Monday, August 10
Mumbai: States' consolidated fiscal deficit has widened to 3.3 per cent of GDP in FY25 after remaining at 3 per cent for the three previous fiscals, the Reserve Bank said on Friday.The central bank said it analysed the budgets presented by all the states for the fiscal year, and attributed the widening of the key number to higher borrowing by states under the central government's 50-year interest-free loans in the 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment'.Accessing money under the central government scheme is over and above the normal net borrowing ceiling of the states, the RBI noted.The thrust on capital expenditure was sustained as capital expenditure remained steady at 2.7 per cent of GDP in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and is budgeted at 3.2 per cent of GDP in 2025-26, it said.The
Tokyo: Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Friday, paving the way for a Feburary 8 snap election.The move is an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but will delay a vote on a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices.Elected in October as Japan's first female leader, Takaichi has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70%.Takaichi is also seeing rising animosity with China since she made pro-Taiwan remarks. And U.S. President Donald Trump wants her to spend more on weapons as Washington and Beijing pursue military superiority in the region.The dissolution of the 465-member lower house pa
Gold and silver prices were off to a flying start on Friday, hitting fresh highs and extending gains from the previous sessions on ongoing geopolitical tensions, a softer US dollar, and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the next meeting commencing on January 27.U.S. President Donald Trump said he had secured total and permanent U.S. access to Greenland in a deal with NATO, whose head said allies would have to step up their commitment to Arctic security to ward off threats from Russia and China. But the details of any agreement were unclear and Denmark insisted its sovereignty over the island was not up for discussion.MCX Gold futures due February 5, 2026, rose as much as Rs 2,885 or 2% to Rs 1,59,226 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, silver futures for March 5, 2026
