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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

The Financial Magic of 8/8

AI Generated Image If numbers could talk, 8 would speak the language of wealth. When the date doubles into 8/8, it becomes more than another day. It becomes a reminder of financial power, balance and long-term abundance. Yesterday, the calendar read August 8 - 8/8. In astrology and numerology, this date is considered significant. The Lion’s Gate Portal August 8 marks the peak of what is known as the Lion’s Gate Portal - a period believed to carry heightened energy for growth, abundance and...

The Financial Magic of 8/8

AI Generated Image If numbers could talk, 8 would speak the language of wealth. When the date doubles into 8/8, it becomes more than another day. It becomes a reminder of financial power, balance and long-term abundance. Yesterday, the calendar read August 8 - 8/8. In astrology and numerology, this date is considered significant. The Lion’s Gate Portal August 8 marks the peak of what is known as the Lion’s Gate Portal - a period believed to carry heightened energy for growth, abundance and transformation. I am a financial advisor - not an astrologer or numerologist - but I find this date fascinating because of the symbolism attached to the number 8. In numerology, 8 is associated with wealth, power, ambition and balance. It is also linked with discipline, responsibility and karma - the idea that our actions produce results. When the calendar reads 8/8, many believe this energy is doubled. A Financial Checkpoint Whether or not you believe in astrology or numerology, the date can serve as a financial checkpoint - an opportunity to pause, reflect and take steps towards building wealth. I recommend treating 8/8 as a money mirror - a moment to ask yourself: Are my investments aligned with my long-term goals? Is my money working for me, or am I caught in an earn-and-spend cycle? Am I creating lasting wealth, or merely temporary income? Your Mid-Year Money Reset We often make resolutions on January 1. But by August, more than half the year has passed. That makes 8/8 an excellent occasion for a financial reset. Use this weekend for review and action. The intention may begin on a symbolic day, but transformation comes from what you do next. Review your goals and expenses. Make lumpsum investments where appropriate, increase your SIPs, check whether your insurance cover is sufficient and organise your financial documents. Also review your asset allocation. Money meant for long-term goals must be invested in hybrid and equity mutual funds, stocks and gold. Money required for short-term goals should remain in safer options such as bank fixed deposits and recurring deposits. Declutter Your Finances Close unused accounts, cancel unnecessary subscriptions, consolidate scattered investments and ensure that your family knows where financial information is stored. These may seem like small steps, but wealth is rarely created through one dramatic decision. It is built through disciplined actions repeated over many years. The Infinity Connection When the number 8 is turned on its side, it resembles the symbol for infinity - . That is what true investing is about - allowing consistency, patience and compounding to work over long periods. It does not create wealth overnight. Given time, the results can appear magical. Turn Intention Into Action As we move beyond 8/8, do not let the intention remain limited to a date on the calendar. Set a financial intention. Act on it. Review it regularly. Even the largest fortunes begin with focused steps. When your present-day financial actions begin matching your long-term goals, real transformation begins. (The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Why is Modi-Putin Meet Significant?

The two-day SCO meet has been wrapped up. On paper the highlight was the SCO leaders’ meeting. However, the real story is away from the main hall in a room where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO meeting and it drew all eyeballs to itself. Pictures spoke much more than any diplomatic stereotypical statements. Summits are usually about stiff handshakes and rehearsed photo ops.


However, the Modi-Putin meet looked different. The warmth was palpable. The two leaders not only shook hands, but they hugged and strolled to the venue hand in hand. It was a scene that stole the show, so much so that media reports highlight that it was one of the top searches on Chinese social media. The images went viral on Weibo which is China’s version of Twitter. The Russian Foreign Minister called it the video of the day. Clearly the bromance was on full display.


There were laughs and easy banter between Putin and Modi. There was even a tight huddle with China’s Xi-Jinping. It was a moment that spoke louder than any scripted summit line. The image that truly went viral was the one in which Prime Minister Modi and Putin were seen riding in the same car. They car pooled to their bilateral meeting. This was not planned. Russian media reports say that they had no idea about it. Reports said that Putin even waited for ten minutes just so that PM Modi could join him. The ride was not long. They reached their destination in five to ten minutes. Even after reaching there, the two leaders spent almost 45 minutes chatting in the car. It is not clear what they discussed. Prime Minister Modi said that the conversation was insightful. What’s noteworthy is that this photo-op draws a stark similarity with the kind of photo op Donald Trump had long craved with Putin.


Remember, the Alaska Summit, where Trump made the whole show by getting Putin to ride with him. However, in Tianjin it was Putin who initiated the car pool. It only reaffirmed an old friendship. India and Russia have been sharing this ride for decades; through the cold war, through sanctions and shifting alliances. Today, the bonhomie was on full display. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode in AurusSenat- which is a high-end Russian made Limousine.


The Russian President regularly uses it on his foreign trips. Throughout the trip, the Indian Prime Minister used China’s Hongqi L5 Limousine. The same model doubles as President Xi Jinping’s official state car and is widely regarded as the pride of Chinese automotive engineering. More than a luxury vehicle, the Hongqi L5 serves as a powerful political and cultural symbol. The bilateral meeting started off on a warm note. President Putin lauded the special relationship between the two countries and PM Modi reiterated it.


Key highlights

1) Growing cooperation between India and Russia

Washington has accused India of funding war by buying Russian oil. Trump has used it as an excuse for slapping 50 % tariffs on India. However, India is not backing down. The meeting proved that Russian oil was central to India’s energy security and it will continue to flow. In fact India and Russia are expanding cooperation.


2) Discussion on Ukraine war

Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. He called for a swift end to the conflict and for a durable peace settlement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the war in Ukraine and prospects for peace. After the call, Zelenskyy posted on social media that India was prepared to deliver “the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders" during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.

 

The call came a day before Modi was likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a closely watched trilateral engagement. Experts believe that the three leaders have been deliberating on shared interests in the backdrop of the current situation in which global markets look unsettled due to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

 

At the SCO meet, Putin acknowledged India’s role in pushing for negotiations and this is quite significant because there is a clear disagreement over Ukraine. Even as Modi calls for peace, while Putin wages war, both leaders ensured that this disagreement didn’t derail the broader relations. On the contrary, Russia sees India as a key voice in peace negotiations.

 

3) The annual India Russia Summit

This year it will be the 23rd annual bilateral summit which New Delhi will host. President Putin will travel to India for the summit. PM Modi made sure to underline the importance of the upcoming meeting. He said, “All of India was waiting to welcome Putin.”

 

That’s the next crucial meeting to look forward to- a meeting between PM Modi and President Putin. If Tianjin was about optics, Delhi is set to be about deals -- from energy, defence to trade. The message for the world is quite clear. Despite the war in Ukraine and tariffs from Washington, the India-Russia friendship is on solid ground. 

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