BEHAVIOURAL MICRO SEGMENTATION
Small-business lenders’ growth cools in FY26 amid credit headwinds
Indifi’s revenue and loan book remained broadly flat, NeoGrowth’s assets under management (AUM) declined 21.5%, and Lendingkart’s fell 74%. FlexiLoans’ lending entity Epimoney grew its AUM only 10% in the first nine months of the year. WeRize and Progcap bucked the trend, helped by business models that extend beyond pure balance-sheet lending.
3BHKs emerge as top choice for Indian homebuyers, Rs 90 lakh-Rs 1.5 crore the preferred budget
Indian homebuyers increasingly prefer larger three-bedroom homes, with nearly half of respondents opting for this configuration. The Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore budget bracket is the most preferred price segment. Rising housing prices are a concern, yet most buyers intend to proceed with purchases. End-users drive demand for larger homes, viewing them as long-term lifestyle value.
These mid-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and an upside potential of over 25%, according to analysts
As an investor, what you need to do at this point of time is this: A bit of extra work in terms of stock-picking so that you avoid anxiety during future corrective phases in the market. And there should not be any doubt that, given the current geopolitical conditions, there will be many more corrective phases.
Credit for the next 50 crore: How PhonePe’s new co-branded cards target India’s underserved
At GFF 2026, PhonePe unveiled a suite of co-branded credit cards with HDFC Bank and SBI, plus the Wishcard for consumers with limited or no credit history. The products build on UPI-era behaviour to tap into formal credit, aiming to bring rewards, flexibility and credit-history building to Gen Z, homemakers, freelancers and semi-urban India.
BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration: Inside the 140-point document on Global South's ambitions
BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration at the 18th summit, reaffirming their commitment to cooperation, multilateralism and a more representative global order. The document outlines India's 2026 chairship priorities, recognises partner countries' contributions and calls for greater participation of Emerging Markets, Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries in global governance.
EV-related stocks: Own the chain, not the guess; 13 stocks with upside potential of up to 28% and downside risk of -14%, according to analysts
In the stock market, when a big theme or sectoral trend takes off, most investors focus on the face of it. A brand with which they can relate. The same is happening in the auto sector, which is transitioning to the EV age. However, behind every EV is a long, hidden chain of businesses. Chasing an obvious name means betting on just one stock. There is a better way. Check out Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, for price targets of over 4,000 listed stocks along with detailed company analysis focusing on five key components – earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum – to generate standardised scores. SR+ Reports is a complimentary offering to ETPrime members.
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‘Pulse’ check: How PhonePe is turning transaction data into market intelligence
In an exclusive conversation with The Economic Times, PhonePe’s Karthik Raghupathy explained how PulsePro was born out of demand for postal code-level analysis, deeper merchant-category insights and richer consumer demographic information.
Brands unwrap premium gifting packs on quick commerce for festive season
Brands are launching festive, event-specific products on quick commerce platforms as shoppers increasingly turn to rapid delivery for gifting. From rakhis and premium chocolates to jewellery, beauty products and traditional wear, brands are tailoring offerings to specific occasions and micro-markets. D2C brands are also reporting a sharp rise in festive demand.
Gold rallies 9% in July, but investors park Rs 1.4 lakh crore in money market funds: Vallum Capital
In July, gold showcased impressive returns, significantly outpacing the equity markets as investors shifted their focus to secure assets, such as money market funds. Following a robust performance in June, precious metal fund inflows saw a notable decline. Conversely, fixed-income funds experienced a turnaround, drawing in new capital. This shift highlights a growing preference among investors for safety rather than chasing after market highs.
Microfinance Institutions' AUM projected to grow 20% in FY27: Crisil
Microfinance institutions are poised for significant growth, with assets under management expected to surge by 20% in FY27. This acceleration is largely fueled by a strategic shift towards non-microfinance offerings like gold loans and MSME financing, diversifying beyond traditional microcredit. This move aims to bolster resilience and earnings stability amidst inherent risks in the core microfinance segment.
10-year equity performance tracker: Large, mid, small and micro? Which cap has delivered highest return in last 10 years?
Welcome to TrendMap, your quick guide to the performance of different investment segments. No single segment always leads. In this edition, we present a 10-year equity performance tracker, ranking annual returns across market cap segments.
Digital gold rush: Gaming, interactive media to unlock a $7.8 billion opportunity by FY30
India's digital entertainment market is booming, with gaming and interactive media leading the charge, projected to reach $7.8 billion by FY30. This growth is fueled by increased consumer spending, UPI adoption, and product innovation, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Digital gaming and esports are experiencing significant expansion, driven by social features and AI development.
Demand for smaller homes surges in September quarter: Magicbricks
India's housing market saw a 3.1% demand surge in Q3, driven by a preference for smaller, affordable homes, with one and two-bedroom units now making up 54% of demand. Prices climbed significantly in cities like Pune and Mumbai. Developers focusing on affordability and lifestyle needs are poised for future growth, as buyer activity remains strong.
The rise of micro-drama content in India: A new era in entertainment
In a digital era, micro-drama applications are gaining immense popularity across India, catering to the audience's love for rapid storytelling. With investors flocking to support this burgeoning entertainment sector, projections indicate the market could soar to a staggering two billion dollars in just five years.
Loans to MSMEs increase to over Rs 40 lakh crore on back of policy push
Public sector banks continued to lead in micro business lending with 45% market share while private banks dominated the small and medium business segments, the credit bureau said on Thursday, unveiling a MSMEx (micro, small and medium exposure) Spotlight Report.
Go Fintech eyes Australian expansion as global push for inclusive AI-driven finance accelerates
Go Fintech, a global financial technology firm, is set to expand into the Australian market, spearheaded by Executive Director Sadaf Roksana. The company plans to invest in early-stage fintech startups, focusing on AI-powered services and RegTech solutions. Go Fintech also aims to collaborate with financial institutions and regulatory bodies to implement AI-driven systems, enhancing financial inclusion for underserved communities.
Behind the platform: The tech thinking behind Spocto X
Spocto X is revolutionizing digital lending and collections with its AI-powered platform, addressing rising delinquencies by unifying digital, tele-calling, and field operations. Agentic AI personalizes borrower engagement, optimizing communication and ensuring compliance. The platform leverages Strat AI for tailored strategies and conversational AI for empathetic interactions, driving efficiency and maintaining borrower dignity.
This is the year to build portfolios, don’t expect a big bounce back in near term: Aniruddha Naha
Aniruddha Naha, CIO of PGIM India Asset Management, believes that while the worst of the earnings decline might be over, investors should focus on building portfolios for long-term gains rather than expecting immediate returns. He suggests that while there are opportunities in the small and micro-cap segments, large-cap financials, healthcare, textiles, and chemicals also offer value.
Lenders to focus on credit vetting of Jan Dhan accounts
Banks are boosting credit assessment processes, utilizing social media analytics to evaluate Jan Dhan account holders for consumption loans. With an emphasis on productive lending and government schemes, they remain cautious amid rising personal loan stress and RBI's warning on unsecured loan growth.
Budget 2022 needs to treat India’s ubiquitous micro enterprises separately
Almost 99% of the MSMEs in the country are micro enterprises. But the government's policies do not always give them the required support.
MSMEx raises $1 million in Pre-Series A funding from Razorpay, TNF Investments
MSMEx said that it will use this funding to develop new intuitive technologies, including a deep learning-based recommender system, a live chat system, an AI-based behaviour analytics system, and scale its operations to serve more users.
Small-town retailers go digital with business activity back to normal levels
Given the current scenario due to COVID-19, more consumers are looking online and this provides the potential for MSMEs to transform and build on digitisation of their businesses.
The common “Code for Responsible Lending” (CRL) for microfinance has a few big names missing
Bandhan Bank Managing Director Chandra Shekhar Ghosh said that the code in its current form is restrictive for the bank’s business growth. He said the code should have spelt out what should be the ideal business conduct instead of limiting the quantum of loan given by banks.
Retailers adopting advanced tech to target niche consumer segments: Deloitte report
Retail firms are using a strategy - Tribetailing - to identify and cater to a niche set of consumers.
Gunit Chadha-backed APAC forays into digital lending for SMEs
The digital lending vertical is aimed at providing timely finance to M&SME retailers on basis of key factors like alternate data, social behaviour, demographics, business vintage, etc.
Net interest margins of MFIs to face pressure: KPMG
KPMG said the MFI sectors awaited parity in terms of restrictions related to lending.
Ola reboots its app for a smooth ride
The move comes at a time when both Ola and Uber are locked in a battle market domination in India, with both of them claiming market leadership in the cab segment.
Despite e-comm rise, offline stores generating 91% sale: Study
"Despite the rise of e-commerce, the physical stores still draw a significant shopping crowd. In fact, 91 per cent of all retail sales are still in brick-and-mortar stores," a study said.
Mobikwik to provide mobile wallets to slum dwellers with NGO Samagra
Under the new system, the money will continue to be handed over to a Samagra representative, but would then reflect in the application user's Mobikwik wallet.
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