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

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

Sterlite Copper COO hints at foreign hand behind protests in Thoothukudi

Sterlite Copper COO hints at foreign hand behind protests in Thoothukudi

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2022

'We were exporting copper at that time. Now India is importing copper to the tune of around $1.2 billion. Moreover, there was a larger impact on the dependent MSMEs.'

'Be greedy when others are fearful'

'Be greedy when others are fearful'

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2022

Outperforming peers following a crisis in the debt markets is an act that ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company fund manager Manish Banthia has pulled off more than once.

Labour unrest in Kerala lands children's garments producer Kitex in a spot

Labour unrest in Kerala lands children's garments producer Kitex in a spot

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2022

Kerala-based Kitex Garments, the world's second-largest children's garments producer, has landed in trouble after sporadic violence at its workers' camp led to an attack on the local police, injuring at least five officers. The local police told Business Standard that at least 156 migrant workers were detained after the incident and around 50 have been arrested so far. A decision on any possible action against the company will be taken after the investigation.

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2022

The value of unclaimed securities and other assets was nearly Rs 20,000 crore in March 2020.

At 50, AIADMK faces senior moment with no saviour in sight

At 50, AIADMK faces senior moment with no saviour in sight

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2022

Factionalism between OP Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami, the dominance of the BJP, the ruling DMK having a strong face in the form of CM Stalin, 'community and region-based politics', corruption charges against former ministers, and lack of a proper ideology are the major challenges the party is facing in the state.

New projects drop for 2nd straight quarter

New projects drop for 2nd straight quarter

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2022

New projects fell 6.3 per cent in the December quarter compared with the September quarter. The value of new projects in the just-concluded quarter was Rs 2.1 trillion, according to the data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), which was lower than the Rs 2.2 trillion seen in the September quarter. It is, however, higher than Rs 1.5 trillion recorded for the quarter ended December 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. This data ties in with the November data for core sector growth, an index of eight core industries, which grew at its slowest pace since early 2021.

India's textile and apparel exports outshine pre-Covid numbers

India's textile and apparel exports outshine pre-Covid numbers

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2021

Backed by the China-plus-one policy, India's textile and apparel exports have seen a 53 per cent growth during the April-November period of the current fiscal year at around $26 billion. This compares to the figure of $17 billion during the same period in FY21. According to Wazir Textile Index, all major companies including Welspun, Vardhman, Trident, KPR Mills, Indo Count, RSWM, Filatex, Nahar Spg and Indorama have posted higher sales during the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the pre-pandemic year.

Riding on innovation, Old Monk eyes record 10 million sales next year

Riding on innovation, Old Monk eyes record 10 million sales next year

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2021

With innovations such as the introduction of new variants and the launch of tetra packs, Mohan Meakin (MML) aims to achieve a record high sales of around 10 million units of Old Monk in 2022. From almost 3 million units a few years ago, sales volume has rebounded substantially. "Today, we are over 8 million units and are targeting record sales of 10 million next year," said Vinay Mohan, the director of Mohan Meakin (MML). Mohan said the company had started giving franchisees in states where tetra packs have good sales.

COVID: Kerala model still a success

COVID: Kerala model still a success

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2021

'Kerala is on a par with global standards.'

The Omicron Threat To India's Movie Biz

The Omicron Threat To India's Movie Biz

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2021

The cinema industry is staring at a loss of at least Rs 5,000 crore at the box office over the next six months if Omicron proves to be a spoiler.

Rise and rise of the Rs 10,000 shares

Rise and rise of the Rs 10,000 shares

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2021

There are more of them now and the total value of such companies--out of reach for small retail players--may surprise you. Shares topping the five-figure price mark were rare ten years ago. A look at March-end figures across the listed universe in 2011 shows only one such share. There were two by 2013.

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2021

The spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made Indian companies persist with their policy of banning overseas trips and allowing only essential travel within India. The IT services firms, which had planned to ask their employees to return to the workplace, are also waiting and watching the Covid-19 situation before fully opening up their offices. Large conglomerates like the Tatas, Birla, JSW and Reliance are continuing with the mandatory social distancing and masking policies within their office premises.

Wilful defaults are Rs 62,000 crore higher than pre-Covid levels

Wilful defaults are Rs 62,000 crore higher than pre-Covid levels

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2021

The Indian banking system's latest record on wilful defaulters shows Rs 62,970 crore, or around 10 per cent increase, in the additional amount outstanding since the pandemic began. The total outstanding amount increased to Rs 6.85 trillion in June from Rs 6.22 trillion in December 2019, shows a Business Standard analysis of numbers from the TransUnion CIBIL database. India recorded its first case of Covid-19 in January 2020.The amount outstanding to wilful defaulters had touched a post-pandemic peak of Rs.7.6 trillion in December 2020 (or Rs 1.4 trillion more than pre-pandemic levels).

Akshay, Rajinikanth Pump Life Back into the Movies

Akshay, Rajinikanth Pump Life Back into the Movies

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2021

Sooryavanshi and Annaatthe have already collected 6 percent of the film industry's 2020 revenue.

After rain havoc 'Smart City' Chennai reels under politics

After rain havoc 'Smart City' Chennai reels under politics

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2021

Chennai is one of the cities where works have been completed for almost 62 per cent of the money lined up -- Rs 599 crore of the Rs 959 crore has been utilised so far. Despite this, there was no respite for the people in the city this time either, with North Chennai being the worst affected.

India Inc earnings hit record Rs 2.4 trillion in Q2

India Inc earnings hit record Rs 2.4 trillion in Q2

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2021

India's top listed companies reported their best-ever quarterly net profit of Rs 2.39 trillion in the September quarter of FY22, up 46.4 per cent year-on-year. The earnings were driven by a big surge in the profitability of banks, non-banking financial companies & insurance (BFSI), oil & gas, and metal & mining firms. The combined net profit of these three cyclical sectors were up 87 per cent YoY to a record high of Rs 1.53 trillion, up from Rs 82,000 crore a year ago and Rs 1.08 trillion in Q1FY22.

LIC's stake in listed companies at 10-year low

LIC's stake in listed companies at 10-year low

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2021

LIC owns 3.69 per cent of the total listed universe based on available disclosures, the lowest since at least June 2009.

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Business executives are finally dusting off their long-unused suitcases to resume travel, thanks to a good vaccination rate, a drop in fresh cases, and an easing of travel restrictions. It comes as a huge relief for the ravaged aviation, travel and hospitality sectors. "We are witnessing a 40 per cent recovery on pre-covid volumes from our business travellers, signalling the return of corporate confidence in air travel," said Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) & SOTC.

CAs scramble to fathom new whistleblowing law

CAs scramble to fathom new whistleblowing law

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Chartered accountants are readying themselves for a higher onus on individuals to report violations that they come across as part of their work. There has been a scramble to understand the implications as the non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR) comes into effect in less than six months. It is applicable from April 1, 2022 after being deferred earlier because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Can Ilaya Thalapthi Vijay win where Rajini and Kamal failed?

Can Ilaya Thalapthi Vijay win where Rajini and Kamal failed?

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2021

A relatively quiet foray by actor Vijay into politics through the TN rural local body elections last month has captured the attention of many, reports Shine Jacob.