Colgate cries foul over P&G's claim that its Oral-B toothpaste is best in the country.
Enthused by robust financial performance and attractive valuations, foreign investors increased their exposure to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies such as Britannia, Hindustan Unilever and Godrej Consumers Products in April-June this year.
Harish Manwani, HUL's chairman, responded to questions from Viveat Susan Pinto on how his company managed to buck the trend after struggling for much of the financial year ended March 31.
What do we need more of: Leaders who dominate global institutions or local leaders with a 'Make-in- India' mindset?
Tata Steel (then Tata Iron and Steel), the most valuable index company in 1991, is now the least valuable.
Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 575 points on Thursday, tracking heavy losses in index-heavyweights HDFC twins, TCS and Reliance Industries amid a weak trend in global markets. Declining for the third straight day, the 30-share Sensex slumped 575.46 points or 0.97 per cent to settle at 59,034.95. During the day, it tanked 633.06 points or 1.06 per cent to 58,977.35. The broader Nifty-50 also declined 168.10 points or 0.94 per cent to close at 17,639.55.
Benchmark BSE Sensex rose by 319 points on Monday on gains in IT and financial stocks after positive quarterly results amid supportive global cues. The 30-share BSE barometer rose by 319.90 or 0.53 per cent to close at 60,941.67. The index opened higher and gained more than 400 points to scale the 61,000 level. It touched a high of 61,113.27 and a low of 60,761.88 in the day.
Analysts say they have more product ideas, nimbler market responses than the giants.
Old rivals HUL and Reckitt brag product potencies
FMCG giant HUL sold or leased its landmark commercial properties, including its former headquarters, last year.
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has rapped the fast moving consumer goods majors Hindustan Unilever and Paras Pharma for their objectionable deodorant commercials, and asked them to pull them off air.
Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding over 4 per cent, followed by Asian Paints, SBI, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, HDFC and Reliance. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, Hindustan Unilever, UltraTech Cement, TCS, Bajaj Finserv and Infosys were the gainers.
As urban shoppers tighten their belts, companies are betting on rural consumers and smaller packs to fire up sales.
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday began his India visit seeking a "special relationship" between the two countries, saying it is "about the future and not the past" for which sky is the limit.
Say will take up the issue with the HUL management.
Consumer stocks remain the biggest laggard on the bourses. The Nify50 weighting of FMCG stocks declined to a decade low of 9.9 per cent at the end of March this year, down 150 basis points from 11.4 per cent a year ago. At their peak in March 2013, major FMCG stocks, such as Hindustan Unilever, ITC, and Asian Paints, together accounted for 15 per cent of the Nifty50. But now together with automobile stocks, the consumer goods sector accounts for only 14.7 per cent of the index, down 200 basis points in the past 12 months and 37 per cent from the record high weighting of 23.4 per cent at the end of March 2014.
Sector insiders and analysts say this is due to combination of slowing property markets and liquidity issues.
Second quarter numbers hint at a rocky road ahead with a slowdown in discretionary categories set to continue.
Tata Steel was the top gainer among the Sensex constituents, surging around 6 per cent, followed by SBI, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, LT, Maruti, IndusInd Bank and HDFC. NSE Nifty touched a fresh intra-day high of 12,934.05.
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty reversed their early gains to close lower on Wednesday due to selling in oil & gas, banking and IT stocks amid weak trends in European markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 372.46 points or 0.69 per cent to close at 53,514.15, extending its falling streak to a third day. The index opened higher and touched the day's high of 54,211.22 amid gains in Asian markets.
The markets ended marginally higher on Thursday, amid a volatile trading session, led by gains in FMCG majors Hindustan Unilever and ITC.
From the Sensex pack, IndusInd Bank, NTPC, Asian Paints, Hindustan Unilever, JSW Steel, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Wipro, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Bank and Tata Motors were among the major laggards. HCL Technologies, Power Grid, Titan, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement, Tata Steel, State Bank of India and Mahindra & Mahindra were the gainers.
Reach out-of-court settlement on trademark violation.
Indicating that Hindustan Unilever (HUL) which sells almost 40 percent of its brands in thehinterlands will increase its focus on rural markets, the consumer goods major today called for convergence of urban and rural marketers so that prosperity spreads to the rural areas.
Continuing its decline for the third day on Friday, the BSE gauge plummeted 1,214.96 points or 2.20 per cent to 53,887.72 during the day. It settled at 54,333.81, a decline of 768.87 points or 1.40 per cent.
Titled India's Favourities, it was launched in September last year, to raise money for various causes concerning underprivileged children.
The combined market valuation of three of the 10 most valued domestic firms eroded by Rs 73,630.56 crore last week, with Reliance Industries Limited taking the biggest hit. While HUL and ICICI Bank were the other laggards from the top-10 pack, TCS, HDFC Bank, Infosys, LIC, SBI, HDFC and Bharti Airtel were the gainers. However, the combined gain of the seven firms at Rs 49,441.05 crore was less than the total loss suffered by the three companies.
Harpreet Singh Tibb has worked at the largest fast-moving consumer goods company in the country, Hindustan Unilever.
Investors' wealth eroded by Rs 3.46 lakh crore on Wednesday as equity markets took a sharp tumble amid weak global trends and foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell by 676.53 points or 1.02 per cent to settle at 65,782.78. During the day, it plunged 1,027.63 points or 1.54 per cent to 65,431.68. In line with the weak trend in equities, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms eroded by Rs 3,46,947.54 crore to Rs 3,03,33,258.69 crore.
PI Industries, GCPL, Colgate and HUL have delivered positive returns every year since 2008.
From the Sensex pack, Larsen & Toubro jumped 4.26 per cent to emerge as the biggest gainer, followed by IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, State Bank of India, HCL Technologies, Power Grid, NTPC, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank and Wipro. Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, UltraTech Cement and Hindustan Unilever were the major laggards.
The list includes Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints and Bharti Airtel - firms that investors feel are most likely to come up with the next big innovation.
Tata Sons director R Gopalakrishnan shares his views on MBA education in the country, its ills and why he never did an MBA.
The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex fell for the third day and closed 56.57 points lower at 19,748.19, dragged down by metal, realty and bank stocks ahead of the RBI's policy review next week.
Markets ended lower on Thursday following the expiry of July derivative contracts weighed down by profit taking in FMCG shares after recent gains.
People who can adapt their skill set to different sectors always remain relevant, irrespective of the job scenario
Kotak Mahindra Bank was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack, sliding 2.68 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Nestle and Titan. In contrast, NTPC, Power Grid, Larsen & Toubro, HDFC, Reliance and HDFC Bank were the gainers.
The results declared by key companies for the three months ended March 31 show most firms have managed to arrest the moderation in volume growth witnessed in previous quarters.
From the Sensex pack, Infosys tanked over 8 per cent after the company reported a lower-than-expected 11 per cent rise in net profit for the June quarter and delivered a shocker as it slashed its FY24 growth outlook to 1-3.5 per cent on delayed decision-making by clients amid global macro uncertainties. Hindustan Unilever, HCL Technologies, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra were the other major laggards. On the other hand, Larsen & Toubro rose the most by 3.88 per cent after it bagged an order of worth over Rs 7,000 crore from the bullet train project.
Salaries are performance-linked and FY12 was good on both counts; now, persistent inflation and patchy rains show on rural market.
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