Ishita Ayan Dutt And Dev Chatterjee

Stories by Ishita Ayan Dutt And Dev Chatterjee

Tata vs JioMart: The next big corporate battle to watch

Tata vs JioMart: The next big corporate battle to watch

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2021

Mukesh Ambani-owned RIL's JioMart is set to launch a slew of new products including financial services, electronics to airline tickets to take on the competition from upcoming rivals like the Tata Super app and other established players including PayTM, Amazon and Flipkart. This comes at a time when RIL's e-commerce revenues are set to grow by 35 per cent to $15 billion within four years and its core retail revenue is expected to grow at the same pace to $44 billion, as per a forecast by Goldman Sachs. "The Tata vs JioMart war will be the next big corporate battle to watch. "While Tata has an upper hand like in-house products and brands, RIL has the backing of global biggies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft," said head of a rating firm asking not to be quoted.

Economists sceptical about Sitharaman's Covid stimulus

Economists sceptical about Sitharaman's Covid stimulus

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2021

Direct economic stimulus measures such as tax cuts for individuals and industry would have helped to prop up the Indian economy which was hit hard by the lockdowns across several states in India, say economists and corporate leaders. While the measures announced on Monday are focussed more on the supply side, these steps would take a lot of time to move the needle for the economy.

How Bhaipo plans to make Trinamool a national player

How Bhaipo plans to make Trinamool a national player

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

33-year-old Abhishek Banerjee has emerged as the most visible and significant leader in the party after his pishi (aunt), Mamata Banerjee reports Ishita Ayan Dutt.

Adani group strikes first coal from its Carmichael mine in Australia

Adani group strikes first coal from its Carmichael mine in Australia

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2021

The Adani group struck first coal from its Carmichael, Australia project on Thursday and will start shipping to its customers according to schedule. With this, the project will not only lift the economic prospects of the hitherto barren Australian outback, but also help Indian power plants to source cheap coal. The project had faced protests from a section of population with several banks even refusing to fund it. The group, however, went ahead with the project which included construction of a brand new railway line connecting an Australian port to the mine -- situated 300 kilometers away in Queensland.

Despite its FMCG push, for D-Street ITC is still a tobacco play

Despite its FMCG push, for D-Street ITC is still a tobacco play

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2021

Most of the changes have come about in the last four years and ITC is now reaping the dividends - standalone revenues from the non-cigarettes FMCG business have grown 40 per cent from FY17 to Rs 14,728.21 crore in FY21 and pre-tax profits 30 times to Rs 823.69 crore. The business accounted for 30.58 per cent of gross revenues and 4.85 per cent of pre-tax profits in FY21. "In the last four years, our margins in FMCG have gone up by 640 basis points (bps) and EBITDA margins have been moving up consistently. "We created levers that enabled a sustained growth trajectory," said ITC chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri. Puri took charge as the chief executive officer in 2017; in 2018, he was redesignated managing director and effective May 2019, he became chairman.

Covid impact: Million dollar M&A deals sealed on phone, Zoom calls

Covid impact: Million dollar M&A deals sealed on phone, Zoom calls

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2021

Some buyers are insisting on a clause in the agreement that the whole deal hinges on physical verification at a later date with some part of payment kept in escrow.

Is Darjeeling Tea Losing its Fizz?

Is Darjeeling Tea Losing its Fizz?

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

Scanty rainfall, last year's lockdown, growing competition from Nepal and the disaster of the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation are steadily weakening exports and sales of Darjeeling tea.

Why Alapan Bandyopadhyay matters in Mamata's Bengal

Why Alapan Bandyopadhyay matters in Mamata's Bengal

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2021

Those who know Alapan Bandyopadhyay describe him as measured, tactical and extremely focused on achieving what he sets out to do. To many it came as a surprise that he would cut short a meeting with the prime minister.

Hesitant at first, people rush to vaccination centres amid 2nd wave

Hesitant at first, people rush to vaccination centres amid 2nd wave

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2021

'Everyone wants to take a vaccine. The last time a camp was held, there were 1,000 people for 500 doses. People are waiting and returning disappointed. At times, it is creating problems. The demand is much more than the supply.' Ishita Ayan Dutt reports on how the West Bengal countryside is reacting to the vaccination drive.

Centre-Bengal ties may hold key to investments

Centre-Bengal ties may hold key to investments

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Though the mandate is seen largely an outcome of Banerjee's welfare schemes, she has promised to industrialise at a faster pace, or so read the manifesto.

Modi's Covid mismanagement helped Mamata

Modi's Covid mismanagement helped Mamata

Rediff.com   3 May 2021

'The last three phases, the Trinamool gained more than expected due to Covid mismanagement by the Centre.'

Vaccinating 70% of 18-44 year olds to cost Rs 300 bn

Vaccinating 70% of 18-44 year olds to cost Rs 300 bn

Rediff.com   1 May 2021

UP Rs 50 billion, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal which may need close to Rs 25 billion for the massive task.

India Inc lends a hand amid shortage of oxygen

India Inc lends a hand amid shortage of oxygen

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2021

Over the weekend, many companies stepped in to ease the bottleneck in supply and transportation of oxygen, as demand ran high with the surge in cases.

Coffee Day stares at bankruptcy as asset sale fails to make headway

Coffee Day stares at bankruptcy as asset sale fails to make headway

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2021

Attributing the delay in debt servicing to a liquidity crisis, the company said its total indebtedness was Rs 518 crore.

What makes this loss-making steel co so attractive?

What makes this loss-making steel co so attractive?

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2021

India Ratings expects long products demand growth to be sharp, supported by a demand push from the government-led infrastructure investments in affordable housing, railways, rural electrification and road networks.

What is the cost of Cyrus Mistry's exit from Tata Sons?

What is the cost of Cyrus Mistry's exit from Tata Sons?

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2021

With the Supreme Court not getting into the valuation part and leaving it to the two parties, lawyers said there was nothing much for Mistry Group to negotiate.

Reliance Infra sells HQ in Mumbai's Santacruz to YES Bank for Rs 1200 cr

Reliance Infra sells HQ in Mumbai's Santacruz to YES Bank for Rs 1200 cr

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2021

The entire proceeds from the sale of Reliance Centre will be utilised only to service YES Bank debt.

Even as old ones lie unsolved, new cases head to bankruptcy courts

Even as old ones lie unsolved, new cases head to bankruptcy courts

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2021

Even as lenders are getting ready to send more companies to bankruptcy courts from this week, several old cases are still awaiting resolution with no clarity on the completion of the process. This includes some high profile cases from the first list of 40 companies including Videocon Industries, Bhushan Power and Steel and Lavasa Corporation, sent by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for resolution. The delay is mainly due to litigation and late clarifications by various government agencies including the Reserve Bank of India and litigation by the Enforcement Directorate.

As commodity prices rise, cars, home appliances to cost more

As commodity prices rise, cars, home appliances to cost more

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2021

Metal prices from copper to aluminum and tin have shot up by about 7-32 per cent in the past three months.

Is poriborton in sight in Bengal, again?

Is poriborton in sight in Bengal, again?

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2021

Whatever the outcome from the assembly elections, what's evident is that West Bengal has entered an era of identity politics, reports Ishita Ayan Dutt.