The LIC share sale is a valuer’s nightmare and a banker’s dream

• LIC has not disclosed its embedded value, the most accurate gauge of an insurer’s market value
• The big question is if the business generated by LIC’s agents beats the profitability of smaller private insurers

Bank of England has some lessons for RBI on how to revive growth

• RBI’s five rate cuts last year failed to spur credit demand
• Governor Shaktikanta Das told reporters earlier this month that the central bank has more tools than the regular repurchase rate at its disposal

Crude boost for India Inc as global oil demand dips over coronavirus epidemic

• Crude-dependent sectors such as aviation likely to gain from price drop
• Industries are realigning their strategy amid energy demand forecasts being cut due to the virus outbreak

SBI loan guarantee isn’t the best option

• In case of a project delay, the guarantee will free the borrower of the bank liability, but he will lose the down payment and the interest paid until then
• If the buyer exercises the guarantee option in case of a delay, he would need to relinquish the right to the house

Stocks to Watch: Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, ONGC, Bank of Baroda, LIC Housing

• RBI to consider appropriate steps against Bank of Baroda for delay in honouring a bank guarantee
• US FDA issued two observations for Granules India's manufacturing facility in Gagillapur, Hyderabad

14-year low borrowing costs, spike in bond sales: Why it's a good time for banks

• The banks have issued a total of ₹93 billion ($1.3 billion) of local-currency notes since Jan. 1, according to Bloomberg-compiled data
• Falling borrowing costs and the spike in bond sales come as a relief to banks that are looking to strengthen their balance sheets, said ICRA

SBI ATM cash withdrawal: How to make SBI debit cards more secure

• Sharing a video, SBI has explained how to make your ATM-cum-debit card more secure
• You can set your new ATM limit, which should be in multiples of 5,000

Vodafone Idea to part pay AGR dues from loans and internal reserves

• SC’s order hits Voda Idea the most, as it had only ₹12,530 cr reserves as of Dec
• The promoters of Vodafone Idea will not infuse any additional capital to pay its dues to the government

General Motors to exit Australia, New Zealand in $1.1 Billion overhaul

• The largest US automaker said it will take $1.1 billion in charges mostly in the first quarter
• As GM downsizes overseas, the company is pouring money into electric vehicles in a bid to catch Tesla Inc

Bank frauds this fiscal have their roots in the past

During the first six months of this fiscal, frauds of ₹1 lakh and above, as reported by commercial banks, touched ₹1.13 trillion. This, after frauds worth ₹41,167 crore had been reported in 2017-18. Why is this happening? Mint takes a look

Indian firms’ Q3 net sales fall to over five-year low

• The silver lining was profit before tax that grew 19.2% in the Dec quarter from a 13.68% drop in the Sep quarter
• Companies arrested a decline in earnings before tax in Q3 as cheaper raw material costs benefited them

Indian markets may be under pressure, Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel in focus

• Japan's economy contracted at an annualised pace of 6.3% in October-December
• In China's Hubei, authorities reported 1,933 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, about 5% higher than previous day

UK to spend $1.6 billion on world’s best climate supercomputer

• UK was the first major economy to say it will phase out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
• The investment will replace existing Met Office supercomputers over a 10-year period from 2022 to 2032

Move over Mauritius, FPIs now eye Singapore to channel funds

• Shifting to Singapore will allow category II FPIs to escape the higher tax liability imposed on them in Mauritius
• Foreign funds are making changes to their structures to reduce their tax outgo

AAP lays down 5-year agenda: Battling pollution, safer city for women top list

• AAP wants to reduce pollution by 300% in next five years
• Priorities include providing 24/7 tap water, quality higher education

Why the House always wins in Goa

• The prevalence of gambling may seem unpleasant because so many people from around India and the world are invested in an entirely different Goa
• A ban on Goans in offshore casinos highlights the murky nature of the gambling business in India’s smallest state

Alstom reaches deal to buy Bombardier’s train unit: Report

• Alstom is expected to buy the unit using mainly cash and some stock component
• Alstom going ahead with a deal could allow the French company to avoid paying a material premium due to Bombardier Transportation’s cash needs

Now, Deloitte stops non-audit services to clients in India

• The move will increase public’s confidence in auditor independence and quality, Deloitte says
• Deloitte is the third auditor to take such a call, after Grant Thornton and PW India

Oil prices slip ahead of data pointers on impact of coronavirus on demand

• Global oil demand could fall by 435,000 bpd in Q1, said IEA
• Russia may support further OPEC+ cuts on growing oil glut

Under-construction bridge collapses in West Bengal: Three dead, several trapped

• Several labourers trapped beneath the rubble have been rescued
• An under-construction bridge on Farakka barrage collapsed in Baishnabnagar of West Bengal's Malda district

Damages due to short circuit fire not covered

Home insurance plans pay for fire damage occurring due to any reason. So, if the fire in your neighbour’s house spreads to your house, you would receive the claim

Coronavirus: Death toll rises to 1666,Finance Ministry to assess impact on trade

• All nations must be ready to handle coronavirus cases and prepared to prevent further transmission, says WHO
• The death toll from coronavirus epidemic has climbed to 1,666 after 142 more people died, mostly in the worst-hit Hubei, and the confirmed cases jumped to almost 70,000

Arvind Kejriwal takes oath as Delhi chief minister for third time

• Six other members from previous cabinet, including Manish Sisodia, sworn in
• Kejriwal said the support voters gave to the politics of work will help build a 21st century India

No going back on CAA despite pressure: Modi

• PM says despite global pressure, Union govt would continue to take decisions that are important for the country
• Modi says the govt was committed to work for the betterment of the financially and socially weaker sections

GST Council may discuss payout to states, review tax structure

• Federal indirect tax body may examine the suggestions received from various quarters at its next meet
• The Centre expects to collect ₹98,327 crore by way of cess by 31 March, according to FY21 budget documents.

Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Tata Tele likely to pay AGR dues on Monday: DoT source

• Vodafone Idea said that it is assessing the amount that can be paid towards AGR dues
• The three companies are jointly liable to pay dues of over ₹1 lakh crore, but they have informed the DoT of making only partial payment

Smartphone to turn dearer as stocks run out amid virus worries in China

• Smartphone prices may go up by 6-7%, while that of feature phones may increase 10% over the next 20 days, say analysts
• Premium smartphone won’t be hurt as much as their demand is already low in India

See pics: It's a first! A seat reserved for a deity on a train by Railways

• The Kashi Mahakal Express inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on Sunday had a seat reserved for Lord Shiva a.k.a Lord Mahakal
• Even a temple has been drawn on the seat to make people aware that the seat is reserved for Lord Mahakal in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain, said the authorities

India’s fiscal performance, in nine charts

Among its emerging market peers, India’s fiscal deficit and debt stand out largely because of its inability to raise enough revenues

No timeline to remove I-T exemptions: Nirmala Sitharaman

• The budget 2020-21 has introduced more tax slabs and offers higher limits provided the taxpayer is ready to forego all the existing exemptions
• Addressing a post-budget press conference on 1 February, Sitharaman had said the government intended to remove all I-T exemptions in the long run

Bank savings account interest rate at 7%. Check latest rates here

• The insurance cover on your bank deposits have been increased five times
• The minimum balance required to maintain a savings account varies from bank to bank

'No role for third party': India rejects UN chief's mediation offer on Kashmir

• 'The issue that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan,' said Indian foreign ministry spokesman
• The comments come against the backdrop of some remarks made by the UN Secretary General António Guterres who is on a visit to Pakistan