News for 'pre-Covid'

Can India sustain Rs 1-trillion monthly GST collection?

Can India sustain Rs 1-trillion monthly GST collection?

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

Experts warn of over-interpreting the numbers and said their sustainability needed to be watched beyond November, says Indivjal Dhasmana.

Indians want to study in Germany, Italy, Ireland...

Indians want to study in Germany, Italy, Ireland...

Rediff.com24 Jan 2022

One in five Indian students now prefer new and unconventional study destinations like Ireland, Turkey and Spain. The number of Indian students in Germany grew by 20.85 per cent in the winter semester to stand at over 25,000.

Tech start-ups struggle to move out of the red

Tech start-ups struggle to move out of the red

Rediff.com24 Feb 2022

Technology start-ups that got listed in the last few quarters reported a hit to their December-quarter (Q3FY22) profitability due to higher marketing and employee costs. While fintech firms Paytm and PB Fintech saw their losses widen by 45 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 778 crore and 55 per cent to Rs 295 crore, respectively, food delivery company Zomato remained in the red despite narrowing its net loss by 81 per cent to Rs 66 crore. Meanwhile, online fashion and beauty products seller Nykaa saw its net profit drop 59 per cent to Rs 28 crore in Q3FY22.

After brisk Dec, hotels face biz loss as Omicron drives cancellations

After brisk Dec, hotels face biz loss as Omicron drives cancellations

Rediff.com13 Jan 2022

In a bad start to the new year, hotels are counting their losses again. Weddings and corporate events for this month have either been called off or postponed. The blow has throttled the nascent recovery which had kicked in around August. It is primarily hurting the banquet-driven hotel chains, some of which are seeing cancellations running into lakhs for a single day.

I am prepared for 1 year of unemployment

I am prepared for 1 year of unemployment

Rediff.com11 Jun 2020

Vamsi, 36, an IT professional shares his financial plan.

Inflation eats into India's rural demand while green shoots become visible

Inflation eats into India's rural demand while green shoots become visible

Rediff.com11 Aug 2022

In May, Satpal Singh, who runs a dairy business with three buffaloes in Jewar, near Noida, was worried about the steep spike in input costs. Singh said dry fodder rates, which cost Rs 1,500-2000 per tractor trolley last year, were quoting at Rs 4,500-5,000. The price of other cattle feed ingredients (that include mustard meal and similar mixes) had also gone up from Rs 2,000 per quintal to Rs 3,100-3,200 per quintal.

A first in 3 decades, retail inflation in US higher than India for 4 months

A first in 3 decades, retail inflation in US higher than India for 4 months

Rediff.com15 Feb 2022

Emerging markets such as India have always run higher inflation rates than developed economies such as the US and countries of Western Europe. But for the first time in the past 30 years, the US reported a higher consumer price inflation (CPI) rate than India in five consecutive months. The US reported a CPI rate of 7.5 per cent in January 2022 against 6.01 per cent in India and analysts expect the trend to continue for at least a few months more

NZC deputy CEO resigns amid 15 percent cut in workforce

NZC deputy CEO resigns amid 15 percent cut in workforce

Rediff.com3 Jun 2020

NZC chief executive David White had said it is looking to shed around 10 to 15 percent of its staff and save NZD 6 million in operation costs as it copes with the 'challenges' posed by the health crisis.

Despite Covid woes, residential launches back on track

Despite Covid woes, residential launches back on track

Rediff.com18 Aug 2020

Despite a 56 per cent fall in residential launches in the first half of the year compared to the second half of 2019, Anarock Property Consultants believes that consolidation in residential real estate is expected to gain ground, and that branded players may garner a market share of 75-80 per cent.

OYO restoring salaries of employees in India, South Asia

OYO restoring salaries of employees in India, South Asia

Rediff.com4 Aug 2020

Pay cuts for employees with fixed compensation of up to Rs 8 lakh have been reversed from August 1, while the rest will see restoration in a phased manner from October 2020.

Steel firms raise prices by Rs 2K a tonne in 10 days

Steel firms raise prices by Rs 2K a tonne in 10 days

Rediff.com3 Aug 2020

Prices in the domestic market are increasing because there is a demand pull, and internationally, prices have gone up.

Airlines may not benefit much from airfare hike. Here's why

Airlines may not benefit much from airfare hike. Here's why

Rediff.com13 Feb 2021

'The recent price hike would only be beneficial if the airlines continue to operate at 80 per cent airline capacity. An increase towards 90 or 100 per cent airline capacity would again add pressure to the fares as demand remains muted. Also, we are in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year which is a seasonally weaker quarter,' says an analyst.

What Are Investor Options In New Samvat?

What Are Investor Options In New Samvat?

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

You will need a sharper eye for stock picking and a greater appetite for risk than most retail investors possess, recommends T N Ninan.

Omicron Cancels Christmas, New Year Parties

Omicron Cancels Christmas, New Year Parties

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

'We are not organising any large celebrations on New Year's Eve to avoid last-minute changes in guidelines.'

ITC diversifying tobacco biz to capture US vaping market

ITC diversifying tobacco biz to capture US vaping market

Rediff.com16 Jul 2021

The facility, which will manufacture nicotine and nicotine salts, will conform to stringent US and EU pharmacopoeia standards that define purity levels at 99.2 per cent for nicotine meant for pharmaceutical products. ITC will leverage the institutional capabilities of its century-old leaf tobacco business for this. ITC's cigarettes business saw disruptions across the value chain with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company mentioned in its annual report that with easing of restrictions and improvement in mobility from September 2020 onwards, the business recovered progressively over the remainder of the year to reach nearly pre-Covid levels towards the close of the year.

India's FDI inflow fell by 26% in 2021, says UN report

India's FDI inflow fell by 26% in 2021, says UN report

Rediff.com20 Jan 2022

Foreign Direct Investment flows to India in 2021 were 26 per cent lower, mainly because large M&A deals recorded in 2020 were not repeated, the UN trade body has said.

Hiring activity jumps 15% in June

Hiring activity jumps 15% in June

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Hiring activity in the country, which was hit by the second COVID wave, bounced back with a 15 per cent growth in June compared to May, according to a report. The activity was led by the IT-software/software services sector. The latest Naukri JobSpeak report on Thursday said that India's hiring trends grew 15 per cent in June with 2,359 job postings from 2,047 in May.

Reliance is 1st Indian co to cross $100 bn annual revenue

Reliance is 1st Indian co to cross $100 bn annual revenue

Rediff.com6 May 2022

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday reported a 22.5 per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ended March on the back of bumper oil refining margins, steady growth in telecom and digital services and strong momentum in the retail business. The oil-to-retail-to-telecom conglomerate's consolidated net profit rose to Rs 16,203 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2022 from Rs 13,227 crore, the firm said in a statement. Net profit, however, fell 12.6 per cent sequentially -- breaking a six-quarter chain of quarter-on-quarter improvement.

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Rediff.com18 Sep 2020

ESI subscribers to get Covid unemployment allowance within 15 days of claim. Payment will be made into bank account of the insured and Aadhaar will be used for identification.

International flights remain suspended till July 31

International flights remain suspended till July 31

Rediff.com3 Jul 2020

The aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday that it was extending the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till July 31 but added that some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis. Scheduled international passenger flights were suspended in India on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Uber's business shows strong recovery signs post lockdown in India

Uber's business shows strong recovery signs post lockdown in India

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

As Indians start travelling in the new normal, strong recovery in smaller towns underscores success for ride-hailing giant's 'India to Bharat' strategy, which offers new products in regional markets.

CavinKare to split business into four different streams

CavinKare to split business into four different streams

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

In a first step towards succession plan, Chennai-based fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major CavinKare on Monday announced the restructuring of its businesses and also roped in the generation next giving charges of separate business verticals. Announcing the restructuring on Monday, CK Ranganathan, chairman and managing director of CavinKare indicated that the business will be split into mainly four different streams - FMCG, ecommerce, retail and research and development.

India's Russian revolution: Why refiners are buying more Russian crude

India's Russian revolution: Why refiners are buying more Russian crude

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

India may see a structural shift in supplies of crude oil with Russia emerging as a key source of fuels, a development that reduces New Delhi's dependence on West Asian oil, gives Indian refiners better bargaining power with price-setter Saudi Arabia, and improves overall energy security. The unexpected surge in supplies of Russian crude in the last few months, unthinkable until the war in Ukraine, may also deliver other unforeseen gains such as boosting exports of refined fuels to Europe, which historically has counted on Russian shipments. India has jumped on to the bandwagon of opportunistic buying of Russian crude but if calibrated carefully, Urals crude can be a long-term asset for India refiners.

Loan recast: Kamath panel submits report, picks 26 sectors

Loan recast: Kamath panel submits report, picks 26 sectors

Rediff.com7 Sep 2020

The 26 sectors specified by the RBI include automobiles, power, tourism, cement, chemicals, gems and jewellery, logistic, mining, manufacturing, real estate, and shipping among others.

Reliance Infra will be debt-free in FY21: Anil Ambani

Reliance Infra will be debt-free in FY21: Anil Ambani

Rediff.com23 Jun 2020

RInfra, which is sitting on a debt of over Rs 6,000 crore, has been working towards monetising its assets to reduce debt.

'Investors need to be extremely selective'

'Investors need to be extremely selective'

Rediff.com31 Aug 2020

'The market won't wait for earnings to recover.'

India's economy may grow at 12% in 2021: Moody's

India's economy may grow at 12% in 2021: Moody's

Rediff.com19 Mar 2021

India's economy is likely to grow by 12 per cent in 2021 following a 7.1 per cent contraction last year, as near-term prospects have turned more favourable, Moody's Analytics said. A stronger than expected December quarter GDP growth of 0.4 per cent following a 7.5 per cent contraction in the previous three months has turned India's near-term prospects more favourable, it said. Domestic and external demand has been on the mend since the easing of restrictions, which has led to improved manufacturing output in recent months.

HUL's strong Q2 results signal revival of demand

HUL's strong Q2 results signal revival of demand

Rediff.com20 Oct 2020

Hindustan Unilever Ltd, India's largest personal care product maker, on Tuesday reported a better-than-expected increase in its September quarter net profit and revenues, signalling a revival of demand following the world's biggest lockdown.

Oxygen diversion may not hurt industry just yet

Oxygen diversion may not hurt industry just yet

Rediff.com22 Apr 2021

However, a prolonged and intense second wave that curtails oxygen supply to industries for a longer-than-expected period will exacerbate downside risk in affected sectors

FinMin to kick-start Budget 2022-23 exercise on October 12

FinMin to kick-start Budget 2022-23 exercise on October 12

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

The finance ministry will kick-start the exercise to prepare the Union Budget for financial year 2022-23 (FY23) from October 12, according to an official notification released on Monday. "The pre-Budget meetings as well as the meetings to discuss the revised estimates will start from October 12 and will continue till the second week of November," according to the Budget circular of the Department of Economic Affairs' Budget Division. The Union Budget is expected to be announced on February 1, as has been the practice of the past few years.

Pre-owned car sellers see brisk volume growth as chip crunch persists

Pre-owned car sellers see brisk volume growth as chip crunch persists

Rediff.com4 Nov 2021

Even as the semiconductor shortage has limited the demand for new cars, the pre-owned car segment is seeing a surge. A preference for personal mobility, availability of multiple organised online platforms, including e-commerce channels, aggregators, and classifieds, have been fuelling growth. The growth rate of the pre-owned car market is expected to be 1.5x that of the new car market over the next five years.

India Inc Expects 2022 To Be Growth Year

India Inc Expects 2022 To Be Growth Year

Rediff.com15 Jan 2022

83% of the CEOS plan to hire more in the new year.

Home, auto loan inquiry back to 2019 level

Home, auto loan inquiry back to 2019 level

Rediff.com23 Sep 2020

The public sector lenders saw the biggest rebound in inquiries in July and August 2020, most likely because they were early in recommencing operations than their private and finance counterparts.

Pandemic sees first-time car buyers take the wheel

Pandemic sees first-time car buyers take the wheel

Rediff.com10 Sep 2021

First-time buyers of cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have made a comeback, shows last year's data from top passenger vehicle (PV) makers. If the trend persists, it may move the needle on the overall car penetration ratio. India's car penetration ratio is 32 per 1,000 people - one of the lowest, compared to mature car markets like the US and Europe.

Surat's textile hub weaves a revival story amid Covid-19

Surat's textile hub weaves a revival story amid Covid-19

Rediff.com25 Feb 2021

When the lockdown was lifted last year, Rasikbhai Kotadiya, who runs a powerloom unit in the Kim-Pipodara industrial area on the outskirts of Surat, was left with only four workers out of the 48 that he used to employ to run his 128 looms. Though the economy had been unlocked, his textile unit, and that of thousands of others, struggled to resume operations. By the last week of May, nearly 700,000 of Surat's 1.2-1.5 million migrant workers, left high and dry with no pay during the lockdown, had returned home. In Laskana, another textile weaving hub in Surat, the powerlooms were all but silent, with only 2,000 of the total 55,000 looms churning out grey cloth at a snail's pace.

2nd Covid wave a challenge for FMCG industry: ITC

2nd Covid wave a challenge for FMCG industry: ITC

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

The severity of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in India poses a key challenge for the FMCG industry and the spread of the virus to rural areas on a relatively higher scale as compared to the first wave is also expected to weigh on industry growth outlook, according to ITC Ltd. There is heightened uncertainty around the timing and shape of the recovery trajectory of overall economic growth in India due to the virus, the company said in its Annual Report for 2020-21. In terms of consumption, urban-led recovery may be relatively muted compared to the first wave as consumers switch to precautionary savings mode and rising healthcare costs eat into household spending, while rural demand may also be blunted by the large-scale spread of the virus to the hinterland in the second wave.

Driverless train operations flagged off on Delhi Metro's Pink Line

Driverless train operations flagged off on Delhi Metro's Pink Line

Rediff.com25 Nov 2021

In another milestone for the DMRC, driverless train operations on 59-km Pink Line of the Delhi Metro were flagged off on Thursday.

Plan to fly somewhere? Airfares raised by up to 30%

Plan to fly somewhere? Airfares raised by up to 30%

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

Passengers will have to shell out more money for air travel from now as the civil aviation ministry on Thursday increased the lower and upper limits on domestic airfares by 10 to 30 per cent.

Djokovic not at fault, says Manchester United's Matic

Djokovic not at fault, says Manchester United's Matic

Rediff.com30 Jun 2020

Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has defended his Serbian compatriot Novak Djokovic for hosting the ill-fated Adria Tour where a number of players, including the world number one, tested positive for COVID-19. Djokovic was criticised for hosting the tennis tournament amid a pandemic after his coach Goran Ivanisevic and players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki returned positive tests over the two legs in Serbia and Croatia.

'Foolhardy to get into market for speculative gains'

'Foolhardy to get into market for speculative gains'

Rediff.com4 Sep 2020

'The market recovery is fragile,' warns Raamdeo Agrawal, co-founder and joint managing director, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.