News for 'Materials and Energy'

Musk releases 'Twitter Files' detailing censorship, suppression of information

Musk releases 'Twitter Files' detailing censorship, suppression of information

Rediff.com3 Dec 2022

Twitter "took extraordinary steps to suppress" The New York Post's Hunter Biden laptop story, removing links and posting warnings that it may be "unsafe."

'A very long time since India experienced such high inflation'

'A very long time since India experienced such high inflation'

Rediff.com20 Jun 2022

Inflation trajectory, domestically as also globally, is what will shape the economy, and therefore the market, over the next couple of quarters.'

Reliance invests euro 25 mn in German solar firm

Reliance invests euro 25 mn in German solar firm

Rediff.com13 Oct 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries has invested euro 25 million in German solar wafer maker NexWafe GmbH to use the firm's technology to set up giga-scale wafer manufacturing facilities in India. "NexWafe GmbH (NexWafe) today announced the induction of Reliance New Energy Solar Limited (RNESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance) as a strategic lead investor in its euro 39 million ($45 million) Series C financing round with an investment of euro 25 million ($29 million) in phase one," the Indian firm said in a late Tuesday evening statement. The investment by Reliance will accelerate product and technology development for NexWafe, including the completion of the commercial development of NexWafe's solar photovoltaic products on prototype lines in Freiburg.

Maruti Suzuki to hike vehicle prices from January

Maruti Suzuki to hike vehicle prices from January

Rediff.com2 Dec 2022

Maruti Suzuki India will increase the prices of its vehicles 'substantially' from next month as it looks to offset the impact of rising input costs and make provisions to update the model range to conform to stricter emission norms which kick in from April 2023. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the country's largest carmaker said it continues to witness increased cost pressure driven by overall inflation and recent regulatory requirements. While the automaker makes maximum effort to reduce cost and partially offset the increase, it has become imperative to pass on some of the impact through a price increase, it added.

Markets surrender early gains as metal stocks crack

Markets surrender early gains as metal stocks crack

Rediff.com23 May 2022

Equity indices frittered away a good start to close with modest losses on Monday, pressured by heavy selling in metal stocks after the government imposed export duties on steel-making raw materials to curb soaring prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex opened strong and gained momentum as the session progressed, but came under severe selling pressure in afternoon trade to close 37.78 points or 0.07 per cent lower at 54,288.61. On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty slipped 51.45 points or 0.32 per cent to end at 16,214.70.

Want To Send Your Car To The Graveyard?

Want To Send Your Car To The Graveyard?

Rediff.com1 Jun 2023

One of the challenges for those car graves is that Indian owners often find markets for their old cars rather than send them to scrapyards.

Investors should remain upbeat on cement sector; price hike is a positive

Investors should remain upbeat on cement sector; price hike is a positive

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

The cement sector may be looking at better realisations and higher volume offtake going by the trends of the October-December quarter of the 2022-23 financial year (Q3FY23), a recent price hike, and the promise of a continued infrastructure thrust in FY24. In Q3, revenues rose by an aggregate of 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY), but Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) per tonne, fell by 14 per cent YoY while profit after tax (PAT) rose by 23 per cent YoY. Expenses were up 30 per cent per tonne YoY - power and fuel costs in particular - and that's no surprise given the rise in fossil fuel prices.

Reliance buys British battery firm for 100 mn

Reliance buys British battery firm for 100 mn

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday announced the buyout of British battery maker Faradion Ltd for an enterprise value of 100 million, as the oil-to-retail conglomerate continued with the acquisition of end-to-end technology for its multi-billion-dollar clean energy portfolio. Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a unit of the nation's most valuable company, signed definitive agreements to acquire 100 per cent shareholding in Faradion for an enterprise value of 100 million and will invest an additional 25 million as growth capital to accelerate the commercial roll-out, the company said in a statement. Based out of Sheffield and Oxford in the UK and with its patented sodium-ion battery technology, Faradion is one of the leading global battery technology companies.

Sitharaman invites chipmakers to invest in India; offers sops

Sitharaman invites chipmakers to invest in India; offers sops

Rediff.com26 Apr 2022

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday held a meeting with representatives of the semiconductor industry of the US and invited them to make further investments in India. The finance minister spoke about opportunities for companies situated in Silicon Valley and about the government of India's commitment to be a reliable player in the entire semiconductor value chain with dedicated incentive for the sector in mission mode through the Indian Semiconductor Mission. Last year, the government approved a Rs 76,000-crore scheme to boost semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country in a bid to position India as a global hub for hi-tech production, and attract large chip makers.

How Toyota India will tackle it's slow growth

How Toyota India will tackle it's slow growth

Rediff.com17 Jan 2023

'In terms of semiconductors, challenges do remain in the pan industry, but I think we are much better than where we were a year or so back.'

Even I can't afford your car: Gadkari to Mercedes-Benz

Even I can't afford your car: Gadkari to Mercedes-Benz

Rediff.com1 Oct 2022

You increase the production, only then it is possible to reduce cost, Gadkari said.

Reliance reboots Aramco deal, to re-evaluate structure

Reliance reboots Aramco deal, to re-evaluate structure

Rediff.com19 Nov 2021

After missing two self-imposed deadlines, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday announced recalibration of a proposed $15 billion deal to sell 20 per cent stake in its oil refinery and petrochemical business to Saudi Aramco, saying the two firms have agreed to re-evaluate the proposed investment in light of the Indian firm's new energy forays. The stake sale talks, which were first officially revealed in August 2019, are being reset in light of Reliance making forays into new energy business in recent months by investing $10 billion in alternative energy over three years. To pivot to green energy, it has already bought a German maker of photovoltaic solar wafers and signed a deal with a Danish company to manufacture hydrogen electrolysers in India.

'Whatever we do, we have to make an impact'

'Whatever we do, we have to make an impact'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

'Professors can teach even when they are 90 because they don't lose their skill with words. Go deeper and there's spirituality in it.'

How foreign portfolio investors view the 'India story'

How foreign portfolio investors view the 'India story'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2021

IT, FMCG and manufacturing sectors are less attractive to foreign portfolio investors

Can G7 Decoupling From China Boost India?

Can G7 Decoupling From China Boost India?

Rediff.com29 May 2023

Indian policymakers are almost alone, alongside the United States, in seeking a hard and multi-sectoral global decoupling from China in the expectation that it will boost their economies, observes Mihir S Sharma.

India test fires booster system that enables missiles to intercept threats

India test fires booster system that enables missiles to intercept threats

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

The Defence Research and Development Organisation on Friday successfully flight-tested a propulsion system that enables a missile to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds.

'Auto is an extremely attractive contrarian bet'

'Auto is an extremely attractive contrarian bet'

Rediff.com21 Mar 2022

'Valuations are very attractive, and most companies are cash-rich with strong dividend yields.'

India successfully test-fires Pinaka missile systems

India successfully test-fires Pinaka missile systems

Rediff.com9 Apr 2022

The ministry said the rocket system has been upgraded with advanced technologies enhancing the range to meet the emerging requirements.

Essar to sell port infra to ArcelorMittal for Rs 19,000 cr

Essar to sell port infra to ArcelorMittal for Rs 19,000 cr

Rediff.com26 Aug 2022

Essar group on Friday announced the signing of a USD 2.4 billion (Rs 19,000 crore) deal to sell certain ports and power infrastructure to ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel in one of the largest post-pandemic merger and acquisition deals in India. In a statement, the Ruia-run firm said the deal also envisages a 50-50 joint venture between Essar and ArcelorMittal for building a 4 million tonnes a year LNG import terminal at Hazira in Gujarat. Without giving details, it only identified certain ports and power infrastructure that are primarily captive to operations of the Hazira steel plant, which was acquired by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) in 2018-19, as part of the deal.

'Your tears will break his heart'

'Your tears will break his heart'

Rediff.com19 Jun 2023

Bollywood stars celebrated Father's Day with beautiful pictures and messages on Instagram.

Biden didn't ask Modi to do anything in particular on Russia: WH

Biden didn't ask Modi to do anything in particular on Russia: WH

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

The virtual meeting between the two leaders came in the midst of some disquiet in Washington over India's position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to procure discounted Russian oil.

India Inc's profits fall off record high in April-June quarter

India Inc's profits fall off record high in April-June quarter

Rediff.com22 Aug 2022

Corporate earnings grew in double digits during the April-June 2022 (Q1FY23) quarter but the momentum waned. Overall corporate earnings in the quarter were down sharply from their highs in FY22. The combined net profit of 2,981 listed companies across sectors in the Business Standard sample was up 22.4 per cent YoY to Rs 2.24 trillion in the June quarter, driven by a big jump in the earnings of banks, non-banking lenders, oil & producers, and FMCG companies. Also, earnings in the corresponding quarter a year ago were affected because of the second wave of the Covid pandemic, even though the numbers were a lot better than Q1FY21 when there was a nationwide lockdown.

Gautam Adani cements hold over Ambuja, son Karan is chairman of ACC

Gautam Adani cements hold over Ambuja, son Karan is chairman of ACC

Rediff.com16 Sep 2022

Billionaire Gautam Adani's son Karan will helm the cement firms his group has acquired to become India's second largest cement player and extend his burgeoning empire that spans from ports and energy to airports and telecom.

Ready to meet with Ukraine, IAEA in a third country: Putin to Macron

Ready to meet with Ukraine, IAEA in a third country: Putin to Macron

Rediff.com6 Mar 2022

Putin also told his French counterpart that Kyiv does not comply with the agreements reached with Moscow on the evacuation of civilians from combat areas, the Kremlin said.

Bamboo-made cricket bats stronger; better than willow

Bamboo-made cricket bats stronger; better than willow

Rediff.com10 May 2021

Apart from being stiffer and more sustainable, bamboo bats were found to have a bigger middle or 'sweet spot'.

Containers seized at Mundra used for shipping fuel for nuclear plant: Pak

Containers seized at Mundra used for shipping fuel for nuclear plant: Pak

Rediff.com20 Nov 2021

The Pakistan Foreign Office issued a statement in response to questions from the press about reports in the media on the 'seizure of possible radioactive material' by Indian authorities at Mundra Port on a cargo ship from Karachi Port to Shanghai in China.

Reliance, Ola, Hyundai get PLI sop for manufacturingbattery

Reliance, Ola, Hyundai get PLI sop for manufacturingbattery

Rediff.com24 Mar 2022

Four companies - Rajesh Exports, Hyundai Global Motors Company, Ola Electric Mobility and Reliance New Energy - are eligible for receiving benefits under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced chemistry cell battery storage, the heavy industries ministry said on Thursday. The allotment was made for a total of 50 GWh of battery capacity to the four successful bidders. These firms, the ministry said, will receive incentives under India's Rs 18,100 crore programme to boost local battery cell production.

Electric vehicles set to get costlier as battery prices rise

Electric vehicles set to get costlier as battery prices rise

Rediff.com5 Jan 2022

The soaring prices of metals like lithium, nickel and cobalt, which are the primary constituents of the cell, as well as supply chain bottlenecks, are also pushing up the cost of batteries

Adani makes Rs 31,000 cr open offer for ACC, Ambuja Cements

Adani makes Rs 31,000 cr open offer for ACC, Ambuja Cements

Rediff.com26 Aug 2022

Adani Group on Friday launched its Rs 31,000-crore open offer to acquire 26 per cent additional stake from the public shareholders of Swiss firm Holcim's two Indian listed entities ACC Ltd and Ambuja Cements. In May this year, the Adani Group had announced that it had clinched a deal to acquire a controlling stake in Holcim Ltd's businesses in India for $10.5 billion. Markets regulator Sebi granted approval for the open offer last week.

LS adjourned for the day as Oppn creates ruckus over misuse of ED, price rise

LS adjourned for the day as Oppn creates ruckus over misuse of ED, price rise

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

As soon as the House met at 2 pm, papers were laid on the table and two resolutions adopted amid slogan shouting and protest by Congress members.

Service sector activity falls to 6-month low in Sep

Service sector activity falls to 6-month low in Sep

Rediff.com6 Oct 2022

The Indian services sector activity fell to a six-month low in September, as new business inflows rose at the slowest rates since March, amid inflationary pressures and competitive conditions, a monthly survey said. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Services PMI Business Activity Index fell to 54.3 in September, from 57.2 in August, highlighting the weakest rate of expansion since March. For the fourteenth straight month, the services sector witnessed an expansion in output. In Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below 50 denotes contraction.

10 stocks from 5 sectors to stay on Ferris wheel

10 stocks from 5 sectors to stay on Ferris wheel

Rediff.com13 Oct 2022

India's equity markets are on a roller-coaster ride, after delivering spectacular returns for two consecutive years - in 2020 and 2021. The benchmark National Stock Exchange's (NSE's) Nifty50 is down 1.5 per cent in the first nine months of the current calendar year 2022 (CY22) as foreign portfolio investors sold Indian stocks due to rising bond yields in the US and across global markets, including India. The sell-off in the Indian equity markets has, however, not been broad-based and largely limited to sectors facing earnings headwinds from rising interest rates, lower commodity and energy prices, and likely economic recession in advanced economies.

Another bull run on D-Street; Sensex, Nifty at new peaks

Another bull run on D-Street; Sensex, Nifty at new peaks

Rediff.com18 Oct 2021

Infosys was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, jumping over 4 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, ITC, Maruti, SBI and Axis Bank. On the other hand, HCL Tech, M&M, Dr Reddy's, Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto and Bharti Airtel were among the laggards.

'US policy is to divide and rule over Europe'

'US policy is to divide and rule over Europe'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

'The clean break between Russia and Europe that this foolish attack is creating may actually last long.' 'It will undermine Europe and benefit the US and China.'

Ambani's Target: China, not Adani

Ambani's Target: China, not Adani

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

Reliance's big-bang entry across the solar ecosystem will cut dependence on Chinese imports drastically. And Ambani's repeated emphasis that RIL's new energy foray will be 'a truly global business' points that his group is playing not just for a share of the Indian pie but to be the OEM in the larger 5,000 GW global market by 2030, points out Shailesh Dobhal.

AUKUS And The Militarization Of Indo Pacific

AUKUS And The Militarization Of Indo Pacific

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Although the pact would focus mainly on the Pacific and the South China Sea region, any action designed to deter China with or without New Delhi's active participation is a welcome move, notes Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Adani group to be India's 2nd-largest cement manufacturer

Adani group to be India's 2nd-largest cement manufacturer

Rediff.com16 May 2022

Billionaire Gautam Adani on Sunday won the race to acquire Swiss cement major Holcim's stake in Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC for $10.5 bn (around Rs 81,361 crore), including the open offers. The Adani family, through an offshore special-purpose vehicle, announced that it had entered into definitive agreements for the acquisition of Holcim Ltd's entire stake in two of India's leading cement companies -- Ambuja Cements and ACC -- the Adani group said in a statement. The group outbid Ultratech and JSW group to enter the cement industry and also emerge as the country's second-largest cement manufacturer, with 70 million tonnes of capacity annually.

Markets bounce back after 5-day rout; RIL leads charge

Markets bounce back after 5-day rout; RIL leads charge

Rediff.com20 Apr 2022

Benchmark indices bounced back on Wednesday after falling for five straight sessions, with investors snapping up the recently-mauled IT, finance and consumption stocks amid a supportive trend overseas. A rebounding rupee further bolstered sentiment, traders said. Halting its five-session slide, the BSE Sensex jumped 574.35 points or 1.02 per cent to finish at 57,037.50. Similarly, the NSE Nifty surged 177.90 points or 1.05 per cent to 17,136.55.

Sensex recovers smartly, ends up 246 points

Sensex recovers smartly, ends up 246 points

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

Equity indices overcame a wobbly start to clock gains for the third session on the trot on Tuesday, propped up by banking, metal and energy stocks amid a mixed trend in global markets. A recovery in the rupee also bolstered sentiment, traders said. The 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 246.47 points or 0.45 per cent to settle at 54,767.62 after starting the trade on a weak note. In a volatile session, the benchmark hit a high of 54,817.52 and a low of 54,232.82 during the day.

Petrol, diesel prices hiked by 80 paise a litre; LPG up by Rs 50

Petrol, diesel prices hiked by 80 paise a litre; LPG up by Rs 50

Rediff.com22 Mar 2022

Petrol and diesel prices were on Tuesday hiked by 80 paise a litre while domestic cooking gas prices were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder, ending an over four-and-half month election-related hiatus in rate revision, sources said. Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 96.21 per litre as against Rs 95.41 previously while diesel has gone up from Rs 86.67 per litre to Rs 87.47. Simultaneously, the price of a non-subsidised LPG cylinder has been increased to Rs 949.50 for each 14.2-kg bottle in the national capital.