Kumar Akash &Amp;Amp; Ranju Sarkar

Stories by Kumar Akash &Amp;Amp; Ranju Sarkar

India Inc may not hire in large nos despite upturn

India Inc may not hire in large nos despite upturn

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2009

Companies may do strategic hiring for specific skill sets, or there may be some activity in sectors like infrastructure or power.

Rising Re: Exporters keep their fingers crossed

Rising Re: Exporters keep their fingers crossed

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2009

The CEO of Bangalore-based Gokaldas Exports, one of India's largest garment exporters, says the rise is forcing him to forgo new orders, which could impact business in the coming quarters.

Buyers are back! Retailers in expansion mode

Buyers are back! Retailers in expansion mode

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2009

The retail king is back to what he does best: Expand. Future Group chairman Kishore Biyani is planning to add two Big Bazaar stores every month and open 15 hypermarkets over the next six months.

Mixed response to Sebi's proposed audit rules

Mixed response to Sebi's proposed audit rules

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

In an attempt to avoid Satyam-like frauds, a Sebi panel has suggested rotation of audit partners signing the accounts and giving more teeth to the company's audit committee.

Worst seems to have passed for CV makers

Worst seems to have passed for CV makers

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2009

Sales of commercial vehicles, which were on a decline for over a year, are showing signs of a recovery. Two out of the three CV makers reported an increase in sales last month.

Budget carriers fly high in downturn

Budget carriers fly high in downturn

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2009

Low cost carriers have 55 per cent of the market, up from 45 per cent in Q1 last year, and 30 per cent two years back. Does it mean India really is an LCC market? The performance of the airlines also seem to suggest that. While budget carrier Spicejet announced a small profit for Q1, all the big boys in the industry seem to be in trouble.

Valuation concerns slow down QIPs

Valuation concerns slow down QIPs

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2009

More than 50 companies had rushed to make qualified institutional placements after real estate firms like Unitech and Indiabulls raised money through this route. Now it appears that only some of these companies may be able to raise equity through this route, on rising concerns over valuations and over-supply.

Wal-Mart's secret of success amid slump

Wal-Mart's secret of success amid slump

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2009

The annual shareholders' meet resembled a rock concert in an indoor stadium with associates cheering like crazy fans.

With better equity outlook, firms

With better equity outlook, firms

Rediff.com   21 May 2009

Sources now believe that the next few months can see more companies raising money through qualified institutional placements and private equity. The success of the Unitech and DLF block deals have encouraged other companies to jump onto the bandwagon.

Working capital loans still pinch cos

Working capital loans still pinch cos

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

The Reserve Bank of India has cut the repo rate (at which it lends to the banks) by 525 basis points to 4.75 per cent from the pre-credit crunch level. Yet, companies continue to borrow much of their working capital at 12.25 per cent, which is State Bank of India's prime lending rate and a sort of benchmark. Nearly three-fourths of all working capital loans like cash credit and overdraft are lent at bank's prevailing PLR.

Parle-G, the price warrior

Parle-G, the price warrior

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Parle-G enjoys close to 70% market share in the glucose biscuit segment and has held its price line for 25 years now. Ranju Sarkar explains how.

Confusion reigns over Sebi's peer review mandate

Confusion reigns over Sebi's peer review mandate

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

The compulsory peer reviews of auditors' notes for Sensex and Nifty companies for Q3 results of the last fiscal and full-year results of 2007-08 have proved a virtual non-starter, owing to confusion over its scope and the appointment of auditors.

Why independent directors are quitting in droves

Why independent directors are quitting in droves

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

More than 500 independent directors have resigned since January 1 this year.

India prepares for shift to gas-based economy

India prepares for shift to gas-based economy

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

In a few years, households receiving piped gas at home can use a fuel cell unit to produce power and heat, which can also be used to chill homes during summer.

SC tax reprieve to firms on forex losses

SC tax reprieve to firms on forex losses

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2009

The SC's dismissal of the Income-Tax department's plea that companies cannot claim deductions against tax liabilities on account of losses due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations legitimises the way companies were accounting for these forex losses.

Auto financiers may loosen fists

Auto financiers may loosen fists

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2009

Auto financiers, which had tightened lending norms in the face of rising defaults last year, may loosen their fists in the wake of the Calcutta high court's order of Wednesday, reaffirming the lender's right to seize vehicles if customers stop repaying loans.

Deccan cargo airline to take off in May

Deccan cargo airline to take off in May

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2009

The company plans to offer end-to-end logistics solutions where it has custodial charge of the cargo. Till the back-end warehouse infrastructure is ready at the airline's national hub in Nagpur, Gopinath's freighters will fly the Dubai-Mumbai-Delhi-Hong Kong route, offering dedicated cargo space to freight forwarders and serve anyone who wants to move international freight to these cities for time-definite delivery.

Bajaj Auto readies to take on the world

Bajaj Auto readies to take on the world

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2009

Falling sales at home have failed to douse the company's zeal to grow abroad.

Lower costs make road projects more viable

Lower costs make road projects more viable

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2009

The prices of construction steel have come down nearly 37 per cent. The price of bitumen has come down by 22 per cent since mid-November, while diesel and cement prices have come down by 10 per cent. GMR infrastructure CFO A Subba Rao estimates that construction costs have come down by 20 per cent. Construction costs account for 70-75 per cent of the project costs; the other significant variable being interest costs.

335 firms report forex losses in Dec quarter

335 firms report forex losses in Dec quarter

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2009

Companies are trying to clean up their balance-sheets and make provisions for forex losses as they think the disclosures will not have a major bearing on their valuations, which are already down.