India's eight core infrastructure sectors experienced a slowdown in production growth, reaching a two-month low of 4% in January. Crude oil and natural gas output declined, while refinery products remained flat. Overall growth for the April-January period was also lower compared to the previous fiscal year.
India will restrict crude oil purchases from Russia as part of an agreement reached with the US in exchange for lower trade tariffs, sources said, adding imports will continue for now by refiners such as Nayara Energy, which have no other alternative source. US President Donald Trump announced overnight that the United States will cut the reciprocal tariff on imports of Indian goods to 18 per cent from 25 per cent under a broader bilateral understanding.
India's eight key infrastructure sectors registered a four-month high growth rate of 3.7 per cent in December last year, driven by a jump in the output of fertiliser and cement, according to official data released on Tuesday.
Coal behemoth CIL on Thursday reported a 26.2 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 8,682.20 crore for the March quarter on the back higher supplies of the dry fuel. The company's consolidated net profit stood at Rs 6,875.07 crore in the year-ago period, Coal India Ltd (CIL) said in a regulatory filing. Its consolidated income in the January-March period declined to Rs 39,654.50 crore from Rs 40,371.51 crore a year ago.
The government on Tuesday advised investors to stay put with Coal India Ltd to multiply their fortunes and compared the strengths of the company with gold, which is considered the best long-term bet to create wealth.
Five leading unions (INTUC, AITUC, BMS, HMS, and CITU) had given the strike call from January 5 to 7 to press for their wage revision demand. However, with the Coal India management and the unions entering into a memorandum of understanding on the wage agreement in Hyderabad on Sunday, the strike has been called off.
India's eight key infrastructure sectors grew at a slower pace of 1.8 per cent in November against 5.8 per cent in the same month last year, amid a dip in production of crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, and electricity, according to official data released on Monday.
The state-run miner, which recently raised a record Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) from the markets, is running short of executive manpower, even as it looks at expanding production to meet rising coal demand in the country.
The Union Cabinet had last week decided to disinvest 10 per cent of its holding in the world's largest coal producer.
Coal India's foreign-venture arm Coal Videsh chief general manager Phalguni Guha said he expected the deal with Peabody to be finalised in the next 'few months'.
The move comes at a time when consumers are shunning high-quality coal, which has become costlier than prevailing market rates globally.
State-owned Coal India Ltd has decided to make a foray into power generation and the company is in talks with Neyveli Lignite Corporation to set up a 2000 mw pithead power plant at its subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.
Last week, the Indian markets were all about coal. However, amidst the hype over the debut of Coal India Ltd (CIL) on domestic bourses, what was mostly overlooked was the brand new logo of the world's largest coal miner.
The matter has now been escalated and the ministry has written to Customs, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to investigate it thoroughly.
The Kolkata-based coal miner has tied up with the US-based Advance Resource International Inc for exploration and identification of the potential shale deposits within the company's coal blocks.
The issue, through which the Centre will be divesting 10 per cent of its stake, garnered applications for 5,67,40,450 shares within the first hour of opening.
Currently, the government holds 100 per cent stake in the PSU and plans to offload 10 per cent equity through the IPO, which will offer 63.16 crore (631.6 million) shares.
Navratna public sector unit Coal India Ltd has received a proposal to acquire 'The Kraal' -- Mahatma Gandhi's house in Johannesburg where he had lived a century ago -- and convert it into a memorial, the government has said.
As it wants to put a sizeable number of shares in the market and also offer them to employees and farmers displaced by its mines.
Yes, the entry of private bankers, particularly with global experience will add value to PSBs, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
To meet fuel supply commitments to the power sector, the government today said CIL might divert a portion of the coal meant for e-auction to power plants.
NTPC raises new demands, while CIL is not willing to yield
Coal India is transporting extra volumes of coal to power plants ahead of a five-day worker union strike that threatens to cut much of its per-day output of 1.6 million tonnes.
The government is selling over 18.62 crore shares or 3 per cent in Coal India at a floor price of Rs 266 apiece.
The Union cabinet had approved Coal India's IPO last month, to divest 10 per cent of the government's stake in the Navratna PSU.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is to be congratulated for imposing a large fine, of nearly Rs 1,800 crore (Rs 18 billion), on Coal India Ltd for alleged abuse of its monopolistic position.
Production and prices have been stagnant for several years, but the company's cost-cutting drive is showing results.
Amid the low stock position at the electricity generating plants, state-owned CIL has asked its subsidiaries to refrain from conducting any further e-auction of coal, except special forward e-auction for the power sector, till the situation stabilises. The development assumes significance as the supply of coal is being prioritised to the power sector to replenish the dwindling stock in the wake of reports of an electricity crisis looming large. "In view of the current low stock position at the powerhouse end, supply of coal is being prioritised to the power sector to replenish the dwindling stock...coal companies are advised to refrain from conducting of any further e-auctions of coal with the exception of special forward e-auction for the power sector, till the situation stabilises," Coal India said in a recent letter to its arms, including Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
CIL is charged of discriminating in favour of public sector firms in the reworked format of fuel supply agreements.
A planned stake sale in Coal India in the last financial year had to be deferred after stiff opposition from the trade unions.
State-run Coal India is likely to file the red herring prospectus for its initial public issue, through which the government is expecting to raise about Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion), on September 25.
The deadline for these overseas mining firms for responding to CIL's EoI notice is August 31 this year.
India's largest initial public offering (IPO), to be floated by Coal India Ltd, is generating enormous interest in the grey market. Investment bankers and stockbrokers that control this unregulated market are already trading CIL shares at a Rs 10-12 premium - even before the price band or issue date have been officially announced.
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JSPL and Balco had emerged as the highest bidders in the recently concluded auctions.
The PM-elect wants to fix the coal sector; cut coal imports by boosting output.
CMD designate says company will do everything to meet the presidential directive.
Disinvestment Commission has recommended sale of 49 per cent stake in mining consultancy subsidiary Central Mine Planning and Design Institute to a strategic partner after making it an independent company.
Industrialist Gautam Adani-led Adani Group is looking to invest around $60 billion up to FY32 in power sector, especially in renewables, generation and transmission/distribution. In an investor presentation, Adani Power said the group plans $21 billion investment by FY30 to scale up renewable energy capacity to 50 GW from 14.2 GW as of FY25.
The Coal India offering would follow a 5 percent stake sale in state-controlled Oil and Natural Gas Corp, worth $2.8 billion and slated for December.
Stock markets are in for an event-heavy week ahead with a raft of Q1 earnings from blue-chips, the US Fed interest rate decision and foreign investors trading activity driving investors' sentiment, analysts said. Macroeconomic data announcements, monthly auto sales numbers and global market trends would also guide movement in the domestic equities, they said.
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