Japan’s SOMPO seeks control of Universal General

Japan’s SOMPO Insurance is discussing increasing its stake in Universal SOMPO General Insurance. The Japanese insurer aims to acquire shares from existing Indian shareholders to reach majority control. This move follows the government’s liberalization of foreign direct investment norms in the insurance sector. Universal SOMPO has shown strong growth and profitability in recent years. Additional…

Global Market Today: Asian stocks recover as chips rebound, oil dips

Asian stocks advanced, recovering from recent losses as chip shares stabilized. Megacap technology earnings are anticipated this week, influencing market direction. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and trade concerns are creating investor caution. Elevated oil prices and escalating regional conflicts add to market uncertainty. Investors await corporate results and de-escalation for market rebounds.

Credit-deposit gap to persist as loan demand dynamics have changed, says SBI Research

A noticeable gap between credit and deposit growth is troubling the banking landscape. Consumers are shifting their savings from traditional deposits to diverse financial options. Amid geopolitical uncertainties and rising oil costs, companies are requesting more working capital loans. To alleviate this funding pressure, newly introduced FCNR(B) deposits could provide a short-term remedy. It is…

India’s outward FDI drops 48% to $3 billion in June

Outward foreign direct investment commitments dropped by 48 percent in June. Equity commitments also saw a substantial decrease compared to the previous year. Debt and guarantee issuances by Indian entities overseas also declined during the month. These provisional figures were released by the Reserve Bank of India. ONGC Videsh Rovuma made the largest equity investment…

FCNR scheme: Withholding tax fear haunts US, Singapore NRIs

Non-resident Indians residing in Singapore and the United States are expressing significant concerns over withholding taxes. These taxes threaten to diminish their net returns from leveraging FCNR deposit schemes. For instance, borrowing from Indian banks’ GIFT City branches triggers Singapore withholding tax, while US-resident NRIs encounter elevated withholding taxes on loan interest payments. Moreover, US…