Category: Business & Economy

Former US President Donald Trump recently spoke at a Crypto Summit in the White House, where he shared plans to stop what he calls the “war on cryptocurrency.” He criticized the current President Joe Biden for changing his views on crypto close to election time. Trump stated, “My government is working hard to end the federal push against crypto, which got really intense under Biden until election time.”

Trump also mentioned that Biden was not a fan of crypto until he noticed how popular it was. “It seems that didn’t help him win,” Trump added. He called Biden’s choice to sell bitcoins “foolish.”

The former president talked about an executive order he signed to create something called a ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,’ claiming that the government now owns the most bitcoin in the US. He said, “Last year, I promised to make America the top bitcoin country and the center of crypto, and we are taking important steps to keep that promise.”

He also mentioned that the Treasury and Commerce Departments will look for new ways to increase bitcoin holdings at no cost to taxpayers. The new Strategic Bitcoin Reserve means that the US will keep the bitcoin as a valuable asset and not sell it.

Trump’s executive order also involves creating a US Digital Asset Stockpile, which will include other digital assets owned by the Treasury Department. The government can sell these assets if needed.

A new report from BharatLoan shows that many women in India are starting to borrow money for various needs. In fact, about half of all women who take loans are aged between 25 and 35 years old. Women from Maharashtra and Karnataka are leading the way, making up the largest portions of loans given out.

According to the ‘BharatLoan Lending Report 2025,’ which was released just before International Women’s Day, women now receive nearly 11% of all loans in India. Although it’s still a small percentage, it’s a sign that more women are learning about financial options and finding it easier to access loans.

The report reveals that women from Maharashtra receive 28% of total loans, while Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi follow with 23%, 13%, and 11% of loans, respectively. This shows that most loans are being given in the western and southern parts of the country.

In the last few years, loans given to women have been increasing by 6-8% each year. There was a 5% increase in 2023 and a notable 13% jump in 2024. The report expects this growth to continue in 2025, with projections of an 18-19% increase in loans to women.

The age group that borrows the most is 30 to 35 years old at 27.81%. Following closely are those aged 25 to 30 years (22.68%) and those aged 35 to 40 years (22.57%). This pattern shows that younger working women are using loans for things like advancing their careers, getting a better education, and managing their finances.

More than a third of women who borrow money have jobs and earn between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000 a month. Another 24% earn between ₹50,000 and ₹70,000, while over 16% make between ₹70,000 and ₹1 lakh.

Amit Bansal, the Founder of BharatLoan, emphasized that while it’s great to see more women participating in borrowing, there is still a lot of work to do. He believes we need to make it even easier for more women to get loans.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked its older workers to think about retiring early to save money. This comes after the United States announced it would leave the WHO. The email sent to employees says that workers aged 55 or older can take a special deal: if they accept, they will receive four months’ pay and leave the job by July 15.

Typically, WHO workers can retire at 65 years old. However, those who joined before 2014 can retire at 62, and those hired before 1990 can retire at 60. If they accept the early retirement, these workers will need to work for three more months to help pass on their tasks. They will also receive payment for 45 days of vacation time they didn’t use. If they are international workers, they will get money to help them move back to their home countries.

This is part of WHO’s plan to save money after the U.S. cut its funding significantly. The U.S. has contributed $1.3 billion to WHO since 2022, helping the organization fight diseases like HIV, polio, Ebola, and the recent Marburg virus outbreak. WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disagreed with the U.S. decision, saying the reasons given for leaving are not based on facts.

While this early retirement plan could save money, it might also mean the loss of some of WHO’s most skilled workers. It’s still uncertain whether the organization will need to lay off any employees if not enough choose to retire early.

In Mumbai, many stocks jumped by as much as 15% on Friday, even while some major stock market indexes had mixed results. The BSE Sensex dropped just a little by 7.51 points, ending at 74,332.58, while the NSE Nifty rose slightly, gaining 7.8 points to reach 22,552.5.

Among the stars of the day, several stocks saw impressive gains of over 15%. Here are some of the big winners:
– AVI Polymers Ltd.: +20.00%
– Bengal Tea & Fabrics: +19.99%
– KLK Electrical: +19.99%
– Hemo Organic: +19.97%
– Somi Conveyor: +19.79%
– Spenta International: +18.11%
– Futuristic Solutions: +16.48%
– Laxmi Dental: +16.43%
– Ashnisha Industries: +15.92%
– Capital Trust: +15.59%

Out of the 50 stocks in the Nifty50 index, 23 ended positively, but 27 did not. In other news, some stocks, like AVI Polymers, hit their highest price in 52 weeks today! However, some stocks like B C Power Controls and Lime Chemicals reached their lowest prices in 52 weeks.

It was a busy day in the markets, with plenty of action for investors to watch!

NEW DELHI: On Friday, many stocks dropped more than 5% in Mumbai, even as the BSE Sensex went up by 23.38 points, reaching 74,363.47. This small rise happened because big companies were being bought more.

Some stocks that fell a lot include Frontline Corp (down 15.68%), Riddhi Steel & Tube (down 9.99%), Roopa Ind (down 9.17%), BDH Industries (down 8.68%), and Containe Tech (down 8.23%).

In the popular Nifty index, 24 stocks went up while 26 stocks went down. The Nifty index was up by 17.3 points at 22,562.0.

On the BSE, some stocks like B C Power Controls, Ansal Prop, Suratwala Business, Vikram Aroma, and EKI Energy Services reached their lowest prices in the last year. On the other hand, Triumph International Finance India Ltd., TCPL Packaging, Covance Softsol L, Autoriders International, and Gyan Developers reached their highest prices in the last year.

The income tax department may soon have the ability to look at people’s social media accounts, personal emails, bank information, and online trading accounts if they think someone is hiding money to avoid paying taxes. This is because a new income tax bill contains a rule that gives tax officials the power to get into these online spaces, even if they don’t have the passwords.

Officials can also physically break into locked doors, boxes, and safes to gather information as part of their investigation. The bill explains what “virtual digital space” means, which includes:

1. Email servers
2. Social media accounts
3. Online investment and trading accounts
4. Banking accounts
5. Websites that show ownership of assets
6. Cloud storage
7. Any similar online space

Who Can Access This Information?

The bill has a list of officials who can do this:

– Joint Director or Additional Director
– Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner
– Assistant Director or Deputy Director
– Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner
– Income Tax Officer or Tax Recovery Officer

Concerns About Privacy

Many experts are worried about the impact of this bill on people’s privacy. Prateek Bansal, an expert at a law firm, says that allowing tax officers to look at private emails and social media is a big concern for our right to privacy, a right protected by the Supreme Court. He mentions that people may be scared to express themselves online if they worry that their conversations are being watched.

Lawyer Sohail Hasan called the bill “groundbreaking and controversial,” saying it gives too much power to officials. Critics warn that this could lead to a serious invasion of privacy, allowing authorities to snoop on private information in the name of tax collection.

Ketan Mukhija, another legal expert, has called this bill a threat to personal freedom. He argues that there should be strict rules and checks in place to protect people from having their private online space invaded without good reason. In his view, without proper oversight, this could lead to unfair investigations rather than just tax collection.

India and Belgium are working together to strengthen their friendship in areas like defence, infrastructure, and clean energy. Piyush Goyal, the Indian Minister of Commerce, shared this news after a recent meeting with the European Union (EU) trade chief, Maros Sefcovic. This meeting happened just before important trade talks in Brussels from March 10-14.

Goyal mentioned that he had a productive meeting with Princess Astrid of Belgium and other important leaders. Princess Astrid is visiting India from March 1 to 8, 2025, to promote Belgium as a great partner for business in Europe. Belgium, one of the original countries of the EU, is important because it’s home to both the EU and NATO.

During her visit, Princess Astrid plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers. The focus is on building strong partnerships in trade, clean energy, and defence, which will help both countries grow together. The delegation’s first stop includes visiting the Agristo factory in Bijnor, which makes food products from potatoes and supports local farmers with new ways of farming. Their mission will also highlight Uttar Pradesh as a place for investment.

Belgium has invested around $2.89 billion in India over the years. An Indian government official noted that Belgium is an important supporter of India, especially regarding its aim to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Many Belgian companies are doing business in India, and Indian companies like TCS and Infosys are also active in Belgium.

No Retirement for Urban Indians? A HR Expert’s Bold Statement
A Human Resources (HR) professional named Seema Raghunath recently said that people living in cities in India might need to work until they’re 75 years old. She believes that retirement as we know it might not exist in the future. Raghunath jokingly suggested that if you want to retire, you should move to the mountains!

She argues that the changing global economy will make it hard for anyone to live on just one job or one salary. With the arrival of advanced technology like AI by 2027, she thinks many traditional jobs will change a lot.

Raghunath also questioned the reliability of investing in stocks, claiming that stock trading can be like gambling. Instead, she believes learning practical skills like carpentry or plumbing might pay better than some investments.

She encourages people, especially those over 35, to focus on hobbies that can earn them money. Skills like baking, farming, art, and even teaching could be profitable. She warns that in the future, having multiple jobs might become illegal.

While her ideas sparked a lot of debate, many people disagreed. Some called her views “online fearmongering.” They argued that it’s still important to build assets and invest wisely. Many believe that investments in stocks and real estate can help ensure a secure future.

Who is Seema Raghunath?
Seema Raghunath has worked as an HR expert in several well-known companies like JPMorgan Chase, and she has also written six books. Her experiences and ideas have made quite a stir on social media.

NEW DELHI: On Friday, many stocks in Mumbai jumped over 15%, even though major indexes like the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty were falling due to a lot of selling. One of the biggest winners was Sri Nachammai, which went up by 16.33%. The 30-share BSE index fell by 861.34 points and was at 73,751.09, while the 50-share NSE index was down by 268.21 points, sitting at 22,276.85. In the Nifty50 index, only 6 stocks were gaining, while 44 were losing.

Some companies such as Hira Automobiles, Dhanlaxmi Cotex, Triumph International Finance India Ltd., Mahan Ind, and Rubra Medica reached their highest prices in the last year. Meanwhile, other stocks like TCFC Finance, Kachchh Mineral, Kunststoffe Ind, Capital Trust, and KCD Industries India hit their lowest prices in a year during the trading session.

Many home appliance brands in China are teaming up with DeepSeek to make their gadgets smarter. Big names like Haier, Hisense, and TCL, as well as companies like Huawei and Tencent, are on board. This means TVs, fridges, and robot vacuum cleaners will work better and be more precise.

For example, a robot vacuum cleaner can now understand complicated tasks like, “Gently clean the wooden floor in the master bedroom but avoid the Legos.” This smarter ability comes from DeepSeek’s special AI model, the DeepSeek-R1, which helps these devices move more quickly and avoid obstacles easily.

DeepSeek’s AI models have made waves this year by showing they can do just as well as top Silicon Valley tech—without costing as much. Excitingly, DeepSeek plans to launch an even better model, the R2, soon!