Samie Modak, Sohini Das

Stories by Samie Modak, Sohini Das

Nifty 500 vs S&P 500: India catches its breadth, even as US outruns it

Nifty 500 vs S&P 500: India catches its breadth, even as US outruns it

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2023

The US market has been a standout performer this year, with the benchmark Standard and Poor's 500 (or simply the S&P 500) gaining over 16 per cent during the first half of calendar year 2023 (CY23) in what was its best first-half show since 2019. By comparison, India's National Stock Exchange Nifty 500 has gained 6.4 per cent. On the surface, it appears that the US markets have done exceedingly well. However, a deeper analysis reveals the gains in the domestic market to be more well-spread.

FPI flows this year ride the coat-tails of ETFs, block deals

FPI flows this year ride the coat-tails of ETFs, block deals

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2023

After pulling out $17 billion in calendar year 2022, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have pumped $7.3 billion back into equity markets so far this year. The turnaround in foreign flows has helped domestic markets exceed the all-time highs chalked up in December 2022 and bounced back more than 10 per cent from this year's lows. However, a big nugget of FPI inflows seen this year could be off the back of two factors: exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and block deals.

As demand for EV batteries picks up, makers eye lithium reserves

As demand for EV batteries picks up, makers eye lithium reserves

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2023

The EV industry is at an inflection point and batteries will play a critical role ahead -- batteries and related components typically constitute 35-45 per cent of an EV's costs.

'Mercedes To Launch 10 Cars In 2023'

'Mercedes To Launch 10 Cars In 2023'

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2023

'And a majority will be in the top-end vehicle range.'

By 2025 Indian Trucks Will Have AC Cabin

By 2025 Indian Trucks Will Have AC Cabin

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2023

'Instead of ACs, the government should do something to increase our salary.'

All You Wanted to Know About Gift Nifty Index

All You Wanted to Know About Gift Nifty Index

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2023

Gift Nifty will provide Indian investors cues on how domestic markets could react to global events.

2,300 Indian Students Return To Ukraine!

2,300 Indian Students Return To Ukraine!

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2023

About half of the students, who have been affected by the war, have taken admission to universities in other countries.

Regulatory woes torpedo PE/VC deals in e-pharma sector

Regulatory woes torpedo PE/VC deals in e-pharma sector

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2023

With regulatory uncertainties clouding the future of online pharmacies, deals in the space are showing signs of slowdown, as also fresh investment from private-equity (PE) firms and venture capitalists (VCs). The data from Venture Intelligence shows so far in 2023 (as of June 13) there has been one deal with PE-VC funding. In 2022 there were four, a sharp fall from the 12, totalling $1,520 million, the sector had attracted in 2021.

US drug shortage a shot in the arm for Indian pharmaceutical companies

US drug shortage a shot in the arm for Indian pharmaceutical companies

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2023

Drug shortages in the US are at an all-time high, and price erosion has stabilised, which could benefit Indian pharmaceutical (pharma) companies with a US focus, according to analysts. Nuvama Research analysts said that US price erosion seems to have normalised to its old levels of 6-8 per cent and volumes are picking up with easing of inventory. Similarly, an ICICIdirect analyst noted: "Price erosion intensity has now moderated to a single digit and is expected to tone down a

Nigeria flags 2 India-made drugs as substandard, having toxins

Nigeria flags 2 India-made drugs as substandard, having toxins

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2023

Oral paracetamol and another cough medicine manufactured by companies based in Mumbai and Punjab were found to be "sub-standard or found to be containing toxins", reports Sohini Das.

Can Maruti Jimny Compete With The Thar?

Can Maruti Jimny Compete With The Thar?

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2023

Jimny will be priced between Rs 12.7 lakh and Rs 15.05 lakh.

'Next 10-20 years are going to be India's golden years'

'Next 10-20 years are going to be India's golden years'

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2023

'Even where we are now today, the growth rates are very good, but we need to get to 8-9 per cent growth in the years to come.'

Better chip supply fuels passenger vehicle production by 16%: Siam

Better chip supply fuels passenger vehicle production by 16%: Siam

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2023

Amid better semiconductor chip supplies, the Indian automotive industry posted an 8 percent growth in production of vehicles across categories for the month of May, with three-wheelers (20 per cent) and passenger vehicles (16 per cent) leading the pack. Exports, however, dipped 21 per cent at an industry level. The industry also recorded its highest-ever May wholesales of domestic passenger vehicles (334,802 units), riding on high demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and better supplies of semiconductor chips.

More than skin-deep: Nifty Next 50 complexion to get a shade of difference

More than skin-deep: Nifty Next 50 complexion to get a shade of difference

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2023

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty Next 50 Index could undergo large-scale changes if the proposed tweaks to its computation methodology get implemented. In a discussion paper floated recently, NSE Indices, which owns and manages a portfolio of over 350 indices under the Nifty brand, proposed that only stocks that are traded in the futures and options (F&O) segment can be part of the index. Currently, as many as 11 non-F&O stocks are part of the Nifty Next 50 Index, which, as the name suggests, represents the next rung of large and liquid securities after the Nifty50.

Bourses push Sebi to allow longer F&O hours amid Gift Nifty launch

Bourses push Sebi to allow longer F&O hours amid Gift Nifty launch

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2023

Close on heels of the launch of Gift Nifty (earlier SGX Nifty), domestic exchanges are pushing for extension of trading hours for the onshore derivatives market, said sources. Bourses are waiting for a final approval from market regulator Sebi on the proposal to keep the derivatives market open for longer hours, they said. The move is aimed at attracting more trading members for onshore futures and options (F&O) contracts amid risk that global investors could prefer trading at Gift City given the tax benefits.

US recession 'imminent', time to book profits, says BofA Securities

US recession 'imminent', time to book profits, says BofA Securities

Rediff.com   29 May 2023

Boom, bust or a bit of both: as the jury bides time before ruling on the US 'recession', the economy's vital signs at a perplexing time of high-interest rates, still-punishing inflation, and surprisingly strong economic gains are a study of a growing debate over whether the world's largest economy is barrelling into a new downturn. With the US Federal Reserve's (Fed's) inflation fighters attempting the risky pursuit of 'pillow-soft landings' and its economy sending out mixed signals, if there is indeed a recession, it could spell trouble for domestic equities and corporate earnings growth.

Colocation case: NSE receives Rs 300 crore from Sebi

Colocation case: NSE receives Rs 300 crore from Sebi

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has received Rs 300 crore from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) following relief from the Supreme Court (SC), which is hearing an appeal by the market regulator in the colocation case. The court on March 20 asked Sebi to return Rs 300 crore to the NSE from the Rs 1,107 crore the exchange had deposited as part of the disgorgement in the case. The NSE had given an undertaking that it will return the entire amount to Sebi if the latter wins its appeal before the SC.

Under the lens: Regulator moots pre-export govt testing for cough syrup cos

Under the lens: Regulator moots pre-export govt testing for cough syrup cos

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

After reports of contamination in cough syrups sent from the country, India is considering a system to test them before exporting. It is learnt that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has sent a proposal to the Union health ministry on this. The idea is to test the medicines at government labs before exporting.

A year after listing, LIC scorecard lacks lustre

A year after listing, LIC scorecard lacks lustre

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which completes one year of its listing on Tuesday, presents a sorry scorecard as far as its stock market performance goes. Shares of the insurance behemoth are down 40 per cent over their issue price of Rs 949 to Rs 567 apiece. The Sensex, on the other hand, has risen 14 per cent in the past one year.

Drug sales stuck at pre-pandemic level, price rise shapes market growth

Drug sales stuck at pre-pandemic level, price rise shapes market growth

Rediff.com   16 May 2023

Drug sale volumes are almost stuck at pre-pandemic levels but price growth has improved value, data from market research agency Pharmarack AWACS showed. The Indian pharmaceutical market's (IPM) volumes in April 2023 grew by 0.21 per cent when compared to April 2019. Key therapy areas like cardiac, anti-diabetic and vitamins recorded negative volume or consumption growth, while respiratory, anti-infectives, and pain and analgesics had positive growth from April 2019 to April this year.