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STOCK MARKET DURING COVID-19

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            We are in the middle of a pandemic, that has made life come to a standstill across the globe. Every sector is being affected due to this but today I am going to talk about Indian Stock Market. How has the Stock Market fared during Covid-19. Investors sentiment in India is very low ever since cases has started to increase globally and even before the lockdown came into effect. Indian Stock Market has been the worst affected due to this pandemic, eroding almost 26% in dollar terms between February 1 and April 9 as compared to European and US Market which went down 20% and 14% respectively during the same period. What is more interesting is that Chinese Stock Market went down only 3% in the same period.            Now, coming to the Indian Stock Market. The Stock Market (Sensex) crashed from a high of 42000 in mid-January to just above 25000 on 23rd March. The nationwide lockdown started on 25th March in India whereas the market has already reached its all time low in recent

ECONOMY AND COVID-19

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                        The Indian Economy was already facing a severe slowdown even before Covid-19 hit the country. Now, with increasing number of Covid-19 cases and nation wide lockdown in place since 25th March things look too grim. Almost 70% of the economy is completely shut and only health care sector along with other essential supplies is functioning.              The initial 21 day lockdown already costed India more than 8 lakh crore and now with the lockdown being extended for two more weeks, we can expect this figure to double and even go up. India's export dipped 34.57% in March whereas import dipped 28.72% during the same period. The dip in export is likely to be the sharpest dip since 2008-09 when export went down by 33.3%. What started as a health crisis in China has now become a financial crisis for the entire world and this crisis looks far more serious than 2008 crisis. In 2008, atleast everything was functioning and it was just a financial crisis. Now, its f

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2020

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          The Economic Survey 2019-2020 was presented on 31st January, 2020 by the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Krishnamurthy V Subramanian. The theme for this year's survey was "Integrating old with new through trust in the economy; promoting pro-business policies and creating wealth and job opportunities". The Survey has given a lot of focus on wealth creation.           All the growth parameter is showing sign of slowdown. Here is a summary of how things stand currently at the moment in the economy.            Lets see what the Survey says : Wealth creation benefits all - The survey has given most emphasis on wealth creation and says that it act as as growth multiplier. When wealth is created, its get distributed and everyone benefits from it. Entrepreneurship and wealth creation - The survey calls for creation of wealth through entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship mostly on the level of working class so that wealth is created on grassroot level and poor peop

BUDGET 2020

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            Union Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the longest budget speech of around 2 hours 45 minutes. A lot was expected from this year's budget as the economy is in the midst of a slowdown and a strong budget was necessary to put the economy back on track.             So lets have a look at the key highlights of the budget 2020 : 1. DIRECT TAX  The Government has introduced a new tax regime for those foregoing exemption and deductions. The new tax rate is optional. To simplify tax system more than 70 deductions and exemptions have been removed.                                             TAXABLE INCOME SLAB TAX RATE Upto Rs. 5 lakh Nil Rs. 5 lakh to Rs, 7.5 lakh 10% Rs. 7.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh 15% Rs. 10 lakh   to Rs. 12.5 lakh 20% Rs. 12.5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh 25% Rs. 15 lakh and above 30% Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) has been abolished fr

BUDGET 2020 EXPECTATION

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            With only few days left for the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who has the huge responsibility to revive the Indian Economy, to present the NDA's seventh budget. The Indian Economy has grown at 4.5% in the second quarter, inflation stands at 7.35% which is five and a half year high and along with that unemployment rate is 6.1%, highest in 45 years. Almost every section of the economy is eagerly waiting for the budget that will be presented on 1st February, 2020 to see what the Government has planned to combat the slowing growth rate.              The main issue concerning the economy is low demand especially in rural segment. Consumption forms almost the 60% of Aggregate Demand and it is low and as a result the output is also getting low. Private consumption has also grown very slowly in the first half of the year, further decreasing the aggregate demand.              The main challenge for the government now is to increase the Consumption and Investment,