Grow

• Ram Singh, Director of the Delhi School of Economics, stated that the easing of conflict in West Asia has reduced the downside risks to India's 6.6% growth forecast. • Growth prospects may be further bolstered by the moderation of El Nino effects and the resolution of ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. • The operationalization of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 37 countries is expected to drive economic expansion by boosting foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports.

Makerfield MP on course to be PM will argue for more decision-making in regions and communities as he sets out platform for governmentAndy Burnham will pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode” by overseeing a significant transfer of power out of Whitehall to local communities as he sets out his case to become the UK’s next prime minister.In his first major speech since winning the Makerfield byelection, Burnham will argue for decision-making to be devolved to regions and communities to drive economic growth locally, replacing the current top-down national model. Continue reading...

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has identified a potential AI bust, persistent inflation, and fiscal stress as the primary threats to global economic prosperity. • BIS chief Pablo Hernandez de Cos warned that memories of the 2022 cost-of-living shock increase the likelihood of "second-round effects" on inflation. • The organization highlighted risks stemming from high sovereign debt and the volatility of "fleet-footed" investors who may quickly withdraw funding from government bonds.

• The Opinions Editor argues that while immediate economic troubles have eased, the structural foundations necessary for sustainable, long-term growth remain absent. • Key sectors are struggling: high-skilled IT services are under pressure, manufacturing is failing to gain traction, and the financial sector is not creating enough low-to-medium skilled roles. • Job growth is currently concentrated in low-end services, exemplified by Zepto, which saw its delivery rider workforce surge from 49,278 in 2024 to 2.21 lakh in 2026.

• The European Audiovisual Observatory has released a new industry report mapping the expansion and increasing complexity of television, on-demand, and video-sharing services across Europe. • The report emphasizes the growing dominance of Video-on-Demand (VoD) platforms and the significant influence exerted by U.S.-based media conglomerates on the regional landscape. • This analysis matters as it highlights the shifting dynamics of distribution and exhibition, coinciding with events like the Sorrento Industry Days and the Europa Distribution Network Conference in Brussels.

• Marking 11 years of the Digital India initiative, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is transitioning the program into a new growth phase. • While the first decade focused on expanding digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, and citizen services, the next stage will prioritize frontier technologies. • The government is specifically betting on artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors to drive future economic and technological advancement.

• UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund is implementing a disciplined investment strategy that blends value-based equity selection with quality debt to achieve balanced growth. • The fund utilizes a structured valuation framework tailored to specific sectors, such as using price-to-book for banks, P/E ratios for IT, and EV/EBITDA for commodity businesses. • This diversified approach avoids reliance on a single metric, instead applying specialized valuations like price-to-net asset value for real estate and price-to-embedded value for insurance.