India can’t make up its mind on PSUs, 30 years after liberalisation

• 30 years after liberalization, India’s muddled thinking on PSUs continues. This year, things may only get worse.
• The tension is only likely to increase further in 2020-21 because of the pandemic. PSUs have already contributed over ₹2,000 crore to the newly launched PM CARES Fund

Burger King IPO a top buy on attractive valuations, say analysts

• Despite the strict lockdown hitting restaurant sectors across the world, analysts feel that the growth prospect of Burger King India Ltd is strong

Home sales need more than a virus scare to recover

The pandemic has worsened the slowdown in India’s housing sector. However, home sales picked up in Q2, on the back of stagnant prices, lower interest rates and pent-up demand, even as they remained lower than 2019 sale levels. Mint explores the state of India’s real estate.

All-party meet may discuss vaccine progress, winter session

Opposition parties want PM to hold another meeting with all CMs to ensure free vaccines for everyone

Joblessness rate drops in both rural, urban India in November

Unemployment rate fell to 6.51% in Nov from 6.98% in Oct, indicating an increase in economic activity

Investors  take  a  shine to banks, but  EM comparison  doesn’t flatter

When compared with other emerging market peers, Indian banks may not shine when it comes to key metrics such as capital and asset quality. Moody’s Investor Services Ltd expects Indian banks to report large erosions in capital in calendar 2021.

Farmer protests to continue as talks remain inconclusive

Agri bodies rejected proposal to form an expert panel with farmer representatives to discuss the new laws

Bitcoin’s corona boom and the future of money

This cryptocurrency’s peak is a result of cash creation globally. Its value surge looks like a vote against the crisis policies of central banks, which may need to up their currency vigil

Indian Railways receives award for innovative 'push pull operation' project

• Indian Railways 'push- pull' operation of locomotive is a configuration for locomotive-hauled trains, allowing them to be driven from either end
• In the 'push- pull'mode, one locomotive each is attached to the train at both ends

S&P 500, Nasdaq start December with record highs on vaccine optimism

• Investors are closely following updates on a handful of leading vaccine candidates as well as the start of global shipments as drugmakers submit paperwork for regulatory approvals
• Earlier in the day, China's better-than-expected factory data lifted global equities

Flipkart narrows loss to ₹3,150.6 crore in FY20 amid COVID-19 pandemic

• During the financial year ended on 31st March 2020, the net total income of company was ₹34,610.1 crore, according to report

After 4.2 million COVID-19 cases in November, US pins hope on vaccine

• The new COVID-19 cases were more than double the previous monthly record set in October
• With Donald Trump's coronavirus strategy relying heavily on a vaccine, an FDA panel of outside advisers will meet on Dec. 10 to discuss the emergency use of a vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc

UK venues could demand proof of having taken Covid vaccine to grant entry

It is likely venues will use technology similar to the Covid-19 contact-tracing app to check if customers have had the shot, says Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi

PMI, GST data indicate sustained economic recovery

• Deepening contraction in core sector growth comprising eight infra sectors in October after nearing zero mark in September had raised questions on sustainability of the normalization process in the economy

Cyclonic storm 'Burevi' likely to intensify further during next 12 hours: IMD

• IMD has issued a cyclone alert for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala coasts
• Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls very likely over south Tamil Nadu on 2 and 3 Dec; over south Kerala on 3 Dec

IITs start robust hiring season with more job offers, negating economic downturn

• The campus hiring this year at IITs are happening virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions and students studying largely from remote locations as classes in campuses are closed

Cambridge University names chemistry department after Cipla's Yusuf Hamied

• Yusuf Hamied has retained close links with the UK university over the past 66 years, as a supporter of his own College — Christ’s — and the Department of Chemistry.

Delhi COVID-19: Over 4,000 cases in a day, 92% recovered so far

• The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi rose to 5,669 on Tuesday from 5,552 on Monday
• The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 31,769 in the national capital on Tuesday

Queues at Burger King have shrunk, but investors may line up for its IPO

After Gland IPO, which listed at a hefty premium, investors may be wary of missing out on an IPO that offers listing gains

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out: Cabinet Secretary reviews arrangement with officials

• The central government has been putting in place measures for quick and effective distribution of coronavirus vaccine

Delhi: Farmers' meet with govt concludes, next round of talks on 3 Dec

• 'Proposed setting up a panel at the meeting today; want farmers to end protests,' says Union Agriculture Minister
• Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued at the Singhu and Tikri borders on Tuesday

Sensex today surges 500 points to new closing high. Analysts eye higher levels

• Infosys jumped 3.3% while private-sector lender ICICI Bank Ltd jumped 2.5%.
• Among other Sensex stocks, Sun Pharma, IndusInd Bank and Tech Mahindra rose between 4% and 5.5%.

Bitcoin’s rally spurs Wall Street to question future of gold

• The digital currency is a trading ground for a motley crew of retail players, speculative pros and exotic quants
• Funds like family offices are selling their gold exchange-traded funds holdings for the digital currency

How LTC/LTA scheme can be beneficial for an individual taxpayer

• While employees are aware that they would need to expend three times the amount of LTA exemption, one needs to ensure that all conditions in the scheme are met to avail of the tax break
• Employees who have opted for the simplified tax regime (new tax regime) are not eligible to claim tax relief under this scheme.

Chinese smartphone brands impress with after sales services: Survey

Oppo had with 93% satisfaction rate followed by Vivo (85%) and Xiaomi (81%), says a survey by Counterpoint Research

The sheer irony of Vodafone Idea leading the roll-out of tariff hikes

• VI’s lead with tariff hikes risks making it the operator with the highest tariffs despite a weaker network
• The move can also pave way for Jio to expand market share gains, as its tariffs are lower than Airtel, Vi’s

Govt offers to set up panel to look into issues, but farmers refuse to budge

• As the meeting continued for more than two hours, sources said the farmer representatives were unanimous in seeking repeal of the three laws
• For the meeting in Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was accompanied by Railways and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

Centre’s top brass holds discussions ahead of meeting with protesting farmers

Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah along with agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and railways minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting for over three hours over the farmers protest against the Centre’s new agriculture reform laws

Dr Reddy’s starts clinical trial of Sputnik V vaccine

• Hetero is likely to manufacture the vaccine primarily for the Indian market, but will not have distribution rights
• Dr Reddy’s plans to enrol 100 participants for phase 2 and 1,400 for the last stage.

Covid positivity rate should decelerate in next two weeks: Delhi Health Minister

• 'The positivity rate stood at 7.35% on Monday. It was 15.26% on 7 Nov. There has been a reduction of nearly 55% since then,' says Satyendar Jain
• Delhi recorded 3,726 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, the lowest in 15 days

World shares rise on recovery hopes, following stellar November

• Bets of more easing from the Fed in the US to help the pandemic-hit economy weighed on the dollar, as riskier currencies rose
• In Europe, the pan-regional STOXX 600 benchmark was up 0.7% in early deals

Bitcoin approaches $20,000 as Crypto bulls push skeptics aside

Bitcoin’s recovery from a rout last week is stoking speculation that the cryptocurrency can breach $20,000 for the first time

Adverse event won't affect Covid vaccine's timeline in any manner: Govt

• 'Initial findings did not necessitate stopping Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trials,' says Union Health Secretary
• Serum Institute of India on Tuesday denied allegations that a Covid-19 trial volunteer suffered serious side effects from a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University