India's Budget: Fiscal Discipline vs. Spending Hikes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is set to release its annual budget, a critical policy statement designed to shield India's economy from rising global uncertainties, including steep U.S. tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will present the budget for the next fiscal year, faces the difficult task of stimulating growth while managing tight finances. Her ability to increase spending is limited, as recent tax cuts are expected to reduce government revenue by 1.5 trillion rupees ($16 billion) this fiscal year. India's current deficit target stands at 4.4% of GDP for the 12 months ending in March.

Figure 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present the annual budget, a key policy document outlining India's economic path.

Modi's Vision for Long-Term Growth

Prime Minister Modi has emphasized a strategic shift toward sustainable, long-term solutions to build global trust and predictability. He has framed the next 25 years as a crucial period for transforming India into a developed economy through "next-generation reforms."

This forward-looking approach is supported by the government's recent economic survey, which forecasts GDP growth between 6.8% and 7.2% for the fiscal year beginning in April.

Deepening Domestic Policy Reforms

To boost private investment and domestic demand, New Delhi has already implemented several key reforms and is expected to announce more in the upcoming budget.

Recent initiatives include:

• Cuts to both consumption and income taxes.

• A comprehensive overhaul of national labor laws.

• Measures to open up the tightly controlled nuclear power sector.

The government also plans a third major push to expand manufacturing as a share of the economy, following two previous attempts. Additionally, the budget is expected to include measures to ease investment rules in the domestic defense manufacturing sector.

Navigating Fiscal and Trade Headwinds

The budget will also address significant financial and international challenges. Gross government borrowing is projected to rise to between 16 trillion and 16.8 trillion rupees for the next fiscal year, up from 14.6 trillion rupees this year.

On the trade front, India is actively pursuing deals to mitigate external pressures. A landmark trade agreement with the European Union is a key part of this strategy, intended to offset the economic impact of the 50% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on certain Indian goods.

($1 = 91.6710 Indian rupees)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday that his negotiators are waiting for guidance from the United States before proceeding with further meetings aimed at ending the war with Russia.

In his evening address, Zelensky indicated that a second round of negotiations, which had been scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, has likely been postponed. Despite the delay, he affirmed Ukraine's commitment to the process.

"Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats," Zelensky stated. "It is important that there are results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them."

US and Russian Envoys Hold Separate Discussions

While the trilateral talks appear to be on hold, there has been direct contact between American and Russian officials. On Saturday, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed he held "productive and constructive" talks in Florida with his Russian counterpart, Kirill Dmitriev.

This meeting followed the first in-person negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian teams, which took place in Abu Dhabi last Friday and Saturday. Those discussions were centered on a peace plan being advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump, and the parties had initially agreed to reconvene on Sunday.

Geopolitical Tensions Complicate Schedule

The potential for a schedule change was first hinted at by President Zelensky on Thursday. He suggested that the date and location of future talks might need to be adjusted due to rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

According to officials in Kyiv, the United States believes both sides are close to reaching an agreement. However, a fundamental obstacle remains unresolved. The primary sticking point continues to be the difficult issue of territorial control in any post-war settlement, a compromise on which has so far proven elusive.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami this weekend for another round of discussions with an American delegation, signaling that high-level diplomatic channels remain open. The talks began Saturday morning, following Dmitriev's social media post simply stating, "Back in Miami."

This meeting follows negotiations held on January 23-24 in Abu Dhabi between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. While those discussions reportedly yielded "progress" on military issues, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling them constructive, the tangible outcomes remain unclear.

Figure 1: High-level diplomatic talks continue between Russian, Ukrainian, and American representatives, though tangible progress on core issues remains elusive.

A Cycle of Negotiations Without Resolution

Despite expressions of limited optimism, there has been no significant advancement toward peace on the core issues that define the conflict. Key "red lines" for both Moscow and Kyiv are preventing any real breakthroughs.

Territorial concessions, for example, remain a major sticking point. Moscow has not softened its stance, while Ukraine and its Western allies have not altered their position on the matter.

According to Axios, the trilateral talks that began in the United Arab Emirates are expected to continue. The meetings in Abu Dhabi also featured a bilateral format between Ukraine and Russia, conducted without U.S. participation. While the simple act of having representatives from both warring nations at the same table can be seen as a form of progress, it hasn't yet translated into a de-escalation of the conflict.

Can Technology Shift the Battlefield Stalemate?

While diplomacy inches forward, analysis from The Washington Post suggests that technological developments could reshape the war's trajectory. David Ignatius's column notes that President Donald Trump "sometimes talks as if he agrees with Vladimir Putin that Russian victory... is inevitable." However, conversations with senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv painted a different picture.

Ignatius reports that Ukraine is preparing to deploy a new generation of domestically produced, AI-powered air-defense interceptors. This technology could potentially allow the country to sustain its defense indefinitely. The column posits that if Ukraine can effectively protect its civilians and infrastructure, it might challenge Putin's belief that he can win a war of attrition. An unbreakable air defense network could force Putin to reconsider his calculations and make concessions he currently views as unnecessary.

An Enduring Conflict and Political Questions

For now, the grinding war of attrition seems set to continue. The pattern of diplomatic talks producing headlines about "progress" without resolving fundamental disagreements could persist through 2026.

An outstanding question is the political future of President Zelensky. President Trump has previously pressured Kyiv to hold elections, though that public pressure has recently subsided. The stability of Ukraine's leadership remains a critical variable in the long-term outlook of the conflict.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rejected predictions that his government would need to implement austerity measures if it wins the upcoming April election. Speaking at a campaign rally, Orban insisted his Fidesz party would maintain its key spending policies, directly contradicting economists who see fiscal tightening as inevitable.

Orban, who has been in power since 2010, is facing a significant challenge from a centre-right rival and is contending with the weakest economic period of his leadership. The Hungarian economy has been nearly stagnant since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered widespread inflation across central Europe.

Orban Pushes Back Against Austerity Warnings

Many economists argue that significant pre-election spending will force the next government to cut back, regardless of who wins on April 12.

Orban dismissed this view outright. "That's a flat-out lie," he told supporters, directly addressing the economists' consensus. "The state of the Hungarian economy does not require any kind of austerity."

Instead of sharp cuts, Orban proposed that Hungary's budget deficit, which has consistently overshot government targets, should be reduced "calmly, slowly and gradually" as the economy improves. "We need no austerity and nothing should be taken away from the people," he declared.

Rising Deficit and Downgraded Outlook

This defiant stance comes after Orban's government raised its budget deficit targets late last year to 5% for both 2025 and the election year of 2026. The move was designed to accommodate increased pre-election spending.

The decision had consequences, contributing to Fitch Ratings' move to cut its outlook on Hungary's sovereign debt to negative.

To bolster support, Fidesz has launched several costly initiatives ahead of the election, including:

• A 100 billion forint ($310 million) program to support the restaurant industry.

• A 50 billion forint ($160 million) measure to reduce household heating bills.

Orban also pledged that flagship policies, such as a 3% subsidized mortgage rate and a plan to exempt mothers of two from income tax, would remain in place if he is re-elected.

Hungary's Stagnant Economy Lags Regional Peers

Recent economic data underscores the challenges facing the nation. Figures released on Friday confirmed that Hungary's economy is stuck in its third consecutive year of near-stagnation.

The country's performance is currently lagging behind its regional peers, including Poland and the Czech Republic. In response to the weak figures, some analysts have already begun lowering their growth forecasts for Hungary for 2026.

($1 = 321.48 forints)

Major investment firms are sounding the alarm: Donald Trump's potential pick for Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh, has a policy history that could directly conflict with the president's goal of cheaper borrowing. This sets up a fundamental tension between Warsh’s preference for shrinking the central bank's massive bond portfolio and Trump's repeated calls for lower long-term interest rates.

Treasury Markets Signal Concern Over Fed Shake-Up

The Treasury market is already reacting. Following the news of Warsh's potential appointment on Friday, the gap between 30-year and two-year government bond rates widened to 1.35 percentage points. This yield curve steepening, which pushed the spread to its widest point since 2021, shows investors are taking Warsh's past commentary seriously.

This market move is a direct response to Warsh's well-known criticism of the Fed's large-scale bond purchases, both during the 2008 financial crisis when he was a Fed governor and again after the 2020 pandemic.

"You have an anti-balance sheet expansion guy against a backdrop of wanting lower interest rates. It's a tension point," explained Greg Peters, co-chief investment officer at PGIM Fixed Income. "That's what the market is focused on. That's why the curve is steepening out."

Warsh's Long-Held Critique of the Fed's Portfolio

During his tenure at the Fed from 2006 to 2011 and in the years since, Warsh has been a vocal critic of the central bank's policy of bond buying, which expanded its balance sheet to nearly $9 trillion at its peak. He argues that maintaining such a large portfolio distorts investment prices and could entrench higher inflation over the long term.

In a widely noted speech in April, Warsh highlighted the Fed's dominant role in government debt markets. "The Fed has been the most important buyer of US Treasury debt, and other liabilities backed by the US government, since 2008," he said, adding that this is "a proxy for the Fed's growing imprimatur on the economy."

Not a Permanent Hawk: The Case for Rate Cuts

Despite his stance on the balance sheet, Warsh is not viewed as being permanently hawkish. Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, a long-time advisor to Warsh, told the Financial Times on Friday that his protégé does not hold a rigid position. "I've seen him go both ways" on monetary policy, Druckenmiller noted.

This view is shared by some market watchers who believe Warsh could still advocate for cutting the Fed’s main short-term interest rate. They argue that productivity gains from artificial intelligence could allow the economy to grow quickly without triggering significant inflation, creating room for rate cuts.

The Policy Tightrope: Cutting Rates vs. A Smaller Balance Sheet

The core challenge lies in navigating these competing priorities. Earlier this week, Fed officials signaled a pause on rate cuts, citing solid economic growth and a steady job market after the 0.75 percentage point reduction last year. Yet, markets are still pricing in two quarter-point cuts starting this summer, indicating that Warsh's potential nomination hasn't altered the near-term outlook for traders.

Bill Campbell, a portfolio manager at DoubleLine, highlighted the difficulty of the situation. "Until you get fiscal under control and inflation under control, you are not going to be able to aggressively reduce interest rates and shrink the [Fed's] balance sheet," he said, adding, "I believe Kevin Warsh fully understands this."

The Fed already stopped its balance sheet reduction program late last year over concerns about draining cash from overnight lending markets. This move had eased worries about who would absorb the growing supply of government debt.

However, using balance sheet reduction as a justification for rate cuts presents another problem. Mark Dowding, who runs active fixed income at RBC BlueBay Asset Management, noted the disconnect. "The issue is if you justify rate cuts by cutting the balance sheet, this does nothing to help lower long-term rates and improve mortgage affordability, which is what Trump wants," he said.

Ultimately, Warsh's confirmation would create significant uncertainty over how he would balance his own stated policy preferences with the clear political objectives of the administration.

China is shifting its economic strategy, turning to the services sector as a new engine for growth as the nation grapples with weak household confidence, a persistent property slump, and slowing exports.

The State Council recently unveiled a comprehensive plan to boost services consumption, signaling a pivot away from traditional stimulus measures that have proven less effective in compelling consumers to spend. The new policy framework targets a wide range of experience-based industries, including tourism, elderly care, and live events.

Beijing's New Plan: From Goods to Experiences

According to a cabinet notice, the government's work plan aims to "accelerate the cultivation of new growth drivers in service consumption" and "improve and expand the supply of services."

This initiative represents a deliberate move to tap into new areas of domestic demand. Key focus areas include:

• Tourism: Promoting self-drive travel, expanding visa-free entry, adding tax-refund points, and upgrading infrastructure like train stations and scenic rail routes.

• High-End Leisure: Advancing high-quality yacht consumption by overhauling safety regulations and building public docks and berths.

• Live Events: Increasing the supply of high-quality sports events and encouraging the introduction of top international competitions.

This shift comes as households show reluctance to purchase big-ticket items, even with subsidies for cars and appliances, pushing Beijing to explore new ways to unlock consumer spending.

Why China is Shifting Its Economic Strategy

The policy pivot is a direct response to persistent headwinds in the domestic economy. In 2025, retail sales grew by 3.7%, lagging behind the 5.9% growth in industrial output and the overall economic expansion of 5%.

Deflationary pressures remain a major concern. Consumer inflation was flat last year, while producer prices fell for the third consecutive year, squeezing corporate profits and weighing on wage growth.

Early data from China Beige Book indicated a sharp slowdown in services consumption in January, with travel, hospitality, and restaurant chains all reporting widespread weakness. Furthermore, concerns are growing that the export boom that previously supported the economy may be difficult to sustain.

Tapping into Changing Consumer Habits

Despite the challenging economic backdrop, policymakers see an opportunity in evolving consumer preferences. A quarterly survey by the People's Bank of China for the fourth quarter of 2025 revealed a notable trend: the share of respondents planning to increase spending on social and entertainment activities hit an eight-year high. In contrast, interest in major purchases remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

This shift toward experiential spending is gaining traction. "Emotional satisfaction is playing a bigger role in retail spending, with a growing focus on buying for self-expression and experiences rather than for materialistic possessions or brand prestige," noted analysts at S&P Global.

Policy and Financial Support for the Service Sector

To support this strategic shift, the State Council's plan includes dedicated financial measures. Banks will be encouraged to increase credit lines for service-sector firms, and qualified companies in culture, tourism, education, and sports will be permitted to raise capital through bond issuance.

Developing the service sector aligns with China's long-term policy objectives. Services consumption per capita reached 46.1% last year, a figure that still trails many advanced economies, indicating significant potential for growth.

Moreover, the service industry is more labor-intensive than manufacturing and stands as China's largest source of employment. This is a critical consideration for policymakers trying to address high youth unemployment. According to the 2020 census, the tertiary sector accounted for over 48% of jobseekers aged 16 to 24.

Will the Services Push Be Enough?

While the government's focus on services is clear, some economists caution that this approach alone may not be a silver bullet. The success of the plan hinges on tackling deeper structural problems, particularly those related to household income and social welfare.

"Boosting consumption requires restoring consumer confidence to free up high saving rates," said Ludovic Subran, chief investment officer at Allianz, in a CNBC report. He added that a true rebalancing toward domestic demand requires "giving jobs, time and income to consumers."

Logan Wright, a partner at Rhodium Group, argued for strengthening the social safety net. "If the government were to invest more in social services, households would feel safer and be more likely to spend more liberally," he said.

Final consumption expenditure in China accounted for 56.6% of GDP in 2024. While this is an increase from 49.4% in 2010, it remains well below levels in the United States, the UK, and Japan. Economists suggest it will take years for growth in services consumption to fully offset the decline in the property market, meaning weak domestic demand could continue to weigh on the economy in the near term.