Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

Stories by Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

'Aster DM's plan is to be among top three in India'

'Aster DM's plan is to be among top three in India'

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2024

'Now that we are a pure-play India business, many investors are open to investing.'

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.

Fortis plans acquisitions, may opt for neutral brand name

Fortis plans acquisitions, may opt for neutral brand name

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2024

Delhi-headquartered Fortis Healthcare is open to acquisition of hospitals with over 250-300 bed sizes as part of its strategy to grow at a faster clip. It may also opt for a neutral brand name soon. Neutral brand is a new brand, which is not owned by any of the stakeholders.

Domestic pharma market grew by 6.8% in 2023

Domestic pharma market grew by 6.8% in 2023

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2024

The Indian pharmaceutical market (IPM) grew 6.8 per cent to touch a turnover of ~1.93 trillion in calendar year 2023, despite volumes going down marginally by 0.9 per cent. This indicates the price increase has been the major growth driver. Growth in the moving annual turnover (the previous 12 months' turnover) in December was 5.1 per cent and that in new product introduction 2.6 per cent, while volumes dipped 0.9 per cent, leading to an overall growth rate of 6.8 per cent, according to the data from market research firm Pharmatrac.

Corporate India on overdrive to celebrate Ram Mandir inauguration

Corporate India on overdrive to celebrate Ram Mandir inauguration

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2024

As Ayodhya readies itself for the glittering, much-awaited consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir on January 22, and as millions of pilgrims and devotees pour into the holy city for the momentous event, companies are rushing to do their bit and be a part of the mega celebrations. Some are offering a part of their profits as donations, telcos are beefing up the number of cellular towers to ensure better connectivity, and there are those distributing jalebis and food platters.

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.

Apple reclaims most valued brand title; Tata only Indian brand in top 100

Apple reclaims most valued brand title; Tata only Indian brand in top 100

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2024

Technology companies continue to be the most valued brands globally, with the top five most valued companies from the technology sector, according to Brand Finance 2024. Samsung has entered the top five most valued brands globally. Apple secured the first position after falling to the second spot in 2023.

'YouTube Shorts pulls in people from all over India'

'YouTube Shorts pulls in people from all over India'

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2024

'Two in three creators in India who earn money from YouTube agree that YouTube is their primary source of revenue.'

War Has Broken Between IT Giants

War Has Broken Between IT Giants

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2024

Trouble started brewing after Cognizant announced that Ravi Kumar, former Infosys president, would take over as the Nasdaq-listed company's CEO.

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.

Q3 continues to be a slow quarter for IT sector due to curtailed spending

Q3 continues to be a slow quarter for IT sector due to curtailed spending

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2024

India's top technology companies will witness a tepid revenue expansion in the third quarter (October - December) of the current financial year (Q3FY24) - along expected lines - on the back of furloughs and no blockbuster deals, even as the momentum gained from Generative AI (GenAI) is likely to take centre stage. IT services and consulting firm Accenture's first quarter numbers in FY24 showed a significant pick up in GenAI spending. It signed new bookings to the tune of $450 million in this space, a surge from the $300 million signed in the whole of FY23.

From Ashok Leyland to VECV, busmakers' sales entered the fast lane in 2023

From Ashok Leyland to VECV, busmakers' sales entered the fast lane in 2023

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2024

The demand for buses largely remained robust in 2023, driven by the increasing need for public mobility and replacement. Ashok Leyland Limited (ALL) recorded a 64 per cent year-on-year increase in sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicle (MHCV) buses during the April-to-December period of 2023 to 11,216 units. Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) posted 24.7 per cent sales growth between April and December for light and medium-duty buses, and 36.9 per cent growth for heavy-duty buses.

Can India Create Multi Language AI Like Chat GPT?

Can India Create Multi Language AI Like Chat GPT?

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2024

Creating an LLM trained on Indian languages is not easy. Experts say each language in India has a nuance of its own, so creating a ChatGPT-like product is an ambitious challenge.

'APIs are a very strategic part of Biocon's business'

'APIs are a very strategic part of Biocon's business'

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2024

'There is no reason why we should break this business up.'

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.

TCS needs to keep evolving in age of GenAI: Krithivasan

TCS needs to keep evolving in age of GenAI: Krithivasan

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2024

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has to "keep evolving" and be relevant to clients as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies emerge, K Krithivasan, chief executive officer and managing director of the IT company, has said in a New Year's message to employees. "It is always heartening to see the reinforcement of how strong our relationships are with our clients and the level of trust they place with us.

Trade generics growth to dent value expansion of domestic drug market

Trade generics growth to dent value expansion of domestic drug market

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2024

Rising penetration of trade generic medicines is eating into the value growth of the domestic pharmaceutical market, showed a recent analysis. According to a Kotak Institutional Equities analysis, 70-110 basis points (bps) annual dent is expected from trade generics and Jan Aushadhi on Indian Pharma Market (IPM) growth at least until FY27-28 (see chart). Trade generic medicines are those that are not pushed into the market through doctor promotions.

Hyderabad firm develops next-gen XBB1.5 Covid vax, awaits trial nod

Hyderabad firm develops next-gen XBB1.5 Covid vax, awaits trial nod

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

As of now, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has launched a vaccine, Gemcovac-OM, which is based on the Omicron variant.

Does India have enough vaccine reserves to combat another Covid wave?

Does India have enough vaccine reserves to combat another Covid wave?

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2023

According to CoWIN data, only 73 vaccination centres are currently active in India, of which 32 are government-run.

Are hospitals ready to handle Covid surge?

Are hospitals ready to handle Covid surge?

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2023

Larger hospitals are not worried about a spike in cases, as they are now accustomed to converting ICUs and general wards into negative pressure zones or isolation rooms. For smaller hospitals, the task is tedious.