Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

From hatchbacks to holidays, consumers ready to loosen purse strings

From hatchbacks to holidays, consumers ready to loosen purse strings

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2023

With Onam and Raksha Bandhan just around the corner, the festival season is ready to kick off in full swing. As people embrace the celebratory spirit, companies anticipate a surge in sales this year. Consumer durables firms are expecting strong growth of 40-50 per cent in the premium segment during the upcoming season. Appliance makers also foresee increased demand for cooling appliances - refrigerators and air conditioners - which were impacted by unseasonal rainfall.

47,000 Luxury Cars To Be Sold This Year!

47,000 Luxury Cars To Be Sold This Year!

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2023

After a brief lull during the pandemic, there is a strong revival in luxury car sales, bolstered by more launches across price bands, replacement demand, ban on old diesel vehicles in the NCR, and 'revenge buying'.

Why All Is Not Well In Bharat Gears Family

Why All Is Not Well In Bharat Gears Family

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2023

The sons learned that they had been completely disinherited and that Surinder Kanwar's new wife would inherit everything.

'Power shifts to chemists instead of doctors'

'Power shifts to chemists instead of doctors'

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

'Whichever company offers better incentives, the chemist would prefer it.'

Why Dolo, Saridon, Calpol Will Have QR Codes

Why Dolo, Saridon, Calpol Will Have QR Codes

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2023

The top 300 pharmaceutical brands in the country will now bear a quick response (QR) code on their packaging to rein in spurious drugs and ensure better traceability.

Big pharma firms shift tack, look to bet on trade generics as volumes dip

Big pharma firms shift tack, look to bet on trade generics as volumes dip

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2023

Trade generic drugs (medicines that are sold directly through distributors) are fast becoming a key segment for domestic pharma firms as volume growth slows in the overall market. Big companies like Cipla and Alkem have a significant presence in the segment but recently, players like Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) have also entered this market. What is driving big pharma's focus on trade generics? The volume growth in the Indian Pharma Market (IPM) has come down from 5.6 per cent in FY16 to 0.1 per cent in FY23.

M&M picks 3.5% stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 cr, eyes to acquire more

M&M picks 3.5% stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 cr, eyes to acquire more

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2023

Diversified business conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has picked up a 3.53 per cent stake in private sector lender RBL Bank for Rs. 417 crore. "We may consider further investment, subject to pricing, regulatory approvals, and required procedures. However, in no circumstance will it exceed 9.9 per cent," M&M said in an exchange notification on Wednesday. Shares of RBL Bank jumped 7.1 per cent to settle at Rs. 238.8 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday, close to their 52-week high of Rs. 242.1.

Tata Motors applies for PLI benefits for Tiago electric car

Tata Motors applies for PLI benefits for Tiago electric car

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2023

Tata Motors, the market leader in electric four-wheeler space, has sought incentives for its Tiago EV under the government's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, group chief financial officer P B Balaji said on Tuesday. The Mumbai-headquartered firm has applied for all variants of the Tiago, which recently hit a sales milestone of 10,000 units. "The Automotive Research Association of India certification is done.

US drug shortage, stable pricing set to boost pharma revenues

US drug shortage, stable pricing set to boost pharma revenues

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2023

An acute drug shortage in the US and stable pricing along with product launches are likely to boost revenues of India's pharmaceutical companies during the first quarter of this financial year, analysts said. Most brokerages estimate a top line growth of around 14-15 per cent, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) growth of 24-30 per cent for Q1 of FY24. Hospitals are, however, likely to report lower occupancy rates, and diagnostics companies may witness an impact from delayed monsoon.

Price hikes, lower input costs to aid auto firms' Q1

Price hikes, lower input costs to aid auto firms' Q1

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2023

Auto industry volumes have grown by 2.5 per cent overall, led by domestic sales of three-wheelers, two-wheelers and passenger vehicles (PVs) in the first quarter of this financial year. Analysts predict an 18 per cent growth in revenues for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and profit growth of 69 per cent year-on-year (YoY). However, on a sequential basis, a decline in revenues as well as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) margins is expected.

What is Schedule M and why it's mandatory for all pharma units

What is Schedule M and why it's mandatory for all pharma units

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2023

With an eye on improving quality assurance in the wake of increased global scrutiny on Indian pharma products, the Centre on Tuesday said that Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 will be made compulsory for small and medium scale manufacturers in a phased manner. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has asked micro-small and medium enterprises in pharma manufacturing to move towards good manufacturing practices (GMP) through self regulation. "This will help in quality assurance and also reduce compliance burden," Mandaviya.

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.'

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.

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.