Author: Aruna Kaim

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra and three other entities over an alleged Rs 1,322-crore fraud involving LIC Housing Finance (LICHFL). Core Allegations and Loan Details Inflated Net Worth: Chandra allegedly submitted false net worth certificates issued by chartered accountant firms (DIM & Co and MPJ & Co) in 2018, pegging his worth between Rs 40,562 crore and Rs 59,000 crore to secure loans. Loan Facilities: The fraud centers on a Rs 500-crore facility granted to Vasant Sagar Properties Pvt Ltd (with Pan India Infra Projects as co-borrower) and a…

As U.S. markets return from the Labor Day holiday weekend, Wall Street investors are turning their attention toward upcoming wholesale and consumer inflation data to gauge the trajectory of future Federal Reserve monetary policy. Upcoming Data Releases: The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) is scheduled for release on Thursday, closely followed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Friday. Economists surveyed by Reuters project a 0.4% monthly increase in headline August CPI, with a 0.2% rise expected for the core measure. Searching for Confirmation: Following a prior CPI report that showed minimal price growth, market participants are looking to…

European shares capped off a volatile week with overall losses, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that pushed crude oil prices higher and stoked fears of sticky inflation. Benchmark Performance: The pan-European STOXX 600 finished the week down 0.8%, despite ticking up 0.1% to close at 649.88 points. Macro Headwinds: Surging energy import costs, rising government debt, and a resilient U.S. labor market reinforced expectations for tighter central bank monetary policies on both sides of the Atlantic. Volkswagen Rallies: Providing a bright spot for the region, Volkswagen shares jumped nearly 5.9% to hit a two-month high.…

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has projected that global crude oil prices could plummet to as low as $40 to $50 a barrel once the ongoing military conflict with Iran reaches a resolution. Speaking during an interview, Bessent attributed this steep potential decline to a forthcoming structural oversupply in the global energy market, pointing out that substantial new production capacity is poised to come online. The Treasury chief’s remarks arrive at a time when geopolitical tensions have significantly roiled energy markets. Recent missile exchanges and security threats surrounding critical shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Brent crude…

Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has adjusted the timeline for its highly anticipated public market debut, shifting its launch window toward mid-October. Timeline Shift: While the company had initially been expected to make its IPO prospectus public as early as the week following Labor Day, the rollout has been pushed back. Anthropic is now slated to release its public filings later in September, with marketing and the formal offering targeted for mid-to-late October. Credit Facility Prep: The delay comes as Anthropic works to finalize a massive $15 billion revolving credit facility with major financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan,…

The mechanics behind Warren Buffett’s warning about corporate profit figures center on an inherent quirk in standard accounting rules: the asymmetry of asset valuation. When a subsidiary or an investment sours, accounting rules mandate that the books immediately mark its value down, directly hitting the reported profit and loss statement. Conversely, when a business thrives, grows, or increases in intrinsic value, standard historical cost accounting generally prohibits companies from marking its book value upward. Buffett uses this structural blind spot to explain to shareholders how easily a CEO could legally manipulate earnings to fit a desired narrative. If a conglomerate…

Indian equities are facing a wave of pressure, driven by rising crude-oil prices, foreign portfolio outflows, and ongoing sector-specific repricing. In an extended market correction filled with shifting macroeconomic crosscurrents, trying to time the absolute bottom is a fool’s errand. Instead of attempting to catch the lowest tick, seasoned investors focus on structural resilience, reallocating capital toward fundamentally robust large- and mid-cap equities capable of weathering the storm and delivering over 20% returns across a 12-month horizon. The Defensive Strength of Market Leaders When volatility spikes, smaller caps typically bear the brunt of liquidity crunches and sharp drawdowns. Large- and…

When a company reports rising profits while its top-line sales barely budge, investors naturally applaud improved operational efficiency or aggressive cost-cutting. However, a stagnant revenue line paired with a surging bottom line can sometimes signal financial engineering rather than organic growth. Behind the scenes, the manipulation often starts not with what a company sells, but with how it manages its procurement. Consider a glaring real-world warning sign: a firm hands over a massive advance—such as ₹394 crore—to a supplier under the guise of buying raw materials, yet only consumes a fraction of that amount, say ₹70 crore, over the entire…

As global financial markets recalibrate in response to resilient US labor data and shifting Federal Reserve rate expectations, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) frequently reallocate capital toward safer, dollar-denominated assets. For emerging markets like India, this dynamic introduces a delicate balancing act, often exerting downward pressure on domestic equity valuations and currency stability. To insulate portfolios against external macroeconomic shocks, savvy investors increasingly rely on quantitative multi-pillar frameworks to identify domestic equities exhibiting genuine internal strength. Rather than chasing speculative momentum, these screening systems evaluate companies across five core dimensions: Earnings: Scrutinizes historical and projected growth, profit margins, and operational efficiency…

Dyson kicked off IFA 2026 in Berlin by showcasing its latest wave of consumer technology. Leading the announcements is an unexpected oral care device alongside upgrades to floorcare, air treatment, and hair styling. Dyson CameraJet: A smart toothbrush featuring an integrated 100-kpixel macro lens and Gap Optical Targeting. Powered by machine learning trained on 470,000 dental images, it scans 28 live images per second to detect plaque gaps and deliver precise, anti-gravity micro-jets of mouth rinse. Dyson W1 PencilWash: An upgraded wet cleaner featuring a more absorbent roller, a hygienic waste system, and self-cleaning docking technology while maintaining a slim,…