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High mortgage rates to keep US housing market revival elusive: Reuters poll

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Paytm shares drop 3% after govt shields UPI payments only up to Rs 2,000 from charges. Should you buy the dip?

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Paytm shares drop 3% after govt shields UPI payments only up to Rs 2,000 from charges. Should you buy the dip?
Shares of One 97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, dropped over 2.5% on Tuesday after the government directed banks and payment system providers not to levy charges on UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000, leaving investors speculating about what happens to transactions above the said amount.

Paytm shares dropped to Rs 1,761.80 apiece on NSE on Tuesday morning. This comes a session after the stock hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 1,840 apiece, nearly doubling in less than six months from its 52-week low of Rs 930.6 apiece which the stock had hit in March this year.

As per a gazette notification dated Monday, no bank or system provider would directly or indirectly impose any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to Rs 2,000. However, the government did not specify whether charges would be applicable to transactions above Rs 2,000, to be paid by merchants. Currently, there are no charges levied on UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount.

Also read |Banks cannot impose charges on UPI payments of up to Rs 2,000, govt says

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The latest notification comes after an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, which provides a framework for imposing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on payments through UPI and other notified electronic payment modes. The government in a statement explained the rationale for imposing charges, stating that with exponential transaction volumes, the system requires significant and continuous upgrades in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and infrastructure.


Charges were required for market expansion and self sustainability, it said, adding that it is necessary to increase competition by encouraging more companies to expand operations, which requires a self-sustaining revenue model. Reliance on subsidies alone is not viable for the next wave of growth, and a balanced framework is required to ensure that UPI remains robust, inclusive and future-ready, the statement further said.

Why are Paytm shares falling today?

For nearly seven years, UPI became more and more popular as a transaction could be made so quickly without paying any additional charges. By specifically shielding UPI payments only up to Rs 2,000, the government has created the legal and regulatory space for a merchant discount rate, or MDR, to be eventually imposed on selected higher-value merchant transactions. No such charge has yet been announced.The government has however repeatedly clarified that UPI will remain free for citizens and person-to-person transactions will continue without charges. If MDR is introduced, it would only apply to a limited section of merchant transactions, above a specified threshold, and at a rate substantially below typical debit or credit-card MDR.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said any MDR would apply to merchants and not end-users, arguing that revenues generated within the payments ecosystem would enable banks and fintech companies to invest further in infrastructure, innovation and security.

While discussing the costs of digital-payment infrastructure, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra in August said, “Someone has to pay the cost”. He stressed that the RBI wants digital payments to remain accessible, affordable and safe, but also sustainable.

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Also read | UPI charges above ₹2000? Government opens door to new merchant fee regime

Should you buy, sell or hold Paytm share price?

Jefferies recently increased its price target for the stock to Rs 2,100 apiece from Rs 1,600 apiece, while maintaining its ‘Buy’ call. The international brokerage highlighted that Paytm stands out on monetisation of its client base in near-zero MDR regime, which is now changing favourably. The fintech platform’s 4.9 crore merchant base and strong loan-origination model should drive 25% revenue CAGR over FY26-29, which, along with operational synergies will aid sharp rise in EBITDA and profit, it added.

Initiative in credit on UPI, cloud AI inference models, wealth offering and foray into overseas markets can lift growth, the international brokerage said, as it increased earnings estimates for FY28-29 by 20-25% to factor 25 bps MDR on UPI.

Bernstein recently named Paytm its top pick, citing robust merchant lending growth, operating leverage and the potential introduction of MDR on UPI as key drivers of earnings growth.

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With a target price of Rs 2,200, Bernstein expects Paytm’s EPS to reach Rs 78 by FY29. Even after excluding any potential impact from MDR on UPI, its FY29E EPS estimate stands at Rs 54, still above the Rs 46 consensus estimate.

Also read | Jefferies’ 25% CAGR club: Paytm, Groww among 5 financial stocks that can deliver up to 25% returns

Disclaimer: This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.

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State pension likely to rise by 3.9% next April

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The state pension is likely to rise by 3.9% next April, according to the latest jobs and pay data.

Under the triple lock pension guarantee, an increase is based on either average wage growth, inflation or 2.5% – whichever is highest.

Average wage growth between May and July slowed, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of vacancies in the UK shrank while the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose.

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U.S. Leads Developed Economy Growth To Fastest Rate For Over 4 Years

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U.S. Leads Developed Economy Growth To Fastest Rate For Over 4 Years

PMI - acronym from wooden blocks with letters

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PMI survey data from S&P Global showed worldwide economic growth accelerating further in August, led by the fastest growth among the advanced economies since early 2022. Advanced economy growth was led by the US, but growth has

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UBS to liquidate two ETFs citing profitability concerns

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UBS to liquidate two ETFs citing profitability concerns

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Bond Vigilantes Smell Blood In The Water

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Treasury Yields Snapshot: July 31, 2026

Bond Vigilantes Smell Blood In The Water

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How Streaming Platforms and Social Media Are Changing the Economics of Sports Coverage

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Sports coverage used to run on a plain deal: networks paid leagues, sold ad slots, and hoped a final round or derby kept viewers through the break. That deal is cracking. Netflix tests live events, Amazon buys Thursday night football, and TikTok turns a ten second dunk into a sales pitch before the postgame show starts. The same pattern shows up beside sport in other paid markets. One short clip can sell a subscription, a jersey, or a gambling prompt before anyone reads a match report. No editor can ignore that. In search data, paysafecard casinos frame how fans deposit with paysafecard before an online casino visit, which tells publishers one thing: payment comfort changes what people click. Attention is money. Another clue comes from games: demo https://www.onlinecasino.si/igralni-avtomati pages for slot machines teach media teams that sampling, replay, and quick loops make spending feel easier. Sports rights owners noticed. They now sell clips, creator access, team channels, betting feeds, and behind the scenes video as separate products, not scraps left after a broadcast.

Rights fees split into smaller packets

The old broadcast bundle hid a lot inside one price. A league sold a full season, a network filled weekends, and sponsors paid for reach. Streaming breaks that into pieces. A platform wants one marquee game, one shoulder show, one archive library, or one player documentary.

Small slices change bidding. Apple can buy Major League Soccer worldwide because it sells the package inside its own store. Amazon values NFL games because Prime members shop more after watching. YouTube pays for Sunday Ticket, then studies searches, signups, and cancellations in the same account graph. That data has cash value, even without a thirty second ad.

Clubs gain new rooms to rent. Training cam. Spanish audio. Youth matches. A paid Discord with a retired captain. None replaces the main rights cheque yet, but each line helps a finance director defend a higher wage bill.

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Ads follow the fan, not the channel

Linear television sold broad audiences. A beer brand bought men aged 18 to 49 during halftime, then accepted waste as part of the bill. Social video is less patient. Meta, Snap, and TikTok sell by interest, location, watch time, and recent clicks.

The price model changes too. A sponsor can pay for completed views on a goals package, then retarget people who watched 75 percent of it with a jersey discount. It feels clinical. Still, clubs like the math because a sponsor sees a route between clip and cart.

This hurts mid sized broadcasters. They once owned the local sports audience by default. Now a striker with six million Instagram followers can sell a boot launch faster than a regional network can book a studio guest. The ad money follows proof, and proof now sits in dashboards, not overnight ratings.

Creators turn access into a media asset

A sideline reporter used to wait for permission. A creator with a phone waits for a door to open. The gap sounds small, but the economics are different. Credentialed influencers film arrival outfits, bench chatter, recovery meals, and five seconds of a star laughing with a kit manager.

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Teams pay attention because those clips carry a softer sell. A creator video looks less like inventory and more like proof that the club has a culture worth joining. Sponsors like that texture. So do younger fans who rarely sit through a full pregame show.

There is risk. One awkward tunnel clip can anger a coach or reveal a set piece note on a whiteboard. The best clubs write strict rules: no medical rooms, no tactical boards, no minors without consent. Then they measure sales, watch time, and follower growth like any other campaign.

Live chat makes coverage shoppable

Live sport has always been social. The difference is the cash register now sits beside the comments. A viewer can tap a poll, buy a scarf, tip a creator, join a fantasy contest, or enter a sponsor draw without leaving the stream.

This rewires production. Commentators pause for fan questions. Producers build vertical replays for phones. Graphics teams prepare QR codes and odds warnings before kickoff. Even a rain delay becomes inventory if the host can keep chat moving for twelve minutes.

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The hard part is trust. Too many prompts make a match feel like a mall kiosk. Smart publishers limit the ask. One sponsor tag during team news. One shop link after a goal. One paid sticker pack for a derby week. The money is smaller per action, but the count is visible, and finance teams love visible counts.

What the next rights deal will test

The next big contract will ask a blunt question. Is exclusivity worth more than reach? A league that sells every match to one paid app gets a clean cheque and tight data. It also risks hiding young stars behind another password.

Some owners now prefer a ladder. Free highlights on TikTok within minutes. A weekly YouTube magazine. Regional radio for older fans. Premium live matches on a paid service. Archive games in an app during the offseason. Each rung serves a different habit, and each has its own sponsor price.

Newsrooms feel the pressure first. Reporters must cover the match, clip the quote, host a live blog, record a podcast, and appear on camera before midnight. That workload is real. It needs editors, templates, rights clearance, and rest days, not just enthusiasm.

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The smartest sports companies will stop treating coverage as one show. They will price moments. A transfer rumor has a shelf life of hours. A cup final save can sell for years. A local academy story earns trust, even if it never trends. No spreadsheet will catch all of it, but a rough map beats guessing in June alone. The practical move is simple: map every piece of coverage to a buyer, a fan habit, and a shelf life before the next season starts.

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Massage Therapy in Brampton: Relieve Stress, Tension & Pain

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Massage Therapy in Brampton: Relieve Stress, Tension & Pain

Daily stress, long working hours, physical activity, and poor posture can leave your body feeling tense and uncomfortable. Tight muscles, stiffness, and ongoing aches can affect your ability to relax, exercise, work, and enjoy your normal routine. Massage therapy in Brampton can be a valuable part of a personalized approach to relaxation, pain management, and physical recovery.

At CBR Physio Rehab, massage therapy is offered alongside physiotherapy and chiropractic care, providing patients with access to a range of rehabilitation and wellness services in one convenient location.

Personalized Massage Therapy in Brampton

Every person carries tension differently. Some people experience tightness in the shoulders and neck, while others notice discomfort in the lower back, legs, or other areas after physical activity.

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A personalized massage therapy session can be adapted to your individual concerns and comfort level. Treatment may focus on areas experiencing muscle tension and help promote relaxation and comfortable movement.

Whether you are looking for relief after a busy workweek or support during physical recovery, massage therapy can be incorporated into a care plan based on your needs.

Massage Therapy for Stress and Relaxation

Stress can affect more than your mood. When you are under pressure, you may unconsciously tense your muscles, particularly around the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

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Massage therapy provides dedicated time to relax while addressing areas of muscular tension. The hands-on nature of massage can help create a calming experience and may support overall relaxation.

Regular self-care, healthy movement, sufficient rest, and professional massage therapy can all be part of a balanced approach to managing everyday physical tension.

Relieve Muscle Tension and Stiffness

Muscle tightness can develop from prolonged sitting, repetitive activities, exercise, physically demanding work, or maintaining the same posture for extended periods.

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Massage therapy can focus on areas where tension and stiffness are present. By working with soft tissues and muscles, treatment can help promote relaxation and comfortable movement.

For people who spend much of their day sitting at a desk, massage therapy may be particularly useful for addressing common areas of tension such as the neck, shoulders, and back.

Massage Therapy for Active Individuals

Exercise and sports can place additional demands on muscles and soft tissues. Training, repetitive movements, and physical activity can sometimes leave you feeling tight or fatigued.

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Massage therapy can be incorporated into an active lifestyle as part of recovery and general body care. It may help you relax after demanding physical activity while supporting comfortable movement and Physiotherapy in Brampton.

For patients recovering from an injury, massage therapy may also be combined with physiotherapy or chiropractic care when appropriate.

Support for Back and Neck Discomfort

Back and neck discomfort can interfere with work, sleep, exercise, and everyday activities. Poor posture, prolonged sitting, physical strain, and muscle tension may contribute to these concerns.

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Massage therapy can target areas of muscular tightness and provide a relaxing treatment experience. Depending on your condition, it may be used alongside other rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy and chiropractic care.

A combined approach can address different aspects of your physical needs while keeping your overall treatment plan personalized.

Combine Massage With Comprehensive Rehabilitation

One advantage of choosing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic is having access to different treatment options. CBR Physio Rehab offers massage therapy alongside physiotherapy and chiropractic care.

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The clinic also provides services including orthotics, compression stockings, and braces. Depending on your individual needs, these services can complement a broader rehabilitation program.

For patients dealing with sports injuries, chronic pain, mobility concerns, or accident-related injuries, coordinated care can provide additional support throughout recovery.

Convenient Massage Therapy in Brampton

Finding time for regular self-care can be difficult with a busy schedule. CBR Physio Rehab offers convenient weekday appointments and Saturday availability, making it easier to fit massage therapy into your routine.

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The clinic is located in Brampton and provides a range of rehabilitation and wellness services for local patients.

Massage therapy may also be eligible for coverage through certain extended health benefit plans. CBR Physio Rehab offers direct billing with most insurance companies, although coverage depends on your individual policy.

Why Choose CBR Physio Rehab?

Choosing the right massage therapy clinic is about more than finding a convenient location. Personalized attention, professional care, a comfortable environment, and access to complementary rehabilitation services can all contribute to a positive experience.

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CBR Physio Rehab combines massage therapy with physiotherapy and chiropractic services, allowing care to be tailored around your specific concerns and goals.

Feel More Relaxed and Move More Comfortably

You do not have to wait until muscle tension and stress begin interfering with your daily routine before taking time for your physical well-being. Massage therapy can provide a dedicated opportunity to relax, address muscular tension, and support comfortable movement.

If you are searching for massage therapy in Brampton for stress, muscle tension, stiffness, pain management, sports recovery, or general relaxation, CBR Physio Rehab offers personalized care to suit your needs.

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Book your massage therapy appointment today and take time to relax, recover, and feel better.

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Charities praise will gifts amid ‘affordability challenges’

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Research carried out for the Association of Jersey Charities by 4insight, external found 89% of respondents had given money in the previous 12 months, but younger people and lower-income households were less likely to have donated, with affordability being a “key barrier”.

Liddiard said, despite this, legacy giving remained important, and people needed to amounts left in wills did not have to be headline-grabbing.

He said: “The ones you hear about often can be the really big ones, but some of most impactful ones are the smaller everyday ones”.

He added legacy giving was “one part” of the picture and there was also “opportunity for everybody” to also help by volunteering and offering time, skills, representation and support, which was “equally valuable”.

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Gallichan added: “I do understand people are struggling with the cost of living crisis, but we do have people who have the ability to leave those gifts, and they can be so transformational, especially to those charitable organisations that are seeing costs rising and services in higher demand”.

She added such gifts could help fund services for islanders struggling with the cost of living.

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Allspring Utility And Telecommunications Fund Q2 2026 Commentary (EVUYX)

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Old West Investment Management Q2 2026 Manager Commentary

Allspring is a company committed to thoughtful investing, purposeful planning, and the desire to elevate investing to be worth more. Allspring is reimagining investment management to be worth more—creating an investment, distribution, and operational experience that changes the game for clients. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Allspring, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use Allspring’s official channels.

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Pubs, hotels and gyms in Wales to get 30% business rates cut

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UK Hospitality Cymru director David Chapman said the costs facing the sector made running a business similar to “plate spinning when you’re riding an exercise bike”.

Chapman added: “You have massive amounts of taxation coming from all areas. We have a VAT problem besides business rates. We also have high inflation in the industry over the last few years. Energy costs have been high. Labour costs have gone up incredibly, really, with the National Insurance changes.

“And so it’s been a very difficult job, a really difficult balancing act to keep going.”

That being said, Chapman was keen to welcome the cut in business rates and said it was “the beginnings of a change which I hope will permanently enable our businesses to look at growth and to look at further employment, and to start to plan ahead”.

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The UK government, which is responsible for VAT and National Insurance, said the Chancellor prioritised support for the hospitality sector by cutting business rates by 20% for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England during his first week in office.

A spokesperson said: “As business rates are devolved, the business rates cut also means extra funding for the Welsh government, which can choose how to allocate it.

“Our Great British Summer Savings also benefited businesses and families from across the country, including Wales.

“The scheme increased footfall for businesses in these sectors over the summer, getting more people through the door and boosting local economies”.

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