From cement to silicon

In this week's edition of?Open House, I share my thoughts on the impact of the temple economy on real estate. To read the full editions in your inbox every Wednesday,?subscribe for free?on my website (https://ashwinderrsingh.com/).

Geopolitics have become the "chai-time charcha" this past week. What I've observed over the last two decades is simple -- economic power sets the agenda for global political discourse. In the midst of this, here are the 5 stories that piqued my interest in the last 7 days:

• Texas > Hyderabad: NRIs are increasingly investing in land in Texas instead of Hyderabad due to the lower prices and similar weather conditions. Some major companies, such as Tesla, have recently moved to Texas, making it a more attractive investment opportunity. (Read more)
• Sustainability in focus: Cement companies are investing in a variety of green energy initiatives, such as solar power, wind power, and waste heat recovery systems. In fact, Indian cement companies are expected to increase their green energy usage to 42% by FY2025, up from 35% in FY2023, according to a report by ICRA. This is being driven by a number of factors, including government regulations, rising fuel costs, and increasing awareness of environmental issues. (Read more)
• RERA appreciation post: Some developers make false promises to investors, such as high returns on investment and selling unapproved projects. RERA mandates that developers keep 70% of buyer money in a separate account and requires transparency in project execution. (Read more)
• Semiconductor wars: The US government claims that Huawei cannot mass produce 7nm chips at scale, while Huawei has released a phone with a 7nm chip. The sanctions imposed by the US government have had a negative impact on Huawei’s handset business. (Read more)
• In the mind: Neuralink is planning to implant brain-computer interfaces in people with paralysis. The trial will test the safety and functionality of the implant. Neuralink’s implant is a coin-sized device that records neural activity using 1,024 electrodes. The implant is designed to be placed in the brain region that controls movement intention. (Read more)