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Indian economy recorded a faster-than-anticipated expansion of 8.4% in the third quarter of the year compared with 8.1% in the second and 8.2% in the first quarter, according to official data released Thursday. The jump in growth numbers pushed FY24 growth to 7.6%, up from 7.3% estimated in January. “Overall, the Indian economy ticks all the boxes in the right way,” said chief economic advisor V Anantha Nageswaran.

Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov has died at age 94

The leaders of Western Balkan countries have agreed to speed up regional cooperation to benefit more from a new European Union plan of financial aid that will help provide a faster road to membership

The U.S. economy grew at a robust 3.2% annual pace from October through December, propelled by healthy consumer spending, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday in a slight downgrade from its initial estimate

(Reuters) -Background screening services provider First Advantage will buy rival Sterling Check in a $2.2 billion cash-and-stock deal, the companies said on Thursday, seeking to navigate slowing demand due to the turbulent global economy.

₹11.03 trillion, or 63.6% of the revised annual estimate, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts on Thursday. The fiscal deficit for the corresponding period of the previous year stood at ₹11.91 trillion, or 67.8% of the annual estimate of ₹17.55 lakh crore for FY23. The budgeted annual estimates for fiscal deficit, which was revised in the vote on account budget on 1 February, was at ₹17.87 trillion for FY24.

% growth in the December quarter, attributed mainly to a robust growth in manufacturing and construction sectors, as it maintained its status as the world's fastest-growing major economy. However, the growth during the fiscal third quarter period was a major step up from the 4.4% recorded in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

India on Thursday pitched for re-examination of the implications of the customs duties moratorium on e-commerce trade for developing and least developed member nations of the WTO. India is not in favour of further continuation of the moratorium of customs duties on e-commerce trade as it is impacting developing countries. The issue came up for discussion during a session of a work programme on e-commerce at the World Trade Organization's 13th Ministerial Conference, which entered its last day on Thursday.

MintGenie, Mehta said that before you begin investing in any asset class, you should keep a financial backup or “Emergency Money" ready to see you through 12 months of expenses. India is one of the fastest growing major economies and the Indian economy is projected to reach $5 trillion in the next few years. We estimate that India will account for 14% of global GDP by 2050.

TAIPEI (Reuters) — Taiwan's trade-based economy is expected to grow at a faster clip in 2024 than previously forecast, as export demand for the island's high-tech products begins to recover, the statistics office said on Thursday.

Investng.com — The week's inflation watch is nearly over, with key data from the U.S. and Europe due for release later in the session. Wall Street looks set to open lower, but is on track to register gains in February, while the turmoil at the board level of Open AI faces a potential SEC investigation.

By Ellen Zhang, Xiaoyu Yin and Marius Zaharia

By Marc Jones and Olena Harmash

(Corrects to show oil prices fell, not extended declines, in paragraph 1 and headline)

This time around, the election has gained prominence in light of India’s rising importance in geopolitics, its leading position in emerging markets, and the government’s aspiration to make India the world’s third largest economy from the current fifth position.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks moved in a flat-to-low range on Thursday in anticipation of more cues on U.S. interest rates from key inflation data, while Chinese markets rebounded from heavy losses in the prior session. 

Pakistan’s voters expressed their disillusionment with the nation’s powerful military in a surprising election result earlier this month. But the army is still poised to have more control from behind the scenes than ever — and reviving the economy will be its ultimate test. The military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly for most of its modern history, is set to make all important decisions on foreign policy and security for the country’s new government and have a more expanded role in running the nation’s economy, a person familiar with the matter said. Shehbaz Sharif, who’s expected to become prime minister, is likely to be only a figurehead, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The army is consolidating power as Pakistan faces the worst inflation in Asia, a crippling debt load and the need to negotiate another bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Observers are largely pessimistic that a weak coalition propped up by the military will fare any better than similar governments in the past.

Kaustubh Gupta, Co-Head – Fixed Income, ABSL AMC, says “post Covid, change has become even more pertinent, in the sense that for the first time, the uncertainties on economics, geopolitics, fiscal response and the impact of monetary policy response is paramount and which is why at least as far as the global platform is concerned, we are living in a little bit of uncertain, uncharted territory which opens both opportunities for India and threats for India. On global economy & India’s position in it Kaustubh Gupta: We think that we have this ability to predict the future, but we are living in a bit of an uncertain environment. So, when Dr Krugman and Larry Summers were on opposite sides last year and what actually played out in 2023 was in nobody’s radar. The global economy was expected to slip into recession because of the unprecedented rise in interest rate, but 2023 turned out to be a lot more resilient.

Oil prices eased early on Thursday after a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude stockpiles stoked worries about slow demand, while signs that U.S. interest rates could remain elevated for longer also added to pressure. Brent crude futures fell 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $83.46 a barrel by 0124 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $78.24 a barrel.

China has rolled over a $2 billion loan to Pakistan, caretaker finance minister Shamshad Akhtar confirmed in a response to Reuters on Thursday. The $2 billion loan was due in March and has been extended for one year, Geo News which first reported the news said, citing sources in the Pakistan finance ministry. Beijing had communicated the decision to Islamabad, it added.

Salesforce expanded its stock buyback program by $10 billion and announced a new dividend, but its annual revenue forecast that was below estimates pushed its shares down around 2% in after hours trading. The company's downbeat forecast signals a likely slowdown in cloud and tech spending as clients grapple with high interest rates and rising inflation, compelling them to keep a lid on costs.