NEWS AT A GLANCE

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CBS LINE

Volume 3(12)


Macro Economy

📊 Macro News

  • US Economy : Steady Growth Meets Sticky Inflation Forecast: 2% GDP growth, 2.75% inflation. AI-driven productivity helps offset slower hiring..
  • India’s Growth Soars Past 8% in H1 : Q2 hits 8.2%—driven by strong demand and government spending. H2 moderation expected..
  • India’s Inflation at Historic Low: Just 0.25% : Food prices correct, core inflation stays contained. Room for more policy easing widens.
  • Global Growth Set to Cool in 2026 : UNCTAD warns of slowdown from debt, trade costs, and uncertainty. South-South trade stays resilient at +8%..
Global Trade

🌍 International Economics

  • Global Trade : Global Trade to Smash $35T Record in 2025** A 7% surge adds $2.2T, driven by electronics and manufacturing. East Asia and Africa lead the charge.
  • IIndia’s FTA Sprint : EU, NZ, Chile in Focus Facing 50% US tariffs, India fast-tracks trade deals. Just signed with Oman—more partnerships coming.
  • India’s Export Surprise : +22% Despite Tariffs November exports hit $38.1B—a decade high. Resilience builds leverage to push for lower US tariffs.
  • Friendshoring is Back on the Rise : Trade shifts toward political allies and nearby partners. Geopolitics is redrawing the global map of commerce.
FinTech

💻 Financial Technology

  • FinTech Funding Frenzy: $1B+ in One Week : 12 deals closed, led by Plata's $500M mega-round. Cybertech and fraud prevention dominate investor interest.
  • AI vs. AI : The Fraud Arms Race Heats Up Startups like Adaptive Security tackle deepfake scams. Informed.IQ speeds loan verification—from days to minutes.
  • Banking Without Branches Goes Mainstream : Thread Bancorp’s $30.5M raise signals embedded banking’s rise. Financial services are moving inside customer platforms.
  • Crypto Stalls Amid Fear & Record Outflows : Bitcoin stuck near $90k as fear index hits 29. ETFs see $1.42B exit—institutions tap the brakes.
Economic Policy

📊 Economic Policy

  • RBI Enters "Lower for Longer" Era: RBI slashes rates to 5.25% after inflation hits 0.25%. Growth gets priority as global uncertainty looms.
  • Fed's "Hawkish" Cut Sparks Pause Talk: Fed cuts rates, but three dissenters signal caution. Sticky inflation at 2.8% means future cuts are on hold..
  • US Shutdown Ends—Deficit Concerns Linger : After 43 days, the shutdown stops. But the deficit hits $1.8T, with interest costs now exceeding defense spending.
  • Global Fiscal Path Diverges : Central banks press pause—Fed eases while Europe holds. Fiscal stimulus expected through 2026 amid rising defense budgets.

Roshni Thayyil

MSc in Econometrics and Financial Technology

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