Hey folks!

How do you track your net worth?

Some use spreadsheets. Some use apps. And then there are India’s high net worth individuals (HNIs) who are doing it with art, jewellery, watches and even NFTs — by collecting them.

Yup, for a growing number of wealthy Indians, these aren’t just status symbols. They’re serious investments.

According to Kotak Private’s Top of the Pyramid report (2024), a whopping 94% of HNIs actively collect jewellery, and 73% own art. And it’s not just the older generation doing this. Millennials are leading the charge when it comes to putting their money into collectibles.

But here’s the twist. This is quite the opposite of what’s happening globally.

Art sales at big auction houses like Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips, brought in just $3.98 billion in the first half of 2025. That’s down by nearly $3 billion compared to the same period in 2022. All this even when the number of billionaires and their wealth has hit record levels worldwide.

Meanwhile, back in India, art is on the rise. The value of the top 50 artworks in the Hurun India Art List has tripled in just three years to ₹252 crore in 2024.

So what’s going on?

Well, globally, collectors seem to be playing it safe. In uncertain economic times, many are shying away from public auctions and opting for more discreet, stable assets like gold and jewellery. In fact, jewellery sales jumped 68% in just the first half of 2025.

Meanwhile in India, art still feels like a vibrant, growing opportunity. And with inflation quietly nibbling away at traditional returns, more folks are turning to collectibles as a smarter, more soulful hedge beyond the usual stocks and bonds.

Who knew your next big investment might just be hanging on a wall, eh?

So, the next time you’re eyeing that Van Gogh print or a rare Hot Wheels model, don’t brush it off. Your he(art) might just be in the right place!

Here’s a soundtrack to put you in the mood 🎵

Nahi by Janisht Joshi

You can thank our reader Naitik Dhanani for this beautiful rec.

And we have a little confession to make. We missed mentioning Naitik’s name in last week’s edition. That song recommendation was his too! So we’re making up for it by featuring another one of his picks this week. And of course, we owe him a big apology.

Sorry, Naitik! We hope you enjoy this edition.

What caught our eye this week 👀

Cheap meat, expensive shuttlecocks?

#Shuttlecocks Prices Rise is a curious trend doing the rounds on Weibo, China’s X-like platform. And if you're wondering why that's news, here's the weird bit. Apparently, shuttlecock prices have doubled over the past decade. And the reason is China's growing appetite for meat.

Wait... how does that even make sense, you ask?

Well, you see, China consumes over a quarter of the world’s meat. And pork is its favourite. While that’s always been the case, right now China alone is gobbling up nearly 60% of the world’s pork supply. That’s because a few years ago, pork became relatively cheap as people had started shifting towards alternative proteins like poultry and seafood. That price crash made pork more attractive again, and demand soared. So much so that poultry farmers began switching from raising ducks and geese to pigs instead.

Okay, but what does this have to do with badminton?

Everything actually. Because high-quality shuttlecocks are made using duck and goose feathers. Specifically, 16 feathers from at least 4 birds go into making one shuttlecock. And those feathers give the shuttle its signature smooth, arch-like flight, which is crucial for pro-level accuracy and control. So, fewer ducks and geese means fewer feathers. Which means rising costs. Which brings us back to... pricier shuttlecocks.

This has countries like France, where badminton is booming, a bit jittery. And since nearly 90% of the world’s duck and goose feather supply comes from Asia, mostly China, alternatives are hard to find.

Sure, synthetic shuttlecocks exist. But many players say they just don’t feel the same. There’s less control, especially during smashes and less time to react. Which is why even though the Badminton World Federation (BWF) approved them for international tournaments in 2021, feathered ones still dominate.

But maybe it’s time to give synthetic tech another shot. BWF’s own tests show that Yonex’s synthetic shuttle lasts longer, costs less and flies almost like the real thing — potentially cutting usage by 25%, compared to changing shuttlecocks every 1–2 minutes in high-level tournaments. That’s a big win for both the environment and event budgets.

And hey, if someone can crack the “feel” factor, it might just be the next big startup idea. After all, artists once swore by animal hair paint brushes because synthetic ones didn’t hold paint the same way or glide smoothly on canvas. But then Japanese companies came along and nailed the formula. And now, many can barely even feel the difference.

Maybe shuttlecocks are next?

Infographic 📊

📺Why do airlines fail so often in India?

Ever wondered why, despite packed flights, massive aircraft orders, and expanding airports, Indian airlines keep going bankrupt or struggling to stay profitable?

Well, we did too. And we turned those answers into a new episode of Finshots TV. In it, we dive into the harsh economics of running an airline in India and why the aviation market here continues to falter.

Click here to watch it.

Readers Recommend 🗒️

This week, our reader Dhwaneet Bhatt recommends reading Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.

Dhwaneet writes, “We all know that the modern world has been shaped largely by conquests led by European civilisations.

But why did Eurasian societies advance so rapidly in terms of technology, while others like those in Africa, among Australian Aboriginal groups, or the Mayan and Incan civilisations, lagged behind?

What drives the growth of civilisations? That’s exactly what the book sets out to explore.”

Thanks for the rec, Dhwaneet!

Finshots Weekly Quiz 🧠

It’s time to announce the winner of our previous weekly quiz. And the winner is…🥁

Shadab Zaheer! Congratulations. Keep an eye on your inbox and we’ll get in touch with you soon to send over your Finshots merch.

And for the rest of you, check out our Weekly Wrapup for your chance to win some exclusive Finshots merch. All you have to do is, answer all the quiz questions correctly by 12 noon on August 1st (Friday) and tune in to our Sunny Side Up next week to check if you got lucky.

Until then, send us your book, music, business movies, documentaries or podcast recommendations. We’ll feature them in the newsletter! Also, don’t forget to tell us what you thought of today's edition. Just hit reply to this email (or if you’re reading this on the web, drop us a message at morning@finshots.in).

We’ll see you next Sunday!

🖖🏽

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