Purpose: With the help of the newly developed Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) index, this paper attempts to find the influence if any, of the EPU on stock markets and certain key economic indicators in India. Methodology /Approach: The focus is on the influence of EPU on the stock markets, industrial production, new capital issues, exports and bank credit to commercial sector. Monthly data of economic indicators is collected for 66 months from January 2014 and tested with OLS and Quantile regression. Findings: It is observed that stock market, Industrial Production, new capital issues and bank credit are negatively related to EPU. Also, that impact of EPU is more on higher quantiles. Limitations / Implications: The study examines and proves the overall impact of EPU on selected economic indicators and the impact at different quartiles. This opens up vistas for further exploration of the findings to prove / disprove the same in other economic indicators and against certain specific events that spur the EPU index. Practical Implications: The paper has strong theoretical foundations. The methodology adopted has been research tested. There is a need to look at the EPU index closely and frequently to feel the pulse of the EPU and how it affects the economy. Originality Value: This is one of the attempts to evaluate the behavior of EPU and its implication on certain economic indicators. As EPU index is newly developed, this paper adds to the existing literature, especially in the Indian context.

This study investigates the interplay between asset quality, financial ratios, and market valuation in Indian commercial banks over a twelve-year period (2014–2025). Using a hybrid approach combining Structural Equation Modeling, correlation analysis, and trend evaluation, the research examines whether Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) influence market capitalization directly or through Return on Equity (ROE) as an intermediary. The findings reveal that NPAs exert a significant negative impact on both ROE and market value, while Net Interest Margin (NIM) emerges as a strong positive determinant of valuation. Conversely, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), though vital for regulatory compliance, shows no direct effect on market prices. Mediation analysis challenges conventional assumptions, indicating that profitability alone does not fully explain valuation dynamics. These insights underscore the need for integrated strategies addressing asset quality and operational efficiency, offering practical implications for policymakers, investors, and bank management in strengthening resilience and optimizing shareholder value.

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is an essential metric for evaluating a company’s profitability and effectiveness in utilizing equity and debt. It gives investors and managers a holistic view of operational performance and the organization’s long-term sustainability. Companies with strong ROCE typically focus on strategic and operational efforts that enhance ROCE-related elements, such as productivity of fixed assets, efficiency in working capital, and robust operating margins. Although not often spotlighted in annual reports, companies with high ROCE metrics tend to align cross-functional targets to strengthen this measure. By examining the impact of ROCE, Earnings Per Share (EPS), and Dividend Ratio on stock prices of the Indian automobile and paint industries, both of which are significant to India’s economic growth, this paper aims to investigate whether ROCE affects stock prices directly. The analysis shows a low correlation between ROCE and stock prices, with EPS emerging as the primary variable through which ROCE indirectly influences share prices. While EPS is a function of ROCE and is affected by ROCE, this study suggests that ROCE should be assessed in conjunction with other financial indicators to understand its role in stock price movements better.

Purpose: This paper explores the importance of Intellectual Capital (IC) in the Indian Banking Industry and compares the efficiency between Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banks and Private Sector banks, by employing Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) method. Methodology/approach: Using Path Analysis, the study verifies the influence of VAIC on the profitability and market value of the Indian banks. Using simple averages and graphs, VAIC of PSU and Private Banks are compared. Quarterly results are used to verify the impact of COVID on the VAIC of banks. Findings: Human Capital Efficiency (HCE) is the largest element that contributes to the VAIC in the Indian Banks. VAIC and HCE are greater in the private sector banks than in PSU banks. HCE does contribute to the profitability of banks, whereas no evidence is found of VAIC or HCE making any contribution towards the market value. While VA and HCE fell sharply in the PSU banks and not so sharply in the Private Banks during the first wave of COVID, the recovery has been impressive, in both sectors. Practical implications: The paper clearly brings out the role of Human Capital Efficiency (HCE) in the Indian Banks and the need to improve HCE in the PSU Banks.

Objective: Existing literature attests to the longstanding global concern regarding Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), recognizing its impact on economic growth, employment, and investments. Despite its acknowledged influence, studies on EPU in India have been comparatively limited. This paper addresses this gap by utilizing 83 months of data (from January 2017 to November 2023) from the recently formulated EPU Index of India and monthly closing values of the Nifty 50. The objective is to find if there is an influence of EPU on the stock markets in India. Method: The study employs correlation analysis, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and Quantile regressions, to investigate the relationship between EPU and the Nifty 50, representing the Indian Stock Market. Result: While overall findings indicate a low correlation, year-wise analyses reveal a notable negative correlation in specific years, notably during the COVID year. OLS and Quantile regressions further affirm a negative impact of EPU on Nifty 50, particularly evident in lower quantiles, with the effect diminishing in higher quantiles. Conclusion: The study indicates the limited effect that EPU has on the stock market. Though there is a negative association, it could be temporary and a short-term variation. Given the novelty of the EPU index and limited studies in India, this paper contributes significantly to the existing literature, particularly in the Indian context.