The Core Report

On Episode 1006 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Amit Goel, Co-Founder & Chief Global Strategist at PACE 360 as well as Bhavesh Jain, Managing Director & CEO at TransUnion CIBIL. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Why Indian Markets Jumped A 1,000 Points On Thursday (05:35) Could There Be More Cross Border Energy Deals Between India And The US? (16:05) How Oil Transport Costs Are Spiking And Now In Focus (18:33) Direct Tax Collections Are Up, So Are Refunds (19:39) A Quick Glance At India’s Credit Health With TransUnion CIBIL For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 1005 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Vishal Mehta, India Leader – Energy Practice at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as well as Harsh Roongta, Founder at Fee Only Investment Advisers LLP. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Goldman’s Big Prediction For Indian AI Stocks (03:15) Rupee Continues To Rise As RBI Battles Speculation (04:56) Wholesale Inflation Jumps (07:21) India’s Energy Grid Is Seeing Big Shortages, What Is The Way Out? (17:17) The Insurance Industry Has Pushed Back On The Regulator's Proposals On Slashing Distributor Commissions. Where Will The Meeting Point Be? For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 1004 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at Bank of Baroda Research as well as Amir Durrani, President Global Application, Business Process Services and Data practice at NTT DATA Inc. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Why IT Stocks Are Bouncing Back (01:32) Talk Of A Revisit Of Capital Gains Tax Rates On Investors Boosts Markets Again (06:03) What Could The Future Indian IT Services Companies Look Like? (14:36) What The Nobel Prize For Economics For This Year Recognises And What Does It Mean From An India Lens (23:09) Anthropic Says AI Is Months Away From Replicating Across Home Devices For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 1003 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA Ratings as well as Anindya Banerjee, Head of Research at Kotak Neo. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (00:50) Large Caps Continue To Take A Beating, Reliance Hits 18-Month Low (03:04) Mutual Fund Inflows Hit Fresh Records (03:58) Why China’s Gold Strategy Is Important To Note (04:59) Why Inflation Is Nearing A 2-Year High (12:33) Is The RBI’s Strategy Of Reducing Speculation On The Rupee Working? (19:29) The Latest Nobel Prize For Economics Goes To… For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 1002 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Srikanth Velamakanni, Chairperson of industry body Nasscom and Co-Founder and Group CEO at Fractal Analytics. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (06:17) Markets Could Come Under Pressure From Fresh West Asia Tensions (09:24) Why Heavy FPI Selling, Including $4.5 Billion This Month, Will Challenge RBI’s Moves To Lift The Rupee (11:26) A US Clampdown On Indian Tech Workers Puts The Spotlight Back On The Country’s AI Skills (24:18) Why Microsoft's Satya Nadella Wants To Put Brakes On AI For more of our coverage check out…

Why did IKEA pause its expansion in India, and what has changed now? Is IKEA an affordable furniture brand or an He also addresses whether IKEA charges more in India, explains the company's €400 million sourcing operations in the country, and reveals why he sees similarities between IKEA's position in India today and its growth journey in Russia 15 years ago. As India's retail market evolves, can IKEA balance affordability, aspiration and expansion while adapting to changing consumer preferences? Watch the full conversation for insights into IKEA's India strategy, furniture retail, manufacturing, sourcing and the future of organised retail in India. For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 1000 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajay Rotti, CEO at Tax Compaas and Prashant Agarwal, Indirect Tax Partner at PWC. We also feature an excerpt from our recent Special Edition featuring Swati Khemani, Founder and CEO at Carnelian Capital. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:09) Why The Sensex Has Hit A Near Three Year Low (04:07) A Merchant Charge On UPI Payments Is Being Delayed (04:43) Elon Musk’s Strange Accusation On Indian Oligarchs (06:12) Why The Latest Announcements On GST Are Important (20:06) Why Taking Bets On Company Leadership Is Important In Stock Picking For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 999 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Radhika Rao, Senior Economist and Executive Director at DBS Bank as well as Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist at CRISIL. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Markets Turn Around As Oil Prices Rise (03:40) What Does The RBI Rate Hike Really Mean? (15:52) The Silent Shift In India’s Exports And Guess Which Country Is The Biggest Recipient Of This Product (23:11) Google Says They Have Fallen Short Of Their Own High Standards As Finland Suspends Data Centre Projects For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 998 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Saharsh Damani, CEO at FADA as well as Abhishek Gupta, Founder, Managing Partner, Pierag Consulting. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Crude Oil Is Flowing Out Of West Asia But Not Refined Products Like Diesel (02:53) Markets Continue Recovery As Oil Prices Fall (05:17) Power Demand Is Rocketing As Country’s Second Summer Kicks In (06:32) India Sees Record Auto Sales In September Across Most Categories (16:23) Are GCCs Consolidating Back Into IT Services Companies? For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 997 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at Bank of Baroda Research as well as Amit Pabari, Managing Director at CR Forex. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) A Trade Deal With The US Appears Distant And Near Impossible Now (04:47) Could RBI Hold Rates In Its Credit Policy This Week And Why? (14:13) Airlines Are Raising Fares Again (15:01) Battle Between Airlines And Mumbai Airport Intensifies As The Airlines Oppose A Forced Shift To Navi Mumbai (18:12) The Rupee Is Under Pressure Once Again. Where Could It Go Next? For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 996 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Umesh Revankar, Executive Vice Chairman at Shriram Finance Limited (in an excerpt from our Special Edition) as well as Shankkar Aiyar, economic journalist, columnist and author. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:34) Oil Prices And Bond Yields Will Determine If Weak Markets Can Recover (06:13) India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Fall The Highest On Record Last Week (07:14) Why Non Banks Continue To Show Credit Growth, Particularly In The MSME Sector (16:09) Consumption Will Drive India’s Growth But What Do We Know Of Its Trajectory? Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

India has built one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical industries. But scale alone is no longer enough. In this episode of The Core Report: Weekend Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Manish Sabharwal, Chairman and Co-founder of TeamLease Services, about what India’s pharma success can teach the rest of the economy and why the country still struggles to turn entrepreneurial ambition into globally competitive companies. Drawing from Made in India, the book on Lupin founder D.B. Gupta, Sabharwal discusses how Indian pharma moved from a licence-era industry to a global manufacturing force, why the next challenge is shifting from volume to value, and what is still holding back innovation, manufacturing and productivity. The conversation also explores India’s unfinished deregulation agenda, why capital is no longer the biggest constraint for businesses, the need for stronger governance and professional management, and why Indian companies may have to choose focus over excessive diversification. Sabharwal…

On Episode 994 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to K. Ravichandran is the Executive Vice President and Chief Rating Officer at ICRA Limited as well as Vaiibhavv Chugh, CEO at Abakkus Mutual Fund. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:22) Oil Flows Through The Strait Of Hormuz Are Only 11% Shy Of The Pre-War Peak (05:12) The Sensex Has Fallen 20% This Year In Dollar Terms, Steepest In 15 Years (06:36) India Sees Lowest Rainfall In Decade (06:58) How 74% Of Indian Entrepreneurs Want To Live Elsewhere (07:33) India Should Convert Macroeconomic Resilience Into Sustained Economic Momentum, Says S&P Global Ratings (09:28) Indian Companies Have Strong Balance Sheets Going Into The Second Half (21:09) Why Stock Selection Is Going Beyond The Classic Large Cap And Small Cap Definition Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 993 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Peter McGuire, CEO of Trading.com Australia and Chief Market Strategist for the Asia-Pacific region at XM as well as Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director at InGovern Research Services. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:15) Why Indian Markets Have Gone Back 25 Years (03:26) What The Combination Of High Oil Prices And Rising Bond Yields Means For Capital Flows (12:11) Essar Group Is Back With $18 Billion Steel Project, But In The USA (14:36) How Foreign Investors Are Buying Into Real Estate (15:46) And The Logjam Within Logjams As Tata Trusts Comes Up With Merger Proposal To Save Tata Sons From Listing Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 992 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Jaya Dhindaw, Executive Program Director, Sustainable Cities and Director at WRI India Ross Center as well as Kanan Bahl, Founder at Fingrowth Media. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:16) Why Oil Price Uncertainty Will Continue To Batter Markets (03:20) The List Of Prominent Companies’ Stock Price Hitting 52-Week Lows Is Growing (05:16) What’s Driving A Rise In India’s Index Of Industrial Production (IIP)? (08:05) How And Why India Should Revisit Its Very Definition Of Urbanisation? (20:07) India’s Insurance Regulator Sends The Industry Scurrying And Stockprices Falling. What’s Next? Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 991 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Indrani Bagchi, CEO at Ananta Aspen Centre. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:44) Oil Prices And Stalemate In West Asia Will Determine Market Direction This Week (07:26) Get Set For Price Rises Across The Economy (09:26) Government Asks Businesses With Captive Power Plants To Work At Full Capacity And Sell Surplus Power (10:44) What Does The US-China Bonhomie In Washington Mean For India? Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

The global economy is shifting from low-cost manufacturing towards secure and resilient supply chains, changing how capital flows across emerging markets. In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Jahangir Aziz, Co-Head of Macroeconomic Research, J.P. Morgan, about India's foreign investment challenges and its opportunity to position itself as a secure manufacturing alternative to China. The conversation examines India's dependence on Chinese inputs in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and other critical industries, and why Aziz argues for a shift from ease of business to “safety of business.” They also discuss emerging-market investment, US economic growth, the emergence of new industries and AI's impact on jobs and wages. Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians”⁠ For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 989 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to G Chokkalingam, Founder at Equinomics Research as well as Vivek Merchant, Director at Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) from our extended Special Edition interview. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:13) Liquidity Stretched Markets Take A Dive On Bank Bad News (01:40) US President Donald Trump Does An Airport Greeting For Chinese President Xi Jinping (05:48) Why The Indian Markets Crashed On Thursday (16:24) How India’s Shipbuilders Are Scouring The Globe For Orders And Winning Them Too (26:30) The US Is Investing $10.3 Trillion In Ai And Data Centers In The Next 6 Years, The Largest Capex In History Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 988 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to HP Ranina, Supreme Court advocate, chartered accountant, and expert on Indian tax and corporate laws. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:13) Oil Prices Steady As Markets Watch US-Iran Talks In New York (02:04) Why A Diesel Shortage In The West Could Become A Global Challenge (05:52) A Fresh Bull Case For Gold (08:06) Does The Reserve Bank Have The Powers To Force A Company To List, In This Case Tata Sons? Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 987 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Rajiv Batra, Head of Asia & Co-Head of Global Emerging Markets Equity Strategy and Chief India Equity Strategist at J.P. Morgan as well as Nikhil Dubey, Senior Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:17) Iran Makes Fresh Overture For Peace Even As UN General Assembly Kicks Off In New York (02:42) Indian Markets Slide On Weak Support And Continuous Liquidity Pressure From IPOs (04:58) JP Morgan Chief Says Indian Govt Should Not Allow Companies To Use Regulation To Block Competition (07:03) Why Global Investors Are Preferring Midcaps And What Is Keeping Them Away From Large Caps (27:29) Will India Be Affected By The Global Diesel Shortages? Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 986 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Vivek Lohia, Managing Director of Jupiter Wagons. We also feature an excerpt from our recent Special Edition featuring Dr. Rajiv Kumar, former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and Chairman of Pahle India Foundation. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) UN General Assemby Meets In New York, Will It Provide The Path To Peace Oil Prices Fall And Indian Markets Rise (03:18) What Bernstein Does Not Like About Older Large Cap Indian Companies (05:11) Coal Stocks Are Running Low (07:24) The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Is Fully Commissioned (18:36) How India Can Step Up To Receive More Chinese Investments Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 985 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Hetal Dalal, President and COO at IiAS as well as Abizer Diwanji, Founder at NeoStrat Advisors. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:41) Markets Brace For A Tough Week With War Intensifying In Multiple Theatres (08:25) Direct Tax Collections Continue To Rise (09:41) Did The Tata Sons Board Overstep Its Authority In Reappointing Chandrasekaran (18:18) Which Way Could The Tata Group Battle For Control Evolve And What’s At Stake Register for our event “Don’t Miss a Beat: The Hidden Risks to Indians” For more of our coverage check out…

Retail investors often discover how much risk they have taken only after a trade goes wrong. What can they learn from institutional investors about managing money before that happens? In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Sandeep Nayak, Managing Director and CEO of Centrum Finverse, about why retail investors lose money, how emotions influence investment decisions and what a disciplined approach to wealth creation involves. Sandeep Nayak examines the gap between entering the stock market to build long-term wealth and getting drawn into trading for quick profits. He explains why understanding potential losses, assessing the risk-reward ratio and controlling position sizes should come before placing a trade. The conversation also explores options trading, the use of data and analytics, and why access to trading tools needs to be accompanied by investor education. Institutional investors typically follow an asset allocation strategy and a defined…

Why are Indian business leaders investing in nature? Harish Yarlagadda, Shloka Nath and Dr Ravi Mariwala explore how climate philanthropy, biodiversity conservation and water security connect to India’s economic future.In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Harish Yarlagadda, founder and chief mentor of Malakshmi Group and co-founder of Dharmavana Nature Arc, Shloka Nath, former CEO of India Climate Collaborative, and Dr Ravi Mariwala, founder and CEO of Smart Water and a promoter at Marico.Yarlagadda shares why he moved away from fossil fuel power plants to focus on biodiversity restoration. His 400-acre project involves collecting seeds, conserving threatened plants and protecting the soil, fungi and insects that sustain ecosystems. His experience raises a question for businesses investing in nature. What does conservation require beyond planting trees?Mariwala explains how building a home outside Mumbai exposed gaps in water access and led him to develop water…

On Episode 982 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Anuj Kapoor, Managing Director and CEO, Private Wealth at JM Financial in an excerpt from our Special Edition as well as Ratan Kumar Kesh, Executive Director & COO at Bandhan Bank. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) India Puts Its Foot Down On Potential US Tariff Threat On Russian Oil Purchases (04:00) Markets Flat As They Digest Falling Oil Prices (05:27) The Tata Group’s Squabbles Have Blown Into A Full-Blown Public Spat (08:47) Managing Wealth Through Transition, A Wealth Manager’s View (20:24) How The Banking System Lifts Marginalised Businesses To Grow, New Insights For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 981 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Dr. Mayur Shah, Head of the Rare Diseases Business at Sanofi India as well as Namit Chugh, Director at HealthQuad. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) EU Invites Canada To Become Its First Associate Member (03:44)US War With Iran Has Cost $38 Billion Till August And Still Rising (04:26) Oil Prices Ease, The Markets Rise (06:00) Will The Tata Sons Ask N Chandrasekaran To Stay On As Chairman? (07:02) How AI Is Changing Clinical Practices As Well As Hospital Systems For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 980 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajay Rotti, Tax Expert and CEO of tax advisory firm Tax Compaas as well as Rajeswari Sengupta, Associate Professor of Economics at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR). SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Why Indian Markets Are Getting Battered Right Now (03:46) India’s Exports Are Up 26% In August (05:22) UPI Will Not Be Free Any More, So You Will Have To Pay 0.4% On Transactions Above Rs 2,000. (08:08) Tata Sons Is Set To Go To Court Against The RBI’s Move Asking It To Go Public, Does It Have A Case? (16:43) Banks May See Additional Costs For FCNR B Deposits, What Are The Options Ahead? For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 979 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director at Prime Database as well as Atanu Mukherjee, CEO at Dastur Energy. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) AI Stocks Take A Dive Following Slow-Down Appeal From Anthropic CEO (06:04) Tata Sons and the RBI (07:51) Big IPO Week Ahead, What Is Standing Out In The Rs 100,000 Crore Rush? (17:10) India Invites Companies To Set Up Coal Gasification Plants, Why Is This Critical? For more of our coverage check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecore.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us…

On Episode 978 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Indrani Bagchi, CEO at Ananta Aspen Centre as well as Dipti Deshpande, Principal Economist at CRISIL Limited. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (03:33) Key Developments At The BRICS Summit In New Delhi (12:54) Monsoon Worries (19:08) Anthropic CEO AI warns of Rapid AI development For more of our coverage check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecore.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us…

Why does your mutual fund earn more than you do? In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with R Sivakumar, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Mutual Fund, about why investor returns can lag mutual fund returns, how chasing past performance contributes to the gap and why SIPs have not eliminated it.R Sivakumar explains how investors can miss a fund’s strongest performance by entering after a rally and pulling back during weaker periods. Buying the best-performing mutual funds based on recent rankings may feel reassuring, but the timing of those investments can produce a very different outcome. He discusses why systematic investment plans help contain this behaviour without fully resolving it.The conversation explores why asset allocation should come before fund selection. R Sivakumar examines the balance between equity and debt, the case for global diversification and the distinction between overseas equity exposure and currency diversification. He also…

Is ₹10 lakh health insurance enough for your family? In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Mayank Bathwal, CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd., about rising healthcare costs, medical inflation and whether family health insurance is keeping pace with the treatment people expect.Mayank Bathwal says medical inflation has consistently run at 10–12%, making ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh health insurance covers increasingly common. He explains why families need to consider future healthcare expenses when assessing coverage, as newer treatments and changing patterns of illness reshape the cost of care.The conversation explores whether health insurance can move beyond what Mayank Bathwal calls “sickness funding”. He discusses preventive health checkups, outpatient care, cashless consultations and wellness incentives designed to encourage healthier behaviour. He also explains why OPD cover, vaccinations and maternity benefits present different pricing…

On Episode 975 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Abhay Laijawala, Chief Investment Officer, India at Lighthouse Canton (and veteran metals analyst) as well as Kunal Pande, National Leader - Cyber, Risk and Compliance Services at KPMG in India. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Crude Has Now Crossed $105 As The West Asia War Escalates To New Levels (03:03) Chinese President Xi Jinping Will Visit Delhi For The BRICS Summit As Trade Relations Are Strained Again (05:51) US Markets Once Again Cock A Snook At The Treasury Secretary’s Efforts To Rein In Bond Yields (07:08) Why Are Copper Prices Rising So Much And Outlook? (15:16) Tokenisation Of Assets Has Kicked Off In India, What Does It Mean For Investors? (24:27) Apple Raised Prices On ‌its Existing iPhone Lineup In India By As Much As 41%, More Than The US For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 974 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Anindya Banerjee, Head of Currency & Commodity Research at Kotak Securities as well as Sachin Seth, Regional Managing Director at CRIF, India & South Asia on the sidelines of the Global Fintech Fest 2026. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) The Big Liquidity Drain In Indian Markets (03:29) Inflation May Have Hit A 20-Month High (03:56) What To Make Of A Falling Dollar And Rising Yen? (12:50) The Big Opportunity In India’s Near To Credit Populace For more of our coverage check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecore.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow…

On Episode 973 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Nilesh Shah, Managing Director at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd in an excerpt from our recent Special Edition. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Why Is Crude Oil Not Over $100? (04:04) Indian Banks May Not Have Hedged Future Interest Payments In $127 Billion NRI Deposit Flows (07:24) Why Copper Prices Have Hit Fresh Highs (08:20) India’s Operational Office REIT Portfolio Has Expanded By 74% Year-Over-Year In Last Six Months (10:02) Mutual Funds Have To Be Reinvented, But What Comes Next? For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 972 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Sheetal Sapale, Vice President at Pharmarack as well as Amar Sheth, Vice President of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:32) Oil Prices Are Now Projected To Rise Higher, Leaving Markets In The Lurch (03:20) India’s SmallCap Index Hits A 52 Week High (05:20) Vehicle Sales Growth Is Being Powered By Rural India Now, Despite Poor Monsoons (13:36) Why Anti-Obesity Drug Sales Are Slowing Down (19:48) After EV, Now There Is EREV Or Gas Powered EVs Register Here for our roundtable "Banking Fraud Moves as a Network. Why Doesn’t Defence" For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 971 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Rajiv Mitra, co-chair of the National Committee on Dairy of the Trade Promotion Council of India. We also feature an excerpt from our show How India’s Economy Works featuring Ananth Narayan, Economist and Former Whole Time Member, SEBI. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:31) A Fresh Battle With The Federal Reserve And Oil Price Uncertainty Could Keep Markets Down (06:37) Forex Reserves Hit A Fresh All Time High (09:06) TCS To Build A $7 Billion 1 GW Data Centre Near Hyderabad (10:00) Birla’s Jump Into Hot Wires And Cables Market With New Range (10:38) Fresh Capital Is Flowing Into The Dairy Sector, What Could Change? (20:22) Are India’s Interest Rates Being Kept Artificially Low? For more of our coverage check out…

India’s manufacturing problem may be more deeply rooted than it appears. In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with economist Dr Surjit Bhalla about how protectionism is holding back Indian manufacturing, why private investment has lost momentum and whether India can realistically become a developed country by 2047. Surjit Bhalla examines India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 ambition through per capita income and economic growth projections. He explains why measuring progress using current dollars rather than purchasing power parity produces a far more challenging target. Drawing on the experiences of China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil and Indonesia, he questions whether India’s developed country goal is achievable within the proposed timeframe. The conversation explores why infrastructure spending alone cannot sustain faster GDP growth. Bhalla explains why India needs greater private investment, stronger manufacturing exports and access to global…

Nilesh Shah explains why Mutual Funds must go beyond Equity as India’s investment landscape evolves toward debt, hybrid, gold, real estate, alternatives and unlisted investments. In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd, about the future of mutual funds in India, retail investors and the need for greater diversification. Nilesh Shah argues that equity remains attractive, but mutual funds cannot remain synonymous with equity. He explains why the industry needs to expand into debt, hybrid funds, gold, real estate, REITs, InvITs, SIFs, global investments and alternative assets to reach a much larger investor base. The conversation explores how mutual funds could give retail investors access to opportunities traditionally available mainly to high net worth investors, including unlisted companies and private markets. Shah explains how diversification can create different risk and return profiles and make complex…

On Episode 968 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Arvind Chari, Chief Investment Strategist at Q India UK (affiliate of Quantum Advisors India) as well as Piyush Pandey, Senior Vice President, Institutional Equity Research (Lead Analyst)-IT, Telecom, Internet and Power at Centrum India. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Indian Markets Reel Under Oil Price Onslaught (02:31) Rupee Hits A 10-Week Closing High (04:59) India’s Banking System Will See A Liquidity Overdose Thanks To The $127 Billion Inflows (17:53) ITC Infotech Is Merging With Ashok Soota’s Happiest Minds. What Signals For India’s IT Sector? Register Here for our roundtable "Banking Fraud Moves as a Network. Why Doesn’t Defence" For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 967 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Vivek Rathi, National Director of Research at Knight Frank India. We also caught up with Dr. Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS on the sidelines of the Elara India Dialogue 2026. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Bond Markets Are Still Dragging Stocks Down (02:46) Total overseas flows has brought in $137 billion (07:22) India Is Increasingly Importing Gold From The UAE And Why That Is A Problem (09:12) The Striking Contrast In Performance Of India’s Budget Homes Versus Premium Housing Sales (19:15) What Motivates Donald Trump On Iran And Tariffs? Register Here for our roundtable "Banking Fraud Moves as a Network. Why Doesn’t Defence" For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 966 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Madhavi Arora, Chief Economist at Emkay Global as well as Gautam Shahi, Senior Director at Crisil Ratings. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Indian Markets Feel Pressure Of Rising Oil Prices And Global Bond Yields (03:16) India’s Rupee Hits Two Month High As Reserve Bank Brings Back Stability (07:42) India’s Leading Jewellers Consolidate Even As The PM Appeals To Cut Back On Gold Purchases (08:47) India’s Strong GDP Showing Fails To Lift Markets (15:37) Why India’s Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Companies Are Having Their Moment In The Sun Register Here for our Roundtable For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 965 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Anas Alhajji, energy economist, researcher and writer on the sidelines of the Elara India Dialogue 2026. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:51) Better Than Expected GDP Growth Is Causing Economists To Revise Their Full Year Numbers. (04:15) Oil Prices Begin Their Upward Journey Again. (06:08) Brokerages Weigh On HDFC Succession, Wait To See Who Becomes New CEO (08:21) Where Could Oil Prices Be In The Next Few Weeks? (21:35) The Company That Sells More Watches Than Switzerland Is Seeing A Leadership Transition. For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 964 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder of HCLTech and Member to the Advisory Board of India Semiconductor Mission. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:02) FIIs Stay Positive In August And Could Continue To In September (06:51) Forex Reserves Hit New Highs As Flows Continue (07:52) Oil Prices Are Slipping As Optimism Over Shipping Movements Through Strait Returns Again (08:45) Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh Surprises The Market With A Frank Take On Interest Rates (09:49) What Does It Take To Build A Company That Successfully Lasts 50 Years And More For more of our coverage check out…

India’s retirement planning problem may be bigger than it looks. In this episode of The Core Report Special Edition, Financial Journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Saurabh Mukherjea, Founder and CIO of Marcellus Investment Managers, about the ₹25 crore retirement reality, why retirement planning in India is getting harder and why even ₹5.5 crore may not be enough.Saurabh Mukherjea argues that the real question is not how much people are saving today, but whether their assumptions about inflation, longevity and earning years are realistic. Using the example of Radhika, a 35-year-old professional spending ₹1 lakh a month, he shows how ₹5.5 crore can become ₹7.5 crore with a longer lifespan, ₹15 crore with higher inflation and ultimately the ₹25 crore retirement reality if the cost of living for affluent Indians is closer to 9%.The conversation explores three forces that could disrupt retirement planning in India. Indians may live longer than expected, healthcare and education costs may rise faster than…

ChatGPT could make brands invisible as consumers move from searching on Google to asking artificial intelligence what to buy, which companies to trust and which products best suit their needs. In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, Financial Journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Kirthiga Reddy, co-founder and CEO of OptimizeGEO.ai, about how AI search, Generative Engine Optimization and large language models are reshaping marketing, brand discovery and consumer decisions. Reddy says ChatGPT now has more than a billion users, with people returning multiple times a day. She also points to the rise of zero-click Google searches, where users receive answers without visiting another website. As consumers move from awareness to purchase within an AI conversation, brands missing from those answers risk being forgotten. The conversation examines how Generative Engine Optimization or GEO differs from traditional SEO. Reddy explains how companies can measure visibility, share of voice, sentiment,…

On Episode 961 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajay Srivastava, Founder at the Global Trade Research initiative (GTRI) as well as Dr. Michael Chui, senior fellow at QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Benchmarks Slide Again Despite Oil Prices Falling (02:25) Only 40 Of 53 Companies That Listed Their Shares In 2026 Are Trading Above Their IPO Issue Price (04:40) More Indians Are Acquiring Credit Cards But They Aren’t Using Them (05:36) What India Needs To Learn From Canada’s Trade Response To US (15:42) Companies Are Investing More In AI But Where Is It Paying Off? (26:24) Why Gold Vaults Are Running Full World Over For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 960 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Shankkar Aiyar, economic journalist and author; Ajay Kedia, metal and commodities expert; as well as Manish Gupta, Deputy Chief Ratings Officer at Crisil Ratings. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Foreign Investors Are Still Wary Of India (05:44) Will The Government’s Overseas Roadshows For Investments Deliver? (13:22) Gold Prices Are Rising Again, What Are The New Demand And Supply Forces (19:04) India Inc May Have Slowed On Capex But It Has Invested Hugely In M&A, Says New Crisil Report (27:23) Meta Agreed To Pay $16.68 Billion And Make Major Changes ​to Facebook And Instagram For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 959 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ambareesh Baliga, Veteran Market Expert as well as Prasanna Tantri, Associate Professor of Finance and the Executive Director of the Centre for Analytical Finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB). SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (00:50) Operation Economic Outcast Is Not As Bad As Feared (02:09) The US Sanctions Indian Trading Companies For Doing Business With Iran (04:57) Govt To Transfer Its Conventional Missile Technologies To Private Sector To Hasten Production (05:38) A Steady Flow Of IPOs Continues To Act As A Dampener On The Markets (12:47) India Might Raise Close To $80 Billion Of FCNR (B) or NRI Deposits For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 958 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Alok Agarwal, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Alchemy Capital Management. We also feature an excerpt from our episode of How India’s Economy Works featuring Vidya Mahambare, Professor of Economics at the Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai. SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:00) Why Markets Are Bracing For US Sanctions On Iran (03:59) Has China Passed Its Peak Demand For Oil Last Year Itself? (05:48) Will This Year Be The Weakest Monsoon In 20 Years? (07:11) The Crossover Theory On Yesteryear Stocks (15:14) The Unintended Consequences Of India's Rural Homes Subsidy (26:24) India’s Aviation Market Is Contracting Right Now For more of our coverage check out…

On Episode 957 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Shankkar Aiyar, economic journalist, columnist and author. We also feature an excerpt from our episode of How India’s Economy Works featuring Partha Chatterjee, Dean of Academics and Professor of Economics at ⁠Shiv Nadar University. SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (03:43) FIIs Pick Up Buying, Will They Balance Out Rising Oil Prices (05:13) FCNR Deposits Now Over $65 Billion As The Deadline Approaches (08:46) 87 Million Indian Youth Aged 15 To 29 Are Not Studying, Working, Or Receiving Training, Govt Report. (10:55) Why India Is No Exception To Rising Debt Global Levels (22:09) Why Rising GDP Has Not Translated Into Rising Household Prosperity RESOURCE LINKS Government Carry Trades: A Rising Global Risk by Shankkar Aiyar For more of our coverage check out…