In this week’s wrapup, we talk about monkey trade, why companies are rushing for buybacks before October, why SGBs are giving the government a headache, how the world’s oldest creatures are hurting the fish economy and inflation.

Here’s a recap.

But before that, here’s a quick sidenote. We’re on the lookout for enthusiastic Insurance Advisors to join our team at Ditto Insurance! No finance or insurance background? No worries. We’ll train you from the ground up. Click here to apply.

Monkey Business - A short explainer

Ever heard of IUDs (intrauterine devices) for monkeys?

A recent report reveals that Sri Lankan researchers are testing them on macaques to control their exploding population. This unconventional move aims to tackle a serious problem — these monkeys wreaking havoc on local agriculture and costing millions.

But there’s a lot more to this story, from the global monkey trade to ethical dilemmas in animal research. Curious much? Click here to dive into this wild and thought-provoking story that we covered in Monday’s newsletter!

Why are companies rushing for buybacks before October?

Companies are scrambling to complete their share buybacks before October. And it’s all about new tax rules shaking things up!

Right now, companies foot the bill for buyback taxes, but come October, shareholders will get that tax hit directly. But if companies can save up on taxes after October, then what’s driving this rush?

Find out in Tuesday’s newsletter here.

Why are SGBs giving the government second thoughts?

Gold has always been a favourite investment in India. And this means that India imports more gold than it produces. But that puts a strain on government finances.

To tackle this, the RBI and the government introduced Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) in 2015, aiming to reduce gold imports and offer a low-risk investment.

But it turns out that this plan might be costing them more than expected. Could the SGBs be facing the chop soon? Find out what went wrong and why in this week’s newsletter. Click here to dive in!

Why climate change might hamper your fish consumption

When you think of the ocean, you might picture colourful fish and vibrant coral reefs. But lurking beneath the waves are microscopic Prokaryotes — tiny bacteria that could soon become ocean’s biggest troublemakers.

A new report from the UN’s FAO reveals that rising temperatures and ocean acidification are shifting the balance, making Prokaryotes more dominant and disrupting fish populations. And that could mean that fish stocks are dwindling.

Curious about how this unfolds? Click here to get the full scoop.

How to tackle stubborn inflation

Ever felt the sting of rising prices when buying your weekly groceries?

Well, it’s not just hitting your wallet. It’s a big headache for the RBI and the government too. Inflation is a tricky beast, and despite their efforts, the RBI is struggling to control it.

And one wild idea being tossed around is to just remove food from the inflation equation entirely! Sounds crazy, right?

But there’s more to it. Curious? Click here to find out why this might actually be a smart move or just another head-scratcher in our latest newsletter.

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 August 31, 2024 (Saturday) and tune in to our Sunday newsletter aka Sunny Side Up next week to check if you got lucky.

Also, just a heads-up. We won’t be publishing tomorrow. But don’t worry, we’ll announce last week’s quiz winners in the next Sunny Side Up edition.

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

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