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Forbes
12 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Staying Ahead Of Inflation: Strategies For A Resilient Portfolio
Prasanna Kumar, Founder and CEO of FinloTax. Inflation rates have witnessed a steep fall since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, dropping from the highs of 9.1% in 2022 to 2.8% in February 2025. Although the annual inflation rate in February decreased slightly from the 3% reported in January 2025, the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2% has been unattainable thus far. More importantly, the widespread imposition of tariffs and the consequent price rise are likely to drive inflation figures higher in the months ahead. Inflation is an inevitable economic reality that erodes your purchasing power over time. Proactive strategic investing is a hedge you can use to combat high inflation. Investment Strategies To Tackle Inflation One of the best ways to tackle rising inflation is to diversify your portfolio of investments. A well-diversified portfolio reduces risk exposure by spreading it across various asset classes and enhancing your resilience. Include a mix of stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities to spread exposure. Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) are government bonds meant to keep pace with inflation. They help protect your investment by increasing as inflation rises and decreasing once deflation sets in. This is done by adjusting the principal value of these securities based on changes in the consumer price index (CPI). Putting your money into commodities and precious metals can be a safe bet during periods of rising inflation. While the currency value falls, the prices of gold, silver and other precious metals tend to rise. Commodities such as oil and grain can also be profitable investments during inflationary times. Take advantage of equity-traded funds or mutual funds for your commodities and precious metal investments. Along with commodities like gold and oil, real estate often performs well during inflationary periods. Besides, real estate investments tend to appreciate over time while also ensuring you have a steady rental income stream. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are set up by companies that own and operate major real estate holdings. Inflation impacts real estate by increasing rent and property prices. REITs take advantage of inflation to generate profits for the investors. Investing in REITs allows you to invest in real estate without major capital expenditure. Investing in the equity and stocks of companies with a history of paying regular dividends can ensure you have a steady income stream that outpaces inflation. Companies dealing in consumer goods and utilities generally continue paying regular dividends even during volatile inflationary periods, since the increased costs are passed on to the consumers. Diversifying geographically can also help mitigate the impact of domestic inflation. Inflation rates vary across countries globally, and investing in countries that display strong growth potential could bring in a steady income while also diminishing the impact of domestic inflation on your investments. Active Portfolio Management Countering the impact of inflation on your investment portfolio requires regularly reviewing and rebalancing measures to ensure your investments continue to align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Inflation often leads to fluctuations in the growth of your investments. Rebalancing your portfolio involves moving your investments from nonperforming assets to ones that are performing better. Staying informed about economic trends will help you make the required adjustments to your investment strategy. While inflation remains a persistent challenge, the right investment strategies will help diminish its impact. Building a resilient portfolio of investments will not only help preserve your wealth but also help it grow. By diversifying your investments and actively managing your portfolio, you can stay ahead of inflation and achieve long-term financial success. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Big Budgets, Thin Crowds: Around ₹1,000cr in the red! Tollywood's costly first half of 2025
As Tollywood steps into the second half of 2025, the industry is staring at an uncomfortable truth: the year so far has been a washout. The box office has stayed stubbornly dry, with few films managing to draw crowds or recover costs. Producers, exhibitors and trade insiders say soaring ticket prices, poor planning, piracy and content fatigue are keeping audiences away — a mix that analysts say reflects shifting audience behaviour and evolving industry challenges. The numbers that tell the story (Jan–June 2025) ₹2,000–₹2,500 Cr Estimated investments in film production and distribution across AP & Telangana ₹1,200–₹1,500 Cr Approximate gross collections from theatres during the same period Industry voices: What's behind the slump? Stakeholders across the board agree that a shift in audience expectations is reshaping Tollywood. Price sensitivity, real-time feedback via social media, and the convenience of OTT viewing are contributing to declining theatre footfalls—even for star-driven films. 'For a normal man, cinema is entertainment. But we've turned it into luxurious entertainment by increasing the ticket prices,' says Producer Prasanna Kumar. 'Theatres must bring back the middle class — families who used to make cinema outings a weekly affair. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Florida: Gov Will Cover Your Cost To Install Solar If You Live In These Zip Codes SunValue Learn More Undo Now it's only the elite and hardcore fans who show up.' Another concern is the lack of all-age content. 'We haven't had many films that you can comfortably watch with the entire family,' Reddy points out. 'That's one of the reasons Sankranthiki Vasthunam worked. It filled that void. The rest have largely targeted specific audiences, like youth or mass centres.' What's ahead: Eyes on the biggies Despite the grim first half, there's cautious optimism for the rest of 2025. A slate of big-ticket films is expected to hit screens between July and December, including Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Coolie, War II, Kingdom, and The Raja Saab, which could potentially change the narrative. 'In 2022 and 2023, we saw how Telugu films like RRR and Karthikeya 2 dominated even the Hindi market,' says TS Ram Prasad. 'We're hopeful that the second half of this year will bring back that momentum.' With several star-driven, pan-India projects in the pipeline, the industry is banking on these titles to bring audiences back to theatres and revive the box office after a lacklustre first half. Until then, all eyes are firmly on what the second half of 2025 has in store. Looking back at the last six months, I can only name about six movies that actually did well at the box office and that clearly explains how the industry has been so far. OTT revenues add 20–30% to a film's overall success, but that's not enough to bridge the wide gap. – Anupam Reddy, Former Secretary of the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce Today's audience is selective. Content is king. Within hours of a film's release, opinions start flooding social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube. That real-time feedback heavily influences theatre footfalls. Audiences are very clear about their choices—if they're investing in a theatre ticket, they want to be sure it's worth their time and money. – Producer and Exhibitor Suniel Narang Within five hours of a film's release, pirated versions are available online. Add to that the fact that most films drop on OTT within 50 days, and you've got little incentive for the audience to visit a theatre. – TS Ram Prasad, Chairman of the Exhibitors Sector of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce Tollywood's first half of 2025 has been anything but smooth. Despite a steady stream of releases, only a handful managed to perform at the box office, with most films falling short of expectations. Factors like high ticket prices, production delays, weak content, piracy, and rapid OTT turnarounds have kept audiences away from theatres. As losses mount and investments fall short of recovery, industry stakeholders are now pinning their hopes on big upcoming releases to turn the tide in the months ahead. – Divya Shree
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
KPMG in Qatar welcomes ICAI Leadership
Doha, Qatar – KPMG in Qatar had the privilege of welcoming the leadership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) earlier today at its Doha office. The delegation included the President of ICAI, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, along with the Vice President, CA. Prasanna Kumar, the Chairman of the Corporate Laws & Corporate Governance Committee, Mr Babu Abraham who are visiting Qatar to participate in the Chartered Accountants Day celebrations, held this evening at Le Royal Méridien. As part of their visit, the ICAI leadership engaged with Indian Chartered Accountants and articled trainees at KPMG, recognizing the significant role they play in shaping Qatar's professional landscape. KPMG in Qatar is proud to be one of the largest employers of Indian Chartered Accountants in the country, with 21 qualified CAs and 5 articled trainees contributing across different service lines. The visit offered a rare and meaningful opportunity for KPMG staff to meet the leaders of the world's largest accounting body, which represents nearly 500,000 members and over 1 million students globally. In an inspiring address, ICAI President CA. Nanda invited each team member to introduce themselves before delivering a passionate speech on the vital role Chartered Accountants play in driving India's progress and supporting financial and reporting standards globally. He described Indian CAs as the "financial soldiers of the Republic of India" and reflected on ICAI's recent success in hosting the World Congress of Accountants, a landmark event held on a global scale. 'This visit was a moment of pride for all of us at KPMG,' said Gopal Balasubramaniam, Partner and Head of Audit at KPMG in Qatar. 'It reflects our shared commitment to excellence, ethics, and cross-border collaboration. We deeply value our strong ties with ICAI and the outstanding contributions of our Indian Chartered Accountants.' About KPMG in Qatar KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited ('KPMG International') operate and provide professional services. 'KPMG' is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively. KPMG firms operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Cauvery river hit by pollution; Rs 49.56 crore sewage project back on track in Karnataka's Madikeri
MADIKERI: The Cauvery River, which originates in Kodagu and serves as a vital water source for South India, has seen increasing pollution at its source in recent years, making the water unfit for drinking. This decline has been attributed to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and the careless behaviour of both tourists and locals. Waste continues to enter the Cauvery due to various reasons. To address the issue, a project worth Rs 49.56 crore was launched to prevent polluted waste from contaminating the river, which flows from Talacauvery through Triveni Sangam at Bhagamandala, benefitting numerous regions across South India. After lying dormant for 13 years, the project is now regaining momentum. Currently, sewage from Madikeri's residential and commercial areas enters the city's main canal, flows through lower Kootuhole, passes the Abbi Waterfall, and eventually joins the Cauvery via the Harangi Reservoir. The Karnataka government approved the Rs 49.56 crore sewage treatment project on 25 August 2012, aimed at preserving the Cauvery's purity and improving urban sanitation. The plan involves directing the city's sewage through dedicated pipelines to treatment facilities. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board proposed a unique facility for treating sewage from homes below road level. Areas not connected to the main system will use septic tanks. From the outset, the project faced several setbacks including land disputes, road-related hurdles, and public resistance. Although the local Municipal Council approached the Deputy Commissioner for land allocation in March 2012, delays in the land transfer process hampered timely implementation. Construction under Package-1 began in November 2015, with a company awarded the Rs 40.99 crore contract. The work included laying 109 km of sewer pipelines, building wells and septic tanks, and providing 7,373 household connections, with a scheduled completion date of December 2018. The drainage system, designed considering the city's slope and topography, was approved by the Chief Engineer. While 77% of urban Madikeri falls within the STP coverage area, the rest was divided into nine septic tank zones. Roadblocks and public resistance delayed full execution. Once all works are completed, household connections will begin, preventing sewage from flowing into the Cauvery River, according to Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board District Assistant Executive Engineer Prasanna Kumar . So far, 69.1 km of sewer pipelines, 2,460 machine holes, and 3,400 house connections have been installed. Remaining work involves cutting through 10 km of asphalt and 5 km of concrete roads. Foundation work for the sewage treatment unit began in January on 1.70 acres of land in K. Badaga village. A Bengaluru-based company was awarded the Rs 7.17 crore Package-2 contract on 2 June 2019, which includes constructing a 3.0/4.50 MLD treatment plant, auxiliary structures, and five years of maintenance. Additionally, the municipality acquired three acres to develop a green belt around the treatment unit, as mandated by the Environmental Pollution Control Board. Officials are hopeful the project will be completed within the stipulated one-year tender period.
Hans India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
NTR Universe Success Celebrations held grandly in Hyderabad after global festivities
The grand success of the NTR Cine Vajrotsavam—a tribute to Telugu cinema legend Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao—was celebrated in Hyderabad following a series of international events held across multiple countries. Titled NTR Universe Success Celebrations, the event was organized to commemorate the global recognition received for NTR's centenary. The Hyderabad celebration saw the presence of NTR's son Nandamuri Ramakrishna, NTR Literature Committee Chairman and TDP Political Secretary TG Janardhan, TFPC Secretary and producer Prasanna Kumar, among others. Addressing the gathering, Ramakrishna called NTR a visionary who elevated Telugu pride worldwide through both cinema and politics. 'NTR proved politics can be a platform to serve people. The love and respect shown for him by Telugu communities abroad was deeply moving,' he shared. Janardhan noted that the celebrations began in Vijayawada and later spanned 13 cities across 8 countries including the USA, Dubai, Singapore, and Australia. He highlighted initiatives like the launch of a website and publication of a book based on NTR's speeches to preserve his legacy. Prasanna Kumar lauded NTR's commitment to Telugu cinema, even turning down Bollywood and Hollywood offers. He praised current leaders for honoring NTR's legacy, noting the AP government's holiday on May 28 and Telangana's NTR National Award—first presented to actor Balakrishna.
