New Delhi: The Central government has so far this year collected ₹4.62 trillion in direct taxes after adjusting for refunds, marking a 20.99% growth annually, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said on Tuesday quoting provisional figures. This includes corporate taxes of ₹1.8 trillion and personal income tax of ₹2.81 trillion. The personal income tax … Read more
The International Monetary Fund praised Cyprus for its strong economic performance, commending the country for its substantial primary surpluses, efforts to reduce public debt, quick recovery from the pandemic, and resilience in dealing with external shocks. The IMF recommended measures to further strengthen the economy, including phasing out electricity subsidies and VAT exemptions, and advised against further cost-of-living adjustments to wages. Other recommendations included reforms to the justice system, labor markets, and vigilance regarding systemic risks in the real estate market.
Silver found temporary support near .20 after correcting from a weekly high of .30. The Dollar declined further after the U.S. Department of Labor reported higher jobless benefits claims for the week ending May 24. The slower US growth rate in the first quarter also weighed on the Dollar. The DXY Dollar Index corrected further to 104.76. A downside move in the US Dollar is favorable for dollar-denominated assets such as silver. The uncertainty over the near-term outlook of silver remains ahead of the U.S. core Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index data for April. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge will influence speculation for Fed rate cuts in September. Financial markets expect the Fed to start reducing interest rates from the last quarter of the year.
The Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) remained negative for the third consecutive month in April, with a year-over-year decrease of 0.6%. This was driven by a slowdown in tourist arrivals and an increase in crude oil prices.
The Lithuanian Finance Ministry proposed increasing the corporate tax rate by one percentage point, hiking excise duty on fuel, and introducing a tax on some insurance contracts to raise additional funds for defense.
Gold is likely to hit a new all-time high within weeks, driven by factors such as anticipated interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, continuous gold purchases by the People’s Bank of China, and growing demand from regions like Turkey and the Middle East.
The Cypriot economy exhibited its highest growth rate in the last five quarters during the first quarter of 2024, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increasing by 3.5 per cent compared to the same quarter of 2023.
The Cyprus economy’s growth rate in real terms during the first quarter of 2024 is positive, with a gross domestic product estimated at 3.5% year-on-year according to Cystat.
Fact: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) not to increase taxes on food, agro-related items, and fertilizers in the upcoming budget.
Airbnb shares fell more than 6% due to weak forecasts for the second quarter, with concerns about slowing growth at the vacation rental firm. The company projected lower revenue for the current quarter, with a relatively flat growth rate of room nights booked. Investors were worried about moderating leisure travel demand in the US. Despite the slump in shares, some analysts believe the pullback is an overreaction and that the outlook for 2024 remains relatively unchanged.