Krishna Kant, Dev Chatterjee &Amp; Rajesh Bhayani

Stories by Krishna Kant, Dev Chatterjee &Amp; Rajesh Bhayani

COVID-19: How gold smugglers stand to gain

COVID-19: How gold smugglers stand to gain

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2020

Customs officials are busy at ports and airports, scanning passengers to ensure that COVID-19 virus-affected people are traced. So, officials are not able to focus much on baggage checking. This could lead to more gold getting smuggled into the country as luggage check at airports is now random unlike earlier where every bag was checked thoroughly.

Gold takes a beating, falls by Rs 3000 in a week

Gold takes a beating, falls by Rs 3000 in a week

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2020

Gold price in Mumbai's physical market on Friday fell 31.1 per cent or Rs 1,351 to close at Rs 41,848 per 10 gramme. Friday's fall in per cent terms is worst after November 2015 and, in absolute terms, the worst after August 2013. Silver prices fell Rs 2,255 to close 5 per cent lower at Rs 43,085 per kg on Friday.

L&T plans to cut debt by Rs 30,000 crore

L&T plans to cut debt by Rs 30,000 crore

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2020

To sell off L&T IDPL, Nabha Power; transfer Hyderabad Metro to an InvIT.

Adani group joins race to buy Air India, may submit EoI by March

Adani group joins race to buy Air India, may submit EoI by March

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2020

Apart from the Adani group, the Tata group, the Hinduja group, Indigo and a New York-based fund, Interups, are expected to submit EoIs.

Voda Idea to pay AGR dues, but may not be able to go on

Voda Idea to pay AGR dues, but may not be able to go on

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2020

Vodafone Idea, which reported a loss of Rs 6,439 crore in the December quarter, said it had received letters from the department of telecommunications (DoT) directing immediate payment of dues amounting to Rs 54,000 crores after the SC judgment. "The company is currently assessing the amount that it will be able to pay to DoT towards the dues calculated based on AGR, as interpreted by the Supreme Court in its order dated October 24, 2019. The company proposes to pay the amount so assessed in the next few days," it stated.

With SC's strict order, is it all over for Voda-Idea?

With SC's strict order, is it all over for Voda-Idea?

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2020

Vodafone Idea's net worth (or shareholders' equity) was down 73 per cent year-on-year to around Rs 17,600 crore at the end of the December 2019 quarter after the company reported a net loss of around Rs 6,400 crore during the quarter. Cumulatively, the company has lost nearly Rs 45,000 crore in the last four quarters, eroding its net worth to its lowest level in three-year. Analysts said a such a low level of net worth, coupled with continuing losses in operations, ruled out the possibility of the company getting fresh loans from lenders to fund its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of Rs 54,000 crore.

Corporate tax growth of 12% for FY21 'unrealistic'

Corporate tax growth of 12% for FY21 'unrealistic'

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

The increased tax target comes at a time when consumer spending and sales growth are slowing down and most companies are not investing in new capacities.

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd has made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy Anil Ambani group's Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Last year it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircel's assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore. Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee dig deeper to find out more about this little known company.

Rupee one of the worst performers among its Asian peers

Rupee one of the worst performers among its Asian peers

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2020

The Indian rupee is down nearly 2 per cent against the US dollar since the beginning of January 2019. Experts attribute the Indian rupee's relatively poor performance to a sharper-than-expected fall in economic growth in India.

After 5 months RBI buys gold, now holds 625 tonnes

After 5 months RBI buys gold, now holds 625 tonnes

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2020

The RBI is still a small player in international gold buying among central banks. But in terms of total gold bought in 2019, it is the sixth largest buyer with 25.2 tonnes purchases in the first 10 months of 2019.

Bad debts: Banks may have to make provision for Rs 2.2 trn

Bad debts: Banks may have to make provision for Rs 2.2 trn

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

Bankers said they are looking outside the bankruptcy courts and will be able to resolve a few debts in the power sector before January-end.

FMCG stocks lose sheen, valuation declines to 11-year low

FMCG stocks lose sheen, valuation declines to 11-year low

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

The country's top FMCG stocks, such as Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Nestl, Britannia, Godrej Consumer Products, and Dabur, among others, are currently trading at around 41x their trailing 12-month earnings, down from their peak P/E multiple of around 48x at the end of December 2018.

Globalisation is making way for 'slowbalisation': Birla

Globalisation is making way for 'slowbalisation': Birla

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2020

'While the march of globalisation is perhaps inevitable, what is certain is that the world is no longer flat as, the emerging pattern of trade is more regional. 'This new trend of 'slowbalisation' raises some questions that challenge conventional wisdom on how businesses should distribute their capacities,' Birla said.

Airtel launches $2-bn share sale to pay AGR dues

Airtel launches $2-bn share sale to pay AGR dues

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2020

This is the biggest equity-raising exercise by an Indian corporate within a financial year. The fundraising - led by Citibank, Goldman, Kotak and Axis Capital as bankers - will see participation by foreign and domestic institutional investors.

Rich list shrinks, but top 10 add $40 billion to wealth

Rich list shrinks, but top 10 add $40 billion to wealth

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2019

Richest 10 account for 41% of promoter wealth, up from 33% in December 2018, says Krishna Kant.

As benchmark indices scale fresh peak, Sensex valuation nears 20-year high

As benchmark indices scale fresh peak, Sensex valuation nears 20-year high

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2019

The Sensex is on course to ending calendar year (CY) 2019 at a price-earnings (P/E) multiple of 29x, the highest in 25 years. Current valuations are, however, lower than those seen in the early 1990s. The Sensex has risen close to 14 per cent in the last 12 months, while the index underlying EPS dropped 6.7 per cent during the period.

SBI, other PSBs to lend Rs 4,000 cr to Patanjali for Ruchi Soya acquisition

SBI, other PSBs to lend Rs 4,000 cr to Patanjali for Ruchi Soya acquisition

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2019

SBI and other public sector banks have decided to lend Rs 4,000 crore to Patanjali Ayurved for the acquisition of Ruchi Soya, which was facing bankruptcy proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The money lent by banks will help the PSBs to settle their exposure to Ruchi Soya with a haircut of 65 per cent. Banks led by SBI and others had earlier made claims of over Rs 12,146 crore against Ruchi Soya after the company failed to repay its loans.

Airtel is one of the most-loved large-cap stocks on the bourses

Airtel is one of the most-loved large-cap stocks on the bourses

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2019

The company has a valuation of Rs 2.22 trillion, up from Rs 1.33 trillion a year ago.

If Voda-Idea goes belly-up, shareholders will lose Rs 1.68 trillion

If Voda-Idea goes belly-up, shareholders will lose Rs 1.68 trillion

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2019

Collapse of the mobile operator could translate into total loss of nearly Rs 44,000 crore for the AV Birla group.

Gold is still the 3rd-most popular investment choice

Gold is still the 3rd-most popular investment choice

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2019

A WGC survey says that there is no dearth of gold demand, but there is lack of trust among prospective gold buyers, not only in India but globally.