A survey of economists predicts that FinMin will budget for a gross tax collection of Rs 38.3 lakh cr and a net collection of Rs 26.6 lakh cr in 2024-25, a 14% increase from the previous year. The relationship between GDP growth and tax collections is now complicated, but experts expect tax revenues to exceed budget estimates due to factors such as formalization, compliance, and improving growth.

Tax experts suggest that shifting the tax burden from listed companies to shareholders would be more equitable, bringing buyback taxation in line with dividend taxation. Currently, companies pay a flat 23.3% tax on distributed income through buybacks, while shareholders pay no tax. However, there are concerns that this could result in value erosion for shareholders who do not participate.

Indian markets have performed exceptionally well, surpassing global markets since the last budget. This success is due to good macroeconomic conditions, overcoming concerns about interest rates and economic slowdown. Sensex and Nifty saw significant gains, outperforming global benchmarks like S&P500 and Dow Jones. Foreign investor inflows also boosted sentiment.

Nova Agritech's IPO saw a 109.37 times subscription, with the stock rallying by nearly 41% on its listing day. The company offers soil health, crop nutrition and protection products, using a tech-driven approach. With a price band of Rs 39-41 per share, the IPO raised Rs 144 crore through a mix of fresh issuance and an offer-for-sale. The stock traded with volumes of 83.55 lakh shares on NSE.

Gold prices on February 1, traded slightly lower as investors awaited the budget announcement. The April 5 gold futures on MCX were down by 0.14% at Rs 62,648 per ten grams, with the interim budget potentially impacting its prices. Traders were advised to exercise caution and avoid heavy positions. The FOMC signaling an end to the monetary policy cycle lifted precious metal sentiments.

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to receive a 25% increase in budget allocation for its regional air connectivity scheme (UDAN) in the upcoming Interim Budget. This will help revive airports shut down due to COVID and launch new routes. The government aims to operationalize 1000 UDAN routes and revive/develop 100 unserved/underserved airports by 2024.

Boeing reported a smaller fourth-quarter loss than expected and increased production of its best-selling plane, but a recent safety incident has raised concerns. The company declined to provide a 2024 forecast due to uncertainty surrounding ongoing investigations into quality-control issues. CEO David Calhoun emphasized a focus on improving quality and working transparently with the FAA.

Standalone quarterly numbers for Suven Life Sciences were reported, with net sales at Rs. 2.45 crore in December 2023, down 18.37% from the previous year. Quarterly net loss was at Rs. 4.77 crore, up 28.1%, while EBITDA stood negative at Rs. 3.13 crore. The company's shares closed at Rs. 108.30 on January 31, 2024.

Reported Standalone quarterly numbers for Sun Pharmaceutical Industries are: Net Sales at Rs 5,073.75 crore in December 2023 up 9.21% from Rs. 4,645.75 crore in December 2022. Quarterly Net Profit at Rs. 721.31 crore in December 2023 up 48.2% from Rs. 486.73 crore in December 2022. EBITDA stands at Rs. 1,435.80 crore in December 2023 up 34.51% from Rs. 1,067.41 crore in December 2022.

January 2024 saw a rise in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections to Rs 1.72 lakh crore, making it the second-highest ever. The provisional data is 10.4% higher than that of last month, but shows a 9.3% increase when compared to the previous year's final figure. This marks the 11th consecutive month of GST collections above Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Reliance and Walt Disney are in talks to merge their media businesses in India, with Reliance set to hold a 51-54% stake. Bodhi Tree, a joint venture between James Murdoch and a former Disney exec, is also looking to invest around 9%. This deal will combine Viacom18, owned by Reliance, and Disney's Indian operations to create a major player in the entertainment industry.

On Jan 31, RBI imposed restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, banning it from accepting new deposits and doing credit transactions from Feb 2024. Existing customers can withdraw their money until Feb 2024 and use the app for digital payments as long as their account is linked to an external bank. The action announced on Jan 31 is in addition to previous restrictions imposed on Paytm in March 2022.

To create an emergency fund, save some money in easily accessible assets. Despite low interest rates, consider investing a portion of your portfolio in fixed deposits (FDs) for higher returns. Research and evaluate the risks before choosing a bank, as smaller banks offer up to 6.50% interest on one-year FDs. Suryoday Small Finance Bank tops the list with a 6.50% interest rate.

IIFL Finance is launching secured NCDs to raise Rs 1000 crore for lending purposes. The NCDs have a face value of Rs 1000 and come in seven series with varying tenures and payout options. The company has a diversified loan portfolio with a relatively low NPA ratio, but the rating agencies have raised concerns about the young age of the loan book and the impact of the pandemic on borrowers.

Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys reported a strong standalone performance in the December 2023 quarter, with a 9.89% increase in net sales to Rs. 685.27 crore and a whopping 934.23% increase in net profit to Rs. 107.87 crore. EBITDA also saw a significant jump of 150.48%, leading to an increase in EPS from Rs. 1.93 to Rs. 19.99 in the same period.