Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Abhijit Lele

Stories by Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Abhijit Lele

The Omicron Threat To India's Movie Biz

The Omicron Threat To India's Movie Biz

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2021

The cinema industry is staring at a loss of at least Rs 5,000 crore at the box office over the next six months if Omicron proves to be a spoiler.

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2021

The spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made Indian companies persist with their policy of banning overseas trips and allowing only essential travel within India. The IT services firms, which had planned to ask their employees to return to the workplace, are also waiting and watching the Covid-19 situation before fully opening up their offices. Large conglomerates like the Tatas, Birla, JSW and Reliance are continuing with the mandatory social distancing and masking policies within their office premises.

Rules on banks' investment portfolios to be revamped first time in 21 years

Rules on banks' investment portfolios to be revamped first time in 21 years

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2021

For the first time in 21 years, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will revise norms for investment portfolios of commercial banks to reflect changes in global standards on valuation and measurement, and progress in the domestic market. This could pave the way for banks to transition to the new accounting standards (Ind-AS). The outstanding investment portfolio of commercial banks was at Rs 45.84 trillion as of November 19 this year.

Another Anil Ambani firm in big trouble

Another Anil Ambani firm in big trouble

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2021

Reliance Power (RPower) has defaulted on payment of interest worth Rs 1.17 crore to DBS Bank India and Rs 44 lakh to IDBI Bank. It failed to pay up interest on October 30, 2021. The firm, part of the Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance group, in filing with BSE, said it has term loans and working capital arrangements with three lenders - YES Bank, IDBI Bank and DBS. Its stock closed 1.41 per cent lower at Rs 12.6 per share on the BSE on December 1. About exposure of YES Bank, there is a 'standstill' applicable till December 26, 2021.

Bad-loan market may soon see flurry of activities

Bad-loan market may soon see flurry of activities

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2021

Banks are set to sell dud-loans worth Rs 90,000 crore of 22 firms in the first tranche to the National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL). It's reason for cheer given that such sales to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) have been poor in recent times. In fiscal 2020, their assets under management (AUM) contracted by 4 per cent; and in fiscal 2021, it fell by another 100 basis points to Rs 1.07 trillion. So, why are we where we are?

'Definite improvement in economic activity in October'

'Definite improvement in economic activity in October'

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2021

'I hope the trend is sustainable and that economic activity accelerates going forward.'

Akshay, Rajinikanth Pump Life Back into the Movies

Akshay, Rajinikanth Pump Life Back into the Movies

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2021

Sooryavanshi and Annaatthe have already collected 6 percent of the film industry's 2020 revenue.

After rain havoc 'Smart City' Chennai reels under politics

After rain havoc 'Smart City' Chennai reels under politics

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2021

Chennai is one of the cities where works have been completed for almost 62 per cent of the money lined up -- Rs 599 crore of the Rs 959 crore has been utilised so far. Despite this, there was no respite for the people in the city this time either, with North Chennai being the worst affected.

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Business executives are finally dusting off their long-unused suitcases to resume travel, thanks to a good vaccination rate, a drop in fresh cases, and an easing of travel restrictions. It comes as a huge relief for the ravaged aviation, travel and hospitality sectors. "We are witnessing a 40 per cent recovery on pre-covid volumes from our business travellers, signalling the return of corporate confidence in air travel," said Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) & SOTC.

8 banks recast exposures worth Rs 27,000 cr in OTR 2.0

8 banks recast exposures worth Rs 27,000 cr in OTR 2.0

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Personal loans have about 80 per cent share in exposures restructured under regulatory package 2.0 by eight banks who have declared results for the second quarter. The remaining 20 per cent are loans to individuals used for business and credit to MSMEs. The total recast exposure of these banks under One Time Restructuring (OTR 2.0) was Rs 27,708 crore.

Can Ilaya Thalapthi Vijay win where Rajini and Kamal failed?

Can Ilaya Thalapthi Vijay win where Rajini and Kamal failed?

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2021

A relatively quiet foray by actor Vijay into politics through the TN rural local body elections last month has captured the attention of many, reports Shine Jacob.

China-Plus-One to push Indian textile exports to $65 bn by 2026: Study

China-Plus-One to push Indian textile exports to $65 bn by 2026: Study

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2021

Backed by the 'China Plus One' sentiment globally, India's textile exports is expected to grow by 81 per cent to $65 billion by 2026 from the pre-Covid level of around $36 billion in 2019, said a report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and global consulting firm Kearney. This jump is likely to generate 7.5-10 million new jobs. A large chunk of this targeted increase, or around $16 billion may come from the China Plus One sentiment due to India's relatively large strategic depth compared with Vietnam or Bangladesh, the report said.

Kerala Oppn, experts question Centre, state on dam management

Kerala Oppn, experts question Centre, state on dam management

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2021

Poor dam management was considered as a major reason for the 2018 floods in the state that led to a loss of around Rs 50,000 crore and claimed as many as 483 lives, reports Shine Jacob.

Dish TV vs Yes Bank: Another corporate battle looms

Dish TV vs Yes Bank: Another corporate battle looms

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2021

Even as the corporate battle over Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) has reached the Bombay high court, another Essel Group firm - Dish TV India - is gearing up for a legal battle with YES Bank by planning to move the National Company Law Tribunal to appoint six of its nominees on the board of the loss-making company. While Dish TV said YES Bank has acquired 26 per cent stake by invoking the pledged shares of Essel Group promoter, it also said YES Bank must make an open offer to shareholders of the company, according to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) takeover code. This, as YES Bank is seeking to take control of the company, said Dish TV.

Stalin asks Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha to lift firecracker ban

Stalin asks Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha to lift firecracker ban

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2021

According to the Indian Fireworks' Manufacturers' Association, the ban would wipe out sales of around Rs 600 crore during the upcoming Deepavali season.

States, Centre not on same page on digital health mission

States, Centre not on same page on digital health mission

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2021

Tamil Nadu plans parallel programme with unique user IDs

Superseding boards of two Srei cos won't roil markets

Superseding boards of two Srei cos won't roil markets

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2021

Superseding the boards of two non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in the Srei group will neither create liquidity challenges for sound entities, nor build systemic crises because the markets have factored in the problems with the Kolkata-based firms. Such regulatory steps will help in making the NBFC space more robust, bankers and market experts said. The action should have begun earlier because the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had done a special audit last financial year and asked the group to make provisions for assets considered stressed, analysts said.

SBI ready to support Tata group's bid for Air India

SBI ready to support Tata group's bid for Air India

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2021

India's largest public sector bank State Bank of India (SBI) will support Tata group's bid for soon-to-be-privatised Air India by subscribing to Tata Sons debentures or funding the special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Tata Sons for the acquisition. Bankers said the credit rating of Tata group's holding company is "AAA" signifying high safety and a combination of Air India with its existing airline businesses would make it a formidable player - leading to a duopoly market with IndiGo. It would also open many business opportunities, including in the retail segment, an official said.

Depositors of 21 stressed co-op banks to get Rs 5 lakh by Nov

Depositors of 21 stressed co-op banks to get Rs 5 lakh by Nov

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) will pay the depositors of 21 stressed cooperative banks, including the Punjab & Maharashtra Co-Operative Bank (PMC Bank), up to Rs 5 lakh within 90 days. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had imposed restrictions on the withdrawal of deposits from these banks. Of the 21 banks, 11 are from Maharashtra, five from Karnataka, and one each from Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2021

The sudden spike in cases of fever in India has claimed over 100 lives in five states, including UP, MP, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal. In UP, Firozabad and Mathura alone have reported 72 cases.