Author: Aruna Kaim
Managing risk is essential during volatile market phases driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, such as potential extended conflicts in the Middle East, and subsequent crude oil price shocks. When headwinds increase and corrections loom, adopting a disciplined, staggered investment approach prevents overexposure and cushions portfolios against sharp market swings. Why Mid-Caps Require a Selective Approach Mid-cap stocks frequently present strong growth catalysts, but heightened volatility requires careful stock selection. Analysts continue to flag selective opportunities across high-conviction structural themes, focusing on companies backed by solid order books, strong earnings visibility, and clear pricing power. Key sectors featuring prominent mid-cap recommendations…
The laptop market has entered a new era dominated by AI capabilities and dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs). However, with tech marketing heavily pushing buzzwords, separating genuine productivity enhancements from gimmicks is crucial. The latest wave of Copilot+ PCs moves beyond cloud-based chatbots, offering local processing for automated workflows, enhanced video collaboration, and real-time transcription. If you are looking to upgrade your machine in 2026, here are four of the top-tested AI laptops on the market, followed by the essential features that truly make a difference. Top AI Laptop Picks 1. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Display & Build: 15.6-inch Full…
For years, the standard computer monitor sat comfortably in the 21- to 24-inch range. However, as multitasking demands grow, remote work becomes permanent, and entertainment habits shift toward high-definition streaming and gaming, the landscape has changed. Today, the 27-inch display has firmly established itself as the gold standard for desktop setups. Offering a harmonious balance between expansive screen space and a manageable physical footprint, a 27-inch monitor transforms how you interact with your workflow. The Ideal Balance for Work and Play One of the primary reasons users gravitate toward 27-inch models is screen real estate. Compared to smaller panels, a…
If you have recently picked up the Google Pixel 10a (launched in February 2026), pairing it with an official Google case is a great way to safeguard your investment without sacrificing the phone’s clean design. Built with a silicone exterior, a sturdy polycarbonate shell, and at least 36% recycled plastic, these cases offer a snug fit, precise cutouts, and hundreds of hours of drop-testing resilience. Gadgets 360+ 1 Priced at ₹2,499 (down from ₹2,999), here are the four official color options available on Flipkart: Google Back Cover for Pixel 10a – Google : Flipkart.com 1. Berry The Vibe: The most…
Investing in a smart CCTV camera with mobile app support is one of the most practical ways to upgrade home security in India. Modern security cameras allow you to monitor blind spots live from anywhere, receive instant motion alerts, and communicate directly through two-way audio. When shopping for a reliable home surveillance system, key factors to evaluate include video resolution (such as 3MP or 4MP), night vision performance, storage flexibility (cloud vs. microSD), and app reliability. Here are five of the best indoor and outdoor smart CCTV cameras available in India, curated for features, video quality, and value: Trueview 3MP…
With the onset of the rainy season driving up cases of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, many insurers offer standalone, benefit-based vector-borne disease covers. Unlike standard indemnity plans that reimburse actual hospital bills, these policies pay a predetermined lump-sum benefit upon a confirmed diagnosis and fulfillment of specific claim triggers (such as a 48-hour minimum hospitalization rule in some plans). While relatively affordable—ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 annually—these policies come with a narrow scope, terminating entirely after a single claim or a limited number of payouts in family floaters. Who Needs It: Frequent travelers, gig and self-employed workers facing income loss…
Small finance banks (SFBs) across India are poised for a notable rebound in asset quality, with gross non-performing assets (GNPA) projected to decline by roughly 120 basis points to between 2.6% and 2.8% by March 2027, according to a recent report by Crisil Ratings. This projected recovery is driven by two primary factors: Microfinance Recovery: The microfinance portfolio is stabilizing following earlier stress, bolstered by significantly tighter underwriting practices and improved borrower selection criteria. Non-Microfinance Growth: Non-microfinance segments are expanding at a faster pace, now making up a larger, more diversified share of total advances and shielding balance sheets against…
L&T Finance has announced an aggressive multi-year expansion strategy to scale up its gold loan footprint, aiming to add 500 new branches every year over the next four to five years. The aggressive physical rollout is designed to expand the company’s network to a total of 2,500 to 3,000 branches nationwide, rapidly building out a segment that currently contributes to its growing secured retail portfolio. Key highlights of the expansion include: Current Footprint: Following its entry into the segment via an acquisition, the company expects its active gold loan branches to scale up significantly to 800 outlets by the close…
Veteran IT pioneer Ashok Soota is paring a 22.1% stake in Happiest Minds Technologies for approximately ₹1,330 crore to aggressively fund his ventures in medical research and healthcare. The stake sale to ITC Infotech serves as a strategic precursor to a mega-merger between Happiest Minds and ITC Infotech, aiming to forge a major AI-first tech enterprise. The capital generated from the transaction will be heavily channeled into Soota’s philanthropic and healthcare initiatives: SKAN Research Trust: A not-for-profit medical research organization focusing on ageing and neurological ailments. Funds will support scaling its campus footprint to a planned 2-lakh square-foot facility. Happiest…
Modern senior leadership is defined by complex choices made under immense uncertainty, competing priorities, and high stakes. Rather than a lack of data, the core challenge facing executives today is recognizing how cognitive biases, internal assumptions, organizational pressures, and psychological blind spots quietly shape their decision-making process. To address these hurdles, the ET x LSE High-Performance Leadership & Strategic Decision-Making programme offers an intensive four-day residential executive education experience at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Capped at an exclusive cohort of 30 global business leaders, the curriculum combines decision science, behavioral insights, and cognitive psychology to…