitive unicorns and deepen India's digital economy. Then there are proposals to ease certain environmental norms for the leather and footwear sectors. These industries employ millions, generate significant export revenues, and are heavily labour-intensive—precisely the kind of sectors India needs to expand if it hopes to absorb its growing workforce. While the idea is good, the government must ensure that this easing remains focused on cutting red tape; there should be no adverse impact on the environment. On the export infrastructure front, the emphasis on establishing e-commerce hubs and fast-tracking initiatives like BharatTradeNet is timely. Global trade is increasingly digital, and seamless integration of logistics, customs, testing, and certification into unified platforms could sharply reduce transaction costs for exporters. By enabling smaller firms and startups to tap global markets with fewer bureaucratic hurdles, such steps could democratise trade opportunities across sectors and geographies. If all these reforms are implemented effectively, they could make India's export basket more resilient and its domestic economy more attractive for investment.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Media rooting against prez…': WH press secy exposes anti-Trump agenda, slams negative reporting
White House Press Secretary Leavitt criticised the left-wing media for their ongoing negative and false coverage of President Trump's foreign policy. Despite historic peace deals, including the Abraham Accords and recent US-Russia talks, media pundits have relentlessly attacked Trump, accusing him of failures. Leavitt emphasised that President Trump has restored America's global leadership and called out the media for undermining diplomatic progress. Show more Show less
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Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Stocks to Watch today, Aug 20: HAL, TaMo, Paytm, CIL, GMR Power, Coforge
Stocks to Watch today, August 20, 2025: Indian equities are poised for a negative start, amid mixed global cues. Last seen, GIFT Nifty futures were down 67 points at 24,967. Globally, investors await the Federal Reserve's annual symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from August 21 to August 23, where Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's comments will be scrutinised for any clues on the central bank's outlook on the economy and monetary policy. Overnight, US markets settled mixed, with the Dow Jones up 0.02 per cent, but the S&P 500 down 0.59 per cent and the Nasdaq down 1.46 per cent. In the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese markets traded mixed after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) kept the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) unchanged at 3 per cent, while the five-year LPR was at 3.5 per cent. Last checked, mainland China's CSI 300 was flat and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.86 per cent. That apart, Japan's Nikkei fell 1.58 per cent after the country's exports dropped 2.6 per cent year over year in July, notching their steepest drop in over four years. South Korea's Kospi slipped 2.03 per cent. However, Australia's ASX 200 was up 0.26 per cent. Here is a list of stocks to watch on Wednesday, August 20, 2025: Aditya Infotech: The company reported a net profit of ₹44 crore in Q1FY26, as compared to ₹30.4 crore a year ago. Its revenue from operations stood at ₹740 crore, as against ₹636 crore a year ago. Paytm: Motilal Oswal AMC, through its various schemes, bought an additional 26.31 lakh shares (representing a 0.41 per cent stake) in Paytm, according to reports. HAL: The government cleared the ₹62,000 crore order to procure 97 additional indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter jets from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Hero MotoCorp: The company launched the new Glamour X 125, India's most futuristic 125cc motorcycle. Tata Motors: The company's subsidiary TML CV Holdings Pte. Ltd. has filed a Euro 14.1 billion offer document with Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, Italy, for a tender offer on Iveco Group. Coforge: Coforge has climbed the ranks in the mid-tier Indian information technology (IT) services space and is entangled in stiff competition with Mphasis, Hexaware and Persistent Systems to emerge as the next big company after LTIMindtree. According to data, Coforge is currently ranked number eight, behind LTIMIndtree and Mphasis. Ramco Cements: Chennai-based cement major The Ramco Cements said on Tuesday that it is targeting a revenue of around Rs 16,000 crore in the next four to five years, up from around Rs 8,539 crore in FY25. Hindustan Zinc: The company will aim to expand into uranium mining if the government opens up the sector to private players, its chief executive Arun Misra told Reuters on Tuesday. Coal India: State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) signed a pact with Konkan Railway Corporation to develop rail infrastructure for the company and its subsidiaries. Fusion Finance: Microlender Fusion Finance Limited (FFL) is targeting recoveries of around ₹200 crore over the next 12 months from its ₹3,400 crore stressed assets book, which includes written-off loans and non-performing assets (NPAs). Globe Civil Projects: The company received an order from the Haryana Cricket Association, Bhiwani, for the construction of an International Cricket Stadium at Lohat, District Jhajjar, Haryana. Lloyds Metals and Energy: The company has emerged as a successful bidder for the Tandsi-III and Tandsi-III extension coking coal mine, securing the project with a premium of 10.5 per cent in the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra border. IRFC: Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has sanctioned and executed agreements for a fresh term loan facility of ₹199.7 crore with Surat Integrated Transportation Development Corporation Limited (SITCO) to support the development of the Surat Multi-Modal Transport Hub (MMTH). GMR Power and Urban Infra: The board will mull the proposal for raising funds of up to ₹3000 crore in a meeting on Friday, August 22, 2025. Endurance Technologies: The company has evaluated and approved capacity addition for ABS, disc brake systems, and brake discs. New machinery shall be installed primarily for manufacturing products at the company's existing plant situated at E-71, MIDC Industrial area, Sambhajinagar.
