Krishna Kant, Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Sachin P Mampatta

Stories by Krishna Kant, Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Sachin P Mampatta

Sanatan Dharma Controversy: Why Stalin Is Unflustered

Sanatan Dharma Controversy: Why Stalin Is Unflustered

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

Any narrative against the Dravidian model may impact the BJP's prospects in Tamil Nadu. This may explain why the BJP in Tamil Nadu is placing more emphasis on corruption allegations against the DMK, even as the party focuses nationally on the Sanatana controversy.

'Inputs ignored': Dhanlaxmi Bank independent director resigns from board

'Inputs ignored': Dhanlaxmi Bank independent director resigns from board

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2023

Sridhar Kalyanasundaram, an independent director of private sector lender Dhanlaxmi Bank, has resigned from the board with effect from September 16. In his resignation letter, Kalyanasundaram has raised issues like factionalism in the board, his differences regarding rights issue and the alleged 'lack of in depth banking knowledge' in other members. This comes after Ravindran Pillai, head of RP Group, who holds 9.99 per cent stake in the bank (largest shareholder), came out with a special notice for removal of Kalyanasundaram.

Rice Economy Faces Turmoil as El Nino Turns Up Heat

Rice Economy Faces Turmoil as El Nino Turns Up Heat

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2023

In the coming months, globally as well as in India, rice might remain a hot potato.

Corporate capex fell 2 quarters in a row

Corporate capex fell 2 quarters in a row

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2023

India's corporate sector, including public sector enterprises (PSEs), continues to go slow on investments and capital expenditure (capex). According to data from Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL), corporate investments declined for the second consecutive quarter in the April-June period (first quarter, or Q1) of 2023-24 (FY24). After a contraction of 0.5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the 2022-23 (FY23) January-March quarter, corporate investments likely fell 6.2 per cent Y-o-Y in Q1FY24, write Nikhil Gupta and Tanisha Ladhaa of MOFSL in their recent report on corporate investments.

Amid Competition, Royal Enfield Steps on the Gas to Draw Future Road Map

Amid Competition, Royal Enfield Steps on the Gas to Draw Future Road Map

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2023

To come up with first EV by 2025, expects market to grow two to three-fold in the next ten years.

JSW group keen to launch car in EV segment at Rs 15-20 lakh price tag

JSW group keen to launch car in EV segment at Rs 15-20 lakh price tag

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

The promoter entities of JSW Group are in talks with several electric-car manufacturers in China to launch an electric car for the Indian market at Rs 15-20 lakh, a source close to the development said.

China's Economy Is Weakening!

China's Economy Is Weakening!

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

Unemployment has been rising among the young, with authorities suspending data disclosures after youth unemployment crossed 20 per cent.

From Hindustan Unilever to Britannia, FMCG stock rally skates on thin ice

From Hindustan Unilever to Britannia, FMCG stock rally skates on thin ice

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

Over the past year, the National Stock Exchange Nifty FMCG Index, which tracks the market capitalisation of the top 15 companies in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, has surged by 17.3 per cent. In contrast, the Nifty50, a broader market index, has witnessed an 8.8 per cent increase during the same period. The FMCG stocks have also been rally leaders in the current calendar year.

Aditya-L1 fires up funding prospects for pvt space cos

Aditya-L1 fires up funding prospects for pvt space cos

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

The successful launch of Aditya-L1 - the country's maiden mission to study the Sun - is expected to garner increased investor interest in the Indian space sector and trigger more funding for private players. Several private sector players, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), MTAR Technologies, and Ananth Technologies, have played a pivotal role in the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro's) solar observatory mission. Aditya-L1 on Saturday set off on a 125-day journey on a PSLV-C57 rocket, in its attempt to study various elements relating to the nearest star from the halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from Earth.

Skin in the game: MFs have bet over Rs 80,000 cr on their own schemes

Skin in the game: MFs have bet over Rs 80,000 cr on their own schemes

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2023

When billionaire Warren Buffet started his first fund in 1956 with eleven investors, he invested a token amount of $100 of his own money as "skin in the game". Buffet denies it but he is credited with coming up with the term describing those running a fund risk some of their own money in it. The mutual fund (MF) industry has more than Rs 81,200 crore riding on its schemes, shows a Business Standard analysis of data on sponsor and associate contributions from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

Top 5 family-owned biz groups see a mixed Q1; net profits up 13.9%

Top 5 family-owned biz groups see a mixed Q1; net profits up 13.9%

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2023

April-June 2023 (Q1FY24) was a mixed quarter for India's top family-owned business groups. Three of the big five in terms of revenue reported a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decline in combined net sales and two saw a Y-o-Y fall in net profits. Combined net sales of all listed companies in the five groups were up just 2.2 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 6.6 trillion in the quarter, down sharply from the 10.3 per cent in the March 2023 quarter (Q4FY23) and 42.8 per cent in Q1FY23.

How Many Letters Does The Post Office Still Deliver?

How Many Letters Does The Post Office Still Deliver?

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2023

Nearly two million postcards and eight million letters pass through India's post offices daily.

Tightening India-US 10-year bond yield spread puts rupee under pressure

Tightening India-US 10-year bond yield spread puts rupee under pressure

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2023

One of the key factors contributing to the decline in the value of the rupee against the US dollar is the tightening yield spread between the 10-year India government bond and the US government bond. The yield on 10-year Indian government bonds is now only 295 basis points higher than that of US 10-year treasury bonds, the lowest since January 2007. Lower spread means lower incentive for foreign investors to invest in rupee assets, which adversely affects foreign capital inflows into the country and weighs on the rupee-dollar exchange rate.

India Inc's margin boost cushions slower revenue growth in Q1

India Inc's margin boost cushions slower revenue growth in Q1

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2023

Households may be feeling the pinch of higher inflation but corporate India is enjoying record high margins and profits. The combined quarterly net profit of listed companies scaled a new high in the April-June 2023 quarter owing to a sharp rise in operating and net profit. The expansion in margins more than compensated for the slowdown in revenue growth, which slipped into single digits in Q1FY24 after a gap of nine quarters.

Q1 results: India Inc profit surges 65% but shows lopsided growth

Q1 results: India Inc profit surges 65% but shows lopsided growth

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2023

There has been a sharp recovery in the headline corporate earnings in the April-June 2023 quarter (Q1FY24), after a dismal showing by early bird companies. The combined net profit of the 983 listed companies that have declared their quarterly results, so far, was up 64.7 per cent year-on-year to record a high of Rs 2.68 trillion in the first quarter, but growth in earnings remained lopsided because most of the incremental gains came from a handful of companies. Moreover, the quarterly numbers showed a continued slowdown in revenue growth.

Hyundai global boss pushes electric vehicle credentials on India visit

Hyundai global boss pushes electric vehicle credentials on India visit

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2023

Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is vigorously aiming to establish a robust presence in India's electric vehicle (EV) segment through the introduction of new models and the establishment of charging stations under Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) and Kia India. Euisun Chung, executive chairman of HMG, who is currently visiting India, urged both companies to deliver products that not only meet but exceed customer expectations on time, thus driving the achievement of these growth targets. The group is strategically working to elevate Kia's market share from the current 6.7 per cent to an impressive 10 per cent in India in the near future.

Foreign players' share in private sector capex declines

Foreign players' share in private sector capex declines

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2023

The share of foreign companies in private sector investments, directed towards building new factories and other facilities, has declined over the past six months. A mix of large domestic announcements and relatively lower growth in foreign capital expenditure (capex) plans have played a role, although foreign investments remain near record levels. The share of foreign companies in the overall private sector investments over the four quarters ended June 2023 has dipped to 14.9 per cent, as shown by a Business Standard analysis of data from the project tracker Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.

SBI beats Reliance to become India's most profitable company

SBI beats Reliance to become India's most profitable company

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2023

The changes in the domestic and global economy following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic are altering the corporate profit league table in India. Reliance Industries (RIL), which topped the India Inc profit chart for more than a decade, lost out to State Bank of India (SBI) in the 2023-24 (FY24) April-June quarter (first quarter, or Q1). India's biggest lender reported a consolidated net profit (adjusted for exceptional gains and losses) of Rs 66,860 crore during the trailing 12-month (TTM) ended in June this year, ahead of RIL's TTM adjusted net profit of Rs 64,758 crore in the quarter.

India poised to become export hub for Citroen

India poised to become export hub for Citroen

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2023

French carmaker Citroen will launch its C3 Aircross Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) in India by October, and is betting big on exports from India to markets like South Africa, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Nepal, a top company executive told Business Standard. Citroen, which sold 6,000 units through Citron C3 and C5 Aircross SUV, is likely to double its sales during the current year, as it has already sold 6,000 units of Citron C3 and eC3 electric vehicles during the first six months. "We are going to start bookings for the C3 Aircross SUV in September and launch it in October. Price will be at the heart of the midsize SUV market," said Saurabh Vatsa, Citroen India branch head.

Equity valuations once again on the rise even as profit moderates

Equity valuations once again on the rise even as profit moderates

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2023

Equity valuations are once again on the rise, after they cooled down in the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022. The BSE Sensex trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple has risen to a 17-month high of nearly 25x, from 23.7x at the end of December 2022 and 21.6x at the end of June 2022. Similarly, the index closed on Friday with a trailing price-to-book (P/B) value ratio of 3.6x, up from 3.4x at the end of December 2022; it is the highest since December 2021.