Markets continued to remain choppy and gained on two trading days, lost on two days and were flat on the fifth day. BSE SENSEX lost 163.83 points or 0.41 per cent to close at 39,452.07 points while NIFTY lost 47.35 points or 0.40 per cent to close at 11,823.30 points. The broader indices saw BSE100, BSE200 and BSE500 lose a little more at 0.51 per cent, 0.60 per cent and 0.70 per cent respectively. Dow Jones gained 105.67 points or 0.41 per cent to close at 26,089.61 points.


Week ahead to be choppy, trade cautiously (Column: Market Watch)


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Markets began the week on a strong note and registered new lifetime highs on June 3. They surrendered some of the gains on the same day and all of it and a little more by the end of the week to register minor losses. The four-day trading week saw BSE Sensex close at 39615.90 points a loss of 98.30 points or 0.25 per cent, while NIFTY closed at 11,870.65 points a loss of 52.15 points or 0.44 per cent.


NBFC wounds need salve (Column: Market Watch)


The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a unanimous 25 basis points (bps) rate cut as well a change in stance to accommodative. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecast has been marginally revised upwards for H1FY20 to 3-3.1 per cent (from 2.9-3 per cent), but is a shade lower for H2 at 3.4-3.7 per cent (from 3.5-3.8 per cent).


Monetary policy: RBI bids to better transmission (Comment)


As per the latest data by the Government of India, the economic growth has slowed down to a 20-quarter low of 5.8 per cent during the last quarter of FY 2018-19.


RBI supports growth stance with repo rate cut


The Quad countries, India, Australia, Japan and the US, have discussed leveraging the power of the private sector, which could balance China's economic diplomacy that promotes infrastructure development in its quest for global influence.


India, US, Japan, Australia consult leveraging private sector power in infrastructure (News Analysis)


The great TV anchors, God's gift to Indian journalism, who have been Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shrill town criers these past five years, looked sheepish covering the spectacular swearing in ceremony at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. These media stars from the loyalist school of journalism kept state secrets so deep in their hearts that they revealed not one portfolio, not even the time when the portfolios would be announced. There is an Arab saying: he knows not and knows not that he knows is a fool to be avoided.


Minions could have sportingly leaked portfolios in a carnival of democracy (Comment)


As Chief Operating Officer at Philip Morris International (PMI), it is my job to help realize our transformation. Today, this means unsmoking the world. In fact, this is something we at PMI have been actively engaged in for more than 20 years. Yes, thats right. It has been nearly two decades since we began researching, developing and scientifically assessing smoke-free products as part of our commitment to creating a smoke-free future, which is now becoming a reality. However, for us to unsmoke the world, it is crucial to unsmoke India, which is home to over 100 million adult smokers.


It's time to unsmoke: Accepting challenge to produce less harmful products (Comment)


The Modi government in June 2015 committed to a grandiose vision of "Housing for All" by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence. With a view to provide a concrete shape to this vision, the government rolled out the "Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana" (PMAY). The scheme aimed at boosting affordable housing by providing credit-linked subsidy to construct around 2.95 crore houses in rural areas and 1.2 crore houses in urban areas.


Creating a vibrant community and nation through affordable housing


As the new government takes office, it is time to reflect on some of the most critical areas that need attention to boost the investment and business climate in India. While structural reforms around land acquisition and labour laws remain on the top of the agenda, the new government would do well to focus on implementing incremental policy changes and addressing gaps in the various sectors that would significantly boost the investment climate.


Incremental reforms a must do for the next government (Column: Behind Infra Lines)


After the BJP won 282 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 - the first time in three decades that a single party was able to gain an absolute majority - it was popularly believed that the unexpectedly strong performance was a one-off affair.


It's time for BJP government to introduce long-standing structural reforms (Column: Active Voice)


A star secretary was a phrase used to describe a man/woman who handled the work affairs of an actor. But, a lot of them fitted the bill of 'Star Secretary because many secretaries who handled stars eventually became bigger stars.


The era of star secretaries (Column: B Town)


The Indian pharmaceutical industry has become almost synonymous with the US regulatory authorities.


Cartels and collusion - will the cycle ever stop? (Column: Active Voice)


News headlines from across the world seem to suggest that conglomerates that dominated many industries for the past decades are seeing a seismic shift of business strategy.


The conglomerate is dead, long live the conglomerate! (Column: Behind Infra Lines)


You may not have noticed it, but Americas war with Iran started some days ago, and may not be going too well for the worlds mightiest power. This is not a war that President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, is enthusiastic about. The eager beavers, the trigger happy foursome lurching towards war are what Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif describes as Trumps "B" team - Bibi Netanyahu, John Bolton, bin Salman and bin Zayed.


Jimmy Carter chastises Trump: 'US most warlike nation in history' (Comment)


Bankruptcies are a painful process for businesses, employees and business partners, but are an inevitable consequence of business dynamics and competition.


Bankruptcies: The good, the bad and the ugly (Column: Behind Infra Lines)


The week gone by began with a trading holiday because the fourth phase of polling took place on Monday (April 29) in Mumbai amongst other places, and both the stock exchanges are located there. Markets were volatile on Tuesday and closed with small losses. Wednesday was another holiday. Markets lost on the remaining two days as well. BSESENSEX ended the week with a loss of 104.07 points or 0.27 per cent to close at 38,963.26 points. NIFTY lost 42.40 points or 0.36 per cent to close at 11,712.25 points. The broader markets saw BSE100, BSE200 and BSE500 lose 0.55 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.70 per cent respectively. BSEMIDCAP lost 1.86 per cent and BSESMALLCAP lost 1.79 per cent.


Trade cautiously without getting carried away (Column: Market Watch)


A picture is worth a thousand words and you never forget a picture you saw was the rule for and logic for promoting Indian films. Illiteracy has always been a problem and the best way to grab attention has always been through a graphic. Nowhere has this been more relevant than with the promotion of a film.


The changing ways of film promotion (Column: B Town)


News on Indian credit markets over the last few weeks provide us with pointers that should help shape policy and business strategy. The struggle to get bidders for Jet Airways and the tepid response from investors towards Indias fledgeling municipal bond market point towards the need for a better-structured credit market, especially as the nature of businesses evolve even as the demand for credit rises to finance consumption and infrastructure needs.


Now's an excellent learning opportunity for Indian credit markets (Column: Behind Infra Lines)


History has always been an indispensable part of Indian society. People across India daily begin their day with chants that have their origin in the Bronze Age and pepper their conversation with epics that have been told and re-told since the Iron Age.


History can be tough taskmaster if inferred without context (Column: Active Voice)


China's retreat from providing international protection for Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and its patron Islamabad, marks a milestone in the political and diplomatic war on terror with potential reverberations beyond the subcontinent.


Azhar's designation as terrorist turning point in political war on terror (News Analysis)


SEBI has passed five different orders against various entities involved with the dark fibre and co-location case involving NSE. This issue was also mentioned in the risk factors of the DRHP filed by National Stock Exchange in its proposed public offer. This issue was also responsible for claiming the sudden resignation of its then Managing Director and CEO Chitra Ramakrishna, immediately after the DRHP was filed.