Business
GST 2.0: Axis report predicts shift from capex to consumption-led growth; MSMEs, consumer sectors seen as key beneficiaries – The Times of India
The government’s announcement of Goods and Services Tax (GST) rationalisation under GST 2.0 signals a major change in India’s economic approach, moving from capex-led spending to a consumption-driven model, according to a report by Axis Securities.“The government has now shifted gears from capex-oriented spending to consumption-led spending,” the brokerage said, adding that the February 2025 Budget had already started this transition by introducing tax reliefs for rural households and the middle class.
As per news agency ANI, the report noted that over the last decade, infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and metro networks defined government policy. However, GST 2.0, approved in the 56th GST Council meeting on September 3, marks a new phase aimed at boosting demand. The reforms rationalise the structure by reducing slabs from four to three, scrapping the 12% and 28% categories. Most items now fall under 5% and 18%, while a 40% slab is reserved for sin goods. Certain essentials have been placed under a Nil GST rate to directly spur consumption. These changes will take effect from September 22, coinciding with Navratri’s first day.

As per ANI, Axis Securities said the move is expected to benefit MSMEs and SMEs and revive credit growth, while boosting consumer demand in sectors such as durables, retail, FMCG, automobiles, cement, real estate, and building materials. The report added that higher discretionary income will strengthen the consumer discretionary segment, eventually reviving private capex, which has remained weak.Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal also described the GST reforms as “game-changing” and the “biggest reform since independence,” reported news agency PTI. He said the move would support demand across sectors, benefit every consumer, and play an important role in India’s growth journey towards becoming a developed country by 2047.

“Every stakeholder in the country, every consumer, stands to benefit,” Goyal said, urging industry to pass on the benefits. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leading what he called the “biggest ever reform that India has seen since independence.”The minister added that the reforms, coming ahead of the festive season, are like a “Diwali gift” that will not only reduce taxes on daily essentials but also create a virtuous cycle of greater demand, investment, and job creation.
Business
India’s FDI inflow may cross $90 billion in FY26, says DPIIT secretary – The Times of India
India’s total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows are likely to cross $90 billion in 2025-26 after already surpassing $88 billion during April-February, a top government official said on Thursday.DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said the government had undertaken a series of policy measures to attract foreign investments into the country, PTI reported.He said that during April-February 2025-26, inflows had crossed $88 billion and were “hopefully crossing $90 billion” for the full fiscal year.According to Bhatia, reform measures, free trade agreements and India’s fast-growing economy are helping the country attract strong investment flows.This reflects continued momentum in foreign investment inflows amid the government’s push to improve ease of doing business and expand global trade linkages.
Business
Oil jumps to highest price since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options
“It does seem as though escalation in the war is back on the table, be it in the guise of the US continuing its blockade in Iran, but also reports and rumours that in order to get out of this bind, Iran may start to strike again,” said Naveen Das, senior oil analyst at Kpler.
Business
Gold, silver price prediction: Will gold head down to Rs 1.40 lakh/10 grams & silver hit Rs 2.20 lakh/kg? – The Times of India
Gold and silver price prediction today: Gold and silver are exhibiting a slightly bearish bias, according to Abhilash Koikkara, Head – Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group.
MCX Gold Price Outlook
MCX Gold, on the weekly timeframe, has retreated from its recent highs and remained under selling pressure over the past week. From a technical standpoint, prices have faced resistance at a significant trendline, with the daily chart now forming a sequence of lower lows, a classically bearish pattern. A sustained breakout above the trendline, however, could shift sentiment and invite fresh upside. For now, the intermediate trend remains rangebound to negative, reflecting a broader corrective structure, with a firm break below key support potentially accelerating the downside.Looking ahead to the coming week, the region around the weekly low of 140,000 is anticipated to emerge as a pivotal support zone, highlighting its importance from a technical perspective. As the ongoing correction runs its course, prices are expected to test this level making any short-term uptick a potential opportunity for fresh short positions rather than a cause for bullish conviction.Conversely, gold faces a notable resistance wall around the recent peak of 155,500 in the near term. Should prices manage a convincing breakout above this threshold, it would effectively invalidate the current bearish momentum and pave the way for a fresh upside move. A consistent hold above this level, moreover, would offer stronger confirmation that the corrective phase has run its course, and bullish sentiment has reclaimed control.To summarize, gold’s overall bias remains tilted to the downside, supported by a determined negative trend that keeps further losses on the table. The intermediate bearish framework is expected to stay intact so long as prices fail to reclaim the key resistance threshold of 155,500. With momentum indicators reinforcing the bearish case and market sentiment echoing the downside narrative, the metal looks poised to sustain its corrective momentum and press lower in the near term.
MCX Gold Trading Strategy
- CMP: 149,000
- Target: 140,000
- Stoploss: 155,500
MCX Silver Price Outlook
From a weekly standpoint, silver’s price action reflects a sideways to bearish bias, as the silver faces conflict at trendline resistance. The second straight week of negative closes reinforces the case for an intermediate bearish period taking hold. In this setting, we expect traders would be well-served to align their positions with the dominant trend while placing stop-loss levels around the prior weekly highs to effectively manage downside risk.The market opened the week on a weak footing, with prices trading below the 30-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), a sign that the negative bias remains in force. The bearish outlook is likely to persist as long as prices stay capped under key weekly resistance levels. Immediate support and the near-term target converge around the recent swing lows at 220,000, and a decisive close below this level could further deepen bearish bias. In the interim, any short-term bounce back is expected to be treated as opportunities to sell.To the upside, silver appears poised to challenge the trendline resistance in the area of 255,000 in the coming sessions. If the prices manage a convincing and sustained close above this threshold, it will weaken the ongoing bearish trend, a view currently reinforced by momentum indicators. On balance, the bearish structure is likely to remain dominant as long as 255,000 continues to act as a ceiling, paving the way for additional downside corrections ahead.
MCX Silver Trading Strategy
- CMP: 240,500
- Target: 220,000
- Stoploss: 255,000
(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
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