Author: Pritam Barman

RBI digital banking guidelines are set to reshape how Indian banks seek customer consent and manage risk across their online and mobile channels, as the Reserve Bank of India rolls out its final rules for digital banking. The framework tightens expectations on everything from how banks enroll customers in digital services to how they monitor transactions, communicate alerts and display third‑party products. It also arrives alongside a monetary penalty on one of India’s largest private lenders, underscoring that the central bank is prepared to back its rules with enforcement. What the RBI Digital Banking Guidelines Require from Banks Under the…

The Northwestern federal funding dispute has ended with a $75 million price tag. Northwestern University has agreed to pay that amount to the U.S. government under a settlement with the Trump administration, clearing the way for the restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research support that had been cut off for more than a year. The Northwestern federal funding cut had frozen some $790 million in grants, triggering campus layoffs and contributing to the September resignation of university president Michael Schill. At the heart of the clash was the administration’s contention that Northwestern had not done enough…

Trump effect on inflation is back in the spotlight as Americans confront higher prices for everyday essentials. With the annual U.S. inflation rate rising to 3% in September 2025, voters are asking a familiar question: how much of this is politics, and how much is the broader economy? President Trump returned to the White House promising to “end inflation.” His second term began with a flurry of economic moves, from tariffs and deregulation to cuts in government programs and foreign aid. Supporters say a president can make or break the cost of living. Skeptics argue that inflation is driven mainly…

Vanguard index funds focused on Asia and emerging markets are drawing fresh attention after a new long-term outlook from Goldman Sachs suggested those regions could outpace the S&P 500 over the next decade. Analysts at the Wall Street firm now project that broad U.S. stocks, represented by the S&P 500, will return about 6.5% annually over the next 10 years. By contrast, they see significantly higher annual gains from Asian and emerging‑market equities, especially once currency effects are included. For investors looking beyond the U.S. benchmark, two Vanguard index funds — the Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF and the Vanguard FTSE…

Truths about the stock market can be hard to see when headlines focus on crashes, bubbles and daily swings. The reality is more nuanced: people can and do lose money quickly, but patient investors have also built lasting wealth over time. In a widely shared breakdown, market commentator Sam Ro laid out ten core ideas that separate smart, long-term investing from short-term speculation and common misconceptions. Together, these truths about the stock market help explain why it can be both intimidating and rewarding — and why time in the market matters more than almost anything else. The Long Game Is…

Crypto tax loss harvesting is moving to the top of many investors’ to-do lists as 2025 winds down and new reporting rules loom. With prices sliding and regulation tightening, year-end planning in digital assets is no longer optional — it’s becoming a requirement. Tyrone Ross, principal and founder of 401 Financial, sat down with Julie Hyman to walk through what crypto holders should be thinking about before December 31, from booking losses to cleaning up wallets and preparing for a very different IRS landscape in 2026. For Ross, the message is clear: understand how the current rules work, don’t assume…

Trump immigration crackdown plans are rapidly intensifying across the administration after the killing of a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C. President Trump and senior aides are moving to broaden a “reverse migration” agenda that targets millions of immigrants, including many who are in the United States legally. The focus is on people from countries the White House labels “high risk,” alongside those in the country without legal status. The shift was signaled in a series of statements from the president and key agencies following the death of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, and the…

Gold vs bitcoin is emerging as one of 2025’s most revealing market battles — and, so far, the yellow metal is firmly in the lead. After years of hype that bitcoin would rival or even replace traditional safe havens, gold has quietly pulled ahead, not just in price performance but in the confidence of the world’s biggest buyers. Since U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs launched, the cryptocurrency has fallen about 12%, even as its price still hovers around $90,000. Over the same period, gold has surged roughly 58%, climbing above $4,100 an ounce. For many investors, that gap is forcing a…

Taiping Insurance shares slumped on Thursday as investors reacted to news that the company faces more than $200 million in potential exposure to a deadly fire at a packed Hong Kong housing estate. The massive blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has killed at least 55 people, with nearly 300 residents still unaccounted for, putting the spotlight on the financial and legal fallout for the insurers behind the complex and its renovation project. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the upper floors of the residential blocks as bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings went up in flames, underscoring the…

Workday shares tumbled nearly 8% on Wednesday after the company’s latest forecast for subscription revenue fell short of what many on Wall Street were hoping to see. The software maker nudged its full-year subscription revenue guidance slightly higher, but the increase was so modest that several analysts cut their price targets and questioned how strong the company’s underlying momentum really is. The sell-off came at a time when software stocks had already been under pressure in 2025, with investors debating how quickly generative artificial intelligence tools might disrupt established players. Workday has spent much of this year talking up its…