News for 'The Illustrated Weekly of India'

Bank stocks can slide more; stay away for now: Analysts

Bank stocks can slide more; stay away for now: Analysts

Rediff.com24 Mar 2023

The global turmoil in the banking sector has made analysts cautious, who advise that investors stay away from stocks of this sector till the overall sentiment improves. The recent trouble for the banking sector started with the collapse of US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Silvergate Capital and Signature Bank. On its part, Moody's Investors Service has also cut its outlook for the US banking system to 'negative' from 'stable', citing the run on deposits at these three banks that led to the collapse of these banking majors in less than a week.

Ukraine war: Falling rupee unlikely to shore up India's exports

Ukraine war: Falling rupee unlikely to shore up India's exports

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

India's exports are unlikely to get an immediate boost from a depreciating rupee, which touched an all-time low on Monday, driven by rising commodity prices. The rupee fell to 76.97 against the dollar earlier in the day, settling 1.05 per cent weaker than the previous close. Oil prices soared to their highest since 2008 on Monday at $139 per barrel, after the US and European allies explored a Russian oil import ban, while delays in the potential return of Iranian crude oil to global markets increased supply fears.

What surprises will PM spring this week?

What surprises will PM spring this week?

Rediff.com26 Dec 2016

From note ban result to Delhi's next L-G, a few things to look forward to.

Leading economists see India growing at 13-15.7% in Q1

Leading economists see India growing at 13-15.7% in Q1

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Leading economists have pencilled in a high 13-15.7 per cent uptick in the economy in the first quarter of 2022-23 with an upward bias. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the group chief economic adviser at State Bank of India, on Tuesday said he expects the GDP to clip past 15.7 per cent in the first quarter with more chances of the final numbers printing in higher, while Aditi Nayar, the chief economist at the rating agency Icra, said the economy will grow much lower at 13 per cent in the June quarter. The national statistical office will announce the first quarter GDP numbers later next week.

What is India's Destiny?

What is India's Destiny?

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

The events of the last few years shows that pessimism about where we have arrived and where we are headed is justified, asserts Aakar Patel.

e-Rupee: RBI creates Rs 1.71 crore of digital currency for retail pilot

e-Rupee: RBI creates Rs 1.71 crore of digital currency for retail pilot

Rediff.com2 Dec 2022

The pilot project for central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the retail segment went live on Thursday with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issuing Rs 1.71 crore to four participating banks based on their indents. The central bank has identified four banks for the first phase of the pilot - State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC First Bank - in four cities, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar. The highest indent was received from one private sector bank.

Ukraine crisis: Russian oil companies offer big discounts to India

Ukraine crisis: Russian oil companies offer big discounts to India

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

As stringent sanctions imposed by the European Union and US are crippling business and trade, desperate Russian oil companies are offering huge discounts to India, provided a payment mechanism to bypass the SWIFT ban is quickly approved by the government. According to sources familiar with the development, Russian oil firms are offering 25-27 per cent discount to the dated Brent crude prices. State-run Rosneft is one the biggest oil companies that supply crude to India.

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

Rediff.com17 May 2022

India's jugalbandhi with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck, neither achieving adequate renewable generation nor ensuring sufficient coal-fired power in the quest to become a $5-trillion economy. Six months have elapsed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious climate agenda for India at COP26 at Glasgow. The net zero emissions target by 2070 is a distant one, but there are nearer-term plans to meet 50 per cent of energy demand with renewables by 2030 by increasing capacity to 450 Gw. A cursory look at the balance sheet of India's climate progress since November reveals ponderous progress towards meeting the renewables target even as the country is scrambling to expand coal-fired generation in the face of a power crisis.

After Lata Arrived, Others Melted Away

After Lata Arrived, Others Melted Away

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

She came like a whirlwind to wipe out, in one stroke, practically all female singing competition, recalls Raju Bharatan.

Forex reserves decrease by $587 mn to $635.08 bn

Forex reserves decrease by $587 mn to $635.08 bn

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

India's forex reserves decreased by $587 million to $635.08 billion for the week ended December 24, the RBI said on Friday. In the previous week ended December 17, the overall reserves had decreased by $160 million to $635.67 billion. The kitty had touched a lifetime high of $642.45 billion in the week ended September 3, 2021.

Evidence 'planted' on Stan Swamy's computer: Report

Evidence 'planted' on Stan Swamy's computer: Report

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

"Over 50 files were created on Swamy's hard drive, including incriminating documents that fabricated links between him and the Maoist insurgency," the report said.

How Coal India is chasing the monsoon to reduce coal supply disruptions

How Coal India is chasing the monsoon to reduce coal supply disruptions

Rediff.com14 Aug 2022

Way before the rains arrived at Talwandi Sabo Power plant in Punjab, the one check the coal ministry was carrying out was the availability of coal stock with the generator. Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), the 1,980-Mw thermal power plant of Sterlite Energy, part of the Vedanta Group, which supplies about 15 per cent of Punjab's power, is one of the most difficult locations to manage coal supplies. It is nearly 1,700 km from the mines of Mahanadi Coalfields in Odisha, the longest coal route in India and possibly the trickiest as it cuts through the traffic heavy rail lines between Delhi and eastern India.

Record high prices to weigh on demand for gold

Record high prices to weigh on demand for gold

Rediff.com29 Mar 2023

The demand for gold is expected to take a hit if the price of the yellow metal - which has been hovering around Rs 60,000, a level never seen before - remains elevated. Due to a sharp increase in price in a very short time and the flow of smuggled gold continuing, gold price in Mumbai is quoted at around Rs 59,000 per 10 gram. Typically, overall demand in the January-March and July-September quarters is moderate-to-dull, which is the case in the ongoing period.

'Panic part of market fall was over on Friday'

'Panic part of market fall was over on Friday'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

"What would be your advice for investors?" 'Keep it simple. Don't panic.'

Rupee rises by 12 paise to close at 79.78 against US dollar

Rupee rises by 12 paise to close at 79.78 against US dollar

Rediff.com25 Jul 2022

The rupee rose by 12 paise to close at 79.78 against the US dollar on Monday due to a weak dollar in overseas markets and an improved appetite for riskier assets. Stronger regional currencies also supported the rupee sentiment ahead of the US Fed policy decision on Wednesday. Weak domestic equities and FII outflows, however, capped sharp gains. At the inter-bank forex market, the local unit opened at 79.86 against the greenback and moved in a range of 79.70 to 79.87 in the day trade.

Dearness allowance of central govt staff hiked by 4%

Dearness allowance of central govt staff hiked by 4%

Rediff.com28 Sep 2022

Ahead of Diwali festival, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday increased the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief by 4 per cent effective July 1, 2022, benefiting 41.85 lakh central government employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. The additional instalment of DA and dearness relief (DR) is an increase of 4 per cent over the existing rate of 34 per cent of basic pay/pension. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both DA and DR would be Rs 12,852.5 crore per annum, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur while briefing reporters about the decisions of the Union Cabinet.

From electronics to semiconductor, MNCs in search of policy stability

From electronics to semiconductor, MNCs in search of policy stability

Rediff.com29 May 2023

Their favourite alternatives: Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Note, India is missing from that list. And this is despite an attractive financial incentive scheme for OSAT players. The reason, said a senior executive of a US chip company who had a meeting in Taiwan just a few weeks ago, is that "they want more predictability in government policy because they plan to put in big money."

FPIs regain risk appetite, pump in nearly Rs 8,430 crore in October

FPIs regain risk appetite, pump in nearly Rs 8,430 crore in October

Rediff.com9 Nov 2022

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net buyers in October after being net sellers in the previous month. In October, FPIs bought shares worth nearly Rs 8,430 crore ($1 billion) against net selling of Rs 13,405 crore ($1.6 billion) in September. Positive flows during three of the previous four months have pushed the domestic markets towards fresh all-time highs. At present, the Sensex and Nifty are less than 2 per cent shy of breaching record highs logged in October 2021. A rally in equity markets in the US and Europe is in hopes that the Federal Reserve may go soft on rate hikes after its November meeting.

Shortage of charging stations may short-circuit India's EV revolution

Shortage of charging stations may short-circuit India's EV revolution

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

Only a few thousand chargers dot the Indian landscape, some in working condition, others not, with some held hostage to the power supply vagaries of local utilities, reports S Dinakar.

After a dismal FY23, is the tide turning for mid, small-cap segments?

After a dismal FY23, is the tide turning for mid, small-cap segments?

Rediff.com6 May 2023

The mid-and small-cap segments at the bourses have outperformed their larger peers thus far in fiscal 2023-24 (FY24). While the S&P BSE Small-cap index has surged around 5.7 per cent in FY24, the S&P BSE Midcap index has gained 4 per cent during this period. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex has moved up around 2.2 per cent.

Biz activity grows to new high despite Omicron: Nomura

Biz activity grows to new high despite Omicron: Nomura

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

Despite fears of the Omicron variant, business activity touched an all-time high since the onset of the pandemic for the week ended December 12, a Japanese brokerage said on Monday. The Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI), which compares the activity for a particular week as against the one before the onset of the pandemic, rose to 115.8 from the 112.9 for the previous week. "Despite Omicron risks, neither policy restrictions nor public fear factor appear to have had any impact on mobility so far, which is supporting a further normalisation in services," it said in a statement.

Farm to fork: Going in favour of the grain

Farm to fork: Going in favour of the grain

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

In the coming few weeks, agriculture markets in North and Central India will be full of wheat, mustard, and chana - the three main rabi crops grown in these parts. Not only will the price trajectory of these determine the course of food inflation in the months to come, but it could also have a wider impact on the rural economy in the main growing states for these crops. Wheat and chana are largely grown in Madhya Pradesh (MP).

Uber likely to sell 7.8% stake in Zomato for $373 mn

Uber likely to sell 7.8% stake in Zomato for $373 mn

Rediff.com2 Aug 2022

Ride-hailing app Uber is selling off its entire holding in Indian food delivery company Zomato for at least $373 million (Rs 2,939 crore) through a block deal of shares, merchant banking sources said on Tuesday. The development comes on a day when the Zomato scrip witnessed a nearly 20 per cent surge to close at Rs 55.60 apiece on the BSE. The sources said the offer price range for the deal to be carried out on Wednesday will be between Rs 48-54 per share.

No TCS on overseas spending of up to Rs 7 lakh via debit, credit cards: FinMin

No TCS on overseas spending of up to Rs 7 lakh via debit, credit cards: FinMin

Rediff.com19 May 2023

The government on Friday announced that no tax will be charged on overseas spending of up to Rs 7 lakh in a year using debit or credit as it looked to douse backlash from its earlier decision of levying TCS on all spending. The government had earlier this week brought overseas credit card spending under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). This meant that any spending using credit cards overseas would attract a 20 per cent tax from July 1.

India's Approaching Democratic Crisis

India's Approaching Democratic Crisis

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

India will either have to create a system in which certain geographical areas will wind up being permanent political outsiders at the Union level or it will have to create a system in which certain votes are weighted more heavily than others, observes Mihir S Sharma.

SC to hear pleas against validity of colonial era sedition law on Monday

SC to hear pleas against validity of colonial era sedition law on Monday

Rediff.com30 Apr 2023

The Centre is expected to apprise the court of the steps taken so far with regard to reviewing the contentious penal provision.

Moody's raises FY'21 India growth forecast to (-) 10.6%

Moody's raises FY'21 India growth forecast to (-) 10.6%

Rediff.com19 Nov 2020

Moody's Investors Service on Thursday upped India growth forecast to (-) 10.6 per cent for the current fiscal, from its earlier estimate of (-) 11.5 per cent, saying the latest stimulus prioritises manufacturing and job creation, and focuses on longer-term growth. Last week the government had announced a new fiscal package amounting to Rs 2.7 lakh crore. Moody's said the latest measures aim to increase the competitiveness of India's manufacturing sector and create jobs, while supporting infrastructure investment, credit availability and stressed sectors.

A New Fear Of AI Dawning?

A New Fear Of AI Dawning?

Rediff.com25 May 2023

... And it's not just fear of job losses, says Ajit Balakrishnan.

MUST SEE: Ordinary Indians, extraordinary images

MUST SEE: Ordinary Indians, extraordinary images

Rediff.com3 Oct 2011

Sadly, Padma Shri T S Satyan (1923-2009), one of the most eminent and earliest photojournalists in the country, doesn't find an entry in Wikipedia. But his never-seen-before compositions, powered by his supreme aesthetic sense, etch into the hearts of his many fans across the globe.

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

Among other things, the e-commerce players will have to display the total 'price' of goods and services offered for sale, mention the 'expiry date' of goods and the 'country of origin' of goods and services.

Rs 3,000 crore in govt kitty from windfall tax on oil and gas firms

Rs 3,000 crore in govt kitty from windfall tax on oil and gas firms

Rediff.com12 Aug 2022

The Centre has garnered around Rs 2,500-3,000 crore in the first five weeks after it imposed a windfall tax on oil and gas companies for the export of fuel, Business Standard has learnt. It is likely that the government will continue with the one-time tax till the Indian crude basket is above $80 a barrel, sources said. The next review of the windfall tax on oil companies is early next week.

Rupee plunges 58 paise to close at all-time low of 81.67/USD

Rupee plunges 58 paise to close at all-time low of 81.67/USD

Rediff.com26 Sep 2022

The rupee plunged 58 paise to close at an all-time low of 81.67 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday as the strengthening of the American currency overseas and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local unit. Moreover, escalation of geopolitical risks due to conflict in Ukraine, a negative trend in domestic equities and significant foreign fund outflows sapped investor appetite, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 81.47, then fell further to close at an all-time low of 81.67 against the American currency, registering a decline of 58 paise over its previous close.

Who Will Admit To Committing Fraud?

Who Will Admit To Committing Fraud?

Rediff.com27 Apr 2023

Banks do extensive investigation before declaring an account fraud; they owe it to us as they deal with our money. Why would they try to fix an innocent borrower? asks Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Indian Techies Doubtful About Joining Twitter

Indian Techies Doubtful About Joining Twitter

Rediff.com9 Dec 2022

'It's a big technology company and may offer good remuneration, but stability in my career is equally important to me.'

Pharma, consumer durables sectors likely to feel China curb heat

Pharma, consumer durables sectors likely to feel China curb heat

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

The pharmaceutical and the consumer durables sectors, which depend on China for imports, have not been impacted yet due to unrest in China with people protesting against lockdowns. But the lockdown could have an impact on the supply of components used in consumer durables if it continues for the next fortnight. In the pharmaceutical industry, Indian players import 66-70 per cent of their bulk drug requirements from China.

Kishore Kumar, the only Genius I ever knew

Kishore Kumar, the only Genius I ever knew

Rediff.com5 Aug 2009

'For me, Kishore never really passed away. It's impossible for a man like him to die because he personified life itself... He wanted to be rich and famous, much more than he was. And he was eager to hide his wounds from everyone.'

6 yrs since DeMo, cash with public soars to record high

6 yrs since DeMo, cash with public soars to record high

Rediff.com6 Nov 2022

At Rs 30.88 lakh crore, the currency with the public is 71.84 per cent higher than the level for the fortnight ended November 4, 2016.

Mcap of 8 top firms tumbles over Rs 2.48 lakh cr

Mcap of 8 top firms tumbles over Rs 2.48 lakh cr

Rediff.com15 May 2022

Eight of the 10 most valued companies suffered a combined erosion of Rs 2,48,372.97 crore in their market valuation last week in line with a weak broader market trend, with Reliance Industries taking the biggest hit. Last week, Sensex lost 2,041.96 points or 3.72 per cent. While Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Infosys, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, HDFC and Bharti Airtel were the laggards, Hindustan Unilever Limited and Kotak Mahindra Bank emerged as gainers.

India's fuel pricing mechanism is opaque and removed from reality

India's fuel pricing mechanism is opaque and removed from reality

Rediff.com5 Apr 2022

What could be more uncertain than Virat Kohli's agonising wait for a century for over two years? Perhaps it's what you will pay tomorrow morning to fill your vehicle's tank. Pump prices have joined cricket scores as the country's favourite discussion topic. Steep increases invite widespread protests, while moderate additions make the government anti-reformist. The ongoing fuel price conundrum is no different.