Samie Modak, Ishita Ayan Dutt

Stories by Samie Modak, Ishita Ayan Dutt

Breaking the vault: Will MSCI grant HDFC Bank access?

Breaking the vault: Will MSCI grant HDFC Bank access?

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2024

HDFC Bank's latest shareholding data showed that the room for foreign investment has fallen just 5 basis points short of the threshold set by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) to fully include the stock in its indices. Currently, the index provider has applied an adjustment factor of 0.5 since the foreign room is less than 25 per cent. Removal of the adjustment factor will result in inflows of a massive $4.8 billion (Rs 40,000 crore) into HDFC Bank, according to Brian Freitas, a New Zealand-based analyst with Periscope Analytics.

How Berger Paints plans to protect its market share

How Berger Paints plans to protect its market share

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2024

'Which is growing fast and where we are very strongly positioned.'

Street Signs: DMart's stock surge, tepid GMP, IPO lull, and more

Street Signs: DMart's stock surge, tepid GMP, IPO lull, and more

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2024

Shares of Avenue Supermarts (DMart) have rallied 15 per cent in the past month, even as the benchmark National Stock Exchange Nifty has remained flat. The stock has garnered favourable commentary from both fundamental and technical analysts after three years of poor performance. "DMart has reached its first 52-week high since October 2021, taking off from solid base formations.

Hong Kong pips India, becomes fourth-largest market

Hong Kong pips India, becomes fourth-largest market

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2024

Hong Kong has regained its spot as the world's fourth-largest market following a broad market rout in Indian equities. Currently, the Chinese territory's market capitalisation stands at $4.9 trillion versus India's $4.75 trillion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In January, the domestic equity markets' market capitalisation had surpassed that of Hong Kong following a spectacular rally in the small- and midcap stocks.

'Midcaps, Smallcaps: Exercise Caution'

'Midcaps, Smallcaps: Exercise Caution'

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2024

'While Indian markets are indeed not inexpensive, the valuations of largecap stocks are still a considerable distance from being overstretched.'

Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, Zomato on Jefferies hotlist for 5 years

Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, Zomato on Jefferies hotlist for 5 years

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2024

Jefferies has identified 11 stocks set to benefit from long-term macro trends like capital expenditures, government manufacturing initiatives, and financialisation.

Rasna looks at overseas franchise arrangements for manufacturing abroad

Rasna looks at overseas franchise arrangements for manufacturing abroad

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2024

Rasna, which became a household name in the 80s and 90s and is still ruling the pre-mix market, is now looking at overseas franchise arrangements for manufacturing abroad. As part of the arrangement, the franchisee would invest in the plant and machinery and it would also take care of day-to-day operations. Rasna would supply the pre-mix, technical know-how and some financial support.

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2024

Whether the age-old cry of kendrer banchana will be able to drown out pangs of Sandeshkhali, the EVM will tell.

India-listed multinational arms outclass parent firms' valuations

India-listed multinational arms outclass parent firms' valuations

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2024

It's not only the Indian markets that command a valuation premium over their global peers; shares of subsidiaries of India-listed multinational companies (MNCs) also trade at rich valuations compared to their parent companies. An analysis of 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) multiples of domestically listed MNCs shows that most quotes have a premium ranging from 2.1x to 6x that of their parent. Similarly, P/B, in most cases, is significantly higher in the domestic market.

Visa applications to beat pre-Covid levels in 2024

Visa applications to beat pre-Covid levels in 2024

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2024

VFS Global expects visa applications from India to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024 with the easing of appointment availability. Vishal Jairath, head-South Asia, VFS Global, said during a media interaction that based on indications from the client governments in terms of appointment availability and the resources deployed by them, visa applications would surpass the pre-Covid levels by a healthy margin. "We have geared up. We have looked at our infrastructure and increased capacity in many locations," he added.

ITC would increasingly try to go outside India: Sanjiv Puri

ITC would increasingly try to go outside India: Sanjiv Puri

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2024

Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC, is looking to expand the conglomerate's play outside India by taking "strategic positions" in markets close to home in the non-cigarette fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and hospitality businesses. In a recent conversation with Business Standard, Puri revealed that ITC is setting sights beyond India's borders. "We already export to 100-odd countries. We want to scale that up and take some strategic positions in markets close to us," he said.

Tax poser in the way of Hyundai local arm listing

Tax poser in the way of Hyundai local arm listing

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2024

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Company is considering tax implications of listing its Indian unit before taking a final call, according to sources privy to the development. Hyundai Motor is mulling an initial public offering (IPO) for its Indian arm to raise around $3 billion (at a valuation of up to $30 billion), and talks are in the early stages between the company and bankers, banking sources revealed. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), however, declined to comment on the development.

'We expect the losses to be lower from UK'

'We expect the losses to be lower from UK'

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2024

'The UK is more of a structural problem, and that's why we're doing the restructuring.'

Traders brace for impact of Paytm crisis

Traders brace for impact of Paytm crisis

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2024

It's mid-morning and the two-kilometre stretch from Rashbehari Avenue to Gariahat Market is bustling with activity. Dotted with saree shops and hawker stalls that sell everything, from hairpins, hangers and towels to hosiery, mobile phone covers and kurtas, this is one of South Kolkata's busiest shopping areas. And it is beginning to wake up to the Paytm crisis.

FPI lobby flags concerns on T+0 settlement cycle

FPI lobby flags concerns on T+0 settlement cycle

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2024

Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (Asifma) has raised concerns about the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposal to introduce a T+0 settlement cycle. The industry association of top foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) has stated that this move could give rise to several issues, including the bifurcation of the market, liquidity fragmentation, and deterioration of market quality. In a discussion paper floated last month, Sebi has proposed a separate same-day settlement cycle that will run parallel to the existing T+1 cycle, where trades are settled the next day.

India likely to get its first $1 trn mcap firm by 2032

India likely to get its first $1 trn mcap firm by 2032

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2024

India's first $1 trillion company by market capitalisation (mcap) is achievable by 2032 and HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries (RIL) are seen as lead contenders, ICICI Securities said in a note on Monday. To achieve this, the shares of both the firms will have to appreciate at least 20 per cent annually for the next decade. ICICI Securities believes this is possible if India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth accelerates to 9 per cent per annum and corporate profitability cycle peaks. "Our calculations suggest that India's first $1 trillion mcap stock could emerge by 2032.

HDFC Bank's ADR premium shrinks to nearly zero as FPIs turn bearish

HDFC Bank's ADR premium shrinks to nearly zero as FPIs turn bearish

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2024

After the latest rout, the American depositary receipt (ADR) premium of HDFC Bank to its local shares has shrunk to nearly zero. Shares of HDFC Bank on Thursday fell 3.1 per cent to Rs 1,490, extending its two-day decline to 11 per cent. Meanwhile, the ADR has slumped over 15 per cent in the past two trading sessions.

Aster DM Healthcare's sale of Gulf business faces flak

Aster DM Healthcare's sale of Gulf business faces flak

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2024

Hospital chain Aster DM Healthcare's plans to sell its Gulf business may run into rough weather with voting advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) raising concerns over the transaction. Recommending an 'against' vote on the resolution, IiAS has said there is no clarity on how Aster DM will utilise the proceeds that it will obtain by selling the unit, which contributes to bulk of its revenues. In November, Aster DM had announced its plans to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary Affinity Holdings, which conducts business in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, to Alpha GCC for $1 billion.

Darjeeling tea hits 8-yr low in auctions

Darjeeling tea hits 8-yr low in auctions

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2024

Geopolitical headwinds leading to lower demand from export markets, coupled with lower domestic buying, have dragged the auction average of Darjeeling tea to its lowest level since 2015. Data from Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA) shows that the average price of Darjeeling tea at Kolkata auctions for January-December 2023 was Rs 319.74 per kg. The last time it dipped below this level was in 2015 at Rs 285.71 per kg.

90% Retail Investors Lose Money

90% Retail Investors Lose Money

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2024

Only the top 5 per cent profit makers account for 75 per cent of profits.