Business
Under threat from Trump, Wall Street banks wager they can fend off credit card price controls
The biggest U.S. banks show no sign of capitulating to President Donald Trump’s mandate to slash credit card interest rates, setting up a confrontation just as the president is expected to take the world stage next week at Davos.
Executives at JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup warned this week that rather than offering cards at a 10% interest rate, as Trump has directed should happen by Jan. 20, the banks would simply close many customers’ accounts.
“An interest rate cap is not something that we would or could support,” Citigroup CFO Mark Mason told reporters on Wednesday.
It would “restrict access to credit to those who need it the most and frankly would have a deleterious impact on the economy,” he said.
On Tuesday, JPMorgan CFO Jeremy Barnum indicated that the industry could defend itself in the courts if needed, saying “everything’s on the table” in terms of a response.
Trump, keen to address voters’ concerns over affordability ahead of midterm elections this year, began his broadside against banks in a late-Friday social media post by alleging that the industry was ripping off credit card borrowers. In media interviews and follow up posts, Trump has doubled down on his push and endorsed a separate bill that takes aim at the swipe fees paid by merchants.
But five days after the original threat, bankers and their lobbyists told CNBC that they have yet to receive any formal or written guidance from the Trump administration about the policy.
That gives some of them hope that the administration isn’t serious about pursuing the interest rate cap, according to industry insiders, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly.
Deal time?
While Trump has said banks that don’t comply on rates will be “in violation of the law,” there is currently no U.S. law capping card rates. A bill introduced last year that would cap rates at 10% for five years has stalled in Congress.
“We are legally compliant right now,” said one person with knowledge of a large card issuer’s operations.
Barring legislation, which is not likely, the industry will either dodge the caps entirely or be forced to offer concessions, similar to how Trump dealt with the pharmaceutical industry, Wolfe Research analysts led by Tobin Marcus said Tuesday in a note.
“We continue to view the drugmakers as the case study in how this kind of dealmaking-under-threat could go,” Marcus said. “In that case, Trump had enough leverage to secure some new pricing commitments, but not enough to extract truly painful commitments.”
The financial sector is keenly focused on two upcoming events for a sense of how the credit card battle will unfold, sources tell CNBC.
The first is Senate meetings this month where bills being worked on could see the addition of Trump’s rate cap or the push to limit interchange fees. But that path is murky, given that several Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have already indicated they wouldn’t support price controls on credit cards.
The other looming date is next Wednesday, the day after Trump’s Jan. 20 deadline. That’s when Trump will address leaders from the corporate and political realms at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and CEOs including JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon are also scheduled to attend.
At last year’s Davos conference, Trump surprised Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan by accusing him and Dimon of discriminating against conservatives when it comes to access to bank accounts.
Business
Forget Budget Homes! Luxury Housing Sales Reach 4-Year High As Indians Opt For High-End Flats
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Luxury homes made up 27% of Indian residential sales in 2025, with high demand in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad
The report noted that around 62,500 homes were sold during the October–December 2025 quarter
The residential real estate market is undergoing a decisive shift, with luxury housing emerging as the dominant growth driver and redefining buyer preferences across the country. Once led by demand for compact and affordable homes, the market has now firmly entered what industry observers describe as a “luxury era”, where larger homes, premium locations and lifestyle-driven amenities have become central to purchasing decisions.
The year 2025 has proved to be a watershed moment for this transformation. According to the India Market Monitor Q4 2025 report, luxury homes accounted for nearly 27% of total residential sales during the year, bringing the segment within striking distance of one-third of all housing transactions. For the first time, sales of premium and luxury homes outpaced those in the mid-income and affordable categories.
The scale of the shift is striking. In 2022, premium and luxury homes made up just about 12% of total residential sales. In a span of four years, that share has more than doubled, signalling a rapid change in the aspirations and spending power of Indian homebuyers.
Industry experts attribute this surge to a combination of economic and demographic factors. Sustained salary growth in the corporate sector, the expansion of the startup ecosystem, rising entrepreneurial incomes and strong participation from non-resident Indian (NRI) investors have significantly boosted purchasing capacity at the top end of the market.
“Today’s crore-plus homebuyers are looking well beyond basic shelter,” said Yash Miglani, Managing Director of Migson Group, “They want larger homes in prime locations, global-standard amenities and a sense of exclusivity. Features such as clubhouses, swimming pools, landscaped green spaces, smart home technology and sustainable design are no longer add-ons, they are expectations.”
Developers, too, are recalibrating their strategies in response. Many are increasingly prioritising high-end and super luxury projects, particularly in markets where demand has shown resilience even during periods of economic uncertainty.
The definition of luxury, however, continues to vary across cities. In Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region, homes priced between Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 3 crore are typically classified as premium. In Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the range is narrower, between Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 2.5 crore. At the same time, cities such as Pune, Chennai and Kolkata are witnessing rising demand for homes priced above Rs 1.25 crore, underscoring that luxury housing is no longer confined to a handful of metros.
Harvinder, Chairman of Sikka Group, said strong demand in NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru reflects the underlying strength of the housing market. “Infrastructure upgrades, improved connectivity and sustained corporate expansion have pushed high-end residential projects to a new level,” he said, adding that the premium and luxury segment is likely to maintain steady growth over the next five to seven years.
The momentum is even more pronounced at the very top of the market. The super luxury segment recorded a sharp rise in 2025, with demand increasing by nearly 70% over the year. Growth during the October–December quarter alone exceeded 60 per cent, pointing to heightened interest from ultra-high-net-worth individuals, who increasingly view real estate as a stable and secure asset class.
“Buyer attitudes have changed fundamentally,” said Amit Modi, Director of County Group, “There is a clear preference for larger, better-planned homes with superior amenities, especially in metro and tier-1 cities. Real estate is no longer seen merely as a necessity, it has become a status symbol and a long-term investment.”
The report noted that around 62,500 homes were sold during the October–December 2025 quarter, while approximately 60,000 new units were launched in the same period. Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad accounted for the bulk of the transactions, indicating a healthy equilibrium between demand and supply.
For developers, the shift marks a critical inflection point. Success today depends on far more than pricing, said Kushagra Ansal, Director of Ansal Housing, adding, “Design excellence, location, sustainability and reliability of delivery are now decisive factors. The growing appetite for luxury and super luxury homes shows that the market has matured and become quality-driven.”
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January 21, 2026, 18:44 IST
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High street fashion giant Next has bought shoe retailer Russell & Bromley which had collapsed in to administration.
Next paid £2.5m in a rescue deal for the upmarket British footwear and accessories seller — but the future for most of the chain’s current staff and shops remains uncertain
Next will own the brand and three of Russell & Bromley’s 36 stores, as well as some existing stock for which it is paying an additional £1.3m.
Administrators Interpath said it was considering the future of the remaining stores, which for the moment remain open, as well as nine concession stores which all employ around 400 people.
Russell & Bromley’s chief executive Andrew Bromley said it was a “difficult decision” but the sale of the brand was the best way to secure its future.
The company is around 150 years old but has become the latest to struggle in a tough retail environment.
It joins other brands in a familiar path to largely disappearing off the high street via a process of administration, which means companies are often broken up and the highest value assets sold off to the highest bidder.
The Original Factory Shop and accessories retailer Claire’s are both currently going through a process of administration, with site closures and jobs at risk. Around 1,000 people lost their jobs after Bodycare collapsed in September, while River Island will close some stores to avoid a total collapse. The woes all come after a tranche of high profile closures such as Debenhams and Wilko.
In a statement, Next said it secured “the future of a much loved British footwear brand.”
“Next intends to build on this legacy and provide the operational stability and expertise to support Russell & Bromley’s next chapter, allowing it to return to its core mission: the design and curation of world-class, premium footwear and accessories for many years to come.”
The three stores Next will acquire are in high-end shopping destinations in or around London: Chelsea, Mayfair and Kent.
Next has seen relatively solid performance in the current turbulent retail landscape – unlike Russell & Bromley which has been loss-making in recent years.
Its saviour has experience in failing circumstances: last year, Next bought out of administration fashion maternity label Seraphine, and began rolling out its FatFace concessions a few years after snapping it up.
MUMBAI: Nearly four out of five of India’s leading young entrepreneurs are self-made, underscoring a shift in the country’s business landscape from inheritance to merit, according to the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India Uth Series 2025. The report shows that about 80% of business leaders under 40 featured in the ranking are first-generation founders.The study tracks entrepreneurs aged up to 40 whose companies meet minimum valuation thresholds ranging from $25 million to $200 million, based on age cohort and whether the founder is first- or next-generation. Of the 436 entrepreneurs shortlisted, 349 are self-made, pointing to a growing ecosystem driven by new ideas and technology rather than legacy ownership.Among first-generation founders, Ritesh Agarwal, founder of OYO, leads the list. At 31, Agarwal has built one of the most capitalised startups in the country, raising $3.7 billion. He is followed by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, both 22, whose quick-commerce firm Zepto has raised $1.95 billion.Other prominent first-generation entrepreneurs include Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha, now among India’s most-followed entrepreneurs on LinkedIn; Alakh Pandey of Physics Wallah, who disrupted the ed-tech space; and Ghazal Alagh, the most-followed woman entrepreneur on the list.Next-generation leaders account for about 20% of the ranking and continue to shape large family-run businesses. Key names include Isha Ambani of Reliance Retail, which employs more than 2.47 lakh people; Abhyuday Jindal, who is driving sustainability initiatives at Jindal Stainless; and Vidhi Shanghvi, who recently led Sun Pharmaceutical’s $355 million acquisition of US-based Checkpoint Therapeutics.The report categorises entrepreneurs across three age groups—under 30, under 35 and under 40. Together, the companies led by these 436 entrepreneurs are valued at more than $950 billion, higher than Switzerland’s GDP. Bengaluru tops the list with 109 entrants, followed by Mumbai with 87 and New Delhi with 45. Software products and services dominate with 77 entrepreneurs, ahead of financial services and healthcare, highlighting the tilt toward digital and technology-led businesses.
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