Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

Stories by Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

How a Kanpur-born Indian-origin CEO is a chip off the old block

How a Kanpur-born Indian-origin CEO is a chip off the old block

Rediff.com   3 May 2023

In the technology (tech) world, especially storage, Sanjay Mehrotra is a well-known name. Co-founder of SanDisk, a flash memory storage company in 1988, it was eventually acquired by Western Digital in 2016 for a whopping $19 billion. For a boy from Kanpur, who went on to pursue higher studies in the US, becoming the chief executive officer of Micron Technology, Inc - one of America's largest memory chip makers - and now setting up the company's first plant in India, it has been quite a ride.

Low exposure to Adani stocks tilts active vs passive debate

Low exposure to Adani stocks tilts active vs passive debate

Rediff.com   2 May 2023

Actively managed mutual fund (MF) schemes had been at the receiving end over the past few years for their inability to beat their benchmarks. However, the slump in shares of Adani Group companies - two of which are part of the benchmark National Stock Exchange Nifty50 index - have helped them improve their performance vis--vis exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or index funds.

Made-In-India Relationship Apps Woo You

Made-In-India Relationship Apps Woo You

Rediff.com   2 May 2023

Made-in-India apps -- the likes of QuackQuack, TrulyMadly, and Aisle -- are wooing Internet users in smaller towns. Indian consumers spent close to $10 million in 2022 on dating and friendship apps.

'I don't want to think of challenges, but tasks before us'

'I don't want to think of challenges, but tasks before us'

Rediff.com   2 May 2023

'Every time a new tech comes in, there are a set of people who will predict that this will be the end of Indian IT and every time the Indian IT industry and overall technology providers have proven to be resilient.'

Can Jaguar Land Rover Meet its EV Target by 2030?

Can Jaguar Land Rover Meet its EV Target by 2030?

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2023

The question is: Will the company have a strong balance sheet to support this massive investment plan?

Mutual fund investors show bias towards riskier small-cap-oriented schemes

Mutual fund investors show bias towards riskier small-cap-oriented schemes

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2023

Notwithstanding sharp volatility in March, mutual fund (MF) investors didn't fight shy of investing in riskier small-cap-oriented schemes. Inflows into small-cap funds were not just the highest in absolute terms, they were also the maximum as a proportion of assets under management (AUM) among all market capitalisation (m-cap)-oriented categories. Investors funnelled Rs 2,430 crore down small-cap funds - 1.8 per cent of their AUM of Rs 1.33 trillion.

It's Raining Discounts For Car Buyers

It's Raining Discounts For Car Buyers

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2023

Dealers across brands are slashing prices by Rs 20,000 to over Rs 1 lakh, depending on the car model.

NSE Indices tweaks methodology before RIL-Jio financial demerger

NSE Indices tweaks methodology before RIL-Jio financial demerger

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2023

NSE Indices on Wednesday changed the methodology for handling schemes of demerger involving index constituents. The index provider said a company undergoing demerger would now be retained in its indices. The move comes ahead of the proposed demerger of Reliance Industries' (RIL's) financial services arm. Under the rules prevailing thus far, RIL -- which has the highest weighting among the 50 Nifty components -- would have been required to be removed from the index, resulting in a churn by funds tracking the Nifty index.

India business to put a spring in pharma's step

India business to put a spring in pharma's step

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2023

Hospitals to recover from sluggish Q3; diagnostics' growth rate at pre-Covid levels.

'Once we make an offer to a person, we honour it'

'Once we make an offer to a person, we honour it'

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2023

'Even during the pandemic we did it.' 'We think it's our responsibility to make sure that we manage the uncertainty.'

Wipro to consider buyback proposal

Wipro to consider buyback proposal

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2023

IT services major Wipro is reconsidering a proposal of buy back of equity shares, said the company in a regulatory filing. A final decision on this will be taken during the board meeting to be held on April 26-27. The outcome of the board meeting will be communicated to the stock exchanges soon after conclusion on April 27.

Hikal ownership dispute puts Kalyani firms at odds

Hikal ownership dispute puts Kalyani firms at odds

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Two listed firms belonging to the Baba Kalyani Group (BNK Group) have contested their inclusion as parties in a suit pertaining to family dispute over ownership of chemical firm Hikal. The co-promoters of the company - Kalyani and Hiremath families - are mired in a legal dispute, with the latter seeking transfer of ownership of shares held by the BNK Group, citing nearly three-decade old family arrangement. An affidavit filed in reply to Hiremath's suit petition in the Bombay high court, BF Investment (BFIL) and Kalyani Investment Company (KICL) have stated that they are separate and distinct legal entities and were not even incorporated and party to the 'family arrangement'.

Wipro asks freshers to take new test or get terminated

Wipro asks freshers to take new test or get terminated

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Wipro is in the news, again. The information technology (IT) services company has mandated freshers, who had opted for a lower salary package of Rs 3.5 lakh per annum, instead of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum, clear a new training module titled Project Readiness Program (PRP) and score at least 60 per cent or stand terminated. Wipro is not the only company to have implemented such a programme.

Why Covishield Production Has Resumed

Why Covishield Production Has Resumed

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

'I understand some people are comfortable getting a Covishield shot as their third dose.'

NSE's strict-governance platform in limbo after tepid corporate response

NSE's strict-governance platform in limbo after tepid corporate response

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2023

The country's largest bourse National Stock Exchange (NSE) has put the NSE Prime initiative in cold storage following lukewarm response from India Inc, said people aware of the development. Inspired by Brazil's Novo Mercado, NSE had announced a separate platform which any listed company could be part of by voluntarily adopting a stricter corporate governance code. Launched in December 2021, NSE Prime was to formally take off within a year after empanelling companies.

Tata Neu 2.0 Plans Better Experience

Tata Neu 2.0 Plans Better Experience

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2023

'With this revamp the anonymous journey of the user will begin wherein he will not have to sign in every time he accesses the app.'

Infosys headcount reduces in fourth quarter of FY23 even as attrition slows

Infosys headcount reduces in fourth quarter of FY23 even as attrition slows

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2023

With revenue growth impacted and uncertainty deepening in major markets, India's second largest IT services firm, Infosys, saw a net reduction in its headcount in the fourth quarter of financial year 2022-23 (Q4FY23). Infosys' workforce saw a net reduction of 3,611 employees, bringing its total headcount to 343,234. This was also the first time in many years that the company did not provide a hiring target for the next fiscal.

After Tax Blow To Debt MFs, HNIs May Turn To AIFs

After Tax Blow To Debt MFs, HNIs May Turn To AIFs

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2023

'Given that debt AIFs, by nature, target a higher portfolio return, it is likely to attract investors like HNIs, family offices, etc, looking for a higher yield debt product.'

Amid Covid surge, the reality: Fewer vaccination centres

Amid Covid surge, the reality: Fewer vaccination centres

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech have also stopped producing the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines respectively.

Indian IT services firms likely to post muted revenue growth in Q4

Indian IT services firms likely to post muted revenue growth in Q4

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

IT services firms' revenue growth in the fourth quarter will be affected by macro-driven headwinds, lower working-days, and the fact of the three-month period being low season. Analysts are expecting FY24 growth to be muted. Revenue growth will decline 600-700 basis points to 10-12 per cent for FY24, said a CRISIL Ratings report. The 10-12 per cent growth rate is a fall from the 18-20 per cent expected in FY23 and around 19 per cent growth in FY22, the highest in eight years, said the CRISIL Ratings report.