News for 'The Illustrated Weekly of India'

The Real Reason Why Movies Are Flopping

The Real Reason Why Movies Are Flopping

Rediff.com19 Jul 2024

The consistently heavy downpour of films, shows, events, videos and whatnot is causing economic disruption.

Does govt plan to junk MTNL, BSNL merger?

Does govt plan to junk MTNL, BSNL merger?

Rediff.com13 Jul 2024

The government is considering the option of handing over operations of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) to BSNL through an agreement, instead of pursuing a merger route, a source privy to the development said. A final call on this is likely to be taken in a month's time. The source said the option of handing over debt-laden MTNL's operations to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) through an agreement is being looked into.

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Rediff.com19 Aug 2024

Employment in urban areas in the first quarter of 2024-25 (FY25) improved over the previous one. The unemployment rate in April-June (Q1) declined to 6.6 per cent from a four-quarter high of 6.7 per cent in January-March FY24 owing to the fall in the male unemployment rate, according to the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday.

Rediff's Wave Rider Retires!

Rediff's Wave Rider Retires!

Rediff.com1 Nov 2024

We asked colleagues, present and past, to reflect on a man who has made such a difference to their lives and careers. Here it is then, a rich collection of memories that offer enchanting glimpses of the enigmatic Ajit Balakrishnan.

Bourses up vigil on SME IPOs: Mandate comprehensive financial disclosures

Bourses up vigil on SME IPOs: Mandate comprehensive financial disclosures

Rediff.com26 Sep 2024

Stock exchanges have intensified vigil on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) listings by mandating more comprehensive financial disclosures and enhanced monitoring of utilisation of issue proceeds from investment bankers, amid rising instances of dubious practices. Bourses - responsible for vetting initial public offering (IPO) documents and granting approvals to SMEs - have tightened norms in recent weeks with further measures planned for new filings to safeguard investor interests, sources said.

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Rediff.com12 Mar 2024

Long working hours, earnings that fall short of meeting household expenses, arbitrary deactivation and blocking of identity (ID) by platforms, and high physical and mental stress are among the major issues plaguing workers of the booming gig economy in India, a report based on a survey has found. Nearly 83 per cent cab drivers reported working for more than 10 hours in a day, while 78 per cent delivery personnel worked for the same duration, showed the report released on Monday, titled "Prisoners on Wheels" and based on a survey by the University of Pennsylvania and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT).

Sebi's F&O curbs for stemming 'frenzied trading'

Sebi's F&O curbs for stemming 'frenzied trading'

Rediff.com5 Aug 2024

Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi's) measures to curb speculative activity in the Rs 450-trillion-a-day futures and options (F&O) market is not a case of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," whole-time member (WTM) Ananth Narayan said on Friday. "As a regulator, we are conscious that we must not throw the baby out with the bathwater. "When it comes to frenzied trading in options nearing expiry, however, it is difficult to see any baby in this bathwater," he said while delivering his address at the 21st FICCI Annual Capital Markets Conference.

The Formidable Editor, Vimla Patil

The Formidable Editor, Vimla Patil

Rediff.com3 Oct 2024

Vimla Patil always stressed the importance of proving wrong the perception that women were women's worst enemies. And it iss a lesson I carried forward with me all through my career, learning empathy, understanding and ways to help as I went along. Sathya Saran, who succeeded Mrs Patil as Femina's editor, pays homage to the well-known journalist who passed into the ages on September 29, 2024.

Major credit card issuers go live on Bharat Bill Payment Systems platform

Major credit card issuers go live on Bharat Bill Payment Systems platform

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

Major credit issuers, including the largest - HDFC Bank - have integrated their systems with the Bharat Bill Payment Systems (BBPS) for receiving credit card repayments via third-party applications.

Do We Need Atmashakti At Work?

Do We Need Atmashakti At Work?

Rediff.com15 Oct 2024

'Alongside economic growth and the Asian century, stress has become an Asian caravan.' 'But stress doesn't arrive in one's country as invitation to taste exhaustion. It comes dressed as a challenge.' 'Its evangelists ask: Are you man enough to shoulder stress?' points out Shyam G Menon.

'Work Is NOT Life'

'Work Is NOT Life'

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

'Don't get stressed if you are not able to do your work.' 'If you feel you do not have the skill or capacity to do some work, accept it.'

Factors that will drive the markets this week

Factors that will drive the markets this week

Rediff.com25 Sep 2022

The domestic stock market may face volatility amid the monthly derivatives expiry scheduled this week, while investors would mainly await the outcome of RBI's interest rate decision on Friday, said analysts. Global market movement would also continue to drive sentiment amid a bearish trend recently following rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and other central banks. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may take cues from its global counterparts to raise interest rate for the fourth time in a row to control inflation.

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Rediff.com22 Aug 2024

Following a review of peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, certain issues -- including high non-performing asset levels, significantly high balances in escrow accounts, and non-compliance with net owned fund and disclosure requirements -- came to the RBI's attention.

Investing in IPOs? Read this

Investing in IPOs? Read this

Rediff.com18 Sep 2024

IPOs inherently carry more risks than stocks that have been listed on the exchanges for some time.

Gig workers Bill: Unease among startups

Gig workers Bill: Unease among startups

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

A group comprising top tech startups and unicorns has raised several "serious concerns" over a platform-based gig workers Bill proposed by the Karnataka government, saying it would hurt the ease of doing business. They told the state government the Bill in its current form would hamper operations and increase regulatory and compliance burden on the nascent gig and startup economy, according to sources.

What industry leaders say on Karnataka's draft reservation bill

What industry leaders say on Karnataka's draft reservation bill

Rediff.com18 Jul 2024

Infosys will comply with whatever regulations and guidelines Karnataka comes up with, a top company official said on Thursday on the proposed reservations for locals in private firms in the state. Infosys employs over 3.15 lakh people at present across the globe. "We are planning to work with all the regulations of the state and central governments.

Cyber attack: How vulnerable are Indian entities?

Cyber attack: How vulnerable are Indian entities?

Rediff.com22 Jan 2024

The number of cyber attack cases in India increased by 15 per cent per week on an average in 2023, trailing only Taiwan in the Asia Pacific region, cyber security firm Check Point said on Monday. Organisations across the globe experienced an average of 1,158 weekly cyber attacks each, which was a 1 per cent increase in the number of incidents compared to that in 2022. "In 2023 India received 2,138 weekly attacks per organisation, which is a 15 per cent surge since 2022.

Decoding India's Dress Code

Decoding India's Dress Code

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

...Is a cultural swaraj under way, wonders Ajit Balakrishnan.

Microcaps Outperform Mid/Smallcaps

Microcaps Outperform Mid/Smallcaps

Rediff.com17 Jul 2024

'Though one cannot paint the entire microcap basket with the same brush, investors need to be careful now as to what they're buying.'

19% of global fund managers bullish on India; Japan most preferred: BofA

19% of global fund managers bullish on India; Japan most preferred: BofA

Rediff.com23 Feb 2024

Nineteen per cent of global fund managers remain bullish on India, suggests the latest BofA Asia Fund Manager Survey (FMS). A total of 249 panelists with $656 billion worth of assets under management (AUM) participated in the survey between February 2 and 8, BofA said. Two hundred and nine participants with $568 billion AUM responded to the global FMS questions, while 145 participants with $331 billion in AUM responded to the regional fund manager survey (FMS) questions, BofA said.

Result preview: Cost of deposits to weigh on banks' margins in Q1

Result preview: Cost of deposits to weigh on banks' margins in Q1

Rediff.com12 Jul 2024

Despite steady loan growth, the banking sector is expected to report subdued margins in the quarter ending June 2024 (Q1FY25), driven by high demand for deposits amidst tight liquidity conditions. However, according to Bloomberg analysts, listed banks are forecasted to see a 14.5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in net profit. Estimates showed that banks' net interest income (NII), and revenues from interest minus interest expenses might grow 11.9 per cent Y-o-Y.

Budget: Time To Bet On Big Ideas

Budget: Time To Bet On Big Ideas

Rediff.com16 Jul 2024

The generation of quality jobs and skill development should be the focal point, cutting across ministries and departments, asserts Nivedita Mookerji.

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Rediff.com20 May 2024

The share of women employed in regular salaried jobs in urban India hit a fresh low in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2023-24 (FY24). In the same period, the share of women engaged in self-employment went up. An analysis of the latest quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data showed the share of women in regular wage work among all employed women stood at 52.3 per cent in Q4FY24, down from 53 per cent in the previous quarter.

Top-Up Home Loan May Cost Your Home!

Top-Up Home Loan May Cost Your Home!

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

'If the borrower can't repay the loan due to lack of income or losses from speculative activities, they risk defaulting on it.' 'This could lead to the bank seizing the property.'

7 Ways Gita Can Help Achieve Peaceful Retirement

7 Ways Gita Can Help Achieve Peaceful Retirement

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

Vatsal Ramaiya draws wisdom from the Bhagvad Gita and correlates it to how you can build a decent corpus to achieve a peaceful retirement.

IPOs: Record Rs 32,000 Crore Raised in 1st Half

IPOs: Record Rs 32,000 Crore Raised in 1st Half

Rediff.com25 Jun 2024

This year's tally is the second best ever after 2022 when 16 firms raised Rs 40,311 crore, led by LIC's biggest-ever IPO.

Fundraising via QIPs gain traction as India Inc looks for growth capital

Fundraising via QIPs gain traction as India Inc looks for growth capital

Rediff.com5 Mar 2024

Equity fundraising through qualified institutional placements (QIPs) has gained traction, thanks to supportive equity markets and the need for fresh fundraising to meet capital expenditure (capex) requirements.

Crypto firms bank on fair play as Binance logs into FIU-IND

Crypto firms bank on fair play as Binance logs into FIU-IND

Rediff.com20 May 2024

The regulatory gap between crypto firms registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-India) and unregistered offshore entities is expected to narrow, industry players said, after global crypto players Binance and KuCoin received approvals to register with India's anti-money laundering unit.

2 BIG factors that will guide markets this week

2 BIG factors that will guide markets this week

Rediff.com28 Aug 2022

Trading in the domestic stock market would be influenced by trends in the global equities, macroeconomic data and foreign fund movement in a holiday-shortened week, analysts said. Markets may face volatile trends on Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Fed's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole on Friday.

'Indian rupee best-performing Asian currency this year'

'Indian rupee best-performing Asian currency this year'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

'India represents one of the top opportunities with robust growth, solid fundamentals, and openness to foreign investment.'

Sebi seeks greater IPO disclosures for faster clearance

Sebi seeks greater IPO disclosures for faster clearance

Rediff.com4 Jun 2024

In a bid to expedite the processing of initial public offerings (IPOs), the markets regulator will now seek additional information from lead managers (LMs) when they file draft documents. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) sent a letter to bankers, listing over two dozens of new disclosure requirements. The average time Sebi takes to clear the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) - a document companies must file before accessing public funds - has dropped to less than three months in 2024 (until May 31).

When An Old Friend Passes Away...

When An Old Friend Passes Away...

Rediff.com12 Feb 2024

There will be work today, there will be work tomorrow, there will be work the day after, but nothing will make up for the eternal regret of not seeing a friend when he was dying.

BEWARE Of Such Scams!

BEWARE Of Such Scams!

Rediff.com29 Jul 2024

What is digital house arrest? It is a tactic cybercriminals use to confine victims to their homes and scam them, explains Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Markets rally make investors richer by Rs 10.58 lakh cr in three days

Markets rally make investors richer by Rs 10.58 lakh cr in three days

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

Investors' wealth soared by Rs 10.58 lakh crore in three days of the market rally, where the BSE benchmark jumped over 2 per cent, and hit an all-time high on Monday. Extending its winning momentum to the third day running, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 363.20 points or 0.49 per cent to settle at 74,014.55. During the day, it zoomed 603.27 points or 0.81 per cent to hit its record high of 74,254.62.

'Industry Has To Help Us'

'Industry Has To Help Us'

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

'There will be 200 ITIs developed as hubs, while 800 will be developed as spoke, connected with five National Skill Training Institutes.'

India to drive Asia Pacific growth as China's fortunes wane, says S&P

India to drive Asia Pacific growth as China's fortunes wane, says S&P

Rediff.com6 Dec 2023

India will drive growth in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region as the growth engine is likely to shift from China to South and Southeast Asia in the coming years, S&P Global Ratings said in a report on Tuesday. The rating agency's report projected China's growth to slow down to 4.6 per cent by 2026 from an estimated 5.4 per cent in 2023. India is likely to clock 7 per cent economic growth from 6.4 per cent estimated for 2023.

Cash out: Mobile wallet payments may hit Rs 532 trn in 2028

Cash out: Mobile wallet payments may hit Rs 532 trn in 2028

Rediff.com9 Apr 2024

Mobile wallet adoption is surging in India and swiftly becoming a primary payment option, surpassing traditional methods like cash and cards. Over the next few years, payments via mobile wallets in India are likely to surpass the Rs 531.8 trillion mark in 2028, witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.3 per cent between 2024 and 2028, according to GlobalData - a London-based leading data and analytics company. The value of mobile wallet payments in India, as per a GlobalData report, grew at a CAGR of 72.1 per cent between 2019 and 2023 to reach Rs 202.8 trillion ($2.5 trillion) in 2023.

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Rediff.com24 Apr 2024

The small finance bank model may still be testing the water some 10 years since its launch. According to banking experts, the regulator has taken a cautious approach in granting approvals. Unity Small Finance Bank was the last one to get a licence in the category in November 2021.

Mutual funds bet on 'special' opportunities as uncertainties loom

Mutual funds bet on 'special' opportunities as uncertainties loom

Rediff.com9 May 2024

Mutual funds are looking to tap into the special opportunities theme ahead of the results of the general election results and the continued uncertainty on the geo-political and interest rate fronts. Two fund houses - WhiteOak Capital and Samco - are set to launch special opportunities funds next week. Kotak MF has also filed papers with the regulator to launch a scheme in the same category.

Banking system liquidity goes into surplus mode after 3 months

Banking system liquidity goes into surplus mode after 3 months

Rediff.com6 Mar 2024

The liquidity in the banking system moved into surplus almost after three months as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) absorbed over Rs 40,000 crore from the market on Monday, predominantly on the back of increased government spending. However, this situation may be short-lived given the higher demand for funds to pay taxes and year-end targets, treasury executives said. Meanwhile, two variable reverse repo rate (VRRR) auctions held on Tuesday received weak response.