The broader economy risks a potential flight of foreign portfolio capital, therefore pressure on the rupee and more bad news on the stock market, warns T N Ninan.
Despite recent developments that have accelerated the impending extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who has been in custody in London's Wandsworth Prison for over two years, the last month has seen his uncle Mehul Choksi dominate the headlines instead with his circus-like exhibition in the Caribbean that has involved red herrings such as a "girlfriend", to whom his wife seemed to have no objection, and possibly concocted stories of being kidnapped and manhandled. Choksi was widely regarded as Modi's Svengali in Mumbai when he returned from Belgium to expand his business. He had fled to Antigua well before news around how Modi finagled thousands of crores from Punjab National Bank (PNB) and other institutions through a series of allegedly coordinated and fraudulent actions involving letters of undertaking, or LoUs.
Once a stock market darling, the jewellery chain heads for liquidation.
Building a global brand was Choksi's idea, which Modi borrowed from him.
Mumbai-based financial services firm Prime Securities Ltd today announced that it would be setting aside Rs 23 crore ($5.7 million) as a provision for losses suffered during the recent stock market crash. The estimated provision was made for a depletion in the value of the securities the firm holds to date.
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Trading activities of 26 entities, including Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi and firms linked to Prime Broking, were suspended on Thursday by market regulator Sebi and the bourses, as part of a probe into suspected market manipulations.
The average return for the 2,127 companies outside the A-group is 42 per cent
The deteriorating global economy means financial institutions now face total losses of $4,100bn on loans and other assets, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, urging governments to take "bolder steps" to shore up institutions - including nationalising them where necessary.
The parade of some of the most interesting first-quarter corporate performances continues
While the benchmark Sensex recorded 38 per cent gains during 2007, shares of most brokerage houses more than doubled (Geojit Financial increased by 130.68 per cent, while Almondz Global Securities rose 113 per cent) this year.
The government move on wheat and cement is irrelevant
Etrade, BNP Paribas, Bank of Muscat are all picking up stakes in many of the Indian brokerage firms. So what is so attractive about them?
The 91.9 per cent slide in the stock price of Gitanjali Gems since April has depleted the value of promoter Mehul Choksi's holding in the company by at least Rs 17 crore (Rs 170 million) a day on an average.
