Business
India’s FY22 GDP expected to grow at 10-10.5%: Brickwork Ratings
India’s FY22 GDP is expected to grow at 10-10.5 per cent on a year-on-year basis, Brickwork Ratings said.
According to the ratings agency, Q2FY22 GDP is expected to grow at 8.3 per cent year-on-year on the back of a faster-than-expected revival in economic activities as well as a decline in new Covid cases, leading to sustained improvement in growth prospects.
“Most states have already relaxed restrictions on economic activities; with the progress achieved in vaccinating a sizeable proportion of the population, economic activities are likely to gather momentum,” the agency said in a statement.
“The pandemic toll on the economy has been huge, and contact-intensive sectors and supply disruptions may take some more time to fully recover. The economy is slowly and gradually getting back to normalcy, and this is evident from the recent revival in production activities and consumption demand,” it added.
The agency said that the resilience in withstanding the restrictions imposed due to the second wave of the pandemic is evident in contact-intensive sectors such as trade, hotels and transport.
“Although the second wave has adversely impacted the construction sector, disruption in the sector seems to be much less than that witnessed last year. After having witnessed sequential decline in Q1FY22, reflecting a demand slowdown due to lockdowns, industrial activities have shown significant growth recently,” it said.
Amid the waning possibility of a third Covid wave, the agency expects the economy to register better growth in the remaining part of the year.
“The downside risks of a possible third wave to growth too are limited due to the progress achieved in vaccination. Most importantly, downside risks emanating from rising international crude oil prices, mineral products, steadily increasing costs of raw materials and freight rates, disruptions in semi-conductor supply and coal supply shortages are likely to downplay the growth momentum,” Brickwork Ratings said.
In addition, the agency cited that after remaining cautious in increasing its expenditures, the government is also confident of being able to contain the fiscal deficit at the budgeted level, aided by buyout revenues.
“The capital expenditure has been increased in the recent months, which will pave the way for accelerating growth. Pent-up demand during the festival season is likely to improve demand conditions further, paving the way for improved capacity utilisation during the third and fourth quarters,” it said.
Business
5 of top 10 valued firms lose Rs 1 lakh crore in market value last week

Mumbai, Aug 16: Five of India’s 10 most-valued companies together saw more than Rs 1 trillion (Rs 1 lakh crore) wiped off their market capitalisation last week as weakness in domestic equities weighed on investor sentiment, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) emerging as the biggest laggard.
The broader market remained under pressure during the week, with the Sensex falling 489.92 points, or 0.62 per cent, while the Nifty declined 204.65 points, or 0.83 per cent.
Among the top-10 valued firms, TCS recorded the sharpest erosion in market value. The IT major’s market capitalisation fell by Rs 34,263.28 crore to Rs 8.53 lakh crore.
Reliance Industries, the country’s most-valued company, also witnessed a substantial decline, with its valuation dropping by Rs 31,869.13 crore to Rs 17.70 lakh crore.
State Bank of India suffered the third-largest loss among the top firms, with its market capitalisation shrinking by Rs 25,891.88 crore to Rs 9.86 lakh crore.
HDFC Bank’s valuation fell by Rs 7,165.37 crore to Rs 11.21 lakh crore, while ICICI Bank lost Rs 2,792.65 crore in market value, ending the week with a valuation of Rs 10.18 lakh crore.
Despite the overall weakness, five companies in the top-10 pack managed to add a combined Rs 55,149.45 crore to their market capitalisation.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) led the gainers, with its market valuation rising by Rs 26,438.49 crore to Rs 5.23 lakh crore.
Bharti Airtel also posted strong gains, adding Rs 20,592.13 crore to take its valuation to Rs 12.43 lakh crore.
Bajaj Finance’s market capitalisation increased by Rs 3,548.79 crore to Rs 6.77 lakh crore, while Larsen & Toubro added Rs 2,490.66 crore, pushing its valuation to Rs 5.59 lakh crore. Hindustan Unilever’s market value rose by Rs 2,079.38 crore to Rs 4.91 lakh crore.
At the end of the week, Reliance Industries retained its position as India’s most-valued company, followed by Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, LIC and Hindustan Unilever.
Business
CM Patel leaves for US, Canada to attract investment ahead of Vibrant Gujarat 2027

Ahmedabad, Aug 16: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel departed from Ahmedabad in the early hours of Sunday for a visit to the United States and Canada aimed at attracting global investment and inviting investors and industry leaders to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.
CM Patel is leading a high-level state delegation that will engage with investors, industry associations, emerging technology leaders and members of the Gujarati community during the overseas outreach.
The visit comes ahead of the summit scheduled for January 2027, with the state stepping up international engagement to showcase its industrial and economic opportunities.
The delegation will hold roundtable conferences and one-to-one meetings in Washington DC, New York and San Francisco in the US, followed by engagements in Toronto, Canada.
The meetings are intended to present Gujarat’s development and investment opportunities and extend invitations to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Chief Secretary M.K. Das; Additional Chief Secretary of Finance, T. Natarajan; Additional Chief Secretary of Industries and Mines, Mamta Verma; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sanjeev Kumar; and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Vikrant Pandey; are accompanying CM Patel, along with representatives from the state’s trade and industry sector.
Officials said the delegation would particularly engage with investors and leaders in emerging technology sectors while also reaching out to the Gujarati diaspora.
The overseas meetings form part of Gujarat’s broader preparations for the 2027 summit, with international outreach programmes planned to build participation and investment interest.
The visit also marks the first official trip to the US by a sitting Gujarat Chief Minister since 1995, according to reports.
CM Patel’s tour is scheduled to cover the US and Canada from August 17 to 24.
The Chief Minister’s departure from Ahmedabad Airport was attended by officials including Collector Bhavya Verma, who extended their wishes for the visit.
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, conceived in 2003, has developed into an international platform for business networking, investment and strategic partnerships. The next edition is scheduled for January 2027.
Business
Gold, silver decline up to 1 pc as US-Iran tensions weigh sentiment

New Delhi, Aug 14: Gold and silver prices traded sharply lower on Friday amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of never-before-seen economic measures against Iran.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures (October) declined as much as 0.8 per cent or Rs 1,233 to Rs 1,52,233, hitting an intraday low by 10:22 am.
At the last count, the yellow metal was trading at 1,52,415, down Rs 1,051 or 0.68 per cent. It touched an intraday high of Rs 1,53,200 so far in the session, a decrease of 0.17 per cent or Rs 266 from the previous close.
Similarly, silver futures (September) recorded an intraday low of Rs 2,32,454, decreasing 1.27 per cent or Rs 2,993.
The white metal was trading at Rs 2,32,880, down Rs 2,567 or about 1 per cent. It touched an intraday high of Rs 2,33,982, down 0.62 per cent or Rs 1,465.
Earlier in the day, gold and silver opened at Rs 1,53,200 and Rs 2,33,780, respectively on the MCX.
The selling pressure in precious metals came after reports suggest that Bessent said the US would use a combination of economic isolation and a continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to market experts, MCX Gold extends downside momentum, trading near Rs 152,500 after facing rejection from highs near Rs 155,500.
They further noted that immediate resistance is placed at Rs 153,000–Rs 153,500 near open and a decisive move above could push toward Rs 154,000–Rs 154,500.
Immediate support is seen at Rs 152,000–Rs 151,500, followed by stronger support at Rs 151,000, the experts said adding that price continues to hold comfortably above all major EMAs, but MACD indicates slowing bullish momentum and RSI reverses from overbought territory, reflecting possible near-term pressure.
For MCX Silver, the experts stated that immediate support is seen at the Rs 232,000 zone, followed by stronger support at Rs 231,500–Rs 231,000.
Price breaks below the 20-day EMA, with MACD indicating slowing bullish momentum, while RSI eases, supporting the trend-reversal narrative and reflecting near-term pressure. Bias remains cautious, with a break below Rs 232,000 likely to invite further downside.
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