Abhijit Lele, Sundar Sethuraman

Stories by Abhijit Lele, Sundar Sethuraman

LG India signals 'future-ready' push with Rs 11.6K cr IPO

LG India signals 'future-ready' push with Rs 11.6K cr IPO

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2025

For LG Electronics India, the Rs 11,607 crore initial public offering (IPO) is not just a fundraising exercise. The company's senior executives describe it as a step towards becoming "future-ready", showcasing financial strength while preparing for the next phase of growth in a market they see as still underpenetrated.

'IPOs Get Launched When Market Is Bullish'

'IPOs Get Launched When Market Is Bullish'

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2025

'If not bullish, volatility should be minimal.'

H1B Crisis: Rs 85,500 Cr Wiped Out From IT Stocks

H1B Crisis: Rs 85,500 Cr Wiped Out From IT Stocks

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2025

'It's better to stay away from large IT stocks until there is clarity on tariffs.'

It's time to get started, put money in deals: M&A financing opens up

It's time to get started, put money in deals: M&A financing opens up

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2025

Last fortnight, State Bank of India Chairman C S Setty lifted the veil on a subject long spoken of in corporate corridors: Why can't our banks finance mergers and acquisitions (M&As)? Change is in the air: Indian Banks' Association (of which Setty is the chairman) is to "make a formal request" to Mint Road to make way for it. Thus far the exclusive turf of foreign banks even though its funding remains offshore - as in, it's not on these entities rupee-book (and a few select shadow banks) - a most lucrative segment in the investment banking suite, M&As, will be homeward-bound.

Tax cut may bolster credit growth in H2

Tax cut may bolster credit growth in H2

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2025

After a subdued first quarter of 2025-26 (Q1FY26), banks are now betting big on the festive season, rolling out attractive loan offers to boost credit growth in the second half of the current financial year (H2FY26) - a trend likely to be further accentuated by the second-order effects of the good services tax (GST) cuts.

Rs 11.4 trn and counting, DII buying streak continues for 25th month

Rs 11.4 trn and counting, DII buying streak continues for 25th month

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2025

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) poured in Rs 94,829 crore of fresh money into Indian equities in August, the second-highest monthly inflow after record Rs 1.07 trillion influx in October 2024.

India Inc meeting capex need with own cash, says SBI chief C S Setty

India Inc meeting capex need with own cash, says SBI chief C S Setty

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2025

India Inc, which is sitting on cash balances of 13.5 trillion, is using the funds to meet capital expenditure as well as brownfield expansion, resulting in 'anaemic' demand for bank loans, State Bank of India (SBI) chairman CS Setty said at an event on Monday. He added that a slowdown in corporate credit is mainly due to lack of demand.

Why PSBs are raising home loan rates

Why PSBs are raising home loan rates

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2025

Some public sector banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, and Bank of India, are increasing the spread on home loans for new customers to protect margins.

Pre-IPO deals moderate after peaking in 2023

Pre-IPO deals moderate after peaking in 2023

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2025

Pre-initial public offering (IPO) allotments have fallen out of favour over the past two years amidst buoyant primary markets and increasing average float sizes. In 2023, 13 firms raised a record Rs 1,074 crore through pre-IPO placements.

Bank asset quality: Slippages rise 26% in Q1 on stress in unsecured loans

Bank asset quality: Slippages rise 26% in Q1 on stress in unsecured loans

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2025

Commercial banks in India reported 26 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in slippages at Rs 63,000 crore during the first quarter ended June 2025 (Q1FY26). This was predominantly due to stress in microfinance and unsecured retail portfolios of select lenders.

With 3 mn new entries, demat a/cs see biggest spike in July since Dec

With 3 mn new entries, demat a/cs see biggest spike in July since Dec

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2025

Domestic markets saw the addition of nearly 3 million new dematerialised (demat) accounts in July, marking the highest monthly increase since December 2024. This is also the third consecutive month that witnessed a rise in account openings, following a period of moderation from January to April.

DIIs' dominance on the bourses gets stronger

DIIs' dominance on the bourses gets stronger

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2025

After overtaking foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in market ownership, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have further solidified their dominance. DII ownership reached a new all-time high of 17.82 per cent as of June 2025, up from 17.62 per cent at the end of March 2025, according to an analysis by Prime Database.

India May Wait Out Trump Tariffs

India May Wait Out Trump Tariffs

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2025

'Just as we cannot surrender the interests of our farmers and dairy industry, Trump is also looking for markets for the produce of the farmers in the Midwest, which are his support base.'

SBI eyes spot among world's top 10 banks by market value in 5 years

SBI eyes spot among world's top 10 banks by market value in 5 years

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2025

Country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is looking to be among 10 top global banks in market capitalisation terms in the next five years, chairman CS Setty said on Wednesday. "The scope for value creation for the stakeholders is potentially very high. So the larger ambition is if the market supports whether we can be part of the top 10 global banks in terms of the market capitalisation (five years)," he said after listing of shares issued under Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) at NSE.

Why The Bankruptcy Code Needs A Makeover

Why The Bankruptcy Code Needs A Makeover

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2025

The famous 'tareekh pe tareekh' dialogue from the Hindi movie Damini captures where we are now.

IPOs Struggle To Attract Retail, HNIs

IPOs Struggle To Attract Retail, HNIs

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2025

Market watchers link the pullback to underwhelming listing-day performance and the lack of big-name IPOs.

SBI eyes Rs 25,000 crore via record QIP, sets floor at 2.5% discount

SBI eyes Rs 25,000 crore via record QIP, sets floor at 2.5% discount

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2025

State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender in the country, has launched a share sale to institutional investors to raise upto Rs 25,000 crore, the biggest qualified institutional placement (QIP) so far by an Indian firm, and has set a floor price of Rs 811.05, which is at a 2.5 per cent discount on Wednesday's closing price.

Trump Effect: Study Loan Surge to Ease in FY26

Trump Effect: Study Loan Surge to Ease in FY26

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2025

Education loan growth is set to halve this fiscal (FY26) because disbursements for the US decelerate following a raft of policy changes there.

IPO Pipeline Swells with 118 DRHPs

IPO Pipeline Swells with 118 DRHPs

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2025

Experts say the robust filing suggests the second half of the year will see large-scale issuances, provided the markets remain supportive.

Promoter holdings in private listed firms drop 600 bps to 37% since 2021

Promoter holdings in private listed firms drop 600 bps to 37% since 2021

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2025

Promoters of India's top private listed companies have cut their stakes sharply since 2021, taking advantage of elevated valuations and reshaping ownership dynamics in the market. Holdings of promoters in the top 200 privately owned listed firms declined nearly 600 basis points (bps) to 37 per cent at the end of FY25, from 43 per cent in FY21.