Abhijit Lele &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Abhijit Lele &Amp; Sohini Das

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

Rediff.com   13 May 2024

State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to recruit over 15,000 people in 2024-25, increasing the strength of those in the field for marketing. The recruits will be also for deployment in the bank's operations subsidiary and expanding the branch network. The operations subsidiary - State Bank Operations Support Services - became functional last year.

'There Is No Modi Wave'

'There Is No Modi Wave'

Rediff.com   3 May 2024

'I am shocked that the BJP makes so many commitments. What did they deliver as the NDA?'

Gut Health Key To Prevent Chronic Illnesses

Gut Health Key To Prevent Chronic Illnesses

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

Maintaining the balance of gut microbiota is important as an imbalance, also known as dysbiosis, can cause or aggravate different diseases, including but not limited to digestive problems such as inflammatory bowel syndrome, mental health issues like anxiety and depression and menstrual problems.

Zydus gets China nod for kidney disease drug

Zydus gets China nod for kidney disease drug

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

Ahmedabad-based Zydus Lifesciences said on Tuesday that a new drug application for its oral drug Desidustat used in treating anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients had been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). In 2020, CMS International Development and Management Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Medical System Holdings Ltd obtained an exclusive license for the product from Zydus. CKD involves a gradual loss of functioning of kidneys and eventually leads to kidney failure.

Outward foreign direct investment by Indian companies stabilises in FY24

Outward foreign direct investment by Indian companies stabilises in FY24

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2024

The outward foreign direct investment (FDI) by Indian companies stabilised in 2023-24 (FY24) after witnessing a fall in 2022-23 (FY23). The actual outward FDI inched up slightly to $13.75 billion in FY24 from $13.49 billion in the previous financial year (FY23), according to finance ministry data. This stability came after a sharp fall in outward flows in FY23 from $18.52 billion in 2021-22 (FY22).

Credit growth, quality assets likely to spur bank profits in Q4 FY24

Credit growth, quality assets likely to spur bank profits in Q4 FY24

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2024

With high credit growth and healthy asset quality, listed commercial banks are expected to report steady growth in earnings during the fourth quarter ended March 2024 (Q4 FY24). Profits are expected to grow at 9.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) and net interest income (NII) by 8.7 per cent in Q4 FY24, according to Bloomberg analysts' estimates. According to Motilal Oswal Securities, while bank credit growth has been robust, deposit growth has also gathered pace.

Consumption story gets a facelift as rural demand shows promise

Consumption story gets a facelift as rural demand shows promise

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2024

Consumer goods firms and auto companies are witnessing an upturn in rural demand, which had been lagging for most of FY24. Expectations of a bumper rabi crop harvest have helped turn the tide. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Monetary Policy Committee kept the repo rate unchanged last week, noting that as rural demand catches up, consumption is expected to support economic growth in 2024-25.

Nearly one in two luxury cars sold in March quarter was Mercedes Benz

Nearly one in two luxury cars sold in March quarter was Mercedes Benz

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2024

Nearly one in two luxury cars sold in India in the first three months of 2024 was a Mercedes Benz, which achieved its best ever quarter (January-March), selling 5,412 units, up 15 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) from 4,697 units in the previous year.

Why Drug Prices Won't Increase This Year

Why Drug Prices Won't Increase This Year

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2024

The government has been stringent with pricing changes. Prices of 651 essential medicines came down from April 1, 2023 by 6.73 per cent with the government capping ceiling prices of these drugs.

Why Hospital Stays Are Getting Shorter

Why Hospital Stays Are Getting Shorter

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2024

'Every hospital now tracks length of stay closely.' 'More efficiency is brought into the system now.'

Bajaj Auto to pump Rs 3,000 crore into finance subsidiary

Bajaj Auto to pump Rs 3,000 crore into finance subsidiary

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2024

Bajaj Auto, India's leading two-wheeler (2W) and three-wheeler (3W) maker, is scaling up its wholly owned finance subsidiary, Bajaj Auto Credit Ltd (BACL), with an investment of more than Rs 3,000 crore planned over the next two financial years, company's managing director Rajiv Bajaj said. BACL has already started commercial operations, Bajaj recently said on the sidelines of the group's CSR identity event. According to rating agency CRISIL, BACL's operations began on January 1 after receiving its licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in August last year.

Frontline Relive Pandemic Nightmare

Frontline Relive Pandemic Nightmare

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2024

Battling the virus, enduring separation from loved ones, and working extended hours became part of the job.

Indian pharma companies bank on 'mother brands' to boost revenue growth

Indian pharma companies bank on 'mother brands' to boost revenue growth

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2024

Indian pharma companies are focussing on flagship products or mother brands under which they launch various new combinations to ensure robust revenue growth as well as therapy leadership. An analysis by market research firm Pharmarack showed how such flagship brands have posted strong growth CAGR in the last five years, with some even doubling sales. Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial at Pharmarack, said, "Mother brands are analogous to an aggressive player who has put in a lot of effort during the prime years of life but now continues to silently nurture the brand family to collectively cross newer benchmarks of success."

Net FDI in India down 38% in Apr-Jan

Net FDI in India down 38% in Apr-Jan

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) in India, inflows minus outflows, declined 38.4 per cent year-on-year to $15.41 billion in the first 10 months of this financial year due to an increase in the repatriation of capital. According to the Reserve Bank of India's data in the March 2024 bulletin, FDI in India was $25.53 billion and outflows were $10.11 billion in April 2023-January 2024. In the same period last year, FDI inflows stood at $36.75 billion and outflows at $11.75 billion.

Shaktikanta Das: RBI Governor Who Walks The Talk

Shaktikanta Das: RBI Governor Who Walks The Talk

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2024

'Das is friendly, but he finally does what he does. The quality of engagement is very good.'

Battle for short term money likely to turn more intense in March

Battle for short term money likely to turn more intense in March

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2024

The need for money among banks, especially for short-term funds, may turn more intense in the last month of the financial year to feed the demand for capital for tax payments and meet year-end targets. The mobilisation of funds via the certificate of deposits (CDs) has seen a threefold increase to over Rs 60,000 crore in the fortnight that ended February 23 from around Rs 20,000 crore in the fortnight of January 26, 2024, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.

8 NBFCs eye ECB route to raise over $2 billion

8 NBFCs eye ECB route to raise over $2 billion

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2024

The NBFCs, which filed for ECB in January with the Reserve of India (RBI), include REC (over $500 million), Tata Motors Finance ($200 million), L&T Finance Holdings ($125 million), and Shriram Finance ($750 million), according to the RBI data. A senior executive with State Bank of India (SBI) said overseas borrowing by Indian companies, including highly rated NBFCs, was likely to grow because hedging costs were low and there was a softening bias in global interest rates.

Banking system liquidity goes into surplus mode after 3 months

Banking system liquidity goes into surplus mode after 3 months

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2024

The liquidity in the banking system moved into surplus almost after three months as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) absorbed over Rs 40,000 crore from the market on Monday, predominantly on the back of increased government spending. However, this situation may be short-lived given the higher demand for funds to pay taxes and year-end targets, treasury executives said. Meanwhile, two variable reverse repo rate (VRRR) auctions held on Tuesday received weak response.

Skoda to drive in Brezza, Sonet rival in H1FY25

Skoda to drive in Brezza, Sonet rival in H1FY25

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2024

koda Auto India is set to drive in a new car by the first half of next year to reach its target of 100,000 unit annual sales in the country by 2026. The compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) will be positioned against the likes of Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Sonet, and would be competitively priced, a senior company official said. koda will also export the car to right-hand-drive markets like Australia, New Zealand and the Asean nations.

'The formulations business been a growth driver'

'The formulations business been a growth driver'

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2024

'However, we have seen weakness in our active pharmaceutical ingredients business.'