Upcoming events in February 2015
What: The RBI's monetary policy review
When: February 3
What to look for: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut its key lending rate from eight per cent to 7.75 per cent on January 15, while it kept the cash reserve ratio unchanged at four per cent. The RBI has indicated that rates could be cut further this year. This is the first cut in repo rate - the rate at which the central bank lends to commercial banks - since March 2013. A rate cut will lead to a drop in EMIs consumers pay on their housing and auto loans. But it may take three to six quarters for the rate cut to translate into fresh investments, according to experts.
What: The next round of Transatlantic Free Trade Talks
When: February 2-6
What to look for: The European Commission is preparing a new text proposal on how to better align US and EU government regulations across all industry sectors. With the US and European Union together representing an estimated 60 per cent of global GDP, 33 per cent of world trade in goods and 42 per cent of world trade in services, their talks will have an impact across the globe.
What: Delhi assembly elections
When: Polling on February 7, counting on February 10
What to look for: Two of India's prominent civil rights activists Arvind Kejriwal from AAP and Kiran Bedi from BJP are locking horns to become the Chief Minister of Delhi. Kejriwal is desperate to shed the tag that he had thrown it all away the last time around when he got the job of chief minister against heavy odds. BJP, with Bedi as its local mascot, wants to further cement its success after recent electoral victories in other states.The surprise element: The question of how much black money will change hands is uppermost in everybody's mind. The Income Tax Department has set up a toll-free control room for the public to alert it about any suspicious movement of large sums of cash in the run up to the polls. The Election Commission is behind this drive, too.
Date with Digital Gurus
What: Nasscom leadership forum
When: February 11-13
Who: Speakers include Cisco's President (Asia-Pacific and Japan) Irving Tan; Mike McNamara, Group CIO, Tesco; Paul Hermelin, Chairman and CEO, Capgemini Group; Tiger N.V. Tyagarajan, President and CEO, Genpact.
What to look for: This year's focus is on The world in 2020: Building the Digital Future. Fittingly so, as the new age is impacting businesses in ever new ways. Witness the e-commerce frenzy, for instance. There are many not-to-be missed sessions, including what large enterprises can learn from start-ups.
