In this week’s wrap-up, we talk about a 6 million-dollar banana art piece, India’s rise to the 4th largest economy, the crossroads in the global plastics treaty, the battle for the 6GHz band, and unwavering investor confidence in the Adani Group.

And for this week’s markets edition, we looked at HDFC Bank’s latest loan-selling spree. The bank has sold over ₹200 billion worth of car loans in just a few months. But why would a bank give up steady interest income? Well, it's all about keeping their balance sheet light and bringing something called the bank’s credit-to-deposit ratio (C/D ratio) back on track. Is this strategy working? Click here to find out in this week’s market story.

Meanwhile, here’s a recap of what we wrote over the week...

A $6 million banana?!

Ever looked at an abstract painting worth a million dollars and wondered why it’s so pricey?

Is it the artist’s fame? The rarity of the piece? The materials? Or maybe it’s the story behind it — like a celebrity-owned artwork that collectors can’t resist splurging on

But none of this logic seems to apply to Comedian, better known as the ‘duct-taped banana’. Yup! A banana taped to a wall sold for a staggering $6 million at a Sotheby’s auction last week. And naturally, everyone’s wondering what makes it so valuable.

That’s exactly what we explored in our Monday newsletter. We dug into how some artworks skyrocket in value. And trust us, it’s not as straightforward as it seems.

Curious? Click here to read the full story.

Is India's rise to the 4th largest economy overhyped?

The Indian economy is on a roll. If the IMF's predictions hold true, our GDP could soon surpass Japan’s and Germany’s, placing us just behind the US and China.

It’s not just speculation — real growth is happening, and people are feeling the benefits.

But should we start celebrating yet?

There are significant roadblocks in our path, like the looming risk of squandering our demographic dividend. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Want to know what’s holding us back from unlocking our full potential?

Check out our Tuesday story for the full scoop.

Why is ending plastic pollution so hard for countries?

Plastic production is a ticking time bomb for the planet. Between 2000 and 2019, plastic production doubled. And by 2040, it could exceed 70% of 2020’s production levels.

That’s why nearly 70 countries are pushing for a global treaty to cut plastic production and regulate harmful chemicals used to make them. But some countries don’t agree. They argue that the issue isn’t really plastic production, but how we consume and dispose of it.

And that got us thinking: Why would anyone oppose a plan to cut down on harmful plastic? That’s what we explored in Wednesday’s newsletter.

The battle for the 6GHz band and what’s at stake for India

Imagine the internet as a crowded highway. Now picture a brand new, empty lane opening up just for you. That’s what the 6-gigahertz (GHz) frequency band could be for internet users in India.

But there's a dilemma: Should the band be licensed to telecom giants for 5G and 6G, or should it be made public (i.e., unlicensed) to boost innovation and connectivity?

In our Thursday newsletter, we break down the debate and what’s at stake. Read the full story here.

Will GQG help restore investor confidence in Adani businesses?

Adani Group is in hot water again.

After the US SEC and the Department of Justice (DoJ) accused Gautam Adani and associates of bribing Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts, Adani Group stocks took a ₹2.45 lakh crore nosedive in just three days.

While some investors, like TotalEnergies, have hit pause on fresh investments, one notable name — GQG Capital — isn’t budging, despite mounting criticism from its own clients.

But why is GQG sticking around? What makes them so confident in Adani’s resilience? And what could happen if they decide to walk away?

We’ve unpacked all this and more in Friday’s story. Catch the full scoop here.

Finshots Weekly Quiz 🧩

Here’s your chance to win some exclusive Finshots merch. All you have to do is click on this 👉🏽 link, answer all the questions correctly by 12 noon on December 7, 2024 (Saturday) and tune in to our Sunday newsletter aka Sunny Side Up next week to check if you got lucky.

That’s it from us this week. Have a great weekend!

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