Top of the Morning
Top of the Morning is a daily podcast in which we bring you all the action from the global markets and the business world to kick-start your day on a well-informed note. This is a Mint production, brought to you by HT Smartcast
Thu, April 17, 2025
NSE Shares Surge Before IPO | Wipro Stalls Despite Profit Rise | Oil India Digs Deep for Growth
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. 🇺🇸🇨🇳 US-China Trade War Escalates Just hours after the U.S. slapped a 245% tariff on Chinese goods, Beijing signaled a willingness to return to the negotiation table—but with conditions. China demanded an end to hostile rhetoric, clarity on trade policy, and a Trump-backed lead negotiator. Meanwhile, China played its trump card—rare earths—by restricting exports of seven key minerals crucial for U.S. tech and defense sectors. With China controlling 92% of rare earth processing, this move could deepen supply chain disruptions and intensify the trade war. 📈 NSE Investor Frenzy Signals IPO Readiness A technical change sparked a boom in NSE’s unlisted share activity. After India’s largest stock exchange activated its ISIN on March 24—cutting share transfer time from months to just one day—its investor base surged from 22,400 to 60,000 in under three weeks. With shares trading between ₹700 and ₹2,260 and a market cap of ₹4 trillion, the IPO buzz is back. Market veterans say: the liquidity’s here, now it’s up to Sebi. 💻 Wipro’s Growth Woes Deepen Wipro reported a second consecutive year of falling revenue, down 2.7% to $10.51 billion, even as profit rose 19%. CEO Srinivas Pallia blamed global uncertainty and cautious client spending, especially in Europe, for the sluggish outlook. The company expects Q1 FY26 revenue to shrink another 1.5–3.5%. Despite large deals and tighter cost control, Wipro’s growth remains elusive. The company added fewer clients, lost some large accounts, and issued no hiring target—a clear sign of caution amid global tech turbulence. 🚛 Isuzu’s Export Engine Powers Ahead Isuzu Motors India became the top commercial vehicle exporter in FY25, with a 24% jump in exports to 20,312 units. The company’s Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh has been key to its growth, supplying vehicles across Asia and the Middle East. With global-standard production and recent expansion into engine assembly, Isuzu is scaling up both exports and domestic reach. It recently rolled out its 100,000th vehicle from the plant—a quiet but firm Made-in-India success story. 🛢️ Oil India Eyes Big Discovery Oil India is doubling down on exploration. After bagging nine blocks in the OALP-9 round, CMD Ranjit Rath says a major oil and gas find is “only a matter of time.” The company’s acreage has nearly doubled to 110,000 sq. km, with active dri
Wed, April 16, 2025
IndiGo Becomes World’s Most Valuable Airline | Inflation Drops | Ericsson’s India Buzz Fades
This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. 1. India’s $4 Billion Tech Design Ambition India is aiming to move up the electronics value chain with a proposed $4 billion Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. The goal? To go from “Make in India” to “Design in India.” The scheme will support 30 semiconductor and 30 electronics categories, including Wi-Fi chips, EV components, and smart meters. Incentives will be based on investment and turnover, with a focus on creating patents and IP. This comes as India files only 60,000 patents annually, far behind the U.S. and China, which each cross the one-million mark. As production-linked incentives for mobile phones wind down, this move could mark India’s next leap in tech manufacturing and innovation. 2. Inflation Eases, RBI Shifts Focus to Growth Retail inflation in March dropped to 3.34%, the lowest since August 2019, thanks to cooling food prices. Food inflation fell sharply to 2.69% from 8.5% a year ago. This dip prompted the Reserve Bank of India to cut the repo rate to 6%, with more cuts expected in June. With 12 states reporting inflation below the national average and cereals inflation at a 33-month low, analysts expect the RBI to focus more on supporting growth. 3. Ericsson’s India Sales Slip as 5G Rollout Slows Swedish telecom firm Ericsson reported its sixth straight quarterly revenue dip in India, down 28% year-on-year, as major telcos Airtel and Jio near completion of their 5G rollout. However, revenue rose 32% sequentially, thanks to new contracts from Vodafone Idea and Airtel. India remains Ericsson’s second-largest market, though its share of global revenue dropped to 7% from 10%. Globally, Ericsson’s sales rose 3%, and net profit jumped 63%, signaling strength outside India. The company remains confident in its long-term prospects despite the domestic cooldown. 4. IndiGo Becomes World’s Most Valuable Airline In a landmark moment, IndiGo’s market cap hit $23.45 billion, making it the world’s most valuable airline. That’s higher than Delta, American, or Lufthansa. The airline commands over 60% of India’s domestic market and has proven resilient through multiple industry downturns. Massive aircraft orders placed early have given it an edge amid global supply shortages. The company’s rise is also being seen as a case for privatization—IndiGo has thrived while government-owned airlines have floundered. Still, issues like falling service quality and limited competition loom. 5. Diamond Exports Hit 20-Year Low India’s diamond and jewellery exports are in a deep slump. Exports of cut and polished diamonds fell 15% in FY25 to ₹1.12 trillion, the lowest in nearly two decades. Overall gems and jewellery exports dropped 10%, marking th
Tue, April 15, 2025
Layoff Reports “False”: Dr Reddy’s | FIR against OYO | Tata Capital IPO
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. China Hits Back with Rare Earth Export Curbs In a powerful response to US tariffs, China has tightened export controls on rare earth minerals—essential for defense tech, EVs, and smartphones. These new rules require permits for seven key rare earth elements, creating delays that could ripple through global supply chains. With China controlling nearly 90% of global supply and refining, this move hits American giants like Tesla, Lockheed Martin, and Apple. The U.S. has only one rare earth mine, intensifying the urgency to diversify supply chains. As Bloomberg reports, China’s message is clear: if Washington plays tariffs, Beijing plays rare earths. Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium; India Pushes for Extradition Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi—accused in the ₹14,000-crore PNB scam—has been arrested in Belgium. Indian agencies, including the CBI and ED, are preparing to travel to Brussels to expedite his extradition. Choksi, who obtained Belgian residency in 2023, is contesting the move on medical and human rights grounds. His lawyer cites poor prison conditions in India and claims the case is political. Belgium has acknowledged India’s extradition request, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could mirror past cases like Sanjay Bhandari’s. Dr Reddy’s Slams Downsizing Rumors Amid Strong Q3 Earnings Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has denied reports that it plans to cut workforce costs by 25%, calling the claims “factually incorrect.” Business Standard had reported that high-paid executives and R&D employees were being asked to resign or take voluntary retirement. However, the pharma major insists no such restructuring is happening. Financially, Dr Reddy’s delivered a strong Q3 FY25—profit after tax rose 2% YoY to ₹1,413.3 crore, while revenue jumped 16% to ₹8,358.6 crore. Key growth came from India, Emerging Markets, and the Nicotine Replacement Therapy portfolio. EBITDA hit ₹2,298.2 crore, reflecting solid business fundamentals. Tata Capital Files for IPO, Only Third Tata Listing in 25 Years Tata Capital is preparing for a long-awaited IPO, marking the Tata Group’s third public listing in a quarter-century, after TCS and Tata Technologies. The move follows an RBI mandate requiring systemically important NBFCs
Mon, April 14, 2025
Green Card Setback for Indians | Cleartrip’s ₹800 Cr Free Fall Indians Are Booking Big This Summer
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Market Holiday Alert Heads up, traders! Indian stock markets will be closed on April 14 (Ambedkar Jayanti) and April 18 (Good Friday). Plan your trades accordingly. US-China Trade War Reloaded The tariff tussle is back on. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced new sector-specific tariffs on smartphones, semiconductors, and pharma, likely within a month. “We can’t rely on China for essentials,” he told ABC News, signaling a push to bring manufacturing home. This comes after Trump temporarily exempted some Chinese electronics from a 145% retaliatory tariff, a move that briefly helped companies like Apple, which had lost $640 billion in market value. With fresh tariffs looming, China is urging a rollback, but the tech and pharma trade war may just be heating up again. Summer Surge: Indians Flock Abroad India’s scorching summer is sending travelers packing. Outbound travel is up 15–20% year-on-year, say visa providers. Top destinations: Europe, US, Canada, and Southeast Asia. “Plan early,” urges VFS Global, as visa demand jumps 11% since 2024. Peak season might stretch into October, and agencies are leaning on AI to speed up processing. From leisure to study and work, Indians are going global—and not looking back. Cleartrip’s Costly Flight Plan Despite MS Dhoni’s pilot pitch, Cleartrip’s financials hit turbulence. In FY24, the travel portal spent ₹988 crore to earn just ₹97 crore, racking up losses over ₹800 crore—half of it on discounts. Flipkart’s 2021 acquisition hasn’t paid off, as rivals like MakeMyTrip and Ixigo fly ahead. With new growth head Manjari Singhal, Cleartrip is eyeing hotels, corporate travel, and cabs. But experts say: “Discounts won’t fly forever.” Will Cleartrip course-correct or stay grounded? Green Card Setback for Indians The May 2025 US Visa Bulletin brings bad news—EB-5 visas for Indians retrogressed by six months to May 1, 2019, increasing wait times. Other categories remain stuck: EB-2: Jan 2013 EB-3: Slight move to April 2013</s
Fri, April 11, 2025
Byju’s Sued in U.S. | Kohli’s Next Move: From Puma to Agilitas | India’s Growth Takes a Hit
This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Wall Street Reverses Course After Tariff Jitters Wednesday’s rally? Short-lived. U.S. stock markets nosedived Thursday, giving back most of their gains after optimism over Trump’s temporary tariff pause faded fast. The S&P 500 fell 3.46% , the Dow lost 1,014 points , and the Nasdaq dropped 4.31% , dragged down by a brutal tech sell-off— Tesla plunged 8% , Nvidia and Meta slid 7% , and Apple fell 4% . What triggered the sell-off? A White House clarification revealed that tariffs on Chinese imports will spike to 145% , not 125% as previously suggested. Even a soft inflation report couldn’t soothe investor nerves. Message from the market: relief rallies are fragile, and volatility may be the new normal . 🇺🇸🇮🇳 U.S. Suspends Extra Tariffs on India for 90 Days In a significant breather for India, the U.S. has suspended additional 26% import duties for 90 days until July 9 , after Trump’s sweeping April 2 order targeted over 60 countries. However, a 10% baseline tariff remains . India, which exports 18% of its goods to the U.S., is among the 75 nations engaging with Washington to fix non-reciprocal trade imbalances . China, Hong Kong, and Macau, notably, are excluded from this relief. With global trade reshuffling, India may have gained time—but uncertainty looms beyond July. 📉 India’s Growth Outlook Slips on Tariff Pressures Moody’s Analytics has cut India’s 2025 GDP forecast to 6.1% , down from 6.4%, blaming the economic drag from U.S. tariffs. Though Trump paused most hikes temporarily, the blanket 10% duty could still hurt. India’s Q3 GDP came in at 6.2%, but to meet the fiscal target of 6.5%, Q4 would need to clock a steep 7.6% growth . The RBI has responded by cutting interest rates by 25 basis points to 6% and shifting to an “accommodative” stance, with more rate cuts expected. With exports like gems and textiles under pressure, domestic demand may be India’s buffer —but risks are clearly rising. ⚖️ Byju’s Sued in U.S. Over Missing $533 Million In a blockbuster lawsuit, Byju’s U.S. finance arm, Alpha Inc. , has sued founder Byju Raveendran , his wife Divya , and top executives for allegedly stealing $533 million from a $1.2 billion loan. Filed in Delaware, the lawsuit accuses them of fraud, fund diversion, and blocki
Thu, April 10, 2025
Wall Street’s Record-Breaking Rally | 90 day pause on US Tariff | BlackRock Bets on Adani
This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. 🌍 Global Trade Truce — Or Just a Timeout? In a dramatic turn, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on new tariffs and rolled back the “reciprocal tariff” rate to 10% for most non-China trade partners. “No other president would’ve done what I did,” Trump declared, defending his hardline strategy that’s rocked global markets. But China wasn’t spared — tariffs on Beijing were jacked up to 125% , with Trump accusing China of “disrespecting” world markets. China retaliated swiftly, slapping 84% tariffs on US goods . The EU and Canada also joined the tit-for-tat, announcing new levies. Markets cheered the truce — or at least the pause. Wall Street roared : • S&P 500 jumped 9.5% • Nasdaq surged 12% • Dow climbed nearly 3,000 points Over 30 billion shares changed hands, making it the busiest trading day ever . Still, with talks expected to drag and China still targeted, this could just be the eye of the storm. 🏦 RBI Cuts Rates as Growth Wobbles Amid the global chaos, the Reserve Bank of India cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 6% , the second such move this year. More notably, it shifted its policy stance to “accommodative” , signaling further support if the economy slows. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra warned of mounting uncertainties, with India’s FY26 growth forecast cut to 6.5% from 6.7%. Why now? Trump’s tariff war threatens global demand. While India’s inflation is cooling (below 4% ), the rupee faces pressure as China devalues the yuan, risking India’s export competitiveness. Oil prices have dropped to $60 per barrel , but a currency war could be next. RBI’s “managed float” strategy may soon be tested like never before. 📈 BlackRock Bets Big on Adani In a bold endorsement, BlackRock — the world’s largest asset manager — picked up nearly one-third of a $1 billion bond issue by Adani Group’s promoter firm, Renew Exim . Despite a lingering US bribery case involving Adani promoters, BlackRock’s entry signals investor confidence. Most of the proceeds will fund Adani’s ₹5,000 crore acquisition of ITD Cementation , with the rest going toward a ₹5 trillion capex spree across green energy, ports, airports, and more.
Wed, April 09, 2025
US slaps 104% duty on China | BoAt IPO 2.0 | India’s Shipbuilding Surge
This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. US-China Tariff War Escalates The US-China trade tensions hit a boiling point as the White House confirmed a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, effective April 9. While President Trump says he’s “waiting for China’s call,” Beijing isn’t backing down, calling the move “blackmail.” Global markets, oddly, bounced back slightly on hopes of negotiations—but signs of a resolution remain slim. Apple’s Satcom Partner Eyes India Globalstar, the satellite partner behind Apple’s emergency SOS feature, has applied to enter India’s growing satellite market. With just 31 satellites compared to Starlink’s 7,000+, Globalstar is eyeing a niche play. But competition is heating up, with players like Jio, OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper racing for spectrum. India’s satcom sector could grow nearly 10x by 2028. BoAt Sets Sail for IPO—Again India’s popular wearables brand BoAt is gearing up for a ₹2,000 crore IPO. After shelving its 2022 plans, the company has confidentially filed papers under SEBI’s revised norms. The issue includes a ₹900 crore fresh issue and ₹1,100 crore offer-for-sale. Proceeds will fund R&D, product upgrades, and debt reduction—potentially making this one of the year’s most anticipated listings. India’s Big Shipbuilding Ambition India is charting a new course in shipbuilding, teaming up with South Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsui. Cochin Shipyard is close to sealing a deal for a new Kochi facility, with land provided by the government. The goal? Boost India’s share in the $100 billion global shipbuilding market from less than 1% to a top-5 position by 2047, backed by a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund. Apollo Hospitals Bets Big on NCD Care Apollo Hospitals is investing ₹6,000 crore to expand its urban footprint and fight India’s rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The two-phase plan will add 3,500 beds across cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. Apollo’s “Health of the Nation” report reveals 27% of 2.5 million screened individuals had multiple NCD risk factors. The healthcare giant is pushing for nationwide screening and preventive school health programs.
Tue, April 08, 2025
Ex-MLA Held in ₹750 Cr Bank Fraud | Prestige Hospitality Plans ₹2,500 Cr IPO
MARKET SHOCK: MONDAY MELTDOWN, BUT A POSSIBLE REBOUND India’s stock markets suffered their worst single-day fall in 10 months, with the Sensex plunging nearly 3%—opening 4,000 points lower—after Donald Trump’s tariff threats sent global investors into panic mode. Midcap and smallcap indices dropped even more, down 3.5% and 3.8%. Despite the turmoil, experts say this isn’t an India-specific issue. “Today’s correction is more global panic than India-specific,” noted Finavenue’s Abhishek Jaiswal. Historically, such sharp corrections are often followed by strong rebounds. Meanwhile, the rupee stayed largely stable, slipping only 0.47%, and India’s markets are still outperforming peers like Japan, Hong Kong, and the US. UP POLITICIAN ARRESTED IN MASSIVE ₹750 CR BANK FRAUD Vinay Shankar Tiwari, son of late UP strongman Hari Shankar Tiwari, was arrested in a ₹750 crore bank fraud case. The ED claims he diverted funds from a ₹1,129 crore loan taken by Gangotri Enterprises, where he was a promoter. After ignoring multiple summons, Tiwari was picked up from Lucknow following raids across five cities. Over ₹100 crore in assets have been seized. The case stems from a CBI FIR filed after complaints from the Bank of India-led lending consortium. Tiwari, once elected on a BSP ticket and later with the Samajwadi Party, is now at the heart of one of UP’s largest banking scandals. TRUMP TARIFFS COULD SHRINK INDIA’S US EXPORTS BY $5.76 BILLION India’s booming exports to the US face a serious threat under Donald Trump’s revived “America First” agenda. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative, new tariffs could slash India’s exports by over 6% in 2025. High-impact sectors include gems and jewellery, electronics, auto parts, and seafood. Of the $89.8 billion India exported to the US last year, $67.2 billion will now face a steep 26% duty—up from lower MFN rates. While some industries may benefit from Chinese penalties, many others face steep losses. India’s government is maintaining a cautious stance, avoiding retaliatory tariffs for now. LPG PRICES UP ₹50; PETROL, DIESEL EXCISE HIKED Households will pay more for cooking gas starting Tuesday, April 8, with LPG cylinder prices hiked by ₹50. Under the Ujjwala scheme, subsidized cylinders will now cost ₹550; others will pay ₹853. The government also raised excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre but clarified that pump prices will remain unchanged for now, thanks to falling global crude prices. “The price hike will be reviewed,” said Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, noting the move will help recover ₹43,000 crore in losses incurred by oil companies due to previous subsidies. PRESTIGE HOSPITALITY GEARS UP FOR ₹2,500 CR IPO Prestige Hospitality Ventures, a subsidiary of real estate major Prestige Group, is preparing to go
Mon, April 07, 2025
Markets Brace for Monday Meltdown | Skoda vs. Taxman: ₹11,526 Cr Showdown | Whisky Withstand: Premium Spirits Defy Tariffs
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Last week, the Indian stock market hit the brakes—and hard. The Sensex plunged over 2,000 points, Nifty dropped more than 600, wiping out a two-week rally. The trigger? Donald Trump’s tariff hike announcement rattled global markets, sending IT and metal stocks into a tailspin—down 7–9%. Banks and FMCG held steady, but foreign investors flipped to sellers, deepening the slide. This week is crucial. The RBI’s monetary policy meet on April 9, along with IIP and CPI data, will set the tone. TCS kicks off Q4 earnings on April 10, adding to the market’s watchlist. Technically, Nifty’s support sits at 22,600—if that breaks, 22,100 could be next. Bank Nifty is showing some strength and might just be the market’s silver lining. Meanwhile, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is in hot water over a ₹11,526 crore tax dispute. India’s customs department claims Skoda misclassified imported parts as something other than Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits between 2012 and 2024—costing the exchequer big. Skoda disagrees and has taken the matter to the Bombay High Court. But customs officials say the automaker delayed proceedings by not submitting critical documents—even after repeated requests. A past probe also found Skoda concealed 31 agreements with foreign affiliates. The court has yet to rule, but the government wants adjudication to begin—immediately. India’s PM E-Drive scheme for electric trucks? Still stuck in neutral. One year in, not a single rupee of the ₹500 crore fund has been used. No trucks subsidized. No localization rules issued. The scheme, meant to boost clean logistics, is now looking to steel, cement, ports, and logistics sectors to revive demand. But without a clear Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP), truckmakers are stuck. They say they need 18 months once rules are notified—but the clock’s ticking. The scheme ends FY26. Still, the market is moving quietly—over 6,000 electric goods carriers were sold in 2024, up from 2,600 in 2023. Chinese major BYD is leading the charge, but with ₹150 crore unused this fiscal, the government’s got work to do—and fast. Premium Indian whiskies might just dodge the U.S. tariff bullet. A fresh 26% duty hike on Indian liquor exports is worrying—but top-shelf single malts are holding their own. “Even a 30% hike won’t shake premium buyers,” says Radico Khaitan’s Amar Sinha. Last year, Indian alcohol exp
Fri, April 04, 2025
Indian Pharma Dodges U.S. Tariffs | BMW EV Sales Soar in India
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Trump’s Tariffs Shake Global Trade, But India Stays Steady Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs—10% on all imports and 27% on Indian goods—sent global markets into a tailspin, yet India’s markets showed resilience. While Japan’s Nikkei plunged nearly 3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.5%, India’s Sensex and Nifty 50 barely flinched. Analysts say India’s competitive edge remains intact, though foreign investors pulled ₹2,806 crore from stocks. Meanwhile, gold prices surged as investors sought safe havens amid U.S. economic concerns. With central banks increasing gold reserves, the move signals deeper worries about the dollar’s stability. India’s Fuel Trade With the U.S. Faces New Challenges The 27% tariff on Indian imports is set to disrupt India’s $6 billion petroleum trade with the U.S., particularly in refined fuels like gasoline. As Western nations cut Russian oil post-Ukraine war, India became a major supplier—but the new tariff threatens that role. Despite a 3.7% rise in export volume, revenue dropped 7% to $40.4 billion this fiscal year. Private refiners like Reliance and Nayara Energy are expected to take a hit. India is unlikely to retaliate with counter-tariffs, as that would raise domestic crude and LNG prices. Instead, officials are considering boosting imports of U.S. WTI crude to maintain trade ties. India’s Pharma Industry Wins Tariff Exemption Amid Trump’s tariff spree, Indian pharmaceuticals emerged unscathed. The U.S. exempted the sector, recognizing its role in providing affordable medicines worldwide. India supplies 40% of the U.S.’s generic drugs, saving the American healthcare system $219 billion in 2022 alone. With exports worth $8.7 billion to the U.S. and imports of just $800 million, the exemption benefits both nations. However, legal experts warn of potential future scrutiny under Section 232, which assesses imports based on national security concerns. For now, the exemption reinforces India’s status as the “pharmacy of the world,” opening opportunities for biosimilars and domestic API production. BMW India’s EV Sales Soar Despite Industry Caution BMW India defied concerns over slow EV adoption, reporting a threefold surge in electric vehicle sales in Q1 2024. EVs accounted for 17% of its total sales (3,914 units), with overall sales growing 7% year-on-year. While Tata Motors and
Thu, April 03, 2025
Trump’s Tariff Bomb Hits India, China, EU | India’s Green Bond Push
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Harvard in Trump’s Crosshairs Harvard is the latest Ivy League school facing Trump’s crackdown on alleged campus antisemitism. On Monday, the White House launched a review of its $9 billion in federal funding—weeks after stripping Columbia University of $400 million. Harvard’s new president, Alan Garber, has acted swiftly: dismissing Middle Eastern Studies leaders, cutting ties with a West Bank university, and reinforcing academic diversity guidelines. Critics say it’s not enough. Former Harvard President Larry Summers accused the school of ignoring Israeli perspectives, while faculty worry Garber is caving to political pressure. Princeton, too, is caught in the crossfire, with Trump pausing dozens of its research grants. Princeton’s president calls it “the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare.” Garber warns that losing federal funds could cripple research, but with Trump’s task force investigating multiple institutions, the battle is far from over. India Eyes Bigger Green Bond Target India is considering increasing its ₹25,342 crore sovereign green bond issuance for FY26, riding on investor interest. Green bonds, which fund renewable energy and climate projects, currently see a 2-3 basis point premium (“greenium”) over regular bonds in India, lower than the 3-8 points seen in developed markets. Officials expect higher returns this year amid global shifts towards sustainable finance. However, if investor demand falls short, the government may scale back. Since 2022, India has issued ₹58,000 crore in green bonds to support its 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy target by 2030. The coming months will determine investor appetite and the country’s green finance trajectory. Manufacturing Rebounds, But Trade Risks Loom India’s manufacturing sector rebounded in March, with the HSBC PMI hitting 58.1—its highest in eight months—driven by surging new orders. Strong demand and marketing efforts fueled the recovery, but concerns over potential US tariffs linger. President Trump is set to announce new trade measures on April 2, raising fears of weakened exports. A 20% tariff hike could shave 0.4% off India’s GDP, according to Capital Economics. Inflation is also rising, with higher costs for copper, electronics, and rubber. The RBI, meeting April 7-9, may cut rates to support growth, but with Q4 GDP tracking at
Wed, April 02, 2025
Zomato Cuts 600 Jobs | Aditya Birla Sells Paper Biz to ITC for ₹3,500 Cr CAG Flags Telecom & Digital Infra Failures, Billions Lost
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Zepto Bets Big on Cold Chain for Fresh Produce Quick commerce is fast, but fresh produce needs better logistics. Zepto is doubling down on cold chain infrastructure to improve margins and quality. CEO Aadit Palicha is actively seeking cold supply chain experts to enhance operations. The company has partnered with Transport Corporation of India to expand storage in the South. Fruits and vegetables account for 8-10% of quick commerce sales but face 15% wastage due to India’s fragmented cold chain. The market is projected to grow from $14.5 billion (2023) to $53 billion (2032). Zepto’s private-label meat brand, Relish, leveraged cold logistics to hit ₹150 crore ARR in six months. Zomato Lays Off 600 Employees Amid Automation Push Zomato has reportedly laid off 600 customer support employees in a bid to cut costs as growth slows. The layoffs follow AI-driven automation in customer service and financial pressures at its quick commerce arm, Blinkit. Employees claim they were dismissed without notice periods or clear explanations, while Zomato cites performance issues. On Reddit, ex-employees shared grievances, with one alleging termination for being late by 28 minutes over three months. Despite the layoffs, Zomato’s stock closed 0.84% higher at ₹203.20. Aditya Birla Exits Paper Business, Sells to ITC for ₹3,500 Crore Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd (ABREL) is exiting the paper sector, selling Century Pulp and Paper to ITC Ltd for ₹3,500 crore. The deal surpassed estimates, with Nomura valuing it at 18x EV/EBITDA for FY25. ABREL’s paper segment has struggled, with revenue falling 5.5% YoY in FY24 and margins shrinking by 410 basis points. The sale will help reduce net debt (₹4,300 crore) to near-zero, boosting ABREL’s real estate expansion. However, significant cash flow from projects like Niyaara will only materialize from FY27 onwards. ABREL’s stock is down 21% in 2025, and investors await Q4 results and the Niyaara Phase 3 launch in FY26. CAG Report Flags Revenue Losses, Weak Oversight in Telecom & Digital Infra The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised alarms over governance failures in telecom, electronics, and postal services: • Telecom: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) failed to recover ₹2,463.67 crore from telcos due to delayed audits. BSNL lost ₹1,757
Tue, April 01, 2025
Govt Eases Vi’s Debt Burden | IGL’s Solar bet, ₹2,066 Cr Projec
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Stock Market Under Pressure Indian markets may open nearly 1% lower after the Eid holiday as global trade tensions resurface. Investors are wary of US President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff deadline, which triggered sell-offs in Asian and European markets. Nifty 50 faces key support at 23,263 and resistance at 23,737, with analysts predicting volatility ahead. Meanwhile, concerns over a potential US recession (35% probability per Goldman Sachs) and FPI outflows are adding to uncertainty. IGL’s Solar Bet Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) is entering renewables through a ₹2,066 crore joint venture with Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL) to develop a 500 MWp solar project in Bikaner. With IGL holding a 74% stake, the project aligns with its ambition to build a 1 GW green energy portfolio within four years. The company, known for city gas distribution, is now expanding beyond Delhi into Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Vodafone Idea’s Lifeline Vodafone Idea (Vi) received a major boost as the government converted ₹36,950 crore of spectrum dues into equity, reducing its statutory burden by 66% over three years. This frees up ₹40,000 crore in cash flow, easing Vi’s liquidity crisis as it seeks ₹25,000 crore in bank funding. However, long-term challenges remain, with annual payments of ₹43,000 crore due between FY28-31. Without tariff hikes, Vi could require further government intervention, potentially making it a public-sector telecom operator. SEBI Cracks Down on Finfluencers India’s market regulator SEBI is tightening oversight of financial influencers, especially those registered with AMFI, as part of a broader crackdown on misinformation. With help from Meta and Google, SEBI has removed 70,000 unregistered digital financial advisors. The issue is pressing—82% of social media-driven investors act on influencer advice, yet only 2% of these influencers are SEBI-registered. SEBI is exploring ways to increase the number of registered investment advisors while experts push for stricter monitoring of financial content. Telecom Expansion Faces Roadblocks Telecom firms warn of service disruptions as 13 states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, have yet to implement the Centre’s 2024 Right of Way (RoW) rules. High municipal fees, multiple appr
Fri, March 28, 2025
Meta’s Undersea Cable to Boost India | Investors Dump US Stocks on Tariff Fears
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Jubilant FoodWorks Bets Big on Tech & Expansion Jubilant FoodWorks is ramping up its Domino’s India expansion from 2,000 to 3,000 stores, backed by Elate, an in-house Android-based POS system aimed at improving efficiency across its brands (Domino’s, Popeyes, Dunkin’, Hong’s Kitchen). CEO Sameer Khetarpal promises tech upgrades every six months, integrating AI into store management. The company is also pushing for faster deliveries, with 70% already happening in under 20 minutes and a new guaranteed 20-minute service coming to India’s top seven cities. However, dine-in sales remain sluggish as free delivery drives online orders. Meta’s Project Waterworth: Building the World’s Longest Undersea Cable Meta is advancing Project Waterworth, a 50,000-km undersea cable connecting India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and more. The aim? Faster internet and AI-driven applications across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Meta is in talks with Airtel, Jio, Tata Communications, and Lightstorm for landing the cable in India, navigating regulatory hurdles. With 95% of global data flowing through subsea cables, this move enhances India’s digital backbone while reducing dependence on geopolitically sensitive routes like the Red Sea and South China Sea. Indegene Expands AI-Driven Pharma Solutions in the US & Europe Bangalore-based Indegene is capitalizing on AI in pharma commercialization and regulation, particularly in the US and Europe, where it derives 64% of its revenue. With US pharma firms under pricing pressure, CEO Manish Gupta sees a major opportunity: “Pricing and market access are critical, and our AI-driven solutions can help.” The company has launched Cortex, an AI-powered platform, and is expanding in Europe, with a London center, an Ireland acquisition, and a move into Spain. Since 2010, Indegene has grown from ₹33 crore to ₹2,500 crore and is poised for further scale. Global Investors Shift from US Stocks Amid Tariff Uncertainty Investors are pulling billions from US stocks, redirecting funds to Europe, Asia, and emerging markets due to concerns over US tariff policies. In March alone, European investors withdrew $2.37 billion from US equity ETFs. April 2, Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff plan, threatens new trade tensions, prompting 15 of the world’s largest asset managers to reduc
Thu, March 27, 2025
KKR Offloads JB Chemicals Stake | Wipro’s $650M UK Deal
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. State Revenue Deficit Grants Shrink India’s states are receiving far less in revenue deficit grants from the Centre—plummeting from ₹1.18 lakh crore in 2021-22 to ₹24,483 crore in 2024-25, with further cuts expected next year. The 15th Finance Commission aims to push states toward financial self-reliance. While overall central transfers to states have crossed ₹9.89 lakh crore in FY25, direct revenue support has dwindled. Strong state tax revenue growth (11.1% in H1 FY25) is helping, but fiscal deficits remain near the 3% threshold. The big question: Can states sustain financial discipline without heavy central backing? Samsung Hit with $601M Tax Demand Samsung Electronics faces a $601 million tax demand from Indian authorities over alleged tariff evasion on telecom equipment imports. Officials claim Samsung misclassified “Remote Radio Heads” (RRH) to avoid 10-20% duties. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched a probe in 2021, revealing Samsung imported $784 million worth of RRHs duty-free between 2018 and 2021. Samsung denies wrongdoing and is exploring legal options. This case is part of India’s broader scrutiny of foreign firms’ import practices—Volkswagen is also under investigation for a hefty back-tax demand. Gold Rally Keeps SGB Investors from Cashing Out Gold prices are soaring, but investors in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) aren’t redeeming. Despite 14.7 tonnes being eligible for early exit, only 0.5 tonnes have been encashed, as many expect prices to touch ₹1 lakh per 10 gm amid geopolitical tensions. SGBs, introduced in 2015, offer an 8-year tenure with early exit after five years. Those who invested in 2017-18 at ₹2,951 per gm are now sitting on a 14.7% annualized return, outpacing Nifty’s 13.4%. Some experts advise locking in gains and shifting to fixed deposits yielding 7-8%. Meanwhile, gold ETFs are gaining traction, with assets nearly doubling in a year. Wipro GE Healthcare Bets Big on Local Manufacturing Wipro GE Healthcare has launched a $1 billion investment plan to boost local manufacturing, aiming to produce 70% of its products in India by 2030, up from 40-45% today. The company exports medical devices to 70 countries, with the US and Europe as key markets. While US reciprocal tariffs on Indian medtech are a concern, Wipro GE remains confident, citing its diver
Wed, March 26, 2025
Samsung Hit with $601M Tax Demand | Why SGB Investors Refuse to Cash Out
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. State Revenue Deficit Grants Shrink India’s states are receiving far less in revenue deficit grants from the Centre—plummeting from ₹1.18 lakh crore in 2021-22 to ₹24,483 crore in 2024-25, with further cuts expected next year. The 15th Finance Commission aims to push states toward financial self-reliance. While overall central transfers to states have crossed ₹9.89 lakh crore in FY25, direct revenue support has dwindled. Strong state tax revenue growth (11.1% in H1 FY25) is helping, but fiscal deficits remain near the 3% threshold. The big question: Can states sustain financial discipline without heavy central backing? Samsung Hit with $601M Tax Demand Samsung Electronics faces a $601 million tax demand from Indian authorities over alleged tariff evasion on telecom equipment imports. Officials claim Samsung misclassified “Remote Radio Heads” (RRH) to avoid 10-20% duties. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched a probe in 2021, revealing Samsung imported $784 million worth of RRHs duty-free between 2018 and 2021. Samsung denies wrongdoing and is exploring legal options. This case is part of India’s broader scrutiny of foreign firms’ import practices—Volkswagen is also under investigation for a hefty back-tax demand. Gold Rally Keeps SGB Investors from Cashing Out Gold prices are soaring, but investors in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) aren’t redeeming. Despite 14.7 tonnes being eligible for early exit, only 0.5 tonnes have been encashed, as many expect prices to touch ₹1 lakh per 10 gm amid geopolitical tensions. SGBs, introduced in 2015, offer an 8-year tenure with early exit after five years. Those who invested in 2017-18 at ₹2,951 per gm are now sitting on a 14.7% annualized return, outpacing Nifty’s 13.4%. Some experts advise locking in gains and shifting to fixed deposits yielding 7-8%. Meanwhile, gold ETFs are gaining traction, with assets nearly doubling in a year. Wipro GE Healthcare Bets Big on Local Manufacturing Wipro GE Healthcare has launched a $1 billion investment plan to boost local manufacturing, aiming to produce 70% of its products in India by 2030, up from 40-45% today. The company exports medical devices to 70 countries, with the US and Europe as key markets. While US reciprocal tariffs on Indian medtech are a concern, Wipro GE remains confident, citing its diver
Tue, March 25, 2025
Nifty Wipes Out Losses | Sebi Eases Rules, Investors Get More Freedom |
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. Markets Rally as Nifty Erases Losses Just weeks ago, Nifty was deep in the red. Now, it’s wiped out its losses for the year, riding a six-day rally that has made India one of the world’s best-performing markets this month. On Monday, Nifty surged 1.32% to 23,658, while Sensex rose 1.4% to 77,984. HDFC Bank, Reliance, SBI, and ICICI Bank led the charge. “The correction’s done—we could be heading toward record highs,” says veteran investor Ramesh Damani. Foreign investors are returning, pumping in over ₹8,000 crore in two days. However, some experts remain cautious, citing global trade tensions and volatility. Sebi Eases Investment Rules, Boosts Transparency India’s market regulator, Sebi, has revamped investment rules, doubling the disclosure threshold for foreign investors from ₹25,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore, allowing alternative investment funds to take more risks, and easing fee collection restrictions for advisors. The move, led by new chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, gives investors greater flexibility while maintaining oversight. Sebi has also set up a high-level committee to address conflicts of interest and strengthen governance, signaling a push for a more transparent and investor-friendly market. Quick Commerce Becomes a Lifeline for Consumer Brands For early-stage consumer brands, quick commerce is no longer just an add-on—it’s becoming their biggest sales channel. Startups like Sweet Karam Coffee and Wholsum Foods (Slurrp Farm) are restructuring supply chains to meet Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart’s rapid delivery demands. Sweet Karam Coffee, for instance, shifted to regional hubs, leading to a sixfold revenue surge, with 50% of sales now coming from quick commerce. Investors like Fireside Ventures see this as their fastest-growing segment. However, challenges such as high marketing costs, limited shelf space, and operational complexities could threaten long-term profitability. Car Insurance Discounts Come at a Hidden Cost The car insurance market has transformed into a game of deep discounts and costly add-ons. Insurers lure customers with up to 80% premium cuts but recover profits by charging separately for essentials like zero depreciation, roadside assistance, and preferred garages. Some policies, especially for commercial vehicles, are issued at 95-99% discounts, di
Mon, March 24, 2025
IPO Boom 2025: Big Names Ready to List | India Slips in Market Rankings as Brazil Rises
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. India’s Market Position Slips, Brazil Takes the Lead India fell three spots to sixth place in Mint’s Emerging Markets Tracker, as a stock market downturn, currency depreciation, and an 11% export decline overshadowed strong GDP growth. Meanwhile, Brazil surged to the top, driven by a 4.5% currency appreciation and stock market gains. China moved up to second, while Thailand secured third place due to export growth. Despite slower depreciation, the rupee remained one of the worst-performing currencies. Tamil Nadu’s Footwear Revolution Tamil Nadu is pivoting from leather to non-leather footwear manufacturing, attracting global brands like Nike, Puma, and Adidas. The state has secured ₹17,550 crore in investments, promising 2.3 lakh jobs. Companies like JR One Kothari have already produced 2 million Crocs, while a ₹5,000 crore Adidas facility is set to create 50,000 jobs. Rising labor costs in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia are making India a viable alternative, but challenges remain—localizing raw material supply is a priority. IPO Market Gears Up for 2025 Major firms like NSE, NSDL, Tata Capital, boAt, JSW Cement, and PhonePe are preparing for IPOs in 2025. Market volatility, investor sentiment, and US policies remain key factors. Analysts say the new wave of IPOs emphasizes financial discipline, AI integration, and ESG compliance. Among key listings, Tata Capital plans a ₹15,000 crore IPO, boAt eyes ₹2,000 crore, and JSW Cement is set for ₹4,000 crore. With market confidence rising, the IPO scene is heating up. Senior Housing, Co-Living Gain Traction India’s real estate market is shifting, with senior housing and co-living emerging as promising yet complex segments. Urbanization is driving demand for mixed-use senior living communities that blend healthcare and family housing. Meanwhile, co-living is rebounding, driven by young professionals seeking affordable housing. However, low yields and operational hurdles make investors cautious. Additionally, luxury branded residences, linked to global hospitality brands, are gaining traction among HNWIs. Indian IT Firms Lead H-1B Approvals Amid Policy Shifts Indian IT companies secured one-fifth of all H-1B visas in 2024. Infosys led Indian firms with 8,140 approvals, trailing Amazon’s 9,265. India remains t
Fri, March 21, 2025
IndiGo Soars— Next? | I₹54,000 Cr Defense Boost | Weight loss drug Mounjaro Debuts in India
To get your dose of daily business news, tune into Mint Top of the Morning on Mint Podcasts available on all audio streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/show/7x8Nv1RlOKyMV5IftIJwP1?si=bf5ecbaedd8f4ddc This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. IndiGo Soars to New Highs but Faces Valuation Concerns IndiGo’s stock hit a 52-week high of ₹5,190, fueled by strong management commentary and rising air travel demand from the Mahakumbh gathering and an extended wedding season. Passenger traffic surged 17% YoY, lifting revenue per seat. Since January, the stock has gained 25%, delivering a 58% annual return—far outpacing the Nifty 50. However, its valuation of 9.5x earnings exceeds global airline peers like Air China (8.8x) and the industry average (5.5x). IndiGo plans to expand international capacity from 28% to 40% by 2030, adding one aircraft per week and cutting grounded planes. Despite strong fundamentals, analysts warn the upside is limited, with Motilal Oswal and Nuvama setting target prices below its current ₹5,097 level. Eli Lilly Brings Mounjaro to India Eli Lilly has launched Mounjaro, its diabetes and weight-loss drug, in India after securing regulatory approval. With over 101 million diabetes cases and rising obesity, India is a key market for the pharma giant. Already sold in the UK and Europe under the same name and as Zepbound in the U.S., Mounjaro is expected to tap into a global obesity drug market projected to reach $150 billion annually by the 2030s. CEO David Ricks had hinted at a 2025 India launch, and now it’s a reality. Accenture’s Warning Spells Trouble for IT Sector Accenture flagged macroeconomic uncertainty in the U.S., citing weaker earnings and federal contract delays under the Trump administration. The IT giant’s Q2 revenue fell 5.8% sequentially to $16.66 billion but grew 5.4% YoY. Its Q3 revenue outlook remains between $16.9 billion and $17.5 billion, with full-year growth guidance capped at 7%. For Indian IT majors like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, this signals headwinds, as analysts predict slower growth for India’s $283-billion IT sector in FY26 due to high interest rates and geopolitical risks. However, AI offers a bright spot—Accenture secured $1.4 billion in Gen AI bookings last quarter, with total AI-related orders hitting $5.6 billion since September 2023. The Corporate Rebranding Wave: More Than Just a Name Change? Following Zomato’s shift to Eternal, CK Birla Group’s HIL Ltd has rebranded as BirlaNu Ltd, while Hindalco has also refreshed its identity. Experts say rebranding reflects strategic shifts, next
Thu, March 20, 2025
Trump Towers in Pune | Prologis Invests $500M | Mid & Small Caps Shine
It's Thursday, March 20th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Market Rally Continues, Mid- & Small-Caps Shine Indian markets extended their winning streak for the third straight session, with the Sensex closing 148 points higher at 75,449 and Nifty 50 reclaiming 22,900. However, the real momentum was in mid- and small-cap stocks, which surged over 2%, adding nearly ₹5 lakh crore in investor wealth. “The market’s positive momentum is backed by valuations,” said Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services, though global uncertainties persist. While Shriram Finance and HDFC Life led the gains, ITC and Tech Mahindra lagged. Analysts expect rangebound movement, with support at 22,600 and resistance at 23,100. Trump Organization Enters India’s Commercial Realty Market After four luxury residential projects, the Trump Organization is launching its first commercial venture in India—Trump World Center Pune. Partnering with Tribeca Developers and Kundan Spaces, the ₹1,700 crore office complex will span 1.6 million sq. ft. with a premium retail boulevard. “There’s a dearth of premium office spaces in India,” said Tribeca’s Kalpesh Mehta. With record-high leasing in Pune’s commercial market, experts believe Trump’s entry will reshape the city’s office landscape. Prologis Bets Big on India’s Warehousing Boom Global warehouse giant Prologis is investing $500 million in India by 2026 to develop large warehousing parks. “The market is underserved, and there’s massive potential,” said Prologis CIO Joseph Ghazal. With major clients like Amazon, the firm is expanding in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai. It has already secured 270 acres for projects in Chennai and Bengaluru. As India’s Grade A warehousing sector grows, Prologis may eventually expand into data centers. RBI’s Balancing Act on the Rupee With the rupee depreciating 2.1% in 70 days under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the RBI faces a tough choice—intervene or let markets decide. “The uncertainty around Trump’s policies is a key factor,” said economist Madan Sabnavis. India’s $654 billion forex reserves provide a cushion, but too much intervention could distort market dynamics. Former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao cautioned, “Excessive intervention could make markets reliant on the RBI.” India Builds Tur Buffer to Curb Inflation To stabilize tur (pigeon pea) prices, the government is targeting a 1-million-tonne buffer for FY26. With production up 3% to 3.5 million tonnes, procurement has reached 200,000 tonnes so far. Despite an MSP of ₹7,550 per 100 kg, market prices fluctuate between ₹7,000-7,600. Imports from Mozambique and Myanmar help bridge the demand gap. The government has allocated ₹4,019 crore under the Price Stabilization Fund to mai
Thu, March 20, 2025
Trump Towers in Pune | Prologis Invests $500M | Mid & Small Caps Shine
It's Thursday, March 20th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Market Rally Continues, Mid- & Small-Caps Shine Indian markets extended their winning streak for the third straight session, with the Sensex closing 148 points higher at 75,449 and Nifty 50 reclaiming 22,900. However, the real momentum was in mid- and small-cap stocks, which surged over 2%, adding nearly ₹5 lakh crore in investor wealth. “The market’s positive momentum is backed by valuations,” said Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services, though global uncertainties persist. While Shriram Finance and HDFC Life led the gains, ITC and Tech Mahindra lagged. Analysts expect rangebound movement, with support at 22,600 and resistance at 23,100. Trump Organization Enters India’s Commercial Realty Market After four luxury residential projects, the Trump Organization is launching its first commercial venture in India—Trump World Center Pune. Partnering with Tribeca Developers and Kundan Spaces, the ₹1,700 crore office complex will span 1.6 million sq. ft. with a premium retail boulevard. “There’s a dearth of premium office spaces in India,” said Tribeca’s Kalpesh Mehta. With record-high leasing in Pune’s commercial market, experts believe Trump’s entry will reshape the city’s office landscape. Prologis Bets Big on India’s Warehousing Boom Global warehouse giant Prologis is investing $500 million in India by 2026 to develop large warehousing parks. “The market is underserved, and there’s massive potential,” said Prologis CIO Joseph Ghazal. With major clients like Amazon, the firm is expanding in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai. It has already secured 270 acres for projects in Chennai and Bengaluru. As India’s Grade A warehousing sector grows, Prologis may eventually expand into data centers. RBI’s Balancing Act on the Rupee With the rupee depreciating 2.1% in 70 days under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the RBI faces a tough choice—intervene or let markets decide. “The uncertainty around Trump’s policies is a key factor,” said economist Madan Sabnavis. India’s $654 billion forex reserves provide a cushion, but too much intervention could distort market dynamics. Former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao cautioned, “Excessive intervention could make markets reliant on the RBI.” India Builds Tur Buffer to Curb Inflation To stabilize tur (pigeon pea) prices, the government is targeting a 1-million-tonne buffer for FY26. With production up 3% to 3.5 million tonnes, procurement has reached 200,000 tonnes so far. Despite an MSP of ₹7,550 per 100 kg, market prices fluctuate between ₹7,000-7,600. Imports from Mozambique and Myanmar help bridge the demand gap. The government has allocated ₹4,019 crore under the Price Stabilization Fund to mai
Wed, March 19, 2025
Bajaj-Allianz Split | Voter IDs to Aadhaar link | Tata Trent’s Tumble
It's Wednesday, March 19th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. ECI to Link Voter IDs with Aadhaar Amid Concerns The Election Commission of India (ECI) will consult UIDAI to link voter IDs (EPIC) with Aadhaar for those who voluntarily provided it. This move aims to eliminate duplicate registrations while adhering to legal provisions. With 66.23 crore voters already sharing Aadhaar details, the plan faces opposition, particularly from the Trinamool Congress, over concerns of duplicate EPIC numbers. The ECI admitted to some errors in assigning codes but clarified that demographic and polling details remain unique. With 99.2 crore registered voters, upcoming discussions will determine how Aadhaar integration can enhance electoral roll accuracy while maintaining privacy and voluntary participation. Trent’s Stock Stumbles as Zudio Growth Slows Trent Ltd., which saw a 935% stock surge post-pandemic, is now the worst-performing Nifty 50 stock in 2025, down 26%. The slowdown is tied to Zudio’s lagging expansion, as store additions fall below expectations. Growing competition in budget fashion and slower Westside expansion—due to a shift toward larger stores—are also weighing on growth. Analysts, however, remain optimistic about Trent’s long-term prospects, citing its strong private labels and diversification into beauty and lab-grown diamonds. But for now, Zudio’s future will dictate Trent’s stock movement. Bajaj Group to Buy Allianz’s Stake for ₹24,180 Crore Bajaj Group is set to acquire Allianz SE’s 26% stake in Bajaj Allianz General and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, valuing both businesses at ₹93,000 crore. While Bajaj gains full control, analysts predict a future public listing of the insurance arms. Despite high solvency ratios—300% for general insurance and 369% for life insurance—the deal’s valuation raises questions. The general insurance acquisition came at a 16% discount compared to ICICI Lombard, but the life insurance buyout appears costly, with weaker profitability. Investors remain cautious as Bajaj’s exposure to lending via Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Housing Finance could impact sentiment. The real challenge lies in delivering future earnings growth. Sebi’s Settlement Process Under Fire for Delays & High Costs Sebi’s settlement mechanism, meant to fast-track securities law violations, is under scrutiny for delays and steep penalties. In FY25, settlements collected ₹851 crore—nearly seven times the ₹125 crore from FY23. Even excluding a ₹643-crore NSE case, the jump is substantial. Yet, efficiency is lagging, with pending settlement cases doubling from 137 in FY23 to 289 in FY24. Critics argue that Sebi arbitrarily inflates settlement amounts and imposes strict non-monetary penalties like voluntary debarments. While Sebi is workin
Tue, March 18, 2025
Whisky Wins: ABD Doubles Down | US Tariffs, India Eyes New Trade Avenues |
It's Tuesday, March 18th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India’s Solar Growth Faces Execution Challenges Despite crossing 200 GW in renewable capacity, India’s solar energy adoption remains slow, contributing under 10% to its electricity mix. While solar capacity surged from 3.7 GW in 2015 to over 100 GW, issues like weak transmission infrastructure, land acquisition delays, and hesitant power distributors persist. Moreover, the US SEC is probing Adani Green and Azure Power over alleged bribery in solar contracts. Experts suggest grid modernization, better state-Centre coordination, and rooftop solar expansion as key solutions to achieve the 500 GW renewables target by 2030. ABD Bets on Premium Liquor Amid Market Slowdown With India’s liquor market cooling, Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD) is focusing on premiumization. The maker of Officer’s Choice aims to raise its “prestige-and-above” segment share from 42% to 50% and launch two to three brands next fiscal. Managing Director Alok Gupta sees macroeconomic headwinds but remains bullish on high-end spirits like gin brand Zoya and single malt Arthaus. ABD is also expanding production and partnering with Ranveer Singh to drive brand growth, targeting double-digit value gains. India Braces for US Tariff Impact, Eyes Trade Diversification India’s exports to the US may dip 3-3.5% if Washington enforces reciprocal tariffs in April. With a $35.3 billion trade surplus, India is under scrutiny as the US targets nations with higher import duties. However, India’s FTAs and diversification into global supply chains could soften the impact. The US’s 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports might even benefit India by easing competition. As US economic growth slows, India must prioritize value-added exports and alternative trade routes via West Asia. UNO Minda’s EV Expansion Faces Market Realities India’s auto industry grew 7% YoY in Q3FY25, but weak passenger and commercial vehicle sales weighed on momentum. EV registrations jumped 37%, boosting component maker UNO Minda, whose stock initially soared 60% on its EV push. However, with EVs contributing under 6% to revenue, shares corrected 30%. Minda continues investing in high-voltage powertrain components and expanding in Indonesia. While rising costs and debt pose challenges, rural two-wheeler demand and operational efficiencies could aid long-term growth. Meta Battles CCI Over WhatsApp Data Sharing Meta is challenging a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order banning WhatsApp from sharing user data with Facebook and Instagram, along with a ₹213 crore fine. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) will decide on May 13 whether to hear Meta’s appeal before or after India’s new
Mon, March 17, 2025
BIS Cracks Down | India-New Zealand FTA Talks | Sugar Alert
It's Monday, March 16th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. BIS Cracks Down on Non-Certified E-Commerce Products India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has intensified its crackdown on non-certified products sold via Amazon and Flipkart. Recent raids in Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi led to the seizure of thousands of uncertified goods, including toys, hand blenders, and gas stoves. Investigators traced the source to Techvision International Pvt Ltd, resulting in further seizures of over 11,000 appliances. Legal action is underway under the BIS Act, 2016, with potential fines and jail time. As non-compliant products flood online marketplaces, BIS urges consumers to verify certifications via its BIS Care app while ramping up surveillance to ensure product safety. Berkshire Hathaway’s Buyback Pause Continues Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has halted stock buybacks since May 2024—the longest pause since Buffett gained expanded repurchase authority in 2018. A recent proxy filing confirmed no buybacks between Feb. 10 and March 5, signaling Buffett doesn’t see Berkshire’s stock as undervalued. Despite this, the company’s stock has surged, with Class A shares reaching $771,250—up 13% in 2024, outperforming the S&P 500. Investors remain optimistic due to Berkshire’s $300 billion cash reserves and strong insurance sector performance. With the stock trading at 1.7 times book value and 25 times projected earnings, analysts suggest buybacks may remain scarce unless prices drop. India-New Zealand Resume Free Trade Talks India and New Zealand have reopened negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to deepen economic ties, following talks between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay. Talks, originally launched in 2010, stalled in 2015 due to disputes over dairy access and market entry. New Zealand seeks broader agricultural exports, while India is pushing for better IT and services market access. With bilateral trade at just $1.54 billion in FY24, both nations see untapped potential. The renewed talks align with India’s broader FTA strategy, following deals with Australia and EFTA, as negotiators now focus on tariff reductions and investment facilitation. BWH Hotels Expands Aggressively in India BWH Hotels, operator of Best Western and SureStay, is expanding in India with 21 newly built hotels over the next two years. Speaking at HOPE 2025, CEO Larry Cuculic emphasized a shift from conversions to fresh builds to maintain quality. BWH currently operates 32 hotels across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with plans to expand into secondary markets, driven by infrastructure growth and rising demand for business and wedding travel. The company has signed 54 properties, aiming for 100 hotels in 5-7 years.
Fri, March 14, 2025
LG’s Mega IPO | CG Power’s Big Moves | Tata Motors’ Rough Ride
It's Friday, March 14th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. LG Electronics India’s ₹15,000 Crore IPO Gets SEBI Nod LG Electronics India has received SEBI approval for its ₹15,000 crore IPO, following Hyundai Motors as the second South Korean company to list in India. The 100% offer-for-sale (OFS) will see the parent company offload a 15% stake, with proceeds not going to LG India. With ₹64,087 crore revenue in FY24, the consumer electronics giant is gearing up for listing amid rising demand for premium appliances. Tata Motors Faces Headwinds as Auto Rally Cools India’s booming auto industry is slowing down. The Nifty Auto Index, up 36% post-pandemic, has dipped 25% since September, with Tata Motors losing 33% of its value. The slowdown in Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) sales, tightening EU emission norms, and China’s EV shift have hit Tata hard. Its EV market share in India has dropped from 73% to 53% due to rising competition. Despite these challenges, Tata remains bullish on JLR’s cash flow, but investors await signs of a rebound. Reliance FMCG Expansion Will Take Time Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) is scaling up its FMCG business, aiming for nationwide reach in 3-4 years. With brands like Campa Cola and Independence, RCPL has already taken 10% of the sparkling beverage market in key states. However, success hinges on building a strong general trade network—critical for India’s mom-and-pop-driven market. With a target of 5-6 million retail outlets and ₹1,000 crore turnover expected for FY25, Reliance is playing the long game. CG Power’s Big Bets on Railways and Semiconductors CG Power is capitalizing on India’s infrastructure push, securing a ₹450 crore contract for Vande Bharat trainsets. It’s also making a ₹7,600 crore bet on semiconductors, launching a chip assembly plant in Gujarat with government backing. A ₹9,706 crore order book (up 70% YoY) signals growth ahead. Brokerages are bullish—Nomura projects a 33% upside. With India prioritizing infrastructure and high-tech industries, CG Power is positioning itself as an industrial powerhouse. Sun Pharma Expands Oncology Play with $355M Checkpoint Buy Sun Pharma is strengthening its oncology pipeline with the $355 million acquisition of US-based Checkpoint Therapeutics. This gives it access to Unloxcyt, an FDA-approved skin cancer drug with a $500M peak sales potential. Though Checkpoint has been loss-making, Sun sees long-term value in high-margin specialty drugs, which now contribute 18% of revenue. However, with the stock down 11% in 2025, the success of Unloxcyt’s launch will be critical for investor confidence.
Thu, March 13, 2025
India’s IT Stocks Plunge | Gold’s Surge Raises India’s SGB Liabilities
It's Thursday, March 13th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. 1. Saudi’s Riyadh Air Eyes India for Expansion Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new airline, sees India as a key market, with CEO Tony Douglas calling it “super important.” Set to begin operations this year, the airline is in early talks with Air India and IndiGo for potential partnerships. Riyadh Air plans to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 destinations by 2030 and has already partnered with Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta. With a fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A321 neos, the airline is tapping into India’s booming aviation market, where Indians form the second-largest expat group in Saudi Arabia. Notably, 16% of Riyadh Air’s staff are Indian. 2. Estée Lauder, DPIIT to Boost India’s Beauty Startups India’s beauty and personal care startups are set for a major push as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) partners with US cosmetics giant Estée Lauder. Through its BEAUTY&YOU India initiative, the collaboration will offer funding, mentorship, and global industry access, with a special focus on women-led startups. India’s beauty market is expected to grow from $7.43 billion in 2025 to $9.69 billion by 2034. “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative,” said Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT. With India boasting the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, this partnership could drive innovation and scaling opportunities for beauty entrepreneurs. 3. India’s IT Stocks Plunge Amid Growth Concerns India’s top IT firms—TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra—saw their stocks fall up to 4.28%, erasing ₹75,414 crore in market value. Brokerages Morgan Stanley, Kotak Institutional Equities, and Motilal Oswal flagged concerns over sluggish IT spending recovery in FY26-27. High interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and vendor consolidation are slowing discretionary tech spending. “We see a transition phase where IT spending is reprioritized, moderating growth,” noted Morgan Stanley analysts. Despite these headwinds, Nasscom projects the IT industry to cross $300 billion by March 2026, implying 6.2% annual growth, though analysts remain skeptical. 4. Gold’s Surge Raises India’s Sovereign Gold Bond Liabilities As gold prices soar and equities struggle, the Indian government faces rising liabilities on its Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme, which ties payouts to gold’s market price. Gold has outperformed equities since 2015, rising 3.46 times its value, while Nifty 50 has declined. ₹2.39 trillion has already been paid under gold-related schemes since 2017, with another ₹1.4 trillion budgeted for 2024-26. With 132,000 kg of gold equivalent set for payout between 2025 and 2032, a prolonged gold rally could strain gove
Wed, March 12, 2025
IndusInd’s ₹19,000 Cr Wipeout - Govt Plans LIC Stake Sale | Temasek Bites into Haldiram’s
It's Wednesday, March 12th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Govt Plans LIC Stake Sale The Indian government may sell a 2-3% stake in LIC in FY26, subject to market conditions, as part of SEBI’s mandate to reduce its stake to 90% by 2027. Instead of a single offering, the sale might be in tranches to maximize value. With a 96.5% holding, the Centre’s stake sale could fetch ₹9,500-14,500 crore at current prices. However, with weak market sentiment, analysts believe the government will wait for a recovery. Temasek’s ₹8,500 Crore Bet on Haldiram’s Singapore’s Temasek has acquired a 10% stake in Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt. Ltd. for ₹8,500 crore, valuing the snack giant at ₹85,000 crore ($10 billion). The deal follows a restructuring merging Haldiram’s Delhi and Nagpur operations under one entity. The family may sell another 5% stake to Blackstone or Alphawave Global. With ₹14,000 crore revenue in FY24 and a 40% market share, Haldiram’s is eyeing an IPO in 24-36 months, signaling strong investor interest in India’s growing food sector. Zydus Expands into Medical Devices with €256.8M French Acquisition Zydus Lifesciences is set to acquire an 85.6% stake in French firm Amplitude Surgical for €256.8 million, with plans for a full €300 million buyout. This move marks Zydus’ entry into global medtech, focusing on orthopaedics, cardiology, and nephrology. “We aim to build a sizable medtech business in 5-7 years,” said MD Sharvil Patel. With India still importing 80-85% of medical devices, Zydus sees a major opportunity in local manufacturing and global expansion. Fewer Promotions, Modest Salary Hikes in 2025 Employees may see career growth slow in 2025, with promotions projected to drop 25%, per Deloitte. Economic uncertainty, slower revenue growth (4.4% in Q3FY25 vs. 9.1% two quarters ago), and cost-cutting measures are driving this trend. US President Trump’s proposed tariffs could further impact key Indian industries. Companies are tightening performance evaluations, and salary hikes are expected to average 9.2% in 2025, slightly lower than last year. Some IT firms may offer promotions without pay raises to retain staff, while Vedanta Group remains an outlier, maintaining promotion levels. IndusInd Bank’s ₹19,000 Crore Stock Meltdown IndusInd Bank’s stock crashed over 25% after revealing discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio spanning 5-7 years, impacting net worth by 2.35% (~₹1,600 crore). An external audit is underway, but the disclosure has raised concerns over internal controls. The RBI recently granted CEO Sumant Kathpalia just a one-year extension, possibly due to this issue. With a 50% stock decline in six months and stress in its microfinance portfolio, IndusInd faces a tough road ah
Tue, March 11, 2025
Ola’s Regulatory Woes, Spotify’s Growth, Inflation Eases
It's Tuesday, March 11th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. 🚨 Ola Electric Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Ola Electric’s rapid expansion—4,000 stores in two years—has run into legal trouble. A Bloomberg report claims 95% of its showrooms lack trade certificates needed to display or sell unregistered vehicles, triggering raids, shutdowns, and vehicle seizures across states. Ola dismissed the allegations as “misplaced and prejudiced,” but internal documents suggest it only sought certification after facing scrutiny. Meanwhile, its stock fell 4% on March 10, adding to a 60% decline since its IPO. Alongside regulatory woes, Ola is battling layoffs, launch delays, and shrinking market share as Bajaj and TVS gain ground. A major red flag? Ola reported 25,000 vehicle sales in February, but only 8,600 were officially registered. CEO Bhavish Aggarwal remains optimistic about a turnaround, but challenges continue to mount. 🎵 Spotify’s India Strategy Pays Off, But Can It Make Money? When Spotify entered India in 2019, competition was fierce. Yet, six years later, it has emerged as a dominant player, with 91 million unique visitors and 46% YoY growth in listening hours. Its success lies in hyper-local strategies—curated regional playlists, flexible pricing, and an artist-centric approach. “India was our 79th market, and we were here for the long game,” says Amarjit Batra, MD of Spotify India. Over 70% of streams now come from local artists. However, monetization remains a challenge—subscription prices in India are much lower than in Western markets, and artist payouts remain a pain point. Spotify has changed India’s music habits, but whether it can turn free listeners into paying subscribers remains the billion-dollar question. 📉 Inflation Cools, Strengthening Case for Rate Cuts India’s retail inflation likely eased to 3.9% in February from 4.3% in January, marking four straight months of cooling prices, according to a Mint poll of 25 economists. The key driver? Falling food prices, especially vegetables, which saw inflation drop from 40% last year to 11.4% now. With inflation undershooting RBI forecasts, economists believe this could pave the way for a rate cut in April. “A moderation in CPI inflation below 4% should provide space for the MPC to lower rates by another 25 basis points,” says Annubhuti Sahay of Standard Chartered Bank. However, with GDP growth at 6.2%, the RBI will need to balance inflation control with economic stimulus. The official inflation report, due March 12, will be a key indicator of the central bank’s next move. 🏸 Gopichand Warns Parents: ‘Don’t Push Kids Into Sports Without Money’ Former Olympian and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand has sparked debate by cautioning parents against pushing kids into professional sports unless they a
Mon, March 10, 2025
Gensol in Crisis | Brick vs. Click - Online Can’t Kill Offline!
It's Monday, March 10th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. 🚀 Gensol’s Debt Crisis: Can It Survive? Gensol Engineering, once a rising star in solar and EVs, is now in deep financial trouble. Chairman Anmol Singh Jaggi pledged 85.5% of his stake to fund expansion, but missed loan repayments triggered a credit downgrade. As its stock plummeted 37% in a week, investors asked: Where did the money go? In a bid to stay afloat, Gensol is selling assets worth ₹315 crore, including its US solar tracking unit. If the deals go through, survival is possible—if not, lenders may take over. Jaggi remains optimistic, but can Gensol escape its own debt trap? ⚡ Ultraviolette’s Big Bet on EVs Ultraviolette Automotive, backed by TVS, Qualcomm, and Zoho, aims to redefine high-performance EVs. With only 1,000 motorcycles on the road, it just unveiled two new models—the Tesseract EV scooter and the Shockwave enduro bike—hoping for mass adoption and profitability within 18 months. But analysts are skeptical, citing price-sensitive buyers and Ola Electric’s recent struggles. Still, Ultraviolette is expanding across India and Europe while slashing early-bird prices to attract customers. CEO Narayan Subramaniam insists, “We are prioritizing access.” The question is—will buyers respond? 🛍️ Online vs. Offline Retail: A New Balance E-commerce revolutionized shopping, but physical stores aren’t dying just yet. A PwC survey found that 34% of Indian shoppers still prefer offline stores, compared to 21% who shop exclusively online. The reason? Trust, touch, and personalized service. While quick commerce thrives, local retailers are adapting—blending digital tools with in-store experiences. As India’s retail market heads toward a $1.89 trillion future, the key to success isn’t choosing one model over the other but mastering both. 🎶 AI vs. Music Labels: The Copyright Battle Indian music giants like Saregama, T-Series, and Sony are suing OpenAI, accusing it of training AI models on copyrighted music without permission. Their fear? AI could generate music in an artist’s style, undermining licensing revenues and creative identity. “Labels risk losing control over their assets,” warns IndusLaw’s Bharadwaj Jaishankar. Globally, AI-generated content is sparking legal debates—Drake even faced backlash for using AI to mimic Tupac. As technology challenges traditional copyright laws, the music industry faces a critical question: How do we protect human artistry in an AI-driven world? 🏨 BWH Hotels’ India Expansion BWH Hotels (Best Western, SureStay) is betting big on India, with plans for 21 new hotels in two years—all newly built, signaling a shift from conversions. CEO Larry Cuculic sees secondary markets as key, thanks to better infrastruct
Fri, March 07, 2025
Nifty’s Slide: Is the Worst Over? | Razorpay Goes Global
It's Friday, March 7th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India’s Market Turmoil & Potential Rebound The Nifty 50 has plunged 14% from its September peak, making it one of 2025’s worst-performing global indices. However, India’s steep valuations have cooled, with MSCI India’s forward P/E ratio dropping to 17.93x. Analysts suggest the correction may be nearing its end, as similar past downturns have led to rebounds. While Jefferies India sees potential for outperformance, uncertainty remains due to delayed tax cuts, RBI policy shifts, and global trade tensions. Investors are closely watching upcoming inflation data (March 12), RBI’s April rate decision, and the U.S. Fed’s March 18-19 meeting for liquidity signals. The road ahead remains volatile, but history hints at a turnaround. Razorpay Expands to Singapore Fintech giant Razorpay is entering Singapore, its second Southeast Asian market after Malaysia, aiming to simplify payments and cut cross-border transaction fees by up to 40%. “Singapore is the ideal market for our next phase of growth,” said co-founder Shashank Kumar. With digital payments projected to hit $180 billion by 2029 and near-total cashless adoption, the expansion is strategic. Razorpay’s payment gateway Curlec, which launched in Malaysia, is already seeing 30% month-on-month growth. Backed by investors like Tiger Global and Peak XV, Razorpay reported ₹2,501 crore in FY24 revenue, with net profits at ₹34 crore. While expanding globally, the India-born firm is also preparing for a domestic listing. Mudra Yojana’s Impact on Small Businesses For years, small business owners in India struggled to access credit due to collateral requirements and complex banking norms. In 2015, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to provide collateral-free loans. Since then, ₹31.85 trillion has been disbursed, with Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka receiving the highest amounts. Over 516 million loans have been sanctioned, fueling entrepreneurship, job creation, and financial inclusion. Q3 FY25 saw a record ₹3.39 trillion disbursed, reflecting strong demand. In response, the government raised the loan limit to ₹20 lakh, effective October 2024. Meanwhile, non-performing assets (NPAs) under the scheme have improved, dropping to 3.4% in FY24. The U.S.-China Quantum Computing Race Quantum computing, a technology capable of solving problems in minutes that would take today’s supercomputers billions of years, has sparked a fierce U.S.-China rivalry. In Hefei, a Chinese startup displayed a rare quantum machine, while American giants like Google and IBM pushed the field’s limits. China’s state-backed model has advanced quantum communications, sensing, and cooling technology, while America’s private-sector-led innovation fac
Thu, March 06, 2025
Cancer Drug Prices Set to Fall | Coforge’s Record-Breaking Deal | ITC Hotels’ Rough Debut
It's Thursday, March 6th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. ITC Hotels’ Rough Debut January 29 was supposed to be a landmark day for ITC Hotels as it began trading independently. However, shares debuted nearly 30% below the implied price, dampening initial enthusiasm. Despite this, analysts remain bullish, valuing the company between ₹42,500-₹62,000 crore. ITC Hotels aims to expand to 200 hotels with 18,000 rooms in five years, relying on managed properties. However, investors worry about its limited owned-hotel pipeline. As competitors like IHCL and Marriott ramp up expansion, ITC Hotels must carve out its niche in a booming industry. Coforge’s Record-Breaking Deal Coforge Ltd soared 8% after securing a record 13-year, $1.56 billion deal with US travel tech giant Sabre Corp. This long-term contract ensures strong revenue visibility for FY26, even as tech budgets shrink. Coforge also acquired Rythmos Inc. for $48.7 million and TMLabs for $12.5 million, further expanding its portfolio. A 1:5 stock split was announced to boost liquidity. However, Sabre’s $5.1 billion debt raises cash collection concerns. Despite this, Coforge has outperformed peers, with its December order book reaching $1.4 billion—up 40% YoY. Tesla, Tariffs & Trump India’s sky-high auto tariffs—up to 110%—have kept foreign automakers like Tesla out, despite Elon Musk’s repeated attempts to enter the market. Now, US President Donald Trump has joined the fight, slamming India’s “unfair” tariffs and threatening retaliatory action. As trade negotiations intensify, India has begun cutting duties on luxury vehicles—a possible opening for Tesla. With Trade Minister Piyush Goyal in the US for talks, the world watches to see if India will open its doors to global carmakers or protect its domestic industry. Cancer Drug Prices Set to Fall Cancer treatment in India is notoriously expensive, with some drugs costing up to ₹2 lakh per month. That’s changing, thanks to domestic production under the government’s PLI scheme. Leading pharma firms like Sun Pharma, Cipla, and Biocon are now manufacturing key cancer drugs, significantly cutting prices. For example, Trastuzumab, once ₹70,000 per month, now costs ₹12,000. More price reductions are expected as local production scales up. The initiative not only benefits Indian patients but also strengthens India’s role as the “pharmacy of the world,” with exports to South America and Africa. Rupee Rises Amid Market Rally The rupee strengthened by 19 paise to close at 87.00 against the US dollar, supported by a rally in domestic equities, a weaker dollar, and falling crude oil prices. Volatility remained high, with the currency fluctuating between 86.93 and 87.20. Meanwhile, the dollar index slipped 0.79% amid Trump’s esca
Wed, March 05, 2025
SEBI’s ‘Mitra’ Helps Investors | India’s Steel Industry Faces Tariff Fallout
It's Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India’s Steel Industry Faces Tariff Fallout India’s steel industry was on a growth path—until US tariffs disrupted global trade flows. With Washington slapping 25% tariffs on steel from Mexico and Canada and doubling duties on Chinese imports, China’s steel exports to the US have become unviable. This surplus steel now threatens to flood India, driving prices down and squeezing margins. “India becomes the natural target for Chinese steel at the worst possible time,” warns Karan Pahuja of ISSDA. While some see opportunity—like Abhyuday Jindal of Jindal Stainless, who notes that Indian exports to the US may gain—others worry that surplus steel from Korea and Japan could also hit domestic markets. The industry is now looking to the Indian government for protective measures. BSE Stock Tumbles Amid SEBI Proposal—But Is Panic Justified? BSE shares plunged 20% after SEBI’s February 24 consultation paper raised concerns over trading volumes. At issue is SEBI’s plan to change how open interest is calculated in index derivatives, shifting to a delta-based method to reduce systemic risks. But fears may be overblown—SEBI’s own data shows that in 89% of cases last November, the proposed limits wouldn’t have been breached. Additionally, SEBI’s move to restrict derivatives to broader indices aims to prevent manipulation, but exchanges could tweak index compositions to comply. With single-stock derivatives also facing new limits, analysts believe only low-liquidity stocks will be affected. After four days of declines, BSE shares rebounded 2%, signaling investors are reassessing the panic. SEBI’s ‘Mitra’ Helps Investors Recover Forgotten Mutual Funds Millions of old mutual fund investments remain unclaimed, particularly those opened before PAN was mandatory in 2006. SEBI’s new digital assistant, Mitra, developed by KFin Technologies and CAMS, aims to fix this. Investors can visit MFcentral.com, enter their details (beyond just PAN), and track down inactive folios. While verification remains a challenge for accounts with outdated contact details, experts see Mitra as a game-changer. “It’s a much-needed tool to consolidate scattered investments,” says Abhishek Kumar of SahajMoney. Still in beta, Mitra marks SEBI’s latest effort to safeguard investor wealth and modernize financial tracking. Adani Wilmar Expands Into Packaged Foods With ₹603 Crore Deal Adani Wilmar, known for its Fortune and Kohinoor brands, is strengthening its foothold in Indian kitchens. The company is acquiring G.D. Foods—makers of Tops ketchup and noodles—for ₹603 crore as part of its ₹1,000 crore push into packaged foods. The deal gives Adani Wilmar access to a range of processed products and a retail presence in 150,000 stores across North India.
Tue, March 04, 2025
Paytm’s ₹611 Crore Regulatory Setback
It's Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India’s Motor Insurance Crisis For years, third-party motor insurance in India was a predictable business, but premium rates have been frozen for nearly three years, even as claims and inflation surged. As a result, underwriting losses are mounting. While some experts call for a 20% premium hike, others argue for better provisioning. With insurers struggling and India’s “Insurance for All” vision at stake, the big question is—will regulators step in before insurers pull back? Paytm’s ₹611 Crore Regulatory Setback Once a fintech darling, Paytm now faces a regulatory storm. The Enforcement Directorate has issued a ₹611 crore FEMA violation notice, alleging improper foreign investments between 2015-2019. Paytm disputes the claims, saying it didn’t own the subsidiaries in question at the time. While its stock dipped 4%, it rebounded by close. Can Paytm navigate this crisis, or is more turbulence ahead? IDBI Bank’s $143.7 Million Legal Victory IDBI Bank won a UK court ruling over a $67 million loan default tied to former Aircel promoter C. Sivasankaran. The court deemed a “letter of comfort” legally binding, but enforcing the judgment in India could prove challenging. With potential delays from appeals and insolvency proceedings, IDBI may need to explore aggressive legal options to recover its dues. India’s Shift from Two-Wheelers to Used Cars As incomes rise, more Indians are moving from two-wheelers to cars—but many are choosing second-hand vehicles. Used car sales are booming, fueled by certified pre-owned programs and easier financing. Passenger vehicles now make up 17.7% of total vehicle sales, up from 12.9% in 2018-19. By 2028, the used car market is expected to double to $80 billion. Google & HP’s 3D Video Revolution Tired of lifeless video calls? Google and HP’s Project Starline promises hyper-realistic 3D meetings—no headsets required. Using AI, lightfield displays, and six-camera setups, it makes virtual interactions feel physical. Research shows users are more engaged and less fatigued. While scaling the tech affordably remains a challenge, Starline is redefining remote collaboration. The question is—how soon will it reach the masses?
Mon, March 03, 2025
Bitcoin vs. Gold: A Tale of Two Assets
Tech Leaders Push Longer Workweeks: Brin Advocates 60-Hour Grind for AI Race Google co-founder Sergey Brin is urging employees to work 60-hour weeks, believing it’s crucial for winning the race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). His stance aligns with Infosys’ Narayana Murthy, who suggested 70-hour workweeks for young Indians, and L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan, who went even further with 90-hour weeks. In an internal memo, Brin stressed that with OpenAI and Microsoft closing in, Google must double down on effort. He encouraged engineers to use the company’s AI models for coding efficiency, reinforcing the message that AI’s future won’t wait. But will employees embrace this relentless work culture? Adani Eyes U.S. Expansion Amid Legal Woes Despite bribery allegations, Adani Group is reviving plans to invest in U.S. infrastructure, including nuclear power, utilities, and an East Coast port. Founder Gautam Adani faces accusations of bribing Indian officials to secure power deals, while the U.S. SEC is investigating a $265 million fraud scheme involving his nephew, Sagar Adani. The group denies the charges and is exploring legal options. Adani has pledged $10 billion toward U.S. energy security, potentially creating 15,000 jobs, banking on Trump’s pro-energy policies. This isn’t its first U.S. venture—the group previously considered Texas petrochemical investments. However, with mounting legal scrutiny, its American ambitions face uncertainty. India’s Semiconductor Push: A Slow Climb Up the Value Chain India’s $10 billion semiconductor Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, launched in 2021, signals a long-term ambition to build a Silicon Valley-like ecosystem. Semiconductor manufacturing is capital-intensive, with a single fab costing up to $20 billion. Countries like Taiwan and South Korea dominate through subsidies, tech transfers, and strategic alliances—tactics India has been slower to adopt. So far, India has focused on the assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) segment, with actual payouts totaling just $2 billion since 2023. Meanwhile, semiconductor imports have shifted away from China, with Taiwan and South Korea now supplying nearly a third of India’s chips. With the U.S. restricting tech transfers to China, India has a unique opportunity to move up the value chain. But will global players bet big on India? That remains the billion-dollar question. Bitcoin vs. Gold: One Soars, the Other Stumbles Bitcoin and gold, often compared as stores of value, are charting very different paths. Since peaking at $109,000 in January, Bitcoin has plunged 24%, while gold has climbed nearly 8%. The reason? Market sentiment. Bitcoin behaves like a speculative asset, swayed by AI spending trends, tariffs, and Trump’s unpredictable policies, which have triggered a broader market pullba
Fri, February 28, 2025
UltraTech Cement’s foray into C&W rattles sector
NBFCs Get a Boost from RBI Policy Shift India’s non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are set to benefit from RBI’s decision to lower risk-weights on bank lending to NBFCs from 125% to 100% starting April 1. This makes funding cheaper and more accessible, easing liquidity constraints that had slowed bank lending to NBFCs to 6.7% in Dec 2024 (half the previous year’s rate). Key beneficiaries include M&M Financial and Cholamandalam Investment, which rely on banks for nearly 50% of their borrowings. Meanwhile, Bajaj Finance and Shriram Finance (less dependent on banks) may see a smaller impact. However, asset quality remains a concern. M&M Financial’s bad loans rose to 2% in Q3FY25, pushing its stock down 3% over the past year, while Cholamandalam, with stronger financials (21.6% RoE), saw its stock rise 30%. Investors remain cautious—Cholamandalam trades at 3.9x FY26 book value, while M&M Financial lags at 1.6x. The big question: Will NBFCs pass on the cost benefits to customers, and will this policy shift be enough to revive growth? UltraTech Cement’s C&W Entry Rattles the Market UltraTech Cement’s ₹1,800 crore foray into the cables & wires (C&W) industry has triggered sharp stock declines in Polycab, KEI, Havells, RR Kabel, and Finolex Cables (5-20%). The move draws parallels with Grasim’s entry into paints, which eroded valuations of incumbents. Unlike paints (an oligopoly), C&W is fragmented, making market share gains difficult. UltraTech lacks a strong distribution network, adding to execution challenges. With existing players already expanding capacity, overcapacity risks loom. If UltraTech pursues aggressive pricing, margins could suffer. Analysts estimate UltraTech could capture 5-7% of the market by FY29 (projected industry size: ₹1.3 trillion). Interestingly, UltraTech’s own stock fell 5%, as investors question its capital allocation strategy—cement or diversification? Amazon Unveils First Quantum Computing Chip, Ocelot Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched Ocelot, its first quantum computing chip, aimed at reducing error rates by 90%. This marks a key step toward practical quantum computing, a field dominated by Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Microsoft recently claimed a breakthrough in quantum matter, while Google’s Willow chip tackled error correction in December. Amazon’s approach mirrors Google’s focus on superconducting quantum circuits, while Microsoft takes a different route. Ocelot is still a prototype, not a full system. While quantum computers promise massive computational power for applications like drug discovery and cybersecurity, commercial viability remains years—if not a decade—away. Analysts call this an advanceme
Thu, February 27, 2025
India’s Investment Summit Rush: Big Promises, But What’s the Reality?
It's Thursday, February 27th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India is in a fierce race to attract investments, with at least 10 states holding investor summits in the past three months. Rajasthan leads with ₹35 trillion in MoUs, followed by Odisha at ₹16.73 trillion and Karnataka at ₹10.27 trillion. Even states with weaker industrial bases, like Bihar and Kerala, secured commitments worth ₹1.81 trillion and ₹1.53 trillion, respectively. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, several states pitched for global investments, contributing to India’s reported ₹20 trillion haul. The real challenge? Converting these commitments into actual investments. Even a 50% realization rate would be a success, experts say. Some states have set up tracking committees, but concerns remain that these summits merely shift investments between states rather than drawing fresh capital. Ultimately, execution—through regulatory ease, infrastructure, and political stability—will determine the success of India’s investment push. The tobacco industry is grappling with rising leaf prices, squeezing margins for cigarette makers like ITC, which saw a 211 basis-point drop in cigarette EBITDA margin in Q3 FY25. While cigarette sales remain stable, illicit trade still holds 25% of the market. Godfrey Phillips, aided by Marlboro’s rising popularity, defied trends with a 440 basis-point increase in operating profit margin to 22.6%. However, speculation of a GST hike to 40% raises concerns of a shift back to illicit trade. With the compensation cess ending in 2026, the government may adjust taxes, keeping tobacco firms on edge. India’s small-cap mutual funds are facing liquidity risks as redemption periods stretch. SEBI stress tests reveal that top funds now need over 50 days to liquidate half their portfolios, up from just 10-15 days a year ago. Larger fund sizes and rapid inflows are forcing managers to diversify into mid- and large-cap stocks. Many funds have adopted ‘soft close’ strategies to limit new inflows. Despite concerns, investor enthusiasm remains strong, but analysts caution against overexposure to small caps due to heightened market risks. Vedanta Ltd. has secured approval for its demerger into five independent companies, aiming to unlock value for investors. The restructuring, expected by Q1 FY26, includes: • Vedanta Aluminium – A global aluminum player • Vedanta Oil & Gas – India’s top private crude oil producer • Vedanta Power – A major electricity generator • Vedanta Iron & Steel – Focused on ferrous products • Vedanta Ltd. – Retaining zinc, silver, and emerging ventures Shareholders will receive stakes in each new entity. Vedanta posted strong Q3 FY24 results, with revenue up 10% YoY to ₹385.3 billion and net profit surging 76% to ₹35.5 billion. The demerger
Wed, February 26, 2025
Nvidia Investors Remain Unshaken Despite Volatility
CIE Automotive India Faces European Slowdown CIE Automotive India is struggling with weak European sales, which dragged down its Q4 FY24 EBITDA margin by 43 basis points to 14.2% . European revenue fell 22% , hit by a 37.5% drop in commercial vehicle sales and 10% decline in light vehicles. Cost-cutting measures have been implemented, but a turnaround is expected only in H2 2025 . Meanwhile, India operations grew 2% , with a focus on high-margin businesses like AEL and Billforge. CIE holds a ₹1,000 crore order book , with 25% linked to EV components . However, the stock is down 16% in 2025 , and analysts have trimmed earnings forecasts due to weak demand. Larisa Hotels Expands Post-Merger After merging with AM Hotel Kollection , Larisa Hotels is expanding into metro, tier-II, and religious tourism markets under three brands. Recent deals include a 90-room hotel in Tirupati and another in Vrindavan . With 26 properties and ₹100 crore revenue , Larisa is shifting to professional hotel management and eyeing international expansion. India’s branded hotel inventory is set to cross 300,000 rooms by 2029 , driven by business travel and religious tourism . Nvidia’s Rollercoaster Start to 2025 Despite a $600 billion market wipeout in January, Nvidia has rebounded, down just 3% YTD . Retail investors remain bullish, pumping $5.7 billion into the stock this year. Traders are betting on a 9% post-earnings swing , with analysts expecting 59% profit growth and 72% revenue jump . Nvidia remains a key AI stock, reinforcing investor confidence. UPI Goes Global India’s UPI payments system is expanding internationally, allowing users to pay abroad seamlessly. Countries like UAE, Singapore, Sri Lanka, France, and Nepal have integrated UPI, removing the need for forex cards or conversion charges . This move benefits both Indian travelers and foreign businesses, positioning UPI as a game-changer in global payments. Bengaluru Parents Struggle with Rising School Fees Private school fees in Bengaluru are surging 10-15% annually , with some schools hiking fees by 30% . Parents are struggling with rising tuition, textbook, and transport costs , while salary increments lag at just 2-3% . Karnataka’s Education Minister admits limited control , but parents are demanding tighter regulations to curb excessive hikes.
Tue, February 25, 2025
Apple’s Game Changer- $500B Investment Reshapes U.S. Tech
Apple’s $500 Billion U.S. Investment Apple is making its largest financial commitment, pledging over $500 billion in the U.S. over four years to boost AI, silicon engineering, software, and R&D, creating 20,000 jobs. A key project is a Houston manufacturing facility assembling AI servers, set to open in 2026. Apple is also launching a Manufacturing Academy in Detroit to advance production techniques. This move follows Donald Trump’s claim that Apple planned a major U.S. investment. With a supply chain spanning 24 silicon facilities across 12 states, Apple’s investment solidifies its role in shaping American tech innovation. Mankind Pharma’s Obesity Drug Bet Mankind Pharma is set to enter the $100 billion anti-obesity drug market, eyeing Semaglutide—the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—whose patent expires in 2026. It joins Dr. Reddy’s, Natco Pharma, and Sun Pharma in the race to launch generic GLP-1 drugs. Given the complexity of development, Indian firms, including Mankind, will likely rely on third-party collaborations while leveraging strong branding. Mankind is expanding into chronic and specialty therapies, growing its chronic segment from 20.4% in FY15 to 35.5% in FY24. As competition intensifies, the company aims to carve out a space in the lucrative weight-loss segment. Infosys-Daimler AI Deal Extension Infosys is advancing discussions to extend and expand its $3 billion contract with Daimler, originally signed in 2020, adding AI tools to enhance IT services. The deal, covering network, security, SAP, and data centers, currently generates $400 million annually for Infosys. The extension, from 2028 to 2029, aligns with Infosys CEO Salil Parekh’s strategy of securing high-value, AI-driven contracts. The company’s manufacturing sector revenue has surged from $1.3 billion in FY20 to $2.8 billion in FY24. With businesses prioritizing AI, Infosys’s early renewal signals a broader shift toward AI-powered IT services. NTPC-EDF Green Energy Partnership State-run NTPC Ltd and EDF India, a subsidiary of France’s EDF, have signed a non-binding agreement for a 50:50 joint venture in pumped storage, hydro, and renewable projects across India and neighboring countries. NTPC, India’s largest power producer, is targeting 60GW renewable capacity by 2032. The company recently listed NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) to accelerate green hydrogen, methanol, and SAF investments. In January, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation for India’s first green hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh, part of a ₹1.85 trillion investment plan under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. RBI Eases Withdrawal Limits for New India Cooperative Bank The RBI has allowed depositors of New India Cooperative Bank to withdraw up to ₹25,000 per account after dissolving its board over supervisory concerns. More than 50% of depositors can now withdraw their
Mon, February 24, 2025
Berkshire’s Cash Pile Soars—Will Buffett Finally Spend?
It's Monday, February 24th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. IndoBevs Bets Big on Innovation IndoBevs, the maker of Bro Code wine coolers, aims to double its revenue to ₹700 crore by FY26. The company is banking on innovation, launching a herbal liqueur, Bonga Bonga, made with 40 herbs and botanicals, along with new whisky brands. IndoBevs, which started as a distributor in 2007, now has 15 in-house brands and exports to the UAE. It’s expanding whisky offerings with Enso, a Japanese whisky bottled locally, and Wingman, a premium blended malt launching in March 2025. With India’s alcohol market growing at 3.5% annually, IndoBevs is ramping up production, eyeing 2.5 million cases in sales by FY27. Buffett’s Record Cash Pile Sparks Speculation Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway hit a record $334.2 billion in cash reserves by 2024, marking 10 straight quarters of growth. While some wonder if Buffett is struggling to find good deals, he remains patient, selling stocks like Apple amid high valuations. The firm has also paused stock buybacks, letting its cash earn billions in interest. Some see this as preparation for Greg Abel’s succession, but shareholders remain confident, hoping for a major investment. Buffett reassured investors that equities remain the firm’s priority, even as Berkshire’s publicly traded holdings dropped from $354 billion to $272 billion last year, while its private businesses gained value. Agentic AI: The Next Big Bet for Indian VCs Indian venture capitalists are betting on Agentic AI, a self-learning technology that automates tasks with minimal human input. Unlike generative AI, which needs human prompts, Agentic AI adapts independently, making it attractive for industries like healthcare and finance. Startups like Innovaccer, CoRover.ai, and Atomicwork are leading the charge, backed by investors like Accel and Peak XV. The market is projected to grow from $5.1 billion today to $47.1 billion by 2030. While concerns remain over AI errors limiting adoption, businesses are increasingly shifting budgets toward automation, making AI agents a potential game-changer in enterprise operations. Indian Bank CEO’s Bold Shift to MSMEs One month into his tenure, Indian Bank CEO Binod Kumar is refocusing the lender’s strategy—expanding MSME loans while scaling back personal lending. He aims to increase MSME loans from 17% to 20% of the bank’s ₹5.2 trillion loan book in the next 2-3 years, boosting overall yield, which stood at 8.92% in Q3. While agriculture and retail loans have traditionally dominated, MSME loan growth picked up to 8.2% in Q3 from 7% a year earlier, while personal loan growth plunged 14%. The bank is prioritizing home and auto loans, with auto lending surging 48% YoY. Analysts see this as a smart risk-management move, reflected in Indian Bank’s improved net NPA ratio of 0.21%. Kumar projects 11-
Fri, February 21, 2025
Your pension could be stuck in limbo | Falling Rupee, Rising Profits— “IT’s” Sweet Spot | Quantum’s Tipping Point? Microsoft Thinks So
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, February 21st, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Your daily cup of coffee is set to become more expensive. Global coffee prices have surged due to supply shortages in major producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam. Brazil faces its worst drought in over four decades, severely impacting coffee yields. Similarly, Vietnam has been hit by typhoons and erratic rainfall, disrupting harvests and lowering bean quality. These challenges have pushed Robusta futures to a record high of $5,849 per tonne, with Arabica prices rising about 70% in 2024. In India, coffee consumption is steadily rising, making price hikes more impactful than ever, reports Suneera Tandon. Specialty coffee chains like Blue Tokai have already increased prices and may implement further hikes. Packaged coffee brands are also feeling the squeeze, with the Indian Coffee Roasters’ Association announcing a ₹200 per kilo hike in powdered Arabica and Robusta. Major brands like Nestlé, which sells Nescafé, acknowledge the impact of skyrocketing coffee costs, with coffee prices up 75% year-on-year. While some chains strive to avoid passing the burden onto consumers, the sustained rise in global coffee prices makes it challenging to absorb the increased costs. As a result, your morning brew is likely to see a price increase in the near future. Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1 , (MayoRANA) a breakthrough quantum chip that could bring industrial-scale quantum computing within years, not decades. Built with an innovative material called a topoconductor , this chip is designed to scale up to a million qubits on a single processor—potentially transforming computing as we know it. Unlike classical computers, which process information in binary (0s and 1s), quantum computers leverage qubits , which can exist in multiple states at once. This enables them to perform complex calculations exponentially faster, with potential applications in AI, financial modeling, drug discovery, and climate research. Microsoft’s approach relies on Majorana particles , a unique type of theoretical particle that could make quantum computing more stable and scalable. While tech giants like Google and IBM have also made strides in quantum computing, Microsoft’s announcement signals that commercial quantum applications could be closer than anticipated. With this breakthrough, the race to harness quantum power is accelerating, bringing us one step closer to solving problems beyond the reach of today’s computers. When switching jobs, you probably focus on transferring or withdrawing your provident fund (PF), assuming all your savings are covered. But what if part of your money was stuck—unclaimed and inaccessible? That’s what happened to Mr. A. While he successfully withdrew his
Thu, February 20, 2025
FPIs Sell Big, But Spot Hidden Gems
It's Thursday, February 20th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. In January 2025, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) withdrew over ₹780 billion from Indian equities, marking a significant sell-off. This trend persisted into February, with outflows reaching ₹73.4 billion by the 10th, as per National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) data. Despite this broad retreat, FPIs increased their stakes in select companies during the December 2024 quarter. Notably, FPIs raised their holdings in Greaves Cotton, a diversified engineering company, from 1% to 2.4%. This surge coincided with the company’s announcement of an IPO for its electric mobility subsidiary, Greaves Electric Mobility. Similarly, Shaily Engineering, specializing in high-performance plastic components, saw FPI ownership rise from 3.1% to 5.4%. The company’s focus on proprietary drug delivery devices has positioned it favorably in the healthc are sector. Borosil Renewables, India’s sole solar glass manufacturer, experienced an increase in FPI stake from 4.2% to 5.4%. This uptick followed the imposition of anti-dumping duties on solar glass imports, benefiting domestic producers. Infrastructure firms like Kalpataru Projects International and KEC International also attracted higher FPI interest, with stakes rising to 12.4% and 15.2%, respectively, driven by substantial order wins in the transmission and distribution sectors. In the chemicals sector, Atul Ltd saw FPI holdings increase to 11.2%, bolstered by strong quarterly performance. Meanwhile, Action Construction Equipment, a leading crane manufacturer, witnessed FPI stakes climb to 11.9%, reflecting confidence in its growth trajectory. These targeted investments suggest that, despite overall market exits, FPIs are selectively increasing exposure to companies with robust growth prospects and strategic initiatives. In the December quarter, Bharti Airtel reported an average revenue per user (ARPU) of ₹245, surpassing Reliance Jio’s ₹203. This ₹42 gap, up from ₹38 in the previous quarter, is attributed to Airtel’s higher proportion of postpaid users and the migration of 2G users to 4G services. Despite Airtel’s ARPU lead, Jio’s larger subscriber base of approximately 460 million, compared to Airtel’s 360 million, positions it to gain more in absolute revenue from future tariff hikes. With India’s mobile connections nearing saturation at 1.15 billion, ARPU growth remains crucial for revenue expansion. However, challenges such as increased home broadband penetration and regulatory directives for voice-and-SMS-only plans may impact ARPU growth. While Airtel’s shares have risen nearly 50% over the past year, the recent 0.8% stake sale by the Mittal family, the company’s promoters, could influence short-term investor sentiment. AkzoNobel N.V., Europe’s leading paint manufacturer, is considering selling its consumer paints division in India, potentially valuing t
Wed, February 19, 2025
Indian Stocks in Slump: Correction or Bear Market
It's Wednesday, February 19th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Indian stock market is currently experiencing a notable downturn, raising concerns among investors about whether this is a temporary correction or the onset of a prolonged bear market. Since reaching its peak in September 2024, the Sensex has declined by approximately 12%. Mid-cap and small-cap indices have been hit harder, with declines nearing 20%, placing them on the cusp of bear market territory. Now generally a bear market is defined as a decline of 20% or more from recent highs. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have been significant sellers, offloading $21 billion worth of Indian equities over the past four months. This selling spree is attributed to concerns over slowing corporate earnings and high valuations. Despite this, FPIs have only reduced their holdings by about 3%, suggesting that the magnitude of selling isn’t alarming yet. This downturn hasn’t spared any sectors. The power sector has suffered the most, with a decline of 33.2%, followed by oil and gas at 29.4%, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) at 28.6%. These significant drops reflect widespread investor caution across various industries. While the current market trajectory is uncertain, experts advise focusing on companies with strong earnings, robust balance sheets, and competent management. These attributes are expected to help such companies navigate the downturn effectively and emerge resilient. The Indian stock market is navigating a challenging phase marked by significant corrections and cautious investor sentiment. Whether this phase deepens into a full-blown bear market remains to be seen, but strategic investment in fundamentally strong companies may offer a prudent path forward. India is shifting its focus from traditional energy sectors to cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), quantum computing, and semiconductors. This strategic transition aims to position the country as a global leader in these emerging fields. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted this transition during the India-Qatar Business Forum, emphasizing the move from energy-based trade to technology-driven collaborations. He stated, “We are now looking at a new future where we will transition from energy being the hallmark of our trade to new-age technologies.” This shift is anchored on promoting eco-friendly practices in technology development, encourages innovation and supports startups in tech sectors by integrating advanced technologies, Investing in research and development for AI, IoT, and semiconductors. While India is making significant strides, challenges such as low private R&D investment and the need for a specialized workforce persist. However, with government initiatives and international partnerships, India aims to overcome these hurdles and establish itself as a global hub for AI, IoT, and semicondu
Tue, February 18, 2025
Volkswagen’s $1.4B Tax Fight: No Shipment Halt.
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, February 18th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Japan’s KYB Corporation has sold its 51% stake in the joint venture KYB Conmat Pvt. Ltd., transferring full ownership back to India’s Conmat Group, led by Premraj Keshyep. Established in 2013, this partnership combined KYB’s advanced technology with Conmat’s local expertise to produce concrete construction equipment like transit mixers, batching plants, and concrete pumps. Over the past decade, the company has grown significantly, increasing its revenue sixfold. With KYB’s exit, Conmat plans to expand further by developing electric and AI-driven machinery and diversifying into earthmoving equipment. The Indian concrete construction equipment market is projected to grow from ₹88 billion to approximately ₹230 billion in the next four years, driven by infrastructure development and urbanization. Conmat aims to capitalize on this growth, targeting a revenue of over ₹10 billion within two years, up from the current ₹3.3 billion, reports Priyamvada C. Additionally, KYB has granted Conmat a non-exclusive license to continue using its transit mixer technology, allowing the company to manufacture and sell existing products both domestically and internationally. In a recent development, the Indian government has assured the Bombay High Court that it will not halt Skoda Auto Volkswagen India’s shipments amid an ongoing $1.4 billion import tax dispute. The controversy centers on the classification of imported car parts. Authorities allege that Skoda misclassified these parts to benefit from lower customs duties, importing them as individual components rather than as completely knocked down (CKD) units, which attract higher taxes. Skoda contends that it has consistently used its global NADIN software for production planning, a practice it claims is standard in the automotive industry and not intended to circumvent tax laws. The company has sought legal intervention to challenge the tax demand and prevent any disruption to its operations. The court has scheduled further hearings to delve deeper into the matter. As of January 31, 2025, Indian investors have left approximately ₹323 crore in funds and ₹182 crore in securities unclaimed, totaling about ₹500 crore. To address this, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed new guidelines to ensure these unclaimed assets are promptly returned to their rightful owners and safeguarded against misuse. What Are ‘Unclaimed’ Assets? Unclaimed assets refer to funds or securities in a client’s brokerage account that cannot be transferred back to their bank or demat account due to issues like inactive accounts or incorrect details. If a broker cannot return these assets and cannot reach the client, the account is labeled as ‘unc
Mon, February 17, 2025
₹122 Crore Scam Rocks New India Co-operative Bank, Ex-GM Arrested
It's Monday, February 17, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have recently sold shares worth $21 billion over the past four months, representing about 2.7% of their total equity holdings in India, which stood at $782 billion as of January 2025. While this percentage may seem modest, the impact on the Indian stock market has been significant. The selling pressure has been particularly intense in small and mid-cap stocks. FPIs increased their holdings in the Nifty Smallcap 250 and Nifty Midcap 150 indices during the December quarter. However, aggressive selling in these segments has led to sharper declines compared to large-cap stocks. The Nifty Smallcap index has plunged 22.4% from its record high in September 2024, while the Nifty Midcap 150 has fallen 18.5% in the same period, reports Mint’s Ram Saghal. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have attempted to counterbalance FPI outflows by purchasing shares worth ₹2.73 trillion in the same four-month period. However, their efforts have not been sufficient to prevent the market downturn. India has become a key destination for Japanese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as part of Japan’s “China-plus” strategy, according to Deloitte Japan CEO Kenichi Kimura. In 2023, India received over $5 billion in FDI from Japan, surpassing China and Hong Kong, which collectively received $3.6 billion. This marks the first time India has overtaken China in Japanese investments. The trend continued in early 2024, with India receiving $1.8 billion, ahead of China and Vietnam. India’s large domestic market, strategic location as a gateway to the Middle East and Africa, and strong business and talent networks make it an attractive investment hub. The Indian government’s policies, including Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, stable economic growth, and capital market development, further enhance its appeal. Additionally, India’s thriving start-up ecosystem and focus on emerging technologies are drawing Japanese investors seeking innovation and collaboration. According to the report by Mint’s Giresh Chandra Prasad’s, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized FDI to drive economic growth, with initiatives like an investment index for states and tax incentives to boost consumption and investment. As Japanese companies diversify their supply chains post-pandemic, India is emerging as a critical manufacturing and supply chain hub for regional and global markets. A financial scam has rocked the New India Co-operative Bank, leaving its customers in disarray.. The bank's former General Manager, Hitesh Mehta, is at the center of an alleged ₹122 crore embezzlement. The fraud, spanning several years, was uncovered during an internal audit, prompting swift action from authorities. According to reports, Mehta, who headed the bank’s accounts department, siphoned funds from the Prabhadevi and Goregaon branches between 2020 and 2025. Investi
Fri, February 14, 2025
Quick Insights into the New Income Tax Bill 2025: Simpler, Smarter, and Set to Transform Taxation
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, February 14, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Top Indian business schools are witnessing a resurgence in hiring activities, despite uncertainties stemming from global political developments. This rebound is attributed to the robust growth of India’s economy, which has bolstered corporate confidence and led to an increased demand for management graduates. Companies across sectors such as technology, finance, and consulting are actively recruiting, offering competitive packages to secure top talent reports Devina sengupta & Pritista Bagi. However, global political events, including trade tensions and policy shifts, have introduced elements of unpredictability. These developments have prompted organizations to reassess their international strategies, potentially influencing the nature and volume of roles offered to graduates. Despite these challenges, the overall hiring sentiment remains optimistic, with firms focusing on candidates who can navigate complex global scenarios and drive growth in uncertain times. While global political dynamics present challenges, the strong domestic economic environment ensures that top Indian business schools continue to experience healthy hiring trends. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Income Tax Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The much-anticipated new Bill will not introduce new taxes but only simplifies the language of the existing Income Tax Act of 1961 and enhances clarity for taxpayers. Some of the key highlights include: Reduction of Obsolete Provisions: Numerous outdated and redundant sections have been eliminated to streamline the tax code. Consolidation of Sections: Related provisions, especially those concerning salaries and deductions, have been grouped together for easier reference. Introduction of ‘Tax Year’: The bill introduces the concept of a “tax year,” aligning it with the financial year to reduce confusion. Taxpayer’s Charter: A charter outlining the rights and obligations of taxpayers has been introduced to promote transparency and trust. Faceless Jurisdiction: Provisions have been made for faceless assessments to minimize direct contact between taxpayers and authorities, reducing potential biases. Enhanced Compliance Measures: The bill empowers the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to establish tax administration rules and implement digital tax monitoring systems without requiring frequent legislative amendments. Those were some of the key highlights of the new income tax bill.. Now this Bill, represents a significant step toward modernizing
Thu, February 13, 2025
Global private equity firms in the Race for a $3 Billion Deal - Gland Pharma
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, February 13, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Amid India-China geopolitical tensions, China's Fosun Pharmaceutical is in discussions with three global private equity firms to sell its majority stake in the Hyderabad-based Gland Pharma. Fosun currently owns about 51% of Gland Pharma, after initially acquiring a 74% stake for $1.2 billion. They have hired investment banks Morgan Stanley and UBS to assist with the sale. Global private equity firms Blackstone, Brookfield, and Warburg Pincus are interested in buying this stake, valuing the company at nearly $3 billion. Gland Pharma, founded in 1978, specializes in making generic injectable medicines and serves nearly 90 countries, focusing on India and the U.S. markets. In the December quarter, the company reported revenues of ₹1,384 crore and a profit after tax of ₹204.7 crore. The potential sale is expected to trigger an open offer to Gland Pharma’s shareholders, with the buyers aiming to own between 60-65% of the company after the transaction. In a major step toward strengthening digital payment security, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed additional factor authentication (AFA) for international card-not-present (CNP) transactions. This means Indian consumers will have an extra layer of security when making payments to foreign merchants—just like they already do for domestic transactions. Now you may wonder what prompted this move by the RBI? It’s primarily due to Rising Fraud Cases in international transactions involving unauthorized charges on foreign websites with minimal authentication. Now adding AFA will ensure stronger security standards that safeguard Indian cardholders against such risks. US-based industrial and aerospace giant Honeywell and Greenko founders-led AM Green signed an agreement on Wednesday to collaborate on manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in India from biofuels, including ethanol, methanol, and green hydrogen. Under this agreement, Honeywell’s cutting-edge technology will be leveraged to produce SAF from renewable sources, aligning with global efforts to transition toward greener energy solutions. AM Green, a company backed by the founders of renewable energy giant Greenko, will focus on production and scaling operations in India, catering to both domestic and international markets. The companies will assess the feasibility of making SAF in India to reduce the country's oil import dependence, helping shipping companies adopt the low-emission fuel, and aiding aviation companies to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines for low-carbon fuel replacements. The global aviation industry is under
Wed, February 12, 2025
Hexaware’ billion-dollar IPO: A landmark return to the bourses
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wed, February 12, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Hexaware Technologies Ltd, a global digital and technology services company backed by private equity firm Carlyle Group, is set to make a grand re-entry into the Indian stock market with a ₹8,750 crore (about $1 billion) initial public offering (IPO). The much-anticipated IPO, which opens on 12 February and closes on 14 February. Hexaware’s IPO price band has been set at ₹674-708 per share. The entire offering will be an offer for sale (OFS) by the promoter, CA Magnum Holdings, a subsidiary of Carlyle Group. While Hexaware is well-positioned for growth, it faces several risks. It operates in a fiercely competitive IT services landscape, where it faces both established global titans and mid-sized local challengers; another concern is the economic slowdown in its key markets, particularly in the US and Europe, which poses a significant challenge. Any downturn in discretionary IT spending by clients could impact revenue growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to France, A key highlight of this visit is his co-chairing of the AI Action Summit in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit brings together global leaders and tech industry executives to discuss collaborative approaches to artificial intelligence for innovation and public good. In his address at the AI Action Summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for global cooperation to establish governance and standards for AI that uphold shared values, address risks, and build trust. Beyond the summit, Modi and Macron are scheduled to hold bilateral talks to review the progress of the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership. Additionally, They will inaugurate India's newest Consulate General in Marseille and visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, a significant collaboration in nuclear fusion research. This visit underscores the deepening ties between India and France, focusing on cooperation in technology, innovation, and strategic sectors. The government is thinking about extending duty-free imports of urad beyond March 31 due to a supply shortage. Urad, a staple in South Indian cuisine, is already imported without any duty, and this policy is likely to continue since domestic production has been steadily dropping. For those of you unaware, Urad is a three-season crop, mainly sown during the kharif season but also grown in rabi and summer. According to the agriculture ministry, production has declined from 2.7 million tonnes in FY22 to 2.3 million tonnes in FY24. With demand increasing, a supply crunch could lead to higher prices. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a six-year Mission for Aatmanir
Mon, February 10, 2025
Key takeaways from the RBI’s monetary policy committee conference
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, February 10, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Air traffic is booming in India. Manufacturers are actively seeking deals at the Aero India exhibition, highlighting the country's potential. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is set to hold its annual general meeting in June in New Delhi, a testament to India's growing market influence. According to Airbus India's Remi Maillard, “ India is now the third-largest air market globally, after the U.S. and China”. Boeing's Salil Gupte echoed this sentiment, calling India the most dynamic and exciting market. The civil aviation ministry claims a meteoric rise in the sector, with traffic growth projected over seven percent annually until 2043. Although rail travel remains popular, it's often slow and chaotic. Boeing estimates that converting just two percent of daily train users to air travel could double the air market, given the current low per capita air travel of 0.12 compared to 0.46 in China. Going by these statistics, the Indian market will need at least 2,835 new aircraft in the next 20 years, and all major players like Indigo, Airbus and Air India are gunning for the Next big leap in the airline sector. Ola Electric will need to consistently sell 50,000 units every month in order to achieve profitability, says founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Bhavish Aggarwal. To be sure, Ola Electric has faced considerable criticism due to widespread customer complaints about poor service centre experience. In September last year, Mint reported that Ola’s service centre backlogs had risen to 80,000 customer complaints per month . Speaking to an analyst, Aggarwal claimed that the company had recaptured its market leadership in terms of volumes with 25,000 units sold in January. The company has consistently been under pressure, with Ola Electric’s shares losing about 2% on Friday alone to settle at ₹70 apiece on the BSE—only 8% off its all-time low. The company has suffered a quarterly net loss of ₹564 crore in the last quarter of 2024. Aggarwal, however, claimed that the company “maintained a steady industry leadership with a market share of over 25%.” The recent deportation of 104 illegal migrants to India by the US government has sparked controversy in the Indian Parliament. In the midst of this debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the United States from February 12 to 13, where he will engage in discussions with President Donald Trump, as quoted by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Fri, February 07, 2025
SBI chairman on Q3 results
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, February 7, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. State Bank of India (SBI) posted a net profit of ₹16,891 crore for Q3 FY25, an 84.3% year-on-year surge. Chairman C.S. Setty highlighted a pickup in private capital expenditure, though sectors like steel remain sluggish, report Anshika Kayastha and Gopika Gopakumar. Despite these headwinds, SBI's corporate loan pipeline remains solid, with ₹4.8 trillion in sanctioned or under-process loans as of December-end. Setty is confident about meeting the bank’s 14-16% credit growth target for FY25, supported by budget measures aimed at boosting disposable income and consumption, which are expected to fuel credit demand. Global private equity giant Blackstone is exploring a potential sale of its majority stake in Bengaluru-based digital learning platform Simplilearn, report Mansi Verma and Sneha Shah. This comes more than three years after its initial $250 million investment. A Simplilearn spokesperson, however, has denied any plans for an exit or the appointment of investment bankers.Since acquiring over 60% of Simplilearn in 2021, Blackstone has seen the company recalibrate its strategy amid a broader slowdown in the edtech sector. Once focused on rapid expansion, Simplilearn has pivoted toward profitability, cutting its FY24 Ebitda losses by 75% by discontinuing select programs and doubling down on core offerings. This shift reflects the broader challenges in edtech, where reduced funding and the return of physical classes post-COVID have pushed many firms to prioritize sustainability over aggressive growth. Employees expecting bigger pay hikes this year may be in for a disappointment, as salary increments are set to be lower than last year’s, which were already the smallest in nearly a decade. Consultants and firms Devina Sengupta and Samiksha Goel spoke to cited slower corporate earnings and economic growth as key reasons for tighter budgets and more conservative raises. According to Aon's Annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey 2023-24, the average salary hike stood at 9.3% in 2024, down from 9.7% in 2023. The outlook for 2025 is even softer, with Mercer forecasting an average increase of 9.4%, a sharp decline from the peak of 10.6% in 2022. With companies shifting focus from aggressive hiring to retaining top talent, some are offering unique perks—such as exclusive credit cards—to keep key employees engaged. However, only a select group of high performers is likely to see significant pay bumps. In a high-profile insider trading case, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred two former IT executives, Keyur Maniar and Ramit Chaudhri, from the securities market for a year. Maniar, a former senior vice president at Wipro, and Chaudhri, previously with Infosys, were
Thu, February 06, 2025
An interview with Sam Altman
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, February 6, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. In January, Prime Minister Modi introduced Mission Mausam, a significant climate forecasting initiative, receiving ₹1,329 crore in funding for FY26. But is this sufficient? Soumya Gupta explores. The mission, overseen by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, aims to enhance India's climate change predictions and track extreme weather with new technologies, including AI-enhanced models and advanced satellites. Initially funded with ₹2,000 crore, its budget includes ₹671 crore for FY25 and the remainder for FY26. India's climate strategy extends beyond Mission Mausam. The Ministry has integrated four programs into its PRITHVI scheme, focusing on climate research in critical regions like the Arctic and Himalayas, with a budget exceeding ₹2,500 crore through FY26. Overall, India plans to allocate over ₹50,000 crore in FY25 and nearly ₹62,000 crore in FY26 to combat climate change. Despite these investments, they account for just 1.2% of the total budget for FY26, far from the ₹57 trillion pledged through 2030 for comprehensive climate change measures. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman advocates a full-stack approach for India's AI development, contrasting with his 2023 stance where he deemed competing in AI training as "hopeless." He discussed this shift in an interview with Hindustan Times’ editor-in-chief R Sukumar on Wednesday before reiterating his opinion at a discussion with IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw the same morning. Altman points to a drastic cost reduction in AI, which now surpasses the rate predicted by Moore's Law, stating costs drop tenfold annually. This change supports more expansive AI initiatives, including foundational models which underpin technologies like ChatGPT. At his discussion with Altman later, IT minister Vaishnaw emphasized India's comprehensive strategy, from chip design to application development, drawing parallels to India's cost-effective space missions. He noted promising developments from six Indian entities poised to unveil foundational AI models within the year. In discussions with tech leaders and investors, Altman remarked on the immediate potential of AI to enhance scientific research and development significantly but tempered expectations about its current capabilities, such as curing diseases. India's services sector saw its slowest growth in over two years this January, with the HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reading dropping to 56.5 from December's 59.3, according to S&P Global. Despite this slowdown, the sector remains in expansion territory, above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction. Rhik Kundu reports that the dip is attributed to decreased customer numbers and a softer rise in sales and output. HSBC's chief India economist, Pranjul Bhandar
Wed, February 05, 2025
Can Rashmi Saluja hang on to Religare?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, February 5, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Despite India's solid track record of fiscal discipline and a narrowing fiscal deficit, international rating agencies like Moody's and Fitch remain cautious about upgrading India's sovereign rating. Currently, Fitch Ratings assigns India a 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, which is the lowest investment grade, suggesting good credit quality but vulnerability to adverse conditions. Similarly, Moody's and S&P rate India at 'Baa3' and 'BBB-', respectively. This contrasts with China's 'A+' and the US's 'AA+', indicating higher credit qualities and lower default risks. The hesitation to upgrade India’s rating affects the cost of borrowing and investment attractiveness, crucial for economic growth, N Madhavan reports. Critics, including UNCTAD, argue that international rating agencies may be biased against emerging economies. Despite significant growth, robust financial systems, and strong foreign investor interest, India's rating has remained unchanged for two decades. India is set to develop its own AI chip, aiming to enhance its technological independence and global competitiveness. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-Dac) and the National e-Governance Division, focuses on creating a chip using the open-source 'Risc-V' architecture. The goal is to support academic researchers and startups in building foundational AI models, Shouvik Das reports. High-level discussions have involved not only Indian experts but also US Big Tech firms and Taiwan's TSMC, to craft a chip fully made in India by 2027, leveraging local talents and resources. This move is part of a broader strategy under the India AI Mission, aiming to establish a domestic chip production capability that reduces reliance on foreign technology, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities highlighted by US restrictions. Rashmi Saluja's tenure as chairperson at Religare Enterprises may be nearing an end amid a contentious takeover battle. Despite efforts to stabilize the company post-bankruptcy, about one-third of its investors have voted against her reappointment ahead of the upcoming AGM on February 7th. The Delhi High Court has also declined Saluja any interim relief to halt the AGM proceedings. Investors, including the Burman family who owns 25.1% of Religare, have expressed a desire for new management to steer the company towards growth. With 31.85% of shareholders, including financial firms and mutual funds, voting against her, Saluja’s reappointment seems unlikely unless there is an unexpectedly high turnout in her favour from smaller shareholders. The National Medical Commissi
Tue, February 04, 2025
Inside the political landscape of poll-bound Delhi
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, February 4, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Budget has introduced several agricultural schemes to boost crop productivity and improve credit access, particularly in 100 underperforming districts. However, its real impact may be limited, as many initiatives are underfunded and rely on existing programmes. For instance, despite growing climate risks, funding for the crucial crop insurance scheme has been slashed by ₹3,600 crore, while research funding has seen only a marginal increase. The budget’s approach could yield mixed results for farm incomes. While the government has promised to procure pulses at minimum support price, the effectiveness of this measure remains uncertain, given only a modest rise in the PM-AASHA scheme’s budget, which ensures farm-gate prices. At the same time, rising agricultural employment has put pressure on farm wages and productivity, adding to income stress. Sayantan Bera examines whether the Budget’s proposals can truly uplift rural India in today's Primer. The Indian government is considering scrapping the requirement for National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approval in mergers of local listed companies, aiming to streamline the process and ease the judiciary’s burden. The move, currently under discussion among multiple ministries, could significantly reshape India’s mergers and acquisitions landscape by reducing bureaucratic delays, Anirudh Laskar reports. Introduced in 2016, fast-track mergers allowed certain companies to bypass lengthy NCLT approvals, which can take up to 10 months. The proposed change would extend this streamlined approach, enabling more mergers to proceed with just regulatory and shareholder consent, eliminating the need for court intervention. While the NCLT ensures fairness in mergers, experts argue that its involvement often causes unnecessary delays, exposing companies to market volatility and potential manipulation. Removing this step could accelerate deal-making and allow the NCLT to focus on critical cases like insolvency. India is moving to initiate formal trade discussions with the United States to secure protection against potential future tariffs. While the country avoided the initial round of tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China, Indian officials are keen on negotiating a formal exemption with the US Trade Representative, Dhirendra Kumar reports. These talks will emphasize India’s role as a key trade partner, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT services, and leather, which are integral to US supply chains. The decision to engage follows President Donald Trump’s recent tariff moves, which have heightened global trade concerns. With a $35-billion trade surplus with the US, India managed to steer clear of the first wave of tariffs, aided by its diversified
Mon, February 03, 2025
How Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico affect India
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, February 3, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. US President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing a national emergency related to drug trafficking. Starting February 4, imports from Canada and Mexico will face a 25% tariff, except for Canadian oil which will see a 10% duty. Chinese imports will incur an additional 10% tariff. These tariffs are expected to increase prices in the US, potentially driving up inflation and slowing economic growth globally. In response, Canada has already slapped a 25% tariff on US imports worth Canadian $155 billion. Mexico and China have also promised retaliatory measures. The move has sparked concerns of a potential trade war, with Trump suggesting he might extend tariffs to other countries, including India. This could fundamentally alter global trade dynamics. Read N Madhavan’s primer on Trump’s latest decision to impose the tariffs and how it could affect India. Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, is expanding his steel empire globally, setting up a network of mines and steel plants across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He's a contender to acquire Italy's largest steel plant, Acciaierie d’Italia, potentially adding significant capacity to his operations. His privately-owned ventures, distinct from the publicly-listed JSPL, could match the scale of his Indian operations by 2028. Jindal's strategy includes developing end-to-end operations from mining in Mozambique and Cameroon to steel production in Oman and processing in the Czech Republic. This expansion has raised corporate governance concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest with JSPL. However, Jindal has taken steps to mitigate these concerns, such as resigning from an executive role and ensuring his private companies do not transact with JSPL, Nehal Chaliawala writes. Critics still question why these expansions are not under JSPL’s umbrella, suggesting that it could protect the listed company from potential risks associated with international ventures. Foreign portfolio investors were notably absent from India's markets during the special budget session, setting the stage for what analysts anticipate could be a negative reaction in the markets. This comes amid concerns about a global trade war and ahead of a critical monetary policy announcement. Analysts Ram Sahgal spoke to, suggest that the government's focus on boosting consumption over capital expenditure and fears of an expanding global trade war might have spurred FPIs to adopt a cautious approach. FPIs have been net sellers in the Indian cash market since October, offloading shares worth ₹2.38 trillion through the end of January. They have also increased their bearish bets by shorting index futures and selling index call options—mo
Fri, January 31, 2025
Will the FM deliver a fiscal bazooka?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, January 31, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India's affluent are reviving their investment in IPOs, evident from the significant funds they've poured into the market in 2024. High-net-worth individuals (HNIs), with assets over ₹5 crore, have shown a notable increase in IPO subscriptions, reaching a three-year high. The bullish sentiment among these investors is fueled by the substantial listing gains observed post-pandemic, enhancing their risk appetite, Dipti Sharma writes. This trend aligns with a broader surge in equity investments, reflecting heightened investor confidence and a robust appetite for high-risk, high-reward opportunities. The resurgence in IPO investments among India's wealthy is part of a broader narrative of rising affluence and entrepreneurship within the country, contributing to its dynamic economic landscape. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, made headlines by developing its R1 model using less costly hardware and a fraction of the budget traditionally used by heavyweights like OpenAI and Google. This model, built for under $6 million, demonstrates that advanced AI can be achieved without immense financial outlay or extensive infrastructure, challenging the dominance of major tech giants. The controversy surrounding DeepSeek involves allegations from OpenAI, suggesting that DeepSeek might have used data or techniques from OpenAI's models without authorization, potentially breaching intellectual property rights. This issue of data 'distillation'—where a complex model's output is used to train another model—brings up serious ethical and legal implications, especially if done without proper licensing. Leslie D’Monte explains the controversy around DeepSeek and the allegations on it. India is stepping up its game in the global AI race, aiming to develop its own foundational AI models similar to prominent models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and DeepSeek's R1. The initiative, led by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, focuses on creating AI solutions that reflect India's linguistic and cultural diversity, promising more affordable and quicker development than current global standards. To facilitate this ambitious project, the government plans to launch a common compute facility equipped with 18,693 GPUs supplied by major domestic companies, Gulveen Aulakh reports. This facility will be accessible to startups, researchers, and developers through an online portal, ensuring broad participation and fostering innovation at various levels. This move is strategically positioned not just to foster technological advancement but also to accommodate geopolitical and economic considerations. The Good Glamm Group, previously welcomed into the unicorn club in 2021, is now facing significant financial distress as it
Thu, January 30, 2025
Why Indian AI firms are taking a beating
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, January 30, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Last week, Wingify, a SaaS company, was acquired by Everstone Capital for $200 million, and Minimalist, a skincare brand, was bought by Hindustan Unilever Ltd for nearly ₹3,000 crore. These significant acquisitions highlight that Indian startups can indeed generate substantial wealth, not just through IPOs but also as targets for major acquisitions. Soumya Gupta writes. Notably, Wingify's founder retained a major stake of 84%, allowing him to benefit greatly from the sale, similar to Minimalist’s founders, who owned over 61%. The common narrative in the Indian startup ecosystem often involves founders diluting their equity to raise capital from venture capitalists and private equity firms to fuel growth, leading to reduced ownership. However, these two cases illustrate that substantial ownership can lead to lucrative exits. Companies like Zoho and Zerodha showcase that bootstrapping, or growing without external capital, allows founders to maintain control and potentially lead to high profitability without the pressures from external investors. Indian companies are increasingly implementing strategies to retain junior employees for at least a year to ensure their investment in training isn't lost to high turnover rates. Instead of using the term 'bond', which has legal limitations, firms are incorporating 'commitment periods' into employment contracts. These stipulate that employees must reimburse the company for training and development costs if they leave within a year. Law firms Devina Sengupta spoke to, note that these contracts don't prevent employees from joining other companies but do require them to pay back training costs if they leave prematurely. This method is seen as a more legally tenable and employee-friendly approach than traditional bonds. Training costs, which can range from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh depending on the industry, are now more frequently detailed in contracts to avoid disputes. Sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals, financial services, aviation, and telecom are observing shorter commitment periods, now typically one year instead of two, to adapt to the high churn rates among junior staff. Netweb Technologies, an AI cloud services firm based in Delhi, has been in the news lately after its stock price took a sharp 48% hit. The company quickly reached out to investors, explaining that this drop was just a temporary setback and emphasized their readiness to capitalize on the latest AI developments, especially with China’s DeepSeek shaking up the market. Their investor note, though lacking specific growth details, seemed to do the trick, reports Shouvik Das. The stock price rebounded, hitting a 10% upper circuit early in the trading session following the note’s release. The reaction f
Wed, January 29, 2025
RBI’s liquidity measures explained
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 29, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Reserve Bank of India has announced a trio of measures aimed at injecting ₹1.5 trillion into the financial system, responding to increasing demands for liquidity from bankers and market participants. The RBI plans to purchase ₹60,000 crore in government securities through open market operations across three sessions, conduct a 56-day variable rate repo auction for ₹50,000 crore, and execute a dollar-rupee sell swap auction of $5 billion. These actions are intended to address a liquidity deficit that has persisted since mid-December 2024, which peaked at over ₹3 trillion. While the RBI's previous interventions have included secondary market operations and adjustments to the cash reserve ratio, these new measures are more comprehensive, offering both immediate relief and setting the stage for potential interest rate adjustments in the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting in February 2025. However, despite these efforts, challenges such as persistent inflation and currency depreciation may influence the timing and nature of further rate cuts. Mint’s banking editor Gopika Gopakumar explains RBI’s recent measures. The Indian government is escalating its efforts to clear out older, more polluting vehicles by potentially implementing a ban on all vehicles meeting BS I emission standards. Even with valid fitness certificates, these vehicles could soon face mandatory scrapping unless owners take advantage of doubled incentives to upgrade to cleaner BS VI-compliant models. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is also deliberating over increasing incentives for BS II vehicles, primarily affecting medium and heavy vehicles, to encourage owners to voluntarily scrap these older models, Subhash Narayan reports. If these increased incentives do not prove effective, a ban on BS II vehicles may also be enacted. These stringent measures are part of India’s broader strategy to tackle vehicular pollution and enhance road safety by removing outdated vehicles from the roads. With BS I vehicles introduced before 2005, this move could affect only a small fraction of the estimated 35-40 crore vehicles in India, yet it marks a significant step towards achieving cleaner air and reducing carbon emissions across the country. Despite growing momentum in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the government may not grant 'infrastructure industry' status to the EV charging infrastructure sector in the upcoming budget. This status would allow stakeholders to secure credit at more favourable interest rates. However, insiders told Manas Pimpalkhare that this is unlikely as the sector already benefits from substantial support under the PM E-drive scheme, launched in October 2024, which dedicates ₹2,000 crore to establishing public ch
Tue, January 28, 2025
How social media is pushing young Indians deep into debt
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 28, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is stirring concerns in Maharashtra, with over 100 cases reported and a suspected death. This rare autoimmune disorder attacks the nervous system, sometimes leading to paralysis and severe respiratory issues. It's not contagious but typically follows infections or surgeries. Immediate hospitalization is often necessary for those severely affected. While there's no foolproof prevention due to its unclear causes, maintaining good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle helps mitigate risks. In India, GBS has been noted before, especially as a post-COVID complication, highlighting its potential severity. To tackle the current outbreak, the Central government has sent a specialist team to assist Maharashtra. The state is ramping up efforts to educate the public on maintaining hygiene and seeking prompt medical care for symptoms like muscle weakness. This proactive response aims to control the spread and provide necessary care to those affected. Priyanka Sharma explains what the GBS is, what are its symptoms and how to prevent it, in today’s Primer. Infosys is contesting allegations from Cognizant that it stole trade secrets, arguing that the information Cognizant claims as proprietary is publicly accessible and widely known. The dispute, currently unfolding in a U.S. court, has forced Cognizant to clarify what specific trade secrets Infosys allegedly misappropriated. Infosys, in a motion filed this January, challenged Cognizant to specify its claims, highlighting that many workers in the healthcare and IT sectors are familiar with the software at issue. The conflict began when Cognizant accused Infosys of using confidential information related to its QNXT and Facets software products—acquired through its 2014 takeover of TriZetto—to enhance Infosys’s own software solutions. Infosys has responded robustly, seeking to compel Cognizant to detail the supposed trade secrets and arguing that Cognizant's claims are overly broad and not legally tenable. Jas Bardia reports on the ongoing conflict. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's approach to the annual budget speeches since 2022 has evolved to focus more on a futuristic vision rather than literary embellishments. Unlike her predecessors, Sitharaman has opted out of quoting poets like Rabindra Nath Tagore and Shakespeare, shifting instead to a clear and direct style that reflects the developmental goals of the NDA government. This year, as she prepares for her eighth budget presentation on February 1, expectations are high for a speech that underscores India's aspirations to become the world's third-largest economy while addressing immediate challenges like inflation and unemployment. Gireesh Chandra Prasad writes about how, over the
Mon, January 27, 2025
Want to buy fuel? You may need third-party insurance soon
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, January 27, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. US President Donald Trump's "Make in America" initiative aims to revitalize American manufacturing by encouraging companies to establish operations in the US or face higher tariffs on exports. Trump proposes incentives like a low 15% corporate tax rate for domestic manufacturing. This move challenges the existing global manufacturing hubs in Asia, like China and Vietnam, known for their lower costs and extensive supply chains. The impact of Trump's policy could be significant, as it encourages high-tech and sophisticated manufacturing to return to the US. For India, this is a wake-up call to enhance its manufacturing competitiveness. Key issues include outdated technology, high logistics costs, and regulatory complexities. Despite the government's efforts through policies like the productivity-linked incentive scheme, progress is slow. India's investment in R&D is also minimal compared to global standards, affecting innovation. Shelley Singh writes about how Trump’s “Make in America” approach will impact India. Indian-American businessman Digvijay Danny Gaekwad's bid to acquire a significant stake in Religare Enterprises for ₹5,000 crore might hit a regulatory snag. Anirudh Laskar reports that Gaekwad's offer, priced at ₹275 per share, is more competitive than the Burman family's offer of ₹235 per share but could violate SEBI's takeover norms due to its timing and the size of the stake sought. SEBI’s rules also require a counteroffer to involve more shares than the initial bid. Moreover, there are concerns about the conditions attached to Gaekwad’s offer and the clarity around his funding sources. The battle for control is really about Religare’s profitable health insurance arm, Care Health Insurance. Religare’s chair, Rashmi Saluja, has been resisting the Burmans' attempts to take over the company since the Dabur owners first showed interest in the financial services company in September 2023. Now, with Gaekwad's sudden move, things might get even more tangled. India plans to tighten enforcement on third-party vehicle insurance by linking it to everyday vehicle-related activities. The Union finance ministry is considering measures such as mandatory insurance checks when buying fuel, obtaining FASTags, or renewing driving licenses and pollution control certificates, Subhash Narayan reports. This push comes amid concerns that over half of the vehicles on Indian roads lack third-party insurance, despite the legal requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which mandates such coverage and prescribes severe penalties for non-compliance. The proposed changes, which are still being finalized, aim to ensure that more vehicles are insured by integrating insurance checks with regular vehicle-related transactions.<
Fri, January 24, 2025
Inside the seismic shift in the world of namkeens
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, January 24, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Delhi's liquor policy has been marred by controversy, leading to significant disputes and changes over the years. In November 2021, the Delhi government privatized liquor sales, aiming to boost revenue. However, by August 2022 this policy was reversed following a CAG report that highlighted alleged undue advantages given to licensees, which purportedly led to losses exceeding ₹2,000 crore for the exchequer. This reversal resulted in the shutdown of more than 400 private liquor stores, returning control to four government agencies. The latest controversy, Varuni Khosla explains, arose from a meeting on 10 January involving government agencies and alcohol distributors. They discussed implementing a 'fixed-ordering' system aimed at diversifying the range of affordable liquors available, particularly whiskeys, and curbing the promotion of lesser-known brands. This initiative, which was launched despite the election code of conduct, specifically targeted certain Punjab-made whiskey brands accused of being disproportionately promoted. Since the covid-19 pandemic, there's been a big shift in India's snacking habits, with a growing focus on healthier choices. This change has sparked a surge in the popularity of products such as protein bars, makhana, quinoa puffs, oats bhujia and ragi chips, thanks to new-age companies such as Farmley, Happilo, Evolve Snacks and Open Secret. These brands are tapping a market that was once considered niche but is now going mainstream. Companies such as Happilo and Farmley are seeing impressive growth, with revenues skyrocketing as they cater to the health-conscious. This shift has even caught the attention of big FMCG players such as ITC, Marico and Tata Consumer, which are now acquiring startups in this space. However, creating snacks that are healthy, tasty and affordable remains a challenge, writes Samiksha Goel, as ingredients that boost health credentials are often more expensive. Yet, the industry is striving to balance these factors to keep these snacks appealing and affordable. Indian companies are revamping retirement benefits to address the inadequacy of traditional statutory plans such as provident funds and gratuities. More firms are now opting for the corporate National Pension System (NPS) and exploring private insurance investment options to enhance retirement benefits and retain employees longer, Priyamvada C and Devina Sengupta write. WTW's 2024 study highlights a significant shift towards corporate NPS, with over half of Indian employers planning to introduce it soon. These include major corporations such as Tata Motors, which is considering converting superannuation funds to corporate NPS to offer market-linked returns and allow employees to choose their p
Thu, January 23, 2025
UPI will now let you pay for friends and family
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, January 23, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Geopolitics is reshaping global tech strategies, with the US’s Stargate Project a prime example. Spearheaded by President Trump, this initiative involves a consortium including OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and MGX committing $500 billion to develop AI data centres across the US. This move aims to bolster America's AI infrastructure, create 100,000 jobs, and enhance its competitive edge against China in AI technologies. China, despite trailing behind the U.S. in AI, continues its rapid advancement, highlighted by innovations such as DeepSeek's new open-source AI model. This model promises to deliver high-level AI functionalities at a fraction of the cost of current leading technologies, posing a direct challenge to America’s dominance. India is also not far behind, and is aggressively expanding its AI infrastructure. New initiatives and investments, such as Microsoft's $3 billion expansion and major semiconductor projects, are set to significantly boost India's capabilities in AI and chip manufacturing, aiming to make it a pivotal player in the global tech landscape. So, will the Stargate Project help the US trump China? Leslie D’Monte explains. The division of real estate magnate Mangal Prabhat Lodha's empire aimed to prevent family conflict but has led to a legal battle between his sons Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha. Despite an initial settlement that divided the business, including a payout to Abhinandan, disagreements over the use of the Lodha name have surfaced. Abhishek's company, Macrotech Developers, has sued to stop Abhinandan’s business from using the name, claiming it confuses customers and dilutes the brand. This dispute has become public, hampering Macrotech's stock and highlighting the complexities of family business transitions and brand management. Nehal Chaliawala and Varun Sood take a deep dive into the conflict in the Lodha family. UPI Circle, a feature on the BHIM app, allows a primary user to authorize a secondary user to handle transactions from their bank account. This setup is ideal for helping those who may struggle with digital payments, and offers both full and partial delegation options. In full delegation, secondary users can process transactions up to ₹15,000 per day without further approval. Partial delegation, however, requires the primary user’s confirmation for each transaction, adding a layer of security. The service is available through the BHIM app, and is supported by major banks such as SBI, HDFC, and ICICI, but it's not yet live on the most popular UPI platforms such as PhonePe or Google Pay. The rapid expansion of quick commerce in India has led to a surge in demand for dark store workers, vital for operations of businesses such as Zomato's Blinkit and
Wed, January 22, 2025
Inside the $30 billion Maha Kumbh economy
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, January 22, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Reserve Bank of India is making strides towards making the rupee and international currency by allowing non-residents to open rupee accounts in the overseas branches of authorized Indian banks. This move, part of a broader effort to encourage cross-border transactions in the rupee, follows the RBI's consultation with the central government and builds on recommendations from a 2022 RBI committee aimed at integrating the rupee into the global financial system more effectively. Now, non-residents can manage both current and capital transactions with Indian residents through these accounts and also use them to invest in rupee assets, Gopika Gopakumar reports. For example, a non-resident Indian in the U.S. can hold rupees received from exports to India and use them for various payments, including imports back into India. This flexibility could significantly streamline the management of trade finances. However, bankers are cautiously optimistic, noting that the rupee's non-convertible nature might slow its adoption for international transactions. The Union Budget for FY26 is expected to significantly increase financial support for startups and small businesses, which are crucial to India’s economy, accounting for nearly one-third of its GDP. The government plans to bolster working capital, trade finance, and growth funding through favourable terms under various schemes managed by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Ministry of MSMEs. These sectors are particularly important as they employ over 247 million people amidst India’s ongoing job-creation challenges. Expected initiatives include more robust financial backing under existing DPIIT and MSME schemes. India's top IT firms are charting different courses in their AI journeys. Companies such as Infosys and Tech Mahindra are crafting small AI models that are perfect for specific, cost-sensitive tasks. These smaller models use less data, making them quicker and cheaper to operate. For instance, Infosys has created distinct models for industries such as banking and cybersecurity by combining their rich internal data with some carefully selected external datasets. Meanwhile, other players such as Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and HCL Technologies are choosing to expand on existing, broad-scope AI tools known as large language models (LLMs). Jas Bardia writes that this highlights a fundamental choice in AI development between specialisation and scalability. Smaller models offer precise solutions at lower costs, while larger models deliver extensive capabilities but come with higher operational expenses and risks. At Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh Mela, a grand spiritual gathering attracting over 400 million vis
Tue, January 21, 2025
Trump 2.0: What’s in store for India?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 21, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. As Donald Trump begins his second term as US President, there’s a lot of speculation about how his policies might unfold, especially when it comes to India. With control over both the House and the Senate, Trump is well-positioned to push through his agenda, which remains as unpredictable as ever. His priorities? Slapping hefty tariffs on imports to boost American manufacturing, cutting taxes, and taking tough measures on immigration, writes N Madhavan. Right off the bat, Trump plans to sign around 100 executive orders that could reshape U.S. policies on everything from immigration to trade. These moves could have a big ripple effect globally. For India, things look relatively positive, as ties between the two countries were pretty solid during Trump's first term, thanks to strong personal chemistry between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, there are potential challenges. Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods could spark a trade war, slowing down the global economy and affecting Indian exports. Plus, there's the issue with H1B visas, crucial for India's tech industry, which are caught in a tug-of-war within Trump’s support base. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) recently fined Meta Platforms Inc. ₹ 213 crore for alleged abuse of dominance related to Meta-owned WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy update. This decision has sparked discussions about the potential conflict between CCI and sectoral regulators. This is particularly relevant with the new Digital Data Protection Act of 2023, which allows data processing with informed consent. CCI's ruling stops WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta entities for advertising for five years. This raises concerns about alignment with future regulations from the Data Protection Board of India, which will oversee data usage based on user consent. This situation highlights the tension between protecting competition and fostering innovation and user autonomy in the digital economy, reports Gireesh Chandra Prasad. India's market regulator, SEBI, is intensifying its surveillance on penny stocks and micro-cap companies that show unusually high gains, which could indicate speculative trading. This move aims to safeguard retail investors, especially the millions of new traders who joined the market during the pandemic. The concern is that these stocks might not have earnings that justify their soaring prices, despite the Nifty Microcap Index rising by 21.7% in the past year. SEBI's strategy includes educational efforts to help investors recognize the risks associated with these investments and avoid falling for unverified tips on social media, Neha Joshi reports. India's PM Internship Scheme, initially aimed a
Mon, January 20, 2025
Budget 2025: Better tax breaks in the works?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, January 20, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, robotics really stole the show. Imagine robots mowing lawns, cleaning floors, and even mixing drinks—sounds like sci-fi, right? Well, it's becoming a reality. Standouts included 'Adam,' a robotic bartender from Richtech Robotics, and 'Mirumi,' a robot designed for social interactions. There was also 'Looi' by Tangible Future, a personal assistant powered by ChatGPT, and 'Mirokai,' a programmable humanoid that feels almost like talking to another person. These bots range in price from the more affordable 'Mirumi' at $70 to the hefty $60,000 for the home assistant R2D3. What's really exciting is how interactive these robots have become. Thanks to advancements in AI, they're not just functional machines anymore; they can actually interact with you in a way that feels natural. So, are these home robots ready for people to be used? Shouvik Das answers that question in today’s Primer. As Donald Trump prepares to take office as the 47th President of the United States, India’s stock market braces for potential volatility. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are notably apprehensive, having net sold ₹44,396 crore worth of shares up to January 16 and significantly increasing their bearish bets on Indian futures. This cautious stance reflects concerns over Trump's unpredictable policies, which could include high tariffs and strict immigration rules, writes Ram Sahgal. Despite these worries, India's position in the global market has shifted, now trailing behind Taiwan in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index due to recent market corrections. Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, is considering offering more attractive income tax breaks in the upcoming FY26 budget to boost household spending amid economic challenges. Sources told Gireesh Chandra Prasad that the discussions are focused on increasing the standard deduction beyond ₹75,000 and raising the basic tax exemption limit from ₹3 lakh. Also, on reconfiguring the tax brackets up to ₹15 lakh to provide broader relief. These proposed changes aim to stimulate consumption by adjusting the personal income tax structure, particularly targeting those earning between ₹3 and ₹15 lakh. With economic growth expected to slow to 6.4%, these fiscal measures, alongside maintaining elevated capital expenditure, are seen as crucial steps to invigorate the economy. The government is also looking to balance these tax cuts with fiscal responsibility, aiming to keep the deficit within 4.5% of GDP next year. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) might just dodge the divestment bullet as the government mulls labelling it as a "strategic" public sector unit. That's a big nod to BHEL's role in key sectors like renewable ener
Fri, January 17, 2025
Adani tormentor Hindenburg shuts down
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, January 17, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The upcoming Union budget for 2025-26 is set to focus heavily on agriculture, small businesses, boosting household spending, and creating more jobs, Dhirendra Kumar and Gireesh Chandra Prasad report. The plan is to introduce farmer incentives, support for MSMEs, and measures to increase consumer spending. Expect the budget to zoom in on promoting high-value agriculture—things like fruits, vegetables, and animal farming—to help small farmers grow their incomes. This will be backed by investments in technology and better marketing strategies. For MSMEs, the budget might offer easier credit options and ensure they get paid on time by larger companies. There could also be incentives for making industries like rice milling more energy-efficient, aligning with the nation’s renewable energy targets. This week equity markets were hit hard, with investors losing over ₹12 trillion on Monday. A strong dollar and worries about fewer US rate cuts have drained liquidity and led to massive sell-offs globally. As the dollar index has climbed 9% since October, betting on a robust US economy and sustained inflation, riskier assets like emerging market equities have lost their lustre. Higher US treasury yields suggest that fewer rate cuts might be in store for 2025, further dampening the mood. In India, the economic outlook isn’t too rosy either. Reduced government spending, cooling credit, stubborn inflation, and sluggish demand are hurting corporate profits, making it difficult for Indian stocks to justify their high valuations. Abhinaba Saha writes about what could be expected from the market in the coming weeks. This month marks a big leap for connectivity in Kashmir with the launch of the first-ever train service linking Srinagar to the rest of the country. The new Vande Bharat Sleeper train, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Project (USBRL), will travel over 800 kilometers from New Delhi to Srinagar. This line not only promises faster travel times but also aims to boost the local economy by enhancing sectors like tourism and agriculture. Plus, it offers a reliable alternative to the often-blocked Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. While there’s excitement about the potential for growth and better connectivity, there are also worries about the environmental impact and the economic effects on Jammu’s local businesses. Irfan Amin Malik examines how Kashmir’s first rail link with the rest of India will impact its key sectors. Hindenburg Research, the American short-seller famous for shaking up the corporate world, is closing its doors. Nathan Anderson, the founder, announced the shutdown without spilling the beans on why, only mentioning that he's ending on a high note. Hindenburg shot to fame in India after
Thu, January 16, 2025
Will the government raise customs duties in the Budget?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, January 16, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. A group of prominent investors, including Switzerland's Partners Group AG, Canada's Brookfield Asset Management, and KKR, are eyeing a stake in Indian internet services provider Excitel Broadband. They're part of a $200 million equity deal and have signed non-disclosure agreements as part of the process managed by Avendus Capital. Other potential investors like Macquarie Group, Apax Partners, and Actis Llp are also in the mix, reflecting strong interest in the company, which was founded in 2015 and now serves 1 million subscribers across 55 cities. Utpa Bhaskar reports on the potential acquisition of Excitel. The Indian government is considering a revision of customs duties and procedures in specific sectors for the FY26 Union budget. This initiative aims to make it more appealing for manufacturers of finished goods to also produce components or semi-finished products, thereby enhancing trade ease and export competitiveness. Particularly, the electronics and consumer goods segments, including air conditioners and washing machines, might see duty revisions to encourage domestic production of components, according to Gireesh Chandra Prasad and Dhirendra Kumar's report. This strategy follows the successful model used in the mobile phone industry, where increased customs duty on finished products spurred local component manufacturing. Travel companies are buzzing with excitement as the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is expected to draw a staggering 400 million visitors over the next six weeks. This year's festival is extra special, marking a 144-year cycle milestone, and it's triggered a massive demand spike for travel and accommodation. Responding swiftly, Air India has launched daily flights from Delhi to meet the soaring demand, with airfare prices shooting up significantly. Hotels are also seeing a tenfold booking increase, with costs rising across nearby cities like Varanasi, reports Varuni Khosla. Travel agencies, including giants like Thomas Cook, are capitalizing on the surge, rolling out extensive packages that range from basic stays to luxury spiritual retreats. The festival's economic impact is immense, with an expected generation of Rs 2 trillion in revenue, benefiting not just the travel sector but also local businesses across a spectrum of industries. In the chilly fog of the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana, a renewed farmer protest simmers along National Highway 52. Thousands of farmers have braved the elements since February of last year, their resolve unshaken by winter's bite, this time demanding legal backing for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for their crops. These protests, although less vibrant than the massive gatherings at Delhi’s borders in 2020, are deeply roote
Wed, January 15, 2025
Investors lose ₹60 trillion in 100 days
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, January 15, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Telangana owes roughly ₹3,900 crore to alcohol businesses, a substantial amount of dues that has been accumulating under the administration of Telangana Beverages Corporation Ltd (TGBCL), a state-run entity controlling alcohol sales. This situation stems from TGBCL's static pricing model since 2018-19 and delayed payments, straining suppliers like United Breweries Ltd (UBL), which has even halted beer supplies due to unprofitability. TGBCL's financial woes are due to decreased non-tax revenue, which fell dramatically short of the 2024-25 projections, coupled with high expenditures from recent political commitments. This financial shortfall has led to payment delays, with outstanding dues only partially cleared post-September 2024. Varuni Khosla explains what went wrong with the alcohol industry in Telangana. The recent heavy selling by foreign portfolio investors has significantly impacted the Indian stock market, wiping out nearly ₹60 trillion in investor wealth over the last three and a half months. This sell-off, primarily fueled by FPIs withdrawing a net ₹1.85 trillion since October, has coincided with a weakening rupee and rising oil prices,reports Ram Sahgal. Market capitalization plummeted from a high of ₹473.84 trillion on September 27, when the Nifty 50 index peaked, to ₹414.23 trillion recently, marking a 12% drop in the benchmark index. Both the Nifty Smallcap 250 and Nifty Midcap 150 indices have similarly fallen by 13.5% from their late September highs. The primary drivers for this exodus include the depreciation of the rupee and escalating crude oil prices, influenced by new US sanctions on Russia and anticipated policy shifts as the US transitions from President Joe Biden to President-elect Donald Trump. India is currently in talks with several countries to establish "data embassies" on its soil, a move aimed at allowing these nations to store and control their sovereign data while enhancing India's role as a secure data hub. Particularly advanced are discussions with the UAE to set up its first data embassy in India, Shouvik Das reports. The plan involves creating special zones dedicated to housing these data embassies, similar to how consular sections of embassies operate, ensuring the home country manages all privacy and access controls. The idea, inspired by Estonia's establishment of the world’s first data embassy in Luxembourg following a cyberattack in 2007, could provide India with significant geopolitical leverage. Data embassies could serve as secure storage sites during crises or allow countries to manage data without adhering to local data laws, potentially simplifying international business operations. The national rural job guarantee scheme, MGNREGS
Tue, January 14, 2025
The (un)importance of fact checking on the Internet
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 14, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Meta is saying goodbye to independent fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram. Instead, they're rolling out a new system called 'community notes,' similar to what's used on Elon Musk's X. This new setup will rely on users to flag false information through a consensus mechanism. Zuckerberg's big push here is to cut down on automatic post bans and broaden the type of political content allowed, aiming to reduce what he sees as excessive control by automated systems. In India, where Meta deals with a highly complex landscape of 18 languages, they currently work with 11 fact-checking partners. Shouvik Das writes how the transition to community-driven fact-checking might struggle with accuracy, as seen with X's challenges in India, one of the world's biggest online markets. Yet, Meta might fine-tune this approach, possibly reintroducing some human oversight to strike a balance. Alivaa Hotels, a fledgling hospitality company backed by Ananta Capital, is rapidly expanding with an ambitious plan to manage 50 properties in five years using an asset-light model of leasing rather than owning properties. This trend of leasing properties is gaining traction among new-age hoteliers who see it as a way to reduce capital expenditure and increase agility in the competitive hospitality industry, reports Varuni Khosla. By renting properties and focusing on high-margin room services, companies like Alivaa can streamline operations and focus on profitability. This model is particularly appealing in tier II and III cities, where property ownership costs can be prohibitive. India is stepping up its game to improve quality standards for consumer products, taking cues from the US and EU. The government is aiming to weed out counterfeits by introducing random testing and focusing on high-risk items like electronics and toys, Dhirendra Kumar reports. This shake-up, managed by the Bureau of Indian Standards along with other bodies like the Food Safety and Standards Authority for food items, is a response to concerns about nearly a third of the market's goods being fake. With stricter checks and a focus on transparency, India hopes to boost consumer confidence and ensure safety, paving the way for a thriving market that's projected to boom and create numerous jobs by 2030. The podcast industry in India, which boomed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, is now evolving from audio-only formats to include visual content, primarily on platforms like YouTube. This shift is attracting a broader audience and making it easier to secure advertising and sponsorships. However, the increased production costs pose a challenge to profitable monetization. Amit Doshi of IVM Podcasts-Pratilipi told Lata Jha t
Mon, January 13, 2025
Mint Budget Poll: Here’s the Verdict
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, January 13, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Mint recently wrapped up a survey, running from late November to December, to gauge public opinion ahead of the Union Budget. We asked readers about their preferences on government planning and potential budget priorities. The results revealed a clear preference for short-term planning. Most of the 7,051 participants are leaning away from long-term goals, favouring immediate action instead. When it comes to the economy, job creation topped the list of priorities with many expressing dissatisfaction with the current income tax slabs, particularly the salaried folks who are craving more tax breaks. About 73% flagged job creation as crucial, underscoring a general unease about employment opportunities. The survey also highlighted a split opinion on populist budget measures, with about 41% in favour during slow economic times, yet higher earners largely opposed the idea. Schemes favouring women, farmers, and entrepreneurs received strong support, showing a desire for targeted assistance in these areas. India is set to reduce its fiscal deficit for 2024-25 to between 4.7% and 4.8% of GDP, a bit lower than the initially budgeted 4.9%. Sources in the government told Rhik Kundu and Subhash Narayan about the move which is a part of the government's ongoing efforts to enforce economic discipline and maintain a trajectory towards fiscal consolidation, with an end goal to bring the deficit down to below 4.5% by 2026. Despite a slowdown in GDP growth, which fell to 5.4% in the September quarter, the government’s financial health has been buoyed by robust tax collections and a significantly higher-than-expected dividend from the Reserve Bank of India. This fiscal year, RBI has contributed a whopping ₹2.11 trillion dividend, which has been a major boost. As for the numbers, the government's fiscal deficit target for FY25 is pegged at ₹16.13 trillion. Up to November, it has managed to keep the deficit at ₹8.47 trillion, which is about 52.5% of the full-year target. This careful management of the budget aims to send reassuring signals to investors, especially crucial at a time when the global economy is slowing. The PM internship scheme, currently being tested, is gearing up for some updates based on feedback from its pilot run and industry inputs. While the monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 and a one-time joining bonus of Rs 6,000 won’t see a hike, other elements are under review to better tailor the program for launch. Since its introduction in early October, the pilot has seen a 621,000 applications for about 127,000 spots, showing there's a massive interest in the initiative. Despite this enthusiastic start, the real challenge lies in scaling up, as the government aims to provide 2 million internships annually over the next
Fri, January 10, 2025
Can AI tell us which sectors to invest in?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, January 10, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. A recent report by the State Bank of India has sparked widespread debate with its claim of a significant reduction in India’s poverty levels. The report suggests rural poverty fell sharply from 25.7% in 2011-12 to just 4.86% in 2023-24, alongside a notable decline in urban poverty. It attributes this dramatic improvement to the success of government initiatives, including direct cash transfers and infrastructure development. However, as Nandita Venkatesan writes, the methodology behind these figures has come under scrutiny. Critics argue that the report’s approach—adjusting old poverty lines for inflation to measure current poverty—fails to account for shifts in consumption patterns and changes in survey methodologies over the past decade, potentially skewing the conclusions. India’s stock market is bracing for heightened volatility as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) adopt their most cautious stance in seven months. As of January 8, FPIs’ combined net short positions on Nifty and Bank Nifty futures surged to 238,321 contracts, the highest level since June, according to data from IndiaCharts and the NSE. This sharp increase in bearish bets reflects growing concerns over both domestic and global economic uncertainties, reports Ram Sahgal. FPIs have been consistently shorting Indian markets, driven partly by India’s revised economic growth forecast of 6.4% for FY25, a four-year low and slightly below the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 6.6%. Adding to the unease is the timing, with Donald Trump’s imminent inauguration as US President stoking fears of tariff wars and stricter immigration policies—both of which could disrupt the global economic landscape. As 2025 unfolds, identifying the Indian sectors poised to lead the charge can feel like a guessing game. To cut through the uncertainty, Mint’s Abhishek Mukherjee sought insights from three major AI chatbots: OpenAI's ChatGPT, Elon Musk's Grok, and Google's Gemini 2.0. While each emphasized the speculative nature of market predictions—shaped by dynamic factors like economic policies and global events—their perspectives offer intriguing takeaways. Read today’s Long Story to see what these AI models foresee for the markets. The Maha Kumbh Mela, returning after 144 years and expected to draw millions to Uttar Pradesh, has become a prime target for cybercriminals. Experts from Aon, mFilterIt, and Quick Heal warn of a surge in sophisticated cyberattacks aimed at stealing personal and payment information. Scammers are leveraging the event's vast digital footprint, creating fake websites and using platforms like WhatsApp to trick pilgrims into paying for fraudulent services. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government and police are st
Thu, January 09, 2025
Why India’s consumption needs a revival
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, January 9, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India's manufacturing sector is facing a slowdown, weighing heavily on economic growth. Manufacturing growth slipped to 2.2% in the second quarter of this fiscal year, a sharp decline from 7% in the first quarter. This slump dragged overall industry performance, pulling GDP growth down to 5.4%, compared to 8.1% in the same quarter last year. The primary driver of this slowdown is a significant drop in urban demand. City dwellers, burdened by stagnant wages and rising food prices, are cutting back on spending. While rural demand shows signs of recovery, it’s insufficient to offset the urban slump. Adding to the woes, exports grew at a modest 2.8%, and the heavy monsoon season disrupted power generation and mining activity. The government remains hopeful, though, viewing the slowdown as temporary and expecting a rebound in power and mining post-monsoon. In today’s Primer, N. Madhavan explains why a quick revival in consumer demand is crucial to reignite economic momentum. India faces a stark water crisis, with some regions grappling with floods while others endure severe droughts. To address this imbalance, the government is adopting a dual strategy—supplementing the traditional inter-state river-linking approach with localized intra-state projects. This aims to redistribute surplus water more effectively to arid regions. Currently, over 60% of India’s districts are categorized as high-risk for climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts, according to Puja Das. In response, the central government is encouraging states to develop their own intra-state river-linking proposals. This initiative complements the ongoing Ken-Betwa Link Project, India’s flagship inter-state river-linking venture. Noida-based Astrotalk has skillfully brought the ancient practice of astrology into the digital age, capitalizing on its deep-rooted influence in Indian daily life. The platform connects over 41,000 astrologers with more than 450,000 users. Astrotalk’s financials reflect its success, with revenues soaring to ₹651 crore and profits reaching ₹100 crore in a single fiscal year. The company’s growth has been fuelled by a $30 million venture capital injection, pushing its valuation to $300 million. However, challenges have also emerged. A recent shift in the platform’s revenue-sharing model has sparked discontent among astrologers. While earnings were initially split equally, Astrotalk now retains a larger share of revenue from the initial minutes of consultations, reports Samiksha Goel. This change has left some astrologers feeling like they’re operating in a call center, incentivized to prolong conversations to secure fair payouts. The pressure has strained relationships, with some astrologers walking a
Tue, January 07, 2025
MSMEs to embrace sustainability
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 7, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Indian stock market tumbled on Monday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 both plunging over 1.5%, as widespread selling gripped the market. Investor sentiment was rattled by reports of a new virus outbreak in China, fueling fresh concerns. India's real estate sector is poised for an eventful year. While the office market shows promise, driven by demand from global capability centers and tech companies, challenges loom. A shortage of premium office spaces in key markets like Mumbai and Bengaluru could hamper growth unless new, high-quality projects come online. On the residential front, the momentum seen post-pandemic is slowing. Elevated property prices in several cities are deterring buyers, potentially prompting a shift towards affordable housing as the market undergoes a correction. Madhurima Nandy explores the key factors shaping the outlook for the real estate market this year. The Indian government is set to introduce a new policy aimed at driving sustainability in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. This initiative will provide financial, technological, and regulatory support to help MSMEs adopt greener practices, aligning with India's net-zero carbon emissions target for 2070. Rituraj Baruah and Manas Pimpalkhare report that a dedicated body under the MSME ministry will oversee this transition, ensuring a smooth shift to sustainable operations. Beyond environmental goals, the policy aims to ease the financial burden on small businesses by offering a robust support system to manage the costs of these changes. India’s consumer goods companies are bracing for a tough third quarter with expected low single-digit revenue growth and margin contraction. Despite price hikes aimed at combating inflation, weak urban demand and a delayed winter have dampened the sector's performance. Suneera Tandon spoke to Nitin Gupta from Emkay Global, who told her that only a few companies like ITC, Marico, and Bikaji might report double-digit revenue growth. Marico has seen some support from rural markets and has raised prices on products like Parachute coconut oil to cope with rising costs. However, the overall urban demand is expected to remain subdued for a few more quarters, with further price hikes likely as companies grapple with high input costs affecting essentials like soaps and edible oils. After stepping down as managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak isn’t hitting the brakes. Instead, he’s channeling his energy into USK Capital, his family office, where he’s focused on investing in businesses with long-term growth potential and mentoring the next generation of business leaders. While no longer in a full-time banking role, Kotak remains
Mon, January 06, 2025
New virus in China; Inside Sebi’s Ketan Parekh probe
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, January 6, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. China has a new virus! There is a rising concern about respiratory infections in the country, particularly with an increase in cases of Human Metapneumovirus among children under 14. This virus, part of the same family as the respiratory syncytial virus, has sparked worries due to its symptoms and transmission methods, which are reminiscent of COVID-19. Unlike COVID-19, however, there's no vaccine or specific treatment for HMPV, adding to the global health anxieties. The increase in cases, especially noted in northern China, comes during the usual flu season but has raised some eyebrows globally due to fears of a pandemic-like spread, reminiscent of the early COVID-19 days. However, health experts note that HMPV isn't new; it's been around since 2001 and pops up seasonally in places like the US and UK. Jessica Jani explains what the new virus is and how it could affect the human body, in today’s Primer. Donald Trump's second presidential term has reignited concerns over H-1B visas, critical for India's $250-billion IT services sector. Historically, these visas have been essential for employing highly skilled non-immigrants in the US. However, Indian tech companies are less vulnerable today than in the past due to a strategic shift towards hiring more Americans and reducing dependency on H-1B visas. Jas Bardia spoke to IT industry insiders who told him that IT companies are hiring more locally in the US, which decreases the reliance on H-1B visas. US firms now employ more Americans than H-1B visa holders in these roles. Data shows that major Indian IT firms, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and Wipro, have significantly reduced their H-1B visa applications over the last decade. 2024 marked a significant increase in ultra-luxury real estate transactions in India, with cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru seeing record deals for homes costing over Rs 100 crore. Speaking to Mint’s Khushi Malhotra, Ritesh Mehta of JLL highlighted the growth in this sector, noting high-value transactions on Gurgaon's Golf Course Road and South Mumbai's Malabar Hill. This surge reflects a robust confidence in ultra-luxury real estate as a stable investment. The data from PropEquity revealed 13 such transactions between January and October last year, a slight decrease from 21 in 2023. Anarock Group’s data also shows that 99 ultra-luxury residential deals worth Rs 8,069 crore were closed over the past three years. India’s new Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 is causing a stir with its latest draft rules, especially around the new requirement for parents to verify their identity when their kids want to use online platforms. This proposal is sparking quite a debate about its prac
Fri, January 03, 2025
Has the stock market bottomed out?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, January 3, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Indian stock market experienced significant volatility in 2024, with the Nifty 50 plunging nearly 11% from its September peak amid heavy foreign investor selling and a weakening rupee. Mayur Bhalerao notes that over 25% of stocks are trading below their peak values, presenting potential buying opportunities. However, elevated valuations, particularly in the mid-cap and small-cap segments, continue to be a concern. The government has approved a revamped crop insurance scheme with a financial outlay of ₹69,516 crore for the next financial year. Additionally, ₹825 crore has been allocated to accelerate the adoption of technology in farming. Sayantan Bera reports that part of this fund will support satellite-based crop yield assessments and a network of automatic weather stations. However, challenges remain, including delays in claim settlements and limited state participation. With 87% of India’s districts vulnerable to drought and substantial weather-related economic losses, this scheme is crucial for safeguarding farmers' livelihoods. Traditionally, angel investing—small investments in startups—was dominated by founders of established startups. However, the landscape is shifting as sports stars like MS Dhoni and PV Sindhu enter the early-stage funding scene. Mansi Verma reports that while overall angel funding fell to $213.5 million from $441.1 million and the number of funding rounds halved, over 1,000 first-time angels joined the fray last year. Government-backed incubators are also emerging as key players, creating a diverse and evolving pool of investors. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, hatchbacks continue to hold a special place in the hearts of Indian car buyers. Maruti Suzuki India reported an impressive 29% year-on-year growth in small car sales for December. With small cars making up half of its portfolio, this uptick is a significant boost for the market leader. Manish Joshi notes that while overall sales remained flat, a 4% price hike is expected to drive profit growth. Additionally, Maruti’s valuation appears reasonable at 22 times its annual earnings, he adds. 2024 wasn't a great year for Bollywood. Established stars like Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar ventured into experimental films that did not work. Lata Jha writes that while such films can enhance an actor's versatility, they also risk alienating wider audiences. For example, Jigra had a budget over ₹80 crore but earned only ₹30.7 crore. Despite the niche focus, stars maintained their high fee structures. That ultimately resulted in costly projects that often underperformed.
Thu, January 02, 2025
What to expect from Nifty 50 in 2025
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, January 2, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. All said and done, Nifty 50's returns of 9% in 2024 were about average. Expectations for the new year are understandably moderate. Abhinaba Saha writes that despite these forecasts, one sector that is likely to do well is real estate. Consumer durables will also be aided by strong demand and government support. Additionally, banks that will capitalise on the upcoming credit cycle are also likely to fare well, Abhinaba writes. Diamonds might be forever, but their returns are certainly not. Anil Poste spoke to experts, who said that asset classes like diamonds can stagnate for years. Diamonds prices had plateaued for two decades, and are now falling — thanks to lab-grown diamonds. Unlike equities that tend to grow in value through innovation and profitability, diamonds lack a reliable resale market. Jewellers often only offer exchanges, instead of buying it back for cash. Experts caution you to treat diamonds as luxury purchases rather than dependable investments, unlike gold. India's overburdened legal system is the recipient of many jokes. However, the tide turned in 2024: district courts disposed of more cases than were pending. This is the first time in our country's history that the number of resolved cases exceeded pending ones. Manas Pimpalkhare writes that this is the result of enhanced efficiency driven by technological integration and virtual hearings. The central government's eCourts scheme received a lot of funding and support to improve how cases are handled, Manas writes. Indian companies are increasingly turning to qualified institutional placements (QIPs) to raise funds for capital-intensive projects, with 2024 setting a record for such fundraising. Priyamvada C reports on data from Prime Database which shows companies raised ₹1.37 trillion across 95 QIPs, significantly higher than ₹54,350 crore from 45 issues in 2023. Prominent transactions included Vedanta and Zomato, each raising ₹8,500 crore, alongside others like Adani Energy Solutions and Godrej Properties. The surge in QIPs is attributed to favorable market conditions, robust liquidity, and strong investor interest, with sectors like BFSI, real estate, and IT being particularly active. The Indian rupee's decline against the dollar in 2024 impacted the return of FPIs, despite its relative stability compared to other global currencies. While the Sensex in rupee terms returned 8.16%, its dollar equivalent, the BSE Dollex 30, only managed a 5% gain. The rupee's modest annual fall of 2.9% was cushioned by the RBI through various market interventions. The outlook remains challenging for FPIs due to potential US policy changes under the Trump administration that may keep US bond yields high, discour
Wed, January 01, 2025
Will India’s growth story change in 2025?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, January 1, 2024. This is Nelson John, wishing you a very happy new year. Corporate India has a lot of cash on its hands. A study of Sensex 500 companies found that 66 companies collectively held ₹2.7 trillion in cash and equivalents at the end of FY24, of which ₹99,100 crore remains unallocated for any purpose.. This has prompted some calls for higher shareholder returns through dividends or buybacks. Despite these firms returning 54% of their profits back to shareholders, analysts argue there’s room for more, Nehal Chaliawala writes. Many firms like tech giants and industrial leaders are urged to establish clearer dividend policies tied to profits rather than cash reserves. The demand for larger dividends is only growing. What's the connection between Apple's iPhone and Indian stocks? Both became increasingly desirable commodities in 2024. Abhinaba Saha writes that while the upper strata of society continued to buy iPhones, those with less disposable income continued to prioritise necessities. This is called a K-shaped recovery. The Indian stock market mirrored this consumption dynamic: Nifty Realty and Nifty India Consumption indices performed strongly due to a trend toward premiumization. However, FMCG companies struggled due to declining sales. Investors too have caught on to this trend, and are focusing on established premiumization trends, Abhinaba writes. India's data centre capacity is expected to rise significantly next year. Data localisation laws are the primary cause, and thanks to rapid 5G usage, companies have more than enough data to store. Leslie D'Monte writes that current estimates forecast capacity could double to 2-2.3 gigawatts by 2027. Major players like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are expanding their presence in India. An estimated investment of ₹55,000–65,000 crore is needed to fulfill these needs, Leslie adds. Generative AI is becoming a major focus for global tech spending, and is set to account for 6.5% of budgets in 2025—a significant jump from 2024, according to ISG. GenAI’s use in customer service and chatbots is growing rapidly, but opinions on its impact on India’s $254 billion IT services industry are mixed. Some analysts Jas Bardia spoke to, like Keith Bachman from BMO Capital Markets, predict GenAI will drive pricing pressure as clients demand cost savings from efficiency gains. This could challenge revenue models for IT firms, especially during contract renewals. Others, like Axis Capital, argue that GenAI will fuel growth, enabling firms to innovate and create new opportunities, as cost savings are reinvested into advanced tech solutions. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are becoming a key recruitment ground for private universities seeking to strengthen their faculty and
Tue, December 31, 2024
Adani sells off Wilmar JV
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, December 31, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The markets regulator’s crackdown on futures and options trading is already showing significant impact. Ram Sahgal reports a nearly 25% month-on-month decline in index options turnover in November, with retail and proprietary traders accounting for about 75% of this drop. Stricter curbs, including larger contract sizes, are set to take effect in January, likely reducing volumes further in the new year. Sebi implemented these measures in response to widespread losses incurred by retail investors in F&O trading over the past couple of years. Adani Enterprises announced plans to sell its 43.94% stake in Adani Wilmar to joint venture partner Wilmar International for over $2 billion. Nehal Chaliawala reports that the move aims to address liquidity concerns as the company refocuses on core business investments. Adani Wilmar, with annual revenue nearing ₹50,000 crore, will also undergo a name change. Additionally, 12.87% of its stake will be sold through an offer for sale to meet public shareholding requirements. This decision comes amid speculation about Adani's exit from non-core businesses following allegations of fraud that have affected the group's financial stability. In a report released on Monday, the Reserve Bank of India flagged concerns about stress in unsecured retail credit spilling over to larger loans, such as housing and auto loans. Shayan Ghosh reports that nearly half of personal loan borrowers also have outstanding secured loans. According to the RBI’s Financial Stability Report, defaults in unsecured loans could prompt lenders to classify other loans held by the same borrower as non-performing. While the gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio for unsecured loans currently stands at 1.7%, the RBI cautioned that rising write-offs could be masking the true extent of asset quality risks. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 will be the Year of the Snake—symbolizing flexibility, growth, and change. Devina Sengupta writes that India Inc. is set to experience all these dynamics, with employees expected to switch jobs at a faster pace. Companies will likely go beyond salary hikes to focus on upskilling initiatives. While rural hiring in the FMCG sector is projected to rise by 10%, weak consumer demand, driven by inflation, may dampen growth. High demand for talent is anticipated in sectors like AI, data science, and digital transformation. Compensation increases are forecasted to average around 9.5%, underscoring the competitive landscape for skilled professionals. During the 2015 Paris Agreement, India committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Among India Inc., the targets vary significantly. Of the Nifty50 companies, 19 have yet to set net-zero or carbon-neutral goals, 20 have set net-zero targets with
Mon, December 30, 2024
Govt wants to cut red tape for Budget
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 30, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Several major investors of Religare criticised a PIL that led the Madhya Pradesh High Court to indefinitely stay the company's upcoming annual general meeting. They argued that a takeover of Religare by the Burman family could concentrate ownership and harm minority shareholders. Nehal Chaliawala writes that one executive from a mutual fund said that holding an AGM is an independent matter, and unrelated to regulatory approvals. The AGM was scheduled for December 31. Key leadership issues, particularly those surrounding the chairperson Rashmi Saluja, were slated to be discussed. America's sought-after H-1B visa is doing the rounds after being brought in the limelight by Elon Musk. This visa is essential for hiring specialized foreign workers. Usually, skilled workers from India and China are first in line for such a visa. Shelley Singh writes that Musk's interest in hiring more workers via the H-1B is at loggerheads with President Donald Trump's conservative supporters, who want tighter immigration norms. However, the Indian IT sector is becoming less reliant on the H1-B as more American companies open offices in India. The government wants to cut red tape, and it wants to do it by next year's Union Budget. Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports that the government is identifying regulations that can be relaxed during the Budget to help revive a slowing economy. These rules will directly address concerns of "over regulation" in certain sectors, and will scale back these rules to help India Inc. flourish without having to worry about endless compliance norms. Gireesh identifies two major areas where a streamlined process could do wonders: land and labour laws. If your portfolio includes one of India's top five IT stocks, you probably had a mixed 2024. Revenue growth this past year slowed down, compared to the previous year. Jas Bardia and Varun Sood write that despite this, shares of TCS, Infosys, HCL, and Tech Mahindra performed better than expected. 2025 might bring heavier spending by these companies due to the US Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts. Increased revenues on the back of deflated base numbers would bode well for these IT stocks. It's hiring season for rural India. Devina Sengupta and Suneera Tandon write that India's consumer goods companies are ramping up hiring in rural markets. Rural markets outperformed their urban counterparts this year, leading to this move. There is a higher demand for roles such as van sales representatives, leading to this move. Notable firms like Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur, and ITC are expanding their workforce and introducing more economical options to try and push deeper into the hinterlands. Recruitment firms are reporting a 10-15% increase in hiring by fast-moving consum
Fri, December 27, 2024
Market lessons from 2024
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, December 27, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Former Prime Minister and finance minister during the 1992 economic liberalisation, Dr. Manmohan Singh, passed away at the age of 92 at Delhi’s AIIMS last night. Dr. Singh, who is often credited with opening up the Indian economy, retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year—ending a 33-year stint in the Upper House of Parliament. After a soaring streak, India’s residential property market took a downturn in 2024, experiencing a 4% drop in home sales. This marked the first slowdown since the pandemic, with a corresponding decrease in new project launches. However, despite the dip in sales and new supplies, property prices didn't follow suit and instead climbed higher, writes Madhurima Nandy. In the top seven cities, residential sales didn't reach the peaks anticipated for 2024, as reported by Anarock Property Consultants. Election activities and a sluggish process for project approvals contributed to fewer new project launches. While sales volumes dropped, the value of sales actually increased by 16% due to rising home prices and larger unit sizes. As the allure of prestigious campus placements at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) begins to wane in the face of a global economic downturn, the institutions are rallying behind their students, especially those who have missed the initial rush of high-profile recruiters. In response to the challenging job market, IITs are introducing innovative support systems to aid their students in securing employment. Recognizing the importance of mentorship and preparation, IIT Delhi has launched the "Call a Friend" program. This initiative connects final-year students with peers who have successfully navigated the placement process. The idea, Devina Sengupta reports, is to provide real-time advice and emotional support from those who understand the stress and demands of securing a good job offer. In its annual report on the trends and progress of banking for the fiscal year 2023-24, the RBI outlined a series of potential regulatory changes aimed at strengthening the banking system further. Gopika Gopakumar reports on the changes that include eliminating prepayment penalties on floating rate term loans for small businesses, tighter oversight of inter-linkages between banks, NBFCs, and private credit firms, and more stringent regulations for payment aggregators. RBI is also set to finalize guidelines that will require financial institutions to disclose climate-related financial risks, incorporating scenario analysis and stress testing to gauge these risks better. In India, niche American dramas and smaller Hollywood movies like Tom Hanks' Here and Michael Keaton’s Goodrich are carving out success at the box office by appealing to a specific audience that doesn't mind shelling out
Thu, December 26, 2024
The Honda-Nissan merger explained
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, December 26, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Honda and Nissan are set to merge by mid-2025, along with Mitsubishi, creating the world’s third-largest auto group after Toyota and Volkswagen. The new entity, valued at $50 billion, is expected to generate $191 billion in revenue and sell over 8 million cars annually. The merger is driven by challenges in China, where both brands are losing market share, and the need to accelerate EV development. The merger promises cost savings, shared resources, and a stronger push into electrification, though sceptics question its potential success, citing previous failed auto tie-ups. N Madhavan explains what the whole merger is about. In India, where Honda and Nissan hold marginal market shares of 1.4% and less than 1%, the impact may involve shared platforms and streamlined operations, but specifics on their manufacturing facilities remain unclear. N Srinivasan, CEO and MD of India Cements, along with other board members, resigned yesterday, following UltraTech Cement's acquisition of a 32.72% stake in the company. The Aditya Birla Group-owned UltraTech, now the majority shareholder, has made India Cements its subsidiary. The resignations, including those of Srinivasan's family members Rupa Gurunath and Chitra Srinivasan, as well as V.M. Mohan, marks the end of the existing promoters' control over the South-based cement maker. India's leading banks and financial institutions are embracing AI to improve services, cybersecurity, and efficiency. SBI, BoB, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Poonawalla Fincorp are developing in-house AI capabilities, focusing on proprietary models to leverage sensitive data securely. SBI is seeking patents for its AI/ML innovations, avoiding reliance on Big Tech’s public models. BoB is extending AI and Generative AI across its operations. HDFC Bank uses AI for fraud prevention, customer service, and pre-approved offers while exploring private Large Language Models. Axis Bank is piloting AI-driven solutions for fraud detection in international payments. Experts see this as a shift from banks relying on tech firms to developing their own AI intellectual property. Shouvik Das and Shayan Ghosh report on how Indian lenders are taking AI more seriously than ever. A string of blockbuster films, including Pushpa 2: The Rule, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and Mufasa: The Lion King, has rejuvenated shopping malls and retailers in late 2024, following a sluggish start to the year. Mall operators report a high single-digit growth in sales for the December quarter, fueled by these hits and festive season demand. Lata Jha spoke to industry insiders who highlighted that, footfalls, which had dropped earlier in the year, doubled in this period, driven by cinema releases and festive shopping. Multiplexes, a key driver of mall traffic, spurr
Wed, December 25, 2024
Santa skips D-Street in December
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, December 25, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Department of Pharmaceuticals recently penalised AbbVie Healthcare India for allegedly violating the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices. AbbVie reportedly spent ₹1.91 crore flying 30 doctors to Paris and Monaco under the guise of a medical conference, including lavish hospitality. The UCPMP, now mandatory, prohibits such expenses unless doctors are speakers at events. AbbVie argued the trips occurred before the March 2024 UCPMP mandate and were compensation for services, but the DoP rejected this and directed the company to spend the same amount on treating poor patients in government hospitals. Further probes by tax authorities and the National Medical Council may follow. Soumya Gupta explains the situation in today’s Primer. Packaged goods makers are focusing more on rural markets. Companies like Zydus Wellness, Dabur India, and Godrej Consumer Products have launched affordable packs and brands tailored for these areas. Rural markets are experiencing more growth compared to urban ones, with FMCG volume growth in rural areas at 6%, double that of urban areas at 2.8%, according to NielsenIQ. Godrej Consumer has introduced smaller products like hair colour and incense sticks specifically for rural consumers. Dabur is enhancing its rural distribution and rolling out new innovations. Suneera Tandon reports that rural consumers are embracing branded commodities and dairy products more than before, boosting the FMCG sector, which gets 37% of its sales from these areas. Renewable energy developers are racing against time to complete projects before the inter-state transmission system waiver, which allows free transmission for 25 years, expires on 30 June. This urgency drove a 43% jump in power capacity additions during April-November, with green energy leading the charge. The Central Electricity Authority reports that 14.9 GW of renewable energy—solar, wind, and small hydro—was added during the period, nearly double last year’s 7.53 GW. Developers are leveraging favourable solar module prices, revived wind turbine manufacturing, and strong investor interest to meet the deadline. However, industry groups are pushing for an extension of the waiver, Rituraj Baruah reports. Smartphone addiction is pushing brands like Vivo, Oppo, and HMD to embrace digital detox as a selling point. Features like OnePlus’s Zen Mode and HMD’s Detox Mode help users disconnect by temporarily hiding distracting apps. Vivo’s study highlights the problem: parents average 5.5 hours and kids 4.5 hours of daily screen time, with 64% of children feeling addicted. Most kids even think their parents' phones should stick to basics like calling and messaging. Gulveen Aulakh reports on how brands are responding with smarter tools. HMD's Detox Mod
Tue, December 24, 2024
How global warming smashed all barriers in 2024
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, December 24, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. In August, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Google's operations violated antitrust laws, particularly concerning its dominance with Search. India's stance isn't far from that of the U.S.'s. The Competition Commission of India has been actively investigating similar concerns and has already fined Google for monopolizing mobile apps and operating systems. Like the U.S., India's investigations are ongoing and have seen local publishers accusing Google of unfair practices related to ad revenues. Google's Search and Chrome are critical to the company’s financial health, bringing in over half of its quarterly revenue and boasting a 68% browser market share globally. Changes mandated by the courts could force Google to rethink its business strategies, especially if it has to stop making Google Search the default on devices, potentially opening the door for more competition. Shouvik Das explains how changes at Google could affect your experience of browsing the net on your phone. As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on some of the standout stories by our team of reporters, writers, and columnists. Explore the Best of 2024 through these curated collections, highlighting the best of the year, Click on the links in the show notes and read on! In 2024, India's housing finance sector saw a significant jump in fundraising, pulling in $826.8 million—a massive leap from $82.6 million the previous year. This surge in investment is thanks to venture capital and private equity firms looking for stable assets amid rising housing demands. Experts are buzzing about the potential of affordable housing finance, especially as it expands beyond the metros into Tier 3 and 4 towns. Apoorve Goyal from Prosus highlighted the sector's growth prospects and low-risk allure, noting that even tech-first investors are now tapping into this market. Nithya Easwaran from Multiples pointed out the solid credit performance of these investments, even during tough times like the pandemic. With India’s home loan market projected to grow significantly in the next few years, fueled by urbanization and income growth, there's a lot of action expected in this space, Priyamvada C reports. The thrill of live concerts in India has been marred by infrastructure woes, with recent performances by stars like Diljit Dosanjh and AP Dhillon underscoring the urgent need for improvement. Despite the excitement around shows and willingness of fans to pay up to ₹35,000 for a ticket, artists and promoters face challenges like inadequate venues, poor sanitation, and complex logistics, especially outside major cities. Diljit Dosanjh, expressing frustration, has even vowed not to perform in India until there's significant improvement in the concert setup. The main v
Mon, December 23, 2024
Bullruns and bullshit
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 23, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Many investors have burnt their hands during the bull run of 2024. Take for example the Nifty India Defence Index, which saw a stunning 60% return this year. However, one of its main stocks is prone to volatility: Cochin Shipyard has dropped 30% in the past six months. Abhishek Mukherjee writes that sectors like pharmaceuticals and manufacturing have thrived due to post-COVID dynamics and strategic shifts, but many investors have fallen prey to herd behavior and overinflated narratives. Thus when experienced investors book their profits, sharp corrections occur — leading to widespread portfolio losses. Indians are borrowing more money against their gold, and the Reserve Bank of India is worried. Regular defaults are leading to increased collateral auctions to recover these loans. Anshika Kayastha writes that Muthoot Finance and Manappuram Finance reported significant auction amounts in recent quarters. This reflects a shift towards standardized auctioning policies in compliance with new regulations. The RBI has tightened its rules: there are now limits on cash disbursements for gold loans and requiring a review of lending practices. When companies apply for any incentive scheme by the central government, they are supposed to invest some money to receive further subsidies. However, about 12 companies will be excluded from the government's production-linked incentive scheme for failing to meet these norms. Manas Pimpalkhare and Rituraj Baruah report that these companies include state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals or BHEL, and Kia Motors India. Kia had expressed intent to withdraw from the scheme as its manufacturing plans have not materialised. The PLI-Auto scheme had an estimated outlay of 26,000 crore rupees over five years, but only 500 crore has been claimed so far. After a long bout of lean hirings, the IT sector is looking better. Accenture's recent hiring of 49,000 employees globally over six months indicates a positive growth outlook moving forward. Jas Bardia writes that this would bode well for Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys, and HCL Technologies as well. While growth for Indian IT companies has been slow, analysts suggest that recovery may be on the horizon. This recovery will be aided by a potential increase in demand following interest rate cuts and decision-making in the US under the upcoming Trump administration Everyone in India's startup ecosystem is looking for the next big bet. Shelley Singh writes that deep tech might be it. This field is rooted in science and engineering and addresses major global challenges. It covers sectors such as space tech, biotech, and climate tech, and focuses on long-term goals. However, challenges such as the need for a supportive ecosystem involving academia, govern
Fri, December 20, 2024
Shrinkflation is coming for your snacks
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, December 20, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Jan Aushadhi Kendras, part of a government-backed initiative to provide affordable medicines, have been on an upswing, hitting sales of ₹1,000 crore this year. These centres have become so incredibly popular that some private firms are now getting in on the action. Take, for instance, a pharmacy in Mumbai that's named after Jan Aushadhi but isn't actually part of the official scheme. It cleverly uses the Jan Aushadhi brand to draw in customers looking for low-cost meds, even though it is a for-profit entity and sells branded generics, too. This situation highlights a broader trend in the market, writes Jessica Jani. While the official Jan Aushadhi Kendras are booming with their highly affordable generics, there's a growing space for hybrid centres like this Mumbai pharmacy. They offer both cheap generics and higher-margin branded drugs, ensuring no customer leaves empty-handed. Micromax has teamed up with Taiwan's Phison to carve out a niche in the high-end storage market with a new joint venture, MiPhi. The venture, with 55:45 split favouring Micromax, has already started manufacturing solid-state drives (SSDs) at Micromax's facility in Greater Noida. Speaking with Mint’s Gulveen Aulakh, Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma said he was bullish about leveraging Phison's technology to cut GPU costs dramatically, aiming to slash the price to just one-tenth of current rates. This bold move is expected to shake up the AI sector not just in India but other strategic markets as well. MiPhi plans to capitalise on Micromax’s strong Indian client base and Phison’s cutting-edge NAND storage solutions to target a diverse range of industries. While the specifics of the facility’s production capacity remain under wraps, the focus will clearly be on sectors such as automotive, IoT, and mobile devices, among others. Your next packet of biscuits may feel a bit lighter because of the sneaky tactic known as shrinkflation. This trend, along with outright price hikes, is on the rise as companies such as Britannia, Parle, ITC, and Godrej struggle with rising costs of ingredients such as wheat and oil. This is pushing up prices of everything from biscuits to soaps by as much as 7%, industry insiders told Suneera Tandon. Rajneet Singh Kohli of Britannia said while the company plans to increase prices by 3-5% over the next few quarters, it will try to absorb some of the increased costs. This may mean smaller product sizes rather than higher prices. Meanwhile, Parle has already started adjusting prices and pack sizes, and expects to roll out 5-7% price increases soon. India saw a similar phase of shrinkflation in 2022, which ended in mid-2023 as ingredient costs normalised. However, with the current economic pressures and persistently high inflation,
Thu, December 19, 2024
Bollywood producers hunt for “outsiders”
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, December 19, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Adar Poonawalla's recent dive into Bollywood, in which he snagged a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions for a cool ₹1,000 crore, isn’t just a one-off. It hints at a bigger potential shift across Bollywood. Poonawalla, known best for producing vaccines, teaming up with a giant like Dharma Productions could just set off a trend. Industry insiders weren’t taken aback by this development, as Dharma had been actively seeking fresh funding amid a string of less-than-stellar box office returns and cooling interest from streaming platforms. Before Poonawalla stepped in, giants such as Saregama and Reliance Industries were also in the running, highlighting the attractiveness of film studios as potential investment opportunities for diverse business conglomerates. This move could encourage more such strategic investments, writes Lata Jha. It could also reshape how Bollywood studios align themselves with broader business interests, potentially leading to a wave of revitalisation that could impact content creation, distribution and marketing strategies across the industry. Despite allegations of anti-competitive practices by Zepto, Instamart and Blinkit, the Competition Commission of India is unlikely to launch an investigation into quick commerce companies. Sources told Dhirendra Kumar and Gireesh Chandra Prasad that the information provided to CCI didn’t convince them there was any anti-competitive behaviour that warranted further examination. This booming sector, projected to hit $6 billion in sales by 2024, seems too competitive and beneficial to consumers for the CCI to take action on its own. Meanwhile, concerns persist among traditional retailers, represented by the All-India Consumer Products Distributors Federation. They claim the platforms’ allegedly predatory pricing and inadequate enforcement of FDI rules could threaten traditional retailers, and are urging a closer look to prevent potential monopolistic outcomes. Sebi's tightening of rules in India's F&O market aims to cool intense retail trading driven by expectations of quick profits and the gamification tactics of brokerages. Measures such as increasing index contract sizes to ₹15-20 lakh and adding a steep 14% loss margin for contract sales on expiry days kicked in on November 20. More rules such as upfront collection of option premiums by brokerages are expected to take effect in February 2025. For retail investors, these higher barriers mean trading in F&O will require more money and a deeper understanding of the markets—essentially pushing out those looking for quick, easy profits. Brokerages, particularly discount ones such as Zerodha and Angel One, could take a hit to their bottom lines as reduced volumes will force them to rethink pricing or diversi
Wed, December 18, 2024
Why is research and development key in electronics?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, December 18, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Indian government has unveiled a 3 billion dollar incentives plan to stimulate the creation of electronics brands and enhance private research & development spending in the sector. The initiative is aimed at attracting investments and generating business worth over 15 billion dollars. The goal is to shift from merely assembling devices, which leaves most profits with foreign firms, to manufacturing core components domestically and owning patents for commercially sold devices. Historically, local brands such as Onida, Karbonn, Lava, and Micromax have struggled against international competition due to a lack of innovation. Shouvik Das explains how investing in R&D could revitalise Indian consumer electronics brands by fostering homegrown innovation and enabling them to compete globally. Aditya Birla Group and Adani Group, which were initially interested in acquiring Akzo Nobel NV's Indian paint operations, did not finalize their discussions, leading to a shift in potential bidders. Now, Indigo and JSW are negotiating – p otentially with private equity investors such as Warburg Pincus, TPG, Carlyle, and CVC – for a bid valued between 2.1 and 2.5 billion dollars. If completed, it could be the largest in India's paint industry, in which Akzo Nobel, which owns brands such as Dulux and Sikkens, holds a 5-6% market share. The decorative business, comprising two-thirds of Akzo Nobel's valuation, is a key attraction, Anirudh Laskar and Sneha Shah report. Pidilite Industries has proposed a share swap deal, while others suggest an all-cash transaction. JSW Group, Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and Waaree Energies have placed their binding offers for Enel Group’s renewable venture in India, eyeing a deal that may value the company’s equity between 350 and 400 million dollars. Tack on the debt and we're talking of a total enterprise value north of 500 to 550 million dollars. The assets in play include 760 megawatts of wind and solar installations that are already up and running, plus a promising pipeline of projects that could add another 2 gigawatts. Enel Green Power India has been on the block since last year, and with these bids in, a deal could be wrapped up by the end of the fiscal year, insiders told Sneha Shah. The Election Commission of India looks set to retain its power to postpone assembly polls, even as India shifts towards a 'one nation, one election' system. This power is enshrined in the proposed Constitutional amendment introduced in the Lok Sabha, Manas Pimplakhare reports. The amendment aims for simultaneous elections across all levels of government but allows the ECI to seek deferrals from the President under special circumstances, a change from the current rules, under which the governor decides. T
Tue, December 17, 2024
Baptism by fire for new RBI Governor
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, December 17, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Sanjay Malhotra recently took charge as the 26th governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and he's facing some tricky challenges right off the bat. The Indian economy, which had been growing robustly at over 8% just last year, has now slowed to a growth rate of 5.4% in the second quarter of FY25. This slowdown is part of what's shaping up to be a period of stagflation —in which slow growth is coupled with high inflation, complicating policy decisions considerably. N Madhavan explains that if Malhotra decides to cut interest rates to spur growth, he risks increasing prices further, with inflation already above the RBI’s target of 4%. On the flip side, maintaining the current interest rates could slow economic growth even more. Ustad Zakir Hussain is celebrated not just as a tabla virtuoso but as a magician of music. Hussain transformed every performance into a vibrant narrative, weaving stories through the rhythmic syllables of the tabla. Descended from the esteemed Ustad Alla Rakha, and known for his innovative collaborations across diverse genres and cultures, Hussain transcended musical boundaries. Beyond his global acclaim and numerous accolades, his true legacy lies in the joy and passion he brought to his art, making his music a universal language of emotion and storytelling. In this poignantly penned tribute, Raja Sen celebrates the maestro’s legacy. As the year winds down, villa rental companies are gearing up for a busy season, thanks to Christmas and New Year's Eve landing smack in the middle of the week. Devendra Parulekar from SaffronStays told Varuni Khosla that because these holidays fall on weekdays this year, people are extending their stays. Instead of the typical two-night stay, many are making bookings for three or four nights, giving occupancy rates a nice bump. Ritwik Khare from Elivaas noticed that bookings really picked up after Diwali, especially from Gujarati travelers, which helped balance out a slower October. But in Goa, there's a bit of a squeeze on nightly rates because the villa supply has shot up by as much as 60-70% over the past year. That's a lot of new options for travelers! When Pune-based Persistent Systems crossed $1 billion in revenue in FY23, founder Anand Deshpande credited the achievement to CEO Sandeep Kalra and his team. Kalra, who joined in 2019, revamped the company's strategy, focusing on key sectors and partnerships with major vendors such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, and boosting revenue from $501 million in FY20 to $1.18 billion in FY24. Similarly, Coforge saw significant growth under CEO Sudhir Singh, increasing its CAGR to 16% by FY24. These examples highlight how strategic leadership changes at mid-tier tech firms such as Persistent and Coforge are drivi
Mon, December 16, 2024
Air travel between metros to get cheaper
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 16, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. If you're considering flying between India's major cities at the end of the year, you're in luck—airfare prices have significantly dropped. Data from ticket booking platforms indicates that airfares on key metro routes have decreased by as much as a third compared to last year. For instance, flights between Chennai and Kolkata have seen the largest reduction, with fares down by 28%, followed by Kolkata to Bengaluru with a 27% drop. This decrease in prices is partly due to lower demand for metro-to-metro travel during the holiday season, compounded by the economic slowdown which has affected spending habits. However, if you're planning to head to smaller towns or popular holiday destinations, expect to pay more. Daanish Anand reports on the dwindling airfare between metro cities, in today’s Primer. The Indian government is considering a fresh capital infusion for its struggling public sector general insurers in the next fiscal year to bolster their operations and help them meet regulatory standards. This move, potentially involving ₹4,000-5,000 crore, is aimed at improving the solvency ratios of National Insurance, United Insurance, and Oriental Insurance, which currently fall well below the mandatory threshold. The solvency ratio, critical for insurers, measures the excess capital they hold over potential claims, with a regulatory minimum set at 150%. Despite some intermittent profits, these insurers have generally underperformed, with solvency ratios lingering in the negatives by the end of FY24. The government's potential capital support is contingent on the insurers demonstrating consistent improvement in financial metrics, Subhash Narayan and Rhik Kundu report. In the branding world, IndiGo’s squabble with Mahindra and Mahindra over the "6E" label is a classic case of how a simple code can evolve into a significant brand asset. For over 16 years, IndiGo has used "6E" more than just as a flight code—it's become a key part of their brand identity, even cleverly marketed to sound like "sexy." The issue popped up when Mahindra decided to use "6e" for its new electric SUV. This led to a debate over trademark rights across different product classes—IndiGo’s trademark is registered for transport under Class 39, not vehicles - which falls under Class 12. Legal experts Gaurav Laghate spoke to, suggest that if IndiGo had also registered in Class 12, they might have had a stronger case. As it stands, the chance of customer confusion seems low. As both companies wait for a legal resolution expected next year, with Mahindra holding off on using "6e”. After clinching the title as the youngest World Chess Champion ever, Gukesh Dommaraju's fame has quickly caught the attention of marketers looking for fresh faces to endorse t
Fri, December 13, 2024
Did Dr. Sebi cool down the options fever?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, December 13, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The buzz around Google's new quantum computing chip, Willow, is huge because it represents a significant step in quantum computing technology, which could potentially revolutionize several industries. Unlike traditional computers, which represent data as either a 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubits that can represent both at the same time. This allows quantum computers to process vast amounts of data much faster than the best supercomputers. However, adding more qubits usually introduces more errors, making the system less reliable. Willow is exciting because it reportedly reduces these errors even as it adds more qubits. Despite this breakthrough, we're not quite at the point where quantum computers are ready for everyday use. They are still very much in the experimental stage, primarily useful for specific types of computations like cryptography and complex modelling. Leslie D’Monte explains how Google’s new chip will affect computing in the age of AI. India's retail investors are seeing a significant shift in their options trading habits due to recent regulatory changes aimed at minimizing widespread losses. Following new rules by Sebi, which limit the number of weekly expiries to just two, trading volumes have seen a marked decrease, Ram Sahgal reports. The first week under this new regime saw a 30% drop in the number of index options traded—down from 3.04 billion to 2.14 billion contracts. Despite the drop in contracts, there was a slight increase in the total value of these trades, thanks to a surge in activity right before a major monetary policy announcement. This kind of spike isn't new; similar increases in trading volume have occurred during other significant market-moving events in the past. The quick commerce scene in India is getting a fresh twist with startups like Medino's, Medstown, and Plazza jumping into the fast medicine delivery game. They're delivering meds in 30 minutes, targeting smaller cities, and are up against big names like Flipkart and Swiggy. Taskar's CEO, Prasoon Pal told Samiksha Goyal and Sowmya Ramasubramanian that he launched Medino's to specialize in speedy deliveries, promising meds in 30 minutes or they're free. Aman Priyadarshi, after leaving Zomato, saw a gap in the market and started Plazza in Bengaluru for super quick deliveries, aiming to save customers the hassle of traditional pharmacy visits. Syed Hussaini of Medstown has fine-tuned their delivery process over two years and began speedy service in Hyderabad this September. As these companies look to expand—Medino’s to 22 cities and Medstown to 20—they're also on the hunt for funding to grow even bigger. As India gears up for a broader 5G rollout, telecom operators are shifting their focus from the bustling metros to
Thu, December 12, 2024
The Great Indian IPO boom of 2024
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, December 12, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Adani Group is navigating critical financial moves for its renewables arm, Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), as it seeks to refinance a $1.1 billion loan maturing in March 2025. Having shelved plans for a $1.2 billion overseas bond issuance due to volatile market rates, the group is now engaging with a mix of domestic and international banks and investors. The aim is to secure a private placement deal offering more favorable terms than the current dollar markets, reports Anirudh Laskar. This effort isn’t solely about raising new funds—it’s also about optimizing existing debt. Adani Group plans to restructure its $3.5 billion credit facility, with an eye on expanding it to over $5 billion. These financial maneuvers come as the group faces legal challenges in the US, where Gautam Adani is embroiled in allegations of bribery tied to contract awards for AGEL. The Indian rupee has been on a turbulent ride in 2024, hitting several record lows against the US dollar. This week, it touched 84.83 per dollar, marking a sharp departure from its typically steady trajectory. Markets are abuzz following the departure of Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das, known for his hawkish monetary stance. His successor, Sanjay Malhotra, has sparked speculation of potential interest rate cuts, adding pressure on the rupee as traders anticipate a narrowing of the US-India interest rate gap. Adding to the uncertainty, Donald Trump’s return to power in the US brings expectations of pro-growth policies that could further bolster the dollar, potentially widening its strength against global currencies, including the rupee. Meanwhile, India’s position as a net importer keeps dollar demand consistently high, weighing on the rupee’s performance. Abhinanda Saha explores what lies ahead for the rupee in 2025. November saw e-way bill generation drop to a five-month low, following October's record high. Businesses generated 101.8 million e-way bills, a notable decline from October’s 117.2 million but still higher than the 87.5 million recorded in November last year, according to GST Network data. The dip likely reflects a post-festive slowdown, as businesses ease off after clearing inventories during the high-demand festival season. E-way bills, a key indicator of goods movement across India, provide valuable insights into economic activity and consumption trends—critical data as the government gears up for the FY25 Union Budget. Meanwhile, GST collections in November saw a modest year-on-year rise to ₹1.82 trillion, though slightly below October’s ₹1.87 trillion. Google unveiled its latest AI innovation, Gemini 2.0, a next-generation model designed to revolutionize how businesses handle complex queries and ta
Wed, December 11, 2024
How Lenovo earned desi love
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, December 11, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Lenovo has been quite adept at navigating the business landscape in India, avoiding the regulatory scrutiny faced by Chinese companies in India. But how? A big part of its strategy was to jump into local manufacturing in 2005, well before many others. This early start not only helped it build a solid trust base but also positioned it as a committed player in India’s economic scene, not just another overseas company trying to tap into a lucrative market. Lenovo’s approach to being a global brand rather than just a Chinese one has also played well for it. It has been very careful about compliance and made it a point to pay taxes diligently, which clearly sets it apart in a market where scrutiny around Chinese investments has intensified. Gulveen Aulakh takes a detailed look at the Chinese tech giant’s strategy for survival in the Indian market. The longstanding friction between Shapoorji Pallonji Group and Tata Trusts continues, even after the passing of Ratan Tata. SP Group, holding an 18.4% stake in Tata Sons, aims to renegotiate its loans by using these shares as collateral to attract new investors—a move not sanctioned by Tata Trusts. Tata Sons, having transitioned to a private company in 2017, restricts share transfers without approval, a condition reinforced by the company’s Articles of Association. In a mail to Mint’s Varun Sood, Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, emphasized that Tata Sons shares should not be used as collateral, highlighting the restrictive nature of share transfers after the company's privatization. This stance is supported unanimously by Tata Trusts' executive committee, indicating a continuation of the group's traditional governance approach even under the new chairmanship of Noel Tata. The long-standing financial dispute involving the National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) and its investors has taken a new turn. The NSEL Investor Action Group (NIAG) recently withdrew their support for a proposed one-time settlement (OTS) with 63 Moons Technologies Ltd, complicating the decade-long effort to recover investors’ dues owed to investors since NSEL's collapse in 2013. Neha Joshi reports that the decision came after 63 Moons attempted to access ₹300 crore from assets that were previously attached, ostensibly for operational expenses, without a prior consultation with the NIAG. This move was perceived by the NIAG as a breach of the foundational agreements of the settlement talks, prompting them to withdraw their endorsement for the settlement offer, which initially aimed to distribute ₹1,950 crore to investors—about 42% of the total ₹4,650 crore claimed by investors. However, the NSEL Investors Forum (NIF) has claimed that it has secured the support of investors, having approximately 64.5% in value o
Tue, December 10, 2024
Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra to be the next RBI governor
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 9, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Sanjay Malhotra, a seasoned bureaucrat from the Rajasthan cadre, is set to steer the RBI following his appointment as the new governor. His tenure starts just as Shaktikanta Das wraps up his six-year term. Malhotra, known for his balanced approach to policymaking and administration, has been instrumental in spearheading significant tax reforms as the revenue secretary since 2022. His efforts included simplifying income tax processes, reducing litigation, and combating fake GST registrations. His experience extends beyond finance as he has led initiatives in power, mining, and IT sectors. Notably, as CMD of REC Ltd, he navigated through a power crisis in 2021, showcasing his ability to manage challenging scenarios. Now, as he transitions to the RBI, Malhotra brings a deep understanding of fiscal matters and a track record of advocating for economic growth over mere revenue collection. This change comes at a critical time, with India facing persistent inflation challenges and global economic shifts. India is rolling out a new scheme called 'One Nation, One Subscription' (ONOS) to provide free access to over 13,000 international scientific journals to students and researchers across the country. This move, set to start next year, involves a substantial investment of about ₹6,000 crore over three years, making costly academic resources widely accessible without charge. Managed by the newly established Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) under the UGC, the scheme will include top publishers like Wiley, Elsevier, and Springer Nature, covering subjects from health to materials science. This initiative not only aims to bridge the gap in academic resources, especially benefiting those in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, but also addresses the issue of academic piracy. Soumya Gupta explains the initiative in today’s Primer. India is gearing up to boost its trade with BRICS countries by rolling out customs perks for trusted merchants through mutual recognition agreements, or MRAs. This move will streamline customs clearances, meaning quicker processes and fewer headaches for traders on both sides. Already set up with Russia, India's next stops include South Africa and Brazil, with China potentially in line too. These agreements are super handy for smoothing out trade bumps. They mean faster customs for approved businesses, less time spent on inspections, and quicker tax refunds. Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports on the changes, which are about making trading across borders as swift as possible, helping Indian goods become more competitive in these markets. The Delhi High Court recently addressed a trademark dispute between Mahindra Electric Automobile and Indigo’s parent InterGlobe Aviation. Mahindra agreed n
Mon, December 09, 2024
PM Internship Scheme explained
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 9, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India is gearing up for a significant initiative aimed at closing the gap between the skills students learn and what the job market needs. The Prime Minister Internship Scheme, set to launch soon, plans to offer a year-long internship to 10 million youths over five years, partnering with some of the country's top companies. Devina Sengupta explains how this initiative could potentially turn interns into a workforce ready to meet industry demands right from day one. Here’s how it works: Companies from sectors like manufacturing and IT, which traditionally face the 'unemployability' challenge due to outdated college curriculums, will provide internships. The scheme has already secured 125,000 internship spots from about 280 companies for candidates with various educational qualifications. However, pulling off a program of this scale isn't without challenges. It requires a long-term commitment from both the government and companies. India is gearing up for a transformative boost in infrastructure with an ambitious plan aiming to channel Rs 100 trillion into the sector over the next five years. This major initiative is expected to become a hallmark of the Modi administration's third term, focusing on enhancing ports, airports, roads, and utilities to world-class standards. This massive infusion is set to integrate rural and urban economies more closely, reducing travel and logistics costs, spurring growth, and improving living standards. The plan includes expanding existing infrastructure and adding new projects, especially in key areas such as transportation and utilities. Gireesh Chandra Prasad and Subhash Narayan report on the grand infrastructure plans under works in the Modi 3.0 administration. India's $254 billion IT services industry is bracing for a major shift due to generative AI, which is expected to put pricing pressure on software app creation and customer support services. These two areas, crucial for companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and others, represent about 40% of the industry’s revenue. With significant parts of this business up for renewal next year, the advent of AI tools that streamline coding and customer interactions poses a potential drop in revenue from these contracts. Jas Bardia and Varun Sood spoke to analysts who predict that as contracts come up for renewal, clients will likely negotiate for lower prices, reflecting the cost efficiencies driven by AI technologies. This shift could reshape the traditional IT services model, which relies heavily on human resources and might lead to reduced hiring and a reevaluation of how projects are staffed and executed. Social media influencers like Samay Raina are struggling with copyright infringement, which affects their ability to make money fro
Fri, December 06, 2024
Will Bitcoin stay at the top?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, December 6, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Himachal Pradesh is grappling with severe financial challenges, struggling to meet promises of government job creation and welfare schemes under the weight of a heavy debt burden. The state’s revenues are largely consumed by fixed expenses such as salaries and pensions, leaving little room for development initiatives. This financial strain has its roots in decisions made decades ago, when the state relied heavily on central government funds without developing its own robust revenue streams. Post-1990, as central support dwindled, Himachal Pradesh increasingly turned to borrowing, which spiraled into a fiscal crisis. Despite measures such as tax hikes and targeted freebie schemes introduced under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the financial outlook remains bleak. As the state, a popular tourist destination, struggles to balance its books, N Madhavan explores how Himachal Pradesh’s debt woes are affecting its ability to sustain growth and fulfill its promises. India is set to maintain its capital spending at around 3.4% of GDP for the 2025–26 fiscal year, translating to approximately ₹12 trillion. This steady allocation aims to sustain economic growth as state-level expenditure continues to lag. For the current fiscal year, capex stands at ₹11.11 trillion, a notable increase from the previous year’s estimates. While India's GDP grew by 8.9% in the first half of the current fiscal year, full-year growth may fall short of earlier projections, report Rhik Kundu and Subhash Narayan. To keep growth targets on track, the government plans a modest increase in capital expenditure for the next fiscal year, with the rise expected to range between 7% and 10%. With private sector investments gaining momentum at a slower pace and state-level capital spending remaining subdued, the central government’s capex remains a critical driver for economic growth. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $100,000 early Thursday, fulfilling predictions made by some analysts at the start of the year. This historic surge has been driven by a mix of market optimism following Donald Trump’s US presidential election win and regulatory developments. However, doubts linger about the rally’s sustainability. The US SEC played a pivotal role in this price spike by approving Bitcoin ETFs earlier in January, enabling institutional investors to enter the market. This move helped Bitcoin climb from $16,500 to over $40,000, and by June, increased institutional backing pushed the price to $75,000. After dipping to $50,000 in September, Bitcoin’s fortunes reversed with Trump’s election victory and his appointment of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. This appointment reignited investor enthusiasm, propelling the cryptocurrency past the $100,000
Thu, December 05, 2024
Can lawyers double as journalists?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, December 5, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India's appeal as a travel destination has yet to fully recover, with foreign tourist arrivals still falling short of their 2019 peak. In 2023, the country welcomed 9.24 million international visitors—a notable improvement from 2022, but still below the nearly 11 million seen pre-pandemic. Midway through 2024, the numbers suggest that breaching the 10 million mark this year remains unlikely. Why the sluggish recovery? While global tourism approaches pre-COVID levels, India lags, facing stiff competition from Southeast Asian neighbors and grappling with domestic challenges such as safety concerns, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure, writes Sumant Banerji. Honda Cars India is gearing up for a green future with plans to launch hybrid and electric vehicles by 2027 to comply with the upcoming stage-3 Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. These regulations aim to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions across an automaker’s fleet. Despite challenges with the current rules, CEO Takuya Tsumura is driving the company’s electrification strategy, with plans to introduce three electric models by 2026-27, including a battery electric vehicle based on the Honda Elevate mid-SUV model. Globally, Honda is targeting a fully electrified lineup by 2040, with two-thirds of its sales as electric vehicles by 2030, reports Alisha Sachdev. This shift marks a significant pivot in Honda’s strategy to align with stricter emission standards and achieve its broader environmental goals. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is poised to tighten its grip on surrogate advertising, with draft guidelines expected soon. These new rules aim to address loopholes in digital marketing and celebrity endorsements, particularly concerning the indirect promotion of restricted products like alcohol under the guise of unrelated items such as music CDs or glassware. Developed after consultations with stakeholders, including the beverage industry and consumer groups, the draft guidelines mandate that products used for promotions must be verifiably available in the market, not created solely for advertisements, reports Dhirendra Kumar. The proposed regulations also specify that only unrestricted products—those not banned or heavily regulated—can feature brand names without falling under the purview of surrogate advertising. Furthermore, these products must be registered with the relevant authorities and should avoid any direct or indirect association with restricted items. The Supreme Court is set to rule on whether lawyers can also work as journalists without breaching ethical boundaries. The case revolves around a Mohd. Kamran, a lawyer and freelance journalist, whose dual roles came under scrutin
Wed, December 04, 2024
Why did foreign investors sell so much in October and November?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, December 4, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. There’s been a significant selloff by foreign portfolio investors over the past two months. But what drove this selloff? According to fund managers and securities lawyers Ram Sahgal spoke to, it wasn't just due to shaky corporate earnings or rising US bond yields. It was triggered by a new rule that Sebi introduced in August 2023 and tightened by March 2024. The rule mandates detailed ownership disclosures from FPIs with substantial Indian holdings. Rather than comply, many FPIs chose to exit, leading to increased selloffs, especially around the MSCI Emerging Markets Index rebalancing in November. IIT campus placements are getting a twist this year! Companies aren't just asking the usual tech questions – they're really shaking things up with some wildcard queries. Imagine being asked to design an airport right in the heart of Bangalore or explain the strategy behind cricket team formations. It's not just about checking if students can code or crunch numbers—it's about seeing how they handle curveballs. Sowmya Ramasubramaniam, Pratishtha Bagai and Devina Sengupta spoke to recruiters who said that these offbeat questions are key to gauging a candidate's creativity and adaptability. This new interview style is aimed at finding candidates who aren't just smart but also quick on their feet and ready to jump into the fray with fresh ideas. Indian farmers may have a tough rabi season ahead, thanks to China. Dhirendra Kumar writes that China's restrictions on key fertiliser exports to India have reduced the availability of a crucial nutrient for crops. – di-ammonium phosphate, or DAP. Domestic DAP production dropped by 7.3% in April-October, while imports fell by 29.8% over the same period. Dhirendra writes that the government has told farmers there is no shortage of fertilisers, but fertiliser companies say otherwise. 20% of India's DAP needs are imported from China, leading to this problem. Blackstone used to buy real estate projects and turn them around. That strategy made it the largest owner of office space in India in quick time. After entering India in 2007, inorganic growth was the mantra for the New York-based company, but it’s now moving to greenfield projects, Madhurima Nandy writes. It recently ventured into logistics by building a 52-acre park in Chakan, Maharashtra. Blackstone hopes to capitalise on the growing demand for modern warehouses that is driven by the e-commerce boom. Despite broader economic numbers painting India in a poor light, investors such as Blackstone like India's chances, and are willing to spend like they mean it. Pat Gelsinger's unexpected departure from Intel just might leave the chip giant scrambling to find solid ground in a market that's ev
Tue, December 03, 2024
Has the RBI tamed inflation?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, December 3, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. For over two years, the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee (MPC) has been trying to curb inflation, aiming to stabilise it around 4%. Despite several hikes that raised the repo rate by 250 basis points to 6.5%, the committee has held this rate steady in its last ten reviews, warning of the potential risks of cutting rates too quickly. Recent feedback from Mint's readers shows they have mixed feelings about the MPC's efforts. About 35% of survey participants said the committee hasn't successfully tackled inflation, while 29% believe it has. This survey mainly reflects the views of salaried individuals, so it's not have the full picture, but it does offer a peek into public sentiment. As another decision looms, the majority said it would like lower inflation, even if it means higher interest rates. India’s manufacturing activity fell in November, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index dropping to 56.5 from 57.5 in October. Harsha Jethmalani writes that this signals weakening demand amid the highest selling prices since 2013. GDP growth was disappointing as well, as we outlined yesterday. Indians aren't shopping much during the festive season in October and November, which is usually when they open their wallets. Expectations for GDP growth have thus been reduced, Harsha writes. However, optimism about future business prospects among manufacturers has risen despite concerns about near-term risks. India's top ministries are mulling a game-changing proposal: public sector enterprises might soon have to buy at least 10% of their supplies from startups. Sneha Shah and Mihir Mishra write about this move, which is part of a broader strategy to inject vigour into India’s startup scene and could see these young companies stepping into roles typically filled by more established firms. The idea is inspired by the success of initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence, which supports defence startups, and aims to replicate this in various sectors. With the government's yearly budget spending at a hefty ₹48 trillion, even a small mandated percentage for startups could mean big business. India’s $260 billion IT services sector is seeing a brighter future, thanks in part to rate cuts and increased discretionary spending in the US, its biggest market. Optimism has grown, especially after Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election as his policies, such as corporate tax cuts, are expected to boost spending. Amid a volatile market, IT stocks have stood strong, with the Nifty IT index climbing 32% by late November. This surge is linked to hopes that Trump’s administration will be favourable for IT businesses, explains Shelley Singh. A major player in the ATM business wants to go c
Mon, December 02, 2024
How to rebrand your company
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, December 2, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. India's market regulator, Sebi, recently restricted three unregistered online bond platforms from offering privately placed unlisted NCDs to the public. Anshika Kayastha and Neha Joshi write that Sebi has taken this decision due to violations of regulations, which classify any issue with over 200 investors as a public issue. This crackdown was driven by concerns over investor protection and the risks associated with high-yield products. Online platforms often blur the lines between private and public offerings, leading to enhanced regulation. India's economy might not be doing so well. The latest GDP growth figures for India indicate a significant slowdown. N. Madhavan writes that latest data shows that growth has now declined for the third consecutive quarter. At 5.4%, it is much lower than 8.1% in the same quarter last year. This downturn is attributed to lower private consumption, investment, and exports. However, the agricultural sector showed a 3.5% increase, showing some positive signs. A weakening rupee could dampen the Indian economy's spirits. Economists have already revised their GDP growth estimates downwards, with a consensus of around 6% for the current financial year. Large companies can always be seen clamouring for government subsidies to help their business. The central government's production-linked incentive scheme was supposed to do just that. The idea was simple: meet certain manufacturing targets, and collect your subsidy. It was successful across many industries such as automobiles, solar and electronics. However, recent disbursals have decimated from ₹10,000 crore in 2023-24 to around ₹1,000 crore this year. Our partners at How India Lives . com write that the textile sector in particular is struggling. Firms aren't able to meet production targets, leading to fewer scheme grants. Will India's manufacturing industry be able to pick itself up? A good logo isn't just a symbol — it embodies a brand's identity and values. Every now and then, companies will refresh their brands to stay relevant — and appeal to the consumers of the day. However, should you go to an extreme like Tata Group-owned Jaguar did recently? Gaurav Laghate writes that Jaguar's rebrand illustrates the risks and rewards of a minimalist logo and ad campaign that led to widespread backlash. Industry veterans point towards more successful refreshes like that of Porsche's, which was a balance of innovation with heritage. Gaurav adds that while visual identities may evolve every two to three years, major overhauls should be rare and always align with brand strategy. After faltering in China, global luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Hermes were bailed out by wealthy Indians. These companies reported impressive growth nu
Fri, November 29, 2024
COP29 ends in a $300bn disappointment for developing nations
Good morning, Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, November 29, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the focus was all about climate finance, but the outcome left many wanting more. Initially aiming for $1.3 trillion annually, negotiators ended up agreeing on $300 billion a year by 2035, which didn't sit well with developing countries. They found the amount too low and the decision unambitious, expressing disappointment over the developed countries' reluctance to commit more. The conference also felt the impact of geopolitical tensions, particularly with Donald Trump's re-election, raising concerns about the U.S.'s commitment to climate finance. This scepticism influenced the negotiations, contributing to the lower-than-expected financial commitment. P Anima takes a deep dive into the happenings of the recently-concluded COP29 in the Azeri capital. Stellaris Venture Partners just launched its biggest fund yet at $300 million, sticking to that number despite heavy interest. Similarly, other investment firms like Blume Ventures and Peak XV are either holding steady or shrinking their funds, pointing to a shift towards more cautious investment strategies. Venture capital firms are getting more selective, influenced by past fund performances and the current economic climate, which demands realistic startup valuations. Priyamvada C reports on how VC firms are finding smaller fund sizes a better fit for the Indian market. India just kicked off a massive ₹2,481 crore National Mission on Natural Farming to help 10 million farmers go chemical-free. The plan? Roll out 10,000 bio input resource centers and train farmers using model farms. The government is also deploying 30,000 krishi sakhis who will guide the farmers. What’s the difference between natural and organic farming, you ask? Both avoid chemicals, but organic farming needs strict certification and a few years to switch from conventional methods. Natural farming lets farmers switch at their own pace, which is great for flexibility but might make it harder to sell produce at premium prices like organic goods fetch. In today’s Primer, Sayantan Bera explains how natural farming can affect the kind of food you consume and whether the method will make it safer to eat. This year, one company wants to hire an IITian at a salary of ₹1.9 crore. The catch? The AI company from San Francisco wants aspirants to create a Google-proof questionnaire that ChatGPT can't solve. Devina Sengupta and Pratishtha Bagai write that other AI companies like Turing, Graviton, and Da Vinci are also looking to hire students by providing remote working options and hefty salaries of more than ₹2 crore. Students well versed in machine learning seem to be the top choice as of now. Traditional employers like Goldma
Thu, November 28, 2024
Is the govt working on making your flights cheaper?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, November 28, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Flying has become a pricey experience these days. To help with that, the Centre is working on a comprehensive package for the aviation sector. Dhirendra Kumar and Manas Pimpalkhare report that these measures include tax concessions, reduced user charges, route optimization, and regulatory relaxations. Some relief with the aviation turbine fuel tax is expected, as current prices are about 60% higher than other hubs around India. The initiative also seeks to minimise procedural delays for airline licences and hiring foreign pilots. For many years, India's telecom industry has had one clear winner, one runner up, and two players hunting for survival. For the latter, at least BSNL has the government's backing. Gulveen Aulakh writes that the financial stability of the sector has improved over the last few years. Airtel and Vodafone Idea have managed to reduce their debt burdens too. Ongoing discussions around receiving a fair share from OTT platforms might further improve the state of the industry, She explains. There's a new sector hiring IITians heavily: and what is that you may ask? Coaching institutes. Around 3,000 to 5,000 IIT grads have been snapped up by edtechs or coaching institutes right out of college. Mansi Verma and Devina Sengupta report that these companies start off with a salary of around ₹10 lakh, but give the potential to make up to five times that within a few years. As more and more students vye for very few IIT seats, these jobs are more in demand. While interest in such positions is high, many view these roles as temporary before seeking further opportunities in other industries. A recently released documentary by a Tamil actor Nayanthara has taken centre stage behind the scenes in the Indian cinema industry. Nayanthara aired a three-second behind-the-scenes clip from a 2015 movie, which was featured in the documentary. A civil suit has been filed over the usage of the clip. Lata Jha spoke to copyright law experts, who said minimal use might qualify as fair use. The fight isn't just domestic: in Hollywood too, actors and directors have often come to blows with studios on what they can use or distribute on their own accord. In October, Indian banks issued significantly fewer credit cards than the year before, nearly halving from 1.69 million to just 0.79 million. The dip mainly stems from banks tightening their lending criteria to better manage risk and ensure applicants can repay their debts. Leading the pack in issuing cards were big names like HDFC Bank, SBI Card, and ICICI Bank, while others like Kotak Mahindra Bank, RBL Bank, and Axis Bank actually saw their numbers drop. Analysts are predicting that this conservative trend in credit card
Wed, November 27, 2024
Want to fly direct to China? You’ll have to wait
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, November 27, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The Indian government is still being cautious about resuming direct flights to China due to national security concerns. Despite external pressures, Indian authorities are not budging yet. Dhirendra Kumar and Manas Pimpalkhare report that prior to the suspensions, over 500 flights plied directly between the two countries every month. Indian officials are maintaining that despite the lopsided trade balance with China, national security takes precedence over reliance on Chinese goods. The flights were suspended in 2020 after the clash in Galwan. Following bribery charges involving key executives, including chairman Gautam Adani, Moody’s and Fitch have downgraded their outlook for Adani group bonds from stable to negative. This mirrors an earlier move by S&P, highlighting concerns about the group's funding capabilities and rising capital costs, reports Gopika Gopakumar. Adani Green Energy’s stock dropped 7.3% after the downgrade. Moody’s has adjusted the outlook for seven Adani entities, while Fitch flagged potential downgrades for bonds linked to key facilities, citing increased funding costs and governance issues. If you stay in a metro city, you might have noticed a bunch of shiny new Bluestone stores opening up recently. That's part of the jewellery maker's shift from being an online-only store to opening brick-and-mortar shops. Priyamvada C writes that the company has a relatively high selling price of around ₹50,000 and competes with established brands. It also caters to a younger audience who want lighter, everyday-wear jewellry. Can it win out against its heftier rivals in this $80 billion market? India's real estate market is booming again, especially after a stagnant period from 2016 to 2020. Since the pandemic, property prices in major metros and tier-II cities have soared, with the average price per square foot jumping by about 40.5% since 2021. The sharpest increases are seen in the NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. This price surge is driven by a 49% boost in home sales from 2022 to 2024, leading developers to focus more on luxury properties than affordable ones. Now, the burning question is: Will these rising prices stabilize, or will affordability remain a challenge? Madhurima Nandy tackles the question in today’s Primer. India's economic growth is projected to slow to 6.5% in the September quarter, the slowest in six quarters, according to a poll of economists by Mint. This expected slowdown, down from 6.7% in the previous quarter, reflects an uneven performance across various sectors. While government spending and rural recovery have provided some support, a decline in private consumption growth has dampened the overall momentum. The forthcoming GDP
Tue, November 26, 2024
Indian markets get a band-aid, but the pain remains
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, November 26, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Yesterday, the stock markets rejoiced following the BJP's victory in the Maharashtra state elections. Both the Sensex and the Nifty shot up by more than 1.25%, buoyed by the same party in power at the centre and state. This provides a huge boost to investor confidence, which took a hit after an around 11% correction in indices over the past two months. Harsha Jethmalani writes that this might prove to be just a band aid over a huge wound. Foreign investors have continued to sell heavily, while Q2 results showed declining profits and poor forecasts. Rising inflation complicates matters further. In a curious event that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie, a small AI-powered robot named Erbai "kidnapped" 12 larger robots from a Shanghai showroom. Using a security loophole, Erbai persuaded the robots, seemingly questioning if they were "working overtime", to leave their posts and follow it out. This staged scenario by Erbai's creators at Unitree Robotics, initially thought to be a prank, was actually a controlled test to showcase the robot's capabilities. This incident has sparked discussions about AI autonomy and the ethical implications of robots capable of manipulating other machines, highlighting the urgent need for stringent security measures in AI development. Leslie D’Monte explains what happens if robots, powered by AI, decide to take charge. Indians are borrowing more often, and it's worrying bankers. Microlenders are struggling to recoup their loans because borrowers are over-leveraged. Shayan Ghosh and Varun Sood report that a post-covid credit binge backed by poor data has led to widespread delinquencies. Companies like Credit Access Grameen, Fusion Finance, and Equitas Small Finance Bank have noted that clients have multiple active loans, with some having as many as four. Industry associations want to implement guardrails like capping household debt at ₹2 lakh. The funding for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is expected to remain flat in next year's Union Budget. That reflects confidence in the rural economy. Rhik Kundu writes that allocations are likely to remain steady at around ₹86,000 crore. However, this might be revised if the fragile rural economy takes a hit mid-year. Job demand via the flagship employment scheme has declined more than 7.5%. Improved agricultural performance due to a healthy monsoon is good news, leading to fewer days of work via the scheme. 2024 hasn't been too kind to Bollywood, with box office collections expected to be down by 30-40% compared to last year. The only standout hit was "Stree 2," raking in Rs 627.02 crore, but other big-ticket films like "Singham Again" and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3" didn’t even hit the Rs 300 crore mar
Mon, November 25, 2024
Adani bulls cut positions before news of indictment
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, November 25, 2024. This is Nelson John, let’s get started. Days before a US court indicted Adani Green Energy officials for alleged bribery in India, traders on derivatives markets cut their positions in Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports. This move spared them from the sharp declines that erased 2.24 trillion rupees in market value on Thursday when the allegations surfaced. Notably, futures positions in Adani Enterprises were reduced by 8%, ahead of a 23% drop in share prices following the news. Market watchers noted significant trading activity before the public release of the indictment news, leading to speculation about whether some had prior knowledge, Ram Sahgal writes. A recent World Bank study across six Indian states talks about the critical need for skill-based education in schools to capitalize on India's demographic dividend and meet development goals by 2047. The study reveals a significant gap between current educational offerings and the rapidly evolving job market, shaped by factors such as automation, climate change, and digitalization. Integrating skill education into the school curriculum is essential for preparing students for employment opportunities and enhancing India's competitive edge globally. N Madhavan explains why giving skill education in Indian schools is a good idea, in today’s Primer. Ranjit Gupta, chief executive of Ocior Energy and former CEO of Azure Power, is among those indicted in the $250 million Adani bribery case. Azure is in the thick of the bribery scam. After resigning from Azure Power in 2022 under circumstances detailed in a November 20 complaint by US prosecutors, Gupta went on to establish Ocior Energy, which recently secured a significant investment promise from REC Ltd to produce green ammonia in Odisha. Ocior Energy has no revenue and limited staffing, yet it ambitiously plans to invest billions in green energy across regions from Egypt to India. These plans now face scrutiny as Gupta contends legal challenges in the ongoing Adani investigation, writes Varun Sood. India's massive ₹13 trillion manufacturing boost from production-linked incentives (PLI) is hitting a pause. The government is halting the addition of new sectors like toys, drones, and furniture to better tune the existing setup, Dhirendra Kumar reports. This shift comes as disbursements have dropped sharply, from nearly ₹10,000 crore last year to under ₹1,000 crore this year, with the bulk of claims coming from electronics, textiles, automobiles, and white goods sectors. The challenge? High production targets are tough to meet. For instance, textile companies eyeing incentives need to hit a ₹600 crore sales target with at least ₹300 crore invested. The latest quarterly earnings have revealed a stark trend: urban India is facing some serious financial
Fri, November 22, 2024
US charges Adani in $265 million bribery scheme
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, November 22, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors on charges of bribery and corruption. Varun Sood writes that the US Department of Justice's allegations followed a two-year probe into the conglomerate based on revelations from two whistleblowers. Adani group stocks lost about ₹2.24 trillion in market cap on Thursday after the US charges surfaced, just as the conglomerate seemed to have moved past the impact of allegations made by shorter seller Hindenburg Research last year. Cotton farmers have begun to shift to rice plantation following recurring crop failures. As rice needs around five times as much water as cotton, this has led to a rapid decline in soil quality. Sayantan Bera writes that India produced cotton in excess and exported more than $10 billion of it last year. However, the change in production patterns could threaten the livelihood of around 45 million people. Despite being the world's second-largest producer of cotton, India is projected to be a net importer of the textile this year. India's cotton yields remain significantly low compared to global averages, leading to this crunch. Sayantan explains how we got here. As the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region gets worse, most schools and many offices have remained shut. Soumya Gupta writes that respiratory issues are on the rise and OPDs are reporting three times the usual number of admissions. People have stopped outdoor activities, and air purifiers, masks and respiratory drugs are selling in record numbers. Many are travelling to hill stations to escape the toxic fumes in the capital. Soumya calls this the "smog economy”. One category of goods that doesn’t seem to be part of the "smog economy" is electric vehicles. Sales of EVs in Delhi declined 79% in September. Alisha Sachdev reports that the withdrawal of incentives led to a sharp increase in the price of EVs, causing sales to plummet. Alisha writes that as the pollution gets even worse, policymakers may look to bring back these subsidies to incentivise EVs. If you're an aspiring CEO, prepare for some long and rigorous interviews. Devina Sengupta writes about candidates who have had to endure as many as 11 rounds to bag the top job. These interviews cover a wide variety of topics such as financial strategy, climate change, and even geopolitics. Devina writes this is because companies are extremely wary of big-ticket hires not working out. The hiring process can take more than eight months to complete, underscoring the reduced risk appetite for hiring across India Inc.
Thu, November 21, 2024
Karnataka woos swanky outsourcing jobs
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, November 21, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. As more people splurge on travel, the hospitality sector finds itself in a comfortable place. Dipti Sharma writes that several hotel-related IPOs are planned in the near future. Examples include Brigade Hotel Ventures, Schloss Bangalore, and Oyo. Strong travel demand and government initiatives have helped the sector bounce back from a disastrous pandemic period. Room occupancy rates are at near all-time highs, and the industry is likely to reach a total valuation of $475 billion by the end of the decade. Both vacation as well as business hubs are seeing an uptick in business, leading the charge for public listings. VIP Industries is in talks with a global private equity firm for a stake sale. Sneha Shah reports that Advent International is looking to acquire a controlling stake in the the luggage maker. The promoter group, led by Dilip Piramal, has been looking to reduce its stake in the company for more than a year. Currently, VIP has a market value of more than ₹6,500 crore. The promoters are hoping for a premium of around 10 to 15% on top of that valuation. VIP has a 44% market share in the organise luggage sector, but faces stiff competition from up and coming brands. Did you know that the Adani Group had a 5G license? That doesn't mean India's beleaguered telecom market is getting another player — large corporates buy spectrum for a variety of reasons. However, Gulveen Aulakh reports that the Group is looking to surrender its share of the spectrum it owns. It had paid ₹212 crore in the 2022 auctions for the spectrum, but maintained inactivity. Since there isn't a rollout, the government has been imposing penalties on Adani for failing to do so. Adani Enterprises had bought the spectrum via a subsidiary to develop a private 5G network at the company's facilities, but that hasn't materialised. Until the early 2000s, outsourcing in India meant business process outsourcing (BPO) call centres. Today, the business has evolved, morphing into ‘global capability centres’ that serve high-end strategic and innovation needs of US-headquartered companies. India is still attractive because we have plenty of tech talent and relatively cheap real estate. The Karnataka government, sensing a long-term opportunity, has introduced an official GCC Policy. What is it and how will it help GCCs (and jobs) grow in India? Madhurima Nandy explains in today’s Mint Primer. It hurts to lose ₹50. Imagine how difficult it would be to write off a whopping $500 million. But that's what Prosus, a tech investor, did after the Byju's debacle. Prosus was quick to lick its wounds as it secured a major victory with Swiggy listing publicly. Prosus has been prolific in India, securing
Wed, November 20, 2024
The problem with always buying the dip
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, November 20, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. The stock market is down more than 10% from its recent peak. Buying the dip is generally considered a good strategy, and Indian investors have been doing so at every opportunity. Ram Sahgal reports that despite the bearish market, retail investors have bought stocks worth more than ₹33,000 crore. But while buying the dip every time may be tempting, the strategy is more suitable for seasoned investors, especially during times of stubborn inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainties, Ram adds. Mutual fund managers are increasingly holding cash, looking to wait out the skittish markets. While some Indians are reducing their discretionary spending, rich Indians are splurging like there's no tomorrow. Soumya Gupta writes that affluent consumers continue to spend on luxury goods, travel, and lavish weddings. The ever-rising income disparity means that shifts in affluent consumers' spending could significantly affect large, mass-market companies. The likes of Maruti-Suzuki and Hindustan Unilever, for instance, have reported muted demand of late. This is bad news for India's consumer economy, which accounts for half the country's GDP. State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Punjab National Bank are vying to finance an oil refinery project worth ₹39,000 crore in Tamil Nadu. Shayan Ghosh reports that more than ₹27,000 crore of this will be sourced through loans. Banks are seeking to capitalise on such public sector projects as demand for retail loans is declining. Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of the Tata Group’s Indian Hotels Company Limited, is a man in a hurry. Since taking over in 2017, Chhatwal has aggressively targeted growth and relied on rapid expansion to achieve this. IHCL stock, meanwhile, has given investors 400% returns in the past five years. So far, so good. But what’s next? Varuni Khosla reports that while the company’s expansion strategy under Chhatwal has received much praise, some have raised questions about its sustainability. Is coconut oil sold in a 200 ml bottle an edible oil or a cosmetic product? The question may sound silly, but has significant ramifications for the fast-moving consumer goods industry as cosmetic products are taxed at a higher rate than edible oils. The Supreme Court is due to rule on the issue soon, and its decision will set a significant precedent, writes Krishna Yadav.
Tue, November 19, 2024
Why India Inc. hates boredom
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. In what could be construed as a nudge to RBI to cut lending rates, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the need for more affordable bank lending rates to support India's growth. But she acknowledged that the government could do more to improve storage for perishable foods to mitigate the inflation volatility. Shayan Ghosh writes that RBI has maintained interest rates since February 2023, and due to inflationary concerns might not change that for now. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had also called for rate cuts last week. India has new advertising guidelines for coaching classes. The new rules aim to prevent misleading claims by holding institutes accountable for false advertisements. Devina Sengupta writes that coaching centres must now provide refunds for unmet promises and disclose if their courses are accredited by relevant authorities. These regulations seek to protect students, who often enroll in coaching hubs like Kota under inflated expectations of success. For many years now, coaching classes have misled students and their parents with tall promises — these regulations are aimed at tempering them. The government had announced a wide-ranging internship programme during the Union Budget a few months ago. While the original plan was meant for 21-24-year olds, Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports that the scheme might be expanded to the age group of 18-25 years. The focus will continue to remain on candidates from families with annual incomes below Rs 8 lakh and without permanent government jobs. Currently, over 125,000 internships are available in companies like ONGC and Reliance Industries. Who said science and faith cannot co-exist? In a move that merges technology with cultural preservation, an AI powered digital twin of St Peter’s Basilica was unveiled earlier this month. Leslie D’monte writes that such technology can help you explore the world from your living room. AI-related tech is also being used to restore broken artifacts by designing what the missing pieces look like. An idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop. An IT professional from Bengaluru, rated as a top performer by his employer, discovered this to his detriment recently. Having moved from the hellish environmental extremes of Delhi to Bengaluru in the Beautiful South, he had it all going for him. But instead of making the most that the easygoing IT capital of India had to offer, he found himself consumed by a hellish addiction to pornography, which soon made its way from his home to the workplace. Psychologists blame his addiction on boredom, a silent threat that is looming over employers who fail to keep their employees occ
Mon, November 18, 2024
How much wealth have retail investors lost?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, November 18, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Stock markets have been brutal of late. Investors have lost a cumulative ₹50 trillion over the past seven weeks, during which the Nifty and Sensex have fallen 10% from their peaks. Ram Sahgal reports that foreign investors are pulling out in hordes. Poor Q2 results across the board haven’t helped, either. Analysts have remained optimistic of a rebound but are worried about the long-term sustainability of the bull runs that we have seen until a couple of weeks ago. A tax on crude oil and fuel exports is being scrapped soon. Rituraj Baruah, Gireesh Chandra Prasad and Utpal Bhaskar report that this tax was originally imposed in 2022 following a surge in prices after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. As oil prices have remained low, the union government wants to reduce and eventually eliminate it entirely. This decision will benefit oil companies in India, allowing them to compete globally. The RBI’s crackdown on unsecured personal loans has led to a reduced demand for off-roll workers in the banking sector. Shayan Ghosh and Devina Sengupta report that the in-house shift of KYC norms has also affected this type of employment. These roles typically did KYC, loans sales and loan collections. While the RBI's change aims to increase compliance and prevent money laundering, it may inadvertently push borrowers towards unregulated money lenders. India's roads are dangerous. A road accident in Dehradun last week resulted in 6 deaths and one critical injury. Sumant Banerji writes that 171,000 people died in road accidents in 2022 alone—accounting for nearly 12% of global road fatalities. Key causes include speeding and careless driving, which account for more than 87% of incidents. Unsurprisingly, two-wheeler riders are the most vulnerable. Despite these startling facts, education on road safety remains inadequate. More than 60% of India's domestic textile demand is for cotton. In a humid country like ours, it's not difficult to see why. Things are different across the world. Man-made fibers such as polyester are much more common in countries such as. China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, which already cornered a lion's share of that market. N. Madhavan writes about these man-made fabrics, their endless potential, and the limitations in the Indian manufacturing and consumer verticals that might prevent them from succeeding like their East Asian counterparts. The government, for its part, has announced a PLI scheme for these fabrics that exceeds ₹10,000 crore. It has already found takers for nearly double that amount. But will it work?
Fri, November 15, 2024
How populist pitches are shaping Maha polls
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, November 15, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. China's export restrictions are hurting the Indian economy. Essential materials like Germanium and Gallium have been banned from being exported from China, and are crucial for solar panel and electric vehicle production. Dhirendra Kumar and Utpal Bhaskar report that Indian companies are trying a workaround by rerouting these minerals and other critical machinery through Dubai. However, this proves to be costly as prices have increased by 10% and timelines are delayed by months. Such tactics also further widen India's trade deficit with China, draining foreign exchange. If your company does any business in the US, you're probably thinking about the implications of Donald Trump's return to the big seat. Law firms are inundated with similar queries. Krishna Yadav writes that law firms are advising their clients to include protective clauses in contracts such as 'Force Majeure' and 'Material Adverse Change'. They are worried that Trump's 'America First' policy can complicate investments as well as invite widespread scrutiny. Cross-border deals might then come to a halt until there's further clarity on international policy. It seems that automakers ar a rare breed — they don't want any subsidies. The government's ₹26,000 crore PLI scheme has only found takers for subsidies worth ₹500 crore so far. Alisha Sachdev reports that these companies are Tata Motors, Mahindra, Toyota, and Ola Electric. Primarily, the 50% domestic value requirement poses a major challenge for them, as they can't qualify for the scheme. Claims are likely to increase next financial year, when other automakers are more compliant and have bigger expansion plans. Would you let a robotic arm, controlled by artificial intelligence, operate on you? Leslie D'monte writes that an autonomous AI surgeon named the da Vinci robot is now on the market. It has been trained through imitation learning, like most other AI models. It could potentially revolutionize surgical procedures by replicating complex tasks such as suturing and tissue manipulation. Challenges include precision, cost, and regulatory compliance. And since these devices are entirely digital, a single cyberattack could prove to be quite harmful. Maharashtra is gearing up for its first state election since the split of its two key regional parties—the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena. With the second highest number of parliamentary seats in the country, it is a politically crucial state. Between the Mahayuti government and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, populist schemes and promises have taken centre stage to mobilize voters. In a state, where unemployment and rural distress are key electoral issues, will this guarantee a win?
Thu, November 14, 2024
How the southern states are vying for Foxconn’s attention
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, November 14, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Markets crashed for a second straight day on Wednesday, confirming a shift to bearish sentiment. Ram Sahgal reports that options traders are cutting their put positions on the Nifty index as uncertainty mounts, prompting investors to hedge their portfolios. However, the rising cost of put options has intensified selling pressure. Ram notes that in this bearish climate, call options have become cheaper. The takeaway? Investors are hoping the market has finally bottomed out. One company bucked the market trend: Swiggy. It made its market debut yesterday, closing with a 7.7% premium over its issue price. Mansi Verma and Priyamvada C report that the listing was a significant liquidity event for major backers like SoftBank and Prosus. Analysts have generally maintained a positive outlook for the stock, though some urge caution, pointing to potential cash flow challenges. Official data shows India’s consumer price index (CPI) surged to 6.2%, breaching the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit. The primary driver was food inflation, which remains high at 10.9%. N. Madhavan reports sharp increases in the prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, and edible oils. The RBI had aimed to keep inflation near 4.8% through the year’s end, but that target now seems elusive. Furthermore, hopes for an interest rate cut have also been dampened. Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer, has been in India for nearly two decades and has already invested $10 billion. As this Taiwanese giant and a key Apple supplier plans to ramp up investments with sprawling industrial townships, all four southern states are competing for its attention. A potential ‘Foxconn city’ would encompass not just factories but also housing and social infrastructure, generating substantial employment and helping states move up the manufacturing value chain. In today’s long-form story, Gulveen Aulakh and N. Madhavan explore how states are vying for this pivotal investment. Indian authorities are struggling to investigate a recent wave of bomb hoaxes because of stringent European regulations. Shouvik Das reports that Indian authorities need specific warrants to request information from European countries, but European agencies are citing strict data protection laws to deny these requests. Tracing the calls to individuals has been difficult, as virtual private networks (VPNs) mask users' identities. India’s lack of data-sharing agreements with Europe adds another layer of complexity, slowing cross-border information exchange and further delaying the investigation.
Wed, November 13, 2024
Are the chip wars back?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, November 13, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. It's never a problem raising money if you're a well-to-do quick commerce player. Zepto is raising around $250 million from high net worth individuals and wealth management firms, report Priyamvada C. and Sneha Shah. Firms like Motilal Oswal, IIFL, and InCred are looking to invest in the company at its previous valuation of $5 billion. If this goes through, this will be Zepto's third capital raise in six months. Zepto wants to balance its capital ahead of a planned IPO next year. Apart from its dark stores, Zepto has also recently launched "Zepto cafe", which competes with established platforms like Swiggy and Zomato. Finfluencers have a new entity that they have to be wary of: Youtube. The google-owned website has started blocking access to videos following complaints from a government entity. This has led to sharp criticism and potential legal action from these creators. These finfluencers said their videos were removed without prior notice, write Pratishtha Bagai and Neha Joshi. In its response to Mint, Youtube said that it complies with local laws and handles removal requests. But the finfluencers are accusing Youtube of censorship. History repeats itself, sometimes much faster than we’d think. Donald Trump will soon be back as POTUS, and already, the trade wars that marked his previous term seem to have returned. The US government has reportedly asked TSMC, the world’s largest chip maker, to stop selling advanced ‘AI’ chips to Huawei, China’s largest tech conglomerate. Huawei has been in trouble with American authorities since 2019 after it was accused of cyber espionage. But why will TSMC and Huawei bow to the US’ will? It all has to do with the legacy of chip design, Shouvik explains in today’s Mint Primer. In its first ever earnings report, Hyundai India disappointed. It reported a 16% drop in net profit for the July-September quarter. Alisha Sachdev writes that weak domestic demand and the Red Sea crisis affected its exports, leading to the drop in numbers. Revenue was down too, primarily due to poor domestic sales. Hyundai doesn't expect demand to pick up significantly either. Moreover, high interest rates will hinder future earnings as well, the automaker added. It is counting on launching its first India-made EV next year to provide a boost for its lagging sales. There's been a stark rise in cyber crimes of late. Scammers pose as police officers and convince people that they were involved in money laundering. People have fallen prey to such scams and lost lakhs — in some cases, crores — of rupees. Suman Banerji writes that over 1.5 million cyber crime complaints were filed in 2023. But this number could be higher. Experts suggest that many cases go
Tue, November 12, 2024
Swiggy’s Sriharsha is a shy guy
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, November 12, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Starting tomorrow, Zomato will fight its rival not just to deliver your food and groceries, but for your investments too. Swiggy will list on the stock exchanges after its initial public offering was oversubscribed by 3.59 times. At the heart of all the investor buzz is Swiggy’s rather reclusive founder Sriharsha Majety. What is he like, and how different is he from Zomato’s extremely public founder Deepinder Goyal? Ranjani Raghavan profiles Majety – the man of ideas – and how he quietly won over sceptics in the battle for food delivery and quick commerce. Any foreign traveller will think about how they're going to pay for things once they have reached their destination. Cash, debit card, credit card, and forex card are your major options. Out of these, prepaid forex cards are theoretically the most economical option as they lower conversion markups. Shipra Singh writes that forex cards also allow for loading multiple currencies at the bank's prevailing exchange rates. However, loading fees and issuing charges can severely eat into this advantage. Shipra's research shows that providers like BookMyForex and Thomas Cook offer better value compared to major banks due to mid-market rates and minimal fees. ESOPs, or employee stock options, used to be restricted to startups. Mid and junior level employees got them as incentive to leave established companies and join fledgling startups. But now, even the former have joined in on the trend: Devina Sengupta and Sneha Shah write that companies are focusing on middle and junior management employees to retain top talent by offering employee stock ownership plans. They are being offered broadly across industries like IT and e-commerce. These benefits are traditionally reserved for senior management. This shift reflects a growing need to compete for niche talent even at junior-level positions. Soon, these companies might also offer other startup perks like flexible work arrangements to either attract or retain talent. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have fallen out of favour in India. Cryptocurrencies have seen a 90% decline in retail trading volumes in the past three years. Shouvik Das writes that Bitcoin's surge to a new all-time high of over $82,000 due to Donald Trump's recent election victory might tempt crypto investors back. Platforms like CoinSwitch and CoinDCX are reporting a 700% increase in active users. Challenges like heavy taxation and the Reserve Bank of India's negative stance on cryptocurrencies still persist, denting exponential growth. Issues like the WazirX hacking incident have also worried investors. Small-town residents in India are increasingly adopting the dining habits of their urban counterparts. The
Mon, November 11, 2024
Why is Kotak’s Nilesh Shah suddenly bearish?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, November 11, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. You know it's a bear run when even fund managers are worried about earnings. Nilesh Shah, the managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, discussed about earnings growth estimates for FY26 with Mint’s Ram Sahgal. The current quarter is likely to benefit from higher government spending and seasonal sales, but earnings growth is projected to be only around 5%. This doesn't bode well for the markets, Shah said. The recent stimulus package by the Chinese government into its markets is another cause for worry. But he isn't entirely pessimistic: Shah said that despite recent selling by foreign investors, a rebound might be possible given the strong earnings growth of Indian companies over the past decade. Today, COP29 commences in Azerbaijan. The Conference of Parties has established itself as the premier event to discuss global warming. Sayantan Bera writes that key discussions will focus on a climate finance deal essential for supporting poor and emerging economies in transitioning to clean energy. These countries will require an estimated $2.4 trillion annually. India, the third-largest emitter, is expected to advocate for increased climate finance while balancing its energy needs, he adds. How will Donald Trump's victory impact your portfolio? In the west, the immediate aftermath of the results saw a spike in stocks on Nasdaq, as well as Bitcoin. However, Abhishek Mukherjee writes that this euphoria was short-lived. Investors began to assess the potential implications of Trump’s policies on the economy and markets worldwide, including in India — leading to massive sell-offs. Despite some initial concerns, the Indian IT sector stands to gain from Trump's proposed economic measures. Tighter immigration policies, however, may hurt Indian companies and they might have to hire US citizens to ease that burden. The Reserve Bank of India doesn't want banks to dole out too many unsecured personal loans. This has spurned a surge in gold loans. September saw an increase of 51% in the disbursal of gold loans. Shayan Ghosh and Anshika Kayastha write that the outstanding gold loan base stands at ₹1.5 trillion. However, this is quite small in comparison to the personal gold loan base, which is a mammoth ₹14.3 trillion. Encouraged by a 16% increase in gold prices, borrowers are finding that a more attractive option over personal loans. There are concerns over this trend, and RBI might yet have something to say about the rapid increase in gold loans. Electric three wheelers are about to get expensive. The government announced that the annual cap for subsidies for three wheelers has nearly been reached, as sales have exceeded expectations so far this year. Alisha Sachdev w
Fri, November 08, 2024
Is it time for 10-minute medicine deliveries?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, November 8, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. One of India's marquee airlines finally ended its journey yesterday. The Supreme Court ordered the liquidation of Jet Airways, ending a long quest for survival. Krishna Yadav writes that the Jalan Kalrock Consortium had failed to meet obligations such as infusing ₹350 crore and settling worker dues, leading to this decision. Jet Airways has been bankrupt since April 2019. Krishna adds that this case has raised concerns about the effectiveness of India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, particularly regarding airline insolvencies. Have you ever thought why we get pizzas and groceries in 10 minutes, but not life-saving medicines? That might change soon. Jessica Jani writes that companies like Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, and Apollo 24/7 are piloting ultra-fast medicine delivery services. 1mg is collaborating with fellow Tata brand BigBasket for quick delivery in select cities, while Apollo 24/7 has launched a 19-minute delivery in major markets. Swiggy is also partnering with PharmEasy for under-10-minute deliveries in Bengaluru. However, inventory management, medicine storage, and regulatory compliance are big challenges. In a surprise decision, the government announced that it will stop paying interest on National Savings Scheme accounts from October 1. This means that both principal and interest will be taxable on withdrawal. Aprajita Sharma spoke to NSS holders who expressed concerns about the negative impact on their tax liabilities as senior citizens. The sudden change has also prompted calls for the government to reconsider its decision, and offer tax relief or alternative investment options. This move undermines trust in small savings schemes, and it also triggers fears about the stability of other savings products like the Public Provident Fund. A day after the big result, we're still assessing the implication of Donald Trump's victory. Shouvik Das writes that Trump's pro-business and anti-regulations will be favourable for Big Tech companies like Twitter and Meta. These companies have faced some issues in India as well as Europe, where they are under scrutiny for their trade practices. Lawyers and policymakers that Shouvik spoke to told him that Trump's backing could ease their worries in India, which has often been tough on Big Tech's practices so far. For most, homes are private spaces. It's where you come to relax, take a breather, and sometimes escape from the outside world. Not for influencers, though: Pratishtha Bagai writes about content creators who share tours of their homes on social media. House tours have become a major "self-expression trend", as Pratishtha writes. Experts suggest this fascination reflects aspirational consumer behavior. Viewers seem
Thu, November 07, 2024
A Trumptastic victory
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, November 7, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. Donald Trump has won the US Presidential election once again, this time with substantial control over the US Senate. N. Madhavan analyses how Trump’s policies are set to trigger economic and political turbulence at home and abroad. His aggressive trade stance—highlighted by proposed universal tariffs and the looming threat of a trade war with China—could destabilize the global trading landscape. On the political front, his plans for mass deportations risk deepening divisions within the US and straining national resources. Madhavan’s in-depth piece explores Trump’s potential policy moves and their far-reaching implications for India and the world. Following recent lows, Indian stock markets are expected to rebound in the wake of Trump’s victory. Ram Sahgal notes that institutional investors may begin unwinding short positions, fuelling a rally that analysts predict could last about a week. However, much like Trump’s unpredictable policies, the long-term impact of his presidency remains uncertain, with tariffs and inflation likely to be key influences. Rhik Kundu reports that India’s trade dynamics with the US could face significant shifts under Trump’s administration. With a trade surplus favouring India, Trump's "America First" agenda may lead to higher tariffs on Indian goods, posing challenges for the Indian economy. Key sectors like automobiles and pharmaceuticals are likely to feel the impact most acutely. Additionally, India's IT sector could be affected by potential changes to US visa policies, as Trump is expected to tighten H-1B regulations. A critical pressure point for the Indian economy remains the rupee's performance against the dollar. In the wake of Trump’s victory, geopolitical uncertainty and trade tariff concerns, especially regarding China, have intensified. Shayan Ghosh notes that the rupee recently hit a record low of 84.28 against the dollar. To counter further depreciation, the Reserve Bank of India, backed by $684 billion in reserves, stands ready to intervene. Analysts suggest that the RBI’s actions could stabilize the rupee, with projections indicating a possible recovery toward the 84 level following initial declines. Trump's victory is likely to bring significant implications for visas, especially for the millions of Indian IT professionals and students who move to the US each year. The H-1B visa, critical for many, remains a contentious point. Mansi Verma, Devina Sengupta, and Shouvik Das report that while immediate effects may be limited, the true impact will emerge in the coming years as Trump’s policies fully take hold. With Australia and Canada also tightening visa issuance, restrictions in the US could sharply curtail emigration
Wed, November 06, 2024
Why NSE is worried
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, November 6, 2024. This is Nelson John, let’s get started. The NSE is likely to see a drop in its trading activity. This is because the market regulator, Sebi, has decided that starting November 20th, the exchange can only offer one type of weekly trading option, focusing on the Nifty series instead of the more popular Bank Nifty series. Ram Sahgal reports on the decision which is part of Sebi’s efforts to calm down trading activities and reduce losses for individual investors. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of NSE, said on Tuesday that this change might lead to a decrease in trading volumes, and some of the activity that used to happen every week might just vanish as traders adjust to the new rules. Data from RBI has revealed that state-owned banks have been raising their deposit interest rates to the highest levels in almost eight years, trying to attract more people to save money with them. This increase, reaching 7% in September for public sector banks, is in response to their high credit-deposit ratios, indicating a high use of deposits for lending. The push by PSBs to offer more competitive rates aims to attract more deposits as their loan growth outpaces deposit accumulation. Shayan Ghosh spoke to top public bankers who suggest that deposit rates may have peaked, which could help stabilize their margins. Last month saw a sudden rise in hoax calls that targeted airlines and hotels. These hoax calls were usually bomb threats made by anonymous people on the internet. Shouvik Das writes that these are the latest form of scam calls that use virtual networks and VPNs to hide the caller's digital footprint. India experiences an average of 5 million scam and hoax calls a day. Cyber security experts are investigating the incidents, but have to work through the sophisticated techniques used by perpetrators. Additionally, cross-border regulations complicate matters further. Tracing calls to foreign origins requires cooperation from other nations, and substantial evidence isn't always available. Consumer and e-commerce firms faced subdued sales during the festive season. This could affect year-end bonuses for employees, who could see a potential 15% reduction. Companies typically pay bonuses during the festive season and at the fiscal year's end, with additional performance-linked payouts, Sowmya Ramasbramanian, Shouvik Das and Devina Sengupta report. However, due to less spending by consumers who are cautious due to high prices and relying more on EMIs, overall sales haven't met expectations. This downturn in sales means bonuses tied to sales targets and company performance could be lower. While some sectors, like quick commerce, saw decent festive sales, overall, the scenario remains challenging, impacting how much companies
Tue, November 05, 2024
Why smaller hospitals are more appealing for investors
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, November 5, 2024. This is Nelson John, let’s get started. Recent earnings reports from big consumer companies like Nestle India, HUL, and Maruti Suzuki highlight a sharp slowdown in urban consumption, posing a potential threat to India's economic growth. This quarter, the fast-moving consumer goods sector saw growth shrink from 10.1% to just 2.8%. The slowdown isn't just due to a heavy monsoon; deeper issues like stagnant urban incomes and high food inflation are tightening consumer purse strings, particularly affecting the middle class. The IT sector's slowdown in hiring and modest wage increases only add to the problem. This consumption dip could severely impact India's economic growth since private consumption is a key growth driver. N Madhavan explains the reasons behind this slowdown in today’s Primer. The "Big Five" of Indian IT—TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, HCL, and Wipro—are facing a predicament as investors seem more captivated by smaller firms despite their varied performance metrics. Over the last four years, smaller IT companies like Persistent Systems and Coforge have seen their valuations skyrocket, far outpacing their giant counterparts. This shift is driven by the belief that these nimble players are better positioned to adapt to disruptions from generative AI technologies, which lessen the importance of scale in traditional IT operations. Varun Sood writes that despite achieving solid revenue growth, the big players haven't seen the same enthusiasm from investors, who are concerned about declining profitability and leadership changes. Leading manufacturers like steel and cement companies are increasingly tapping into renewable energy. Nehal Chaliawala reports on how this is proving to be a smart move financially. By signing long-term green power purchase agreements at lower rates than traditional coal-powered electricity, these firms are seeing significant reductions in energy costs. For instance, Ambuja Cement reported a 27% reduction in power and fuel costs this quarter, driven by a shift to renewable sources which now make up 25% of its energy mix. Similarly, ACC and Ultratech Cement have made strides in integrating renewables, with substantial cost savings. Ramco Group from Tamil Nadu is restructuring its corporate framework to eliminate cross-holdings and attract foreign investors. Anirudh Laskar and Satish John report that Ramco Cements has sold its 16.23% promoter stake in Ramco Industries to other promoter entities. Ramco is looking to remove cross-holdings that might not be appealing to foreign investors. It plans to divest from assets worth at least ₹1,000 crore to reduce its debt. Multi-speciality hospitals are now passe — private equity investors now want single-specialty medicare centres. Soumya
Mon, November 04, 2024
Weddings to get costlier this season
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, November 4, 2024. This is Nelson John, let’s get started. Tata Motors is gearing up for a big change, planning to split into two separate entities for its commercial and passenger vehicle operations. This move is expected to wrap up in the next 12-15 months, pending regulatory nods. Alisha Sachdev reports that the man tipped to steer this transition is Tata Group’s CFO, P.B. Balaji, who might take on a significant role as non-executive chairman or vice-chairman for both new companies. His track record of strong fiscal management and strategic decisions at Tata Motors makes him a prime candidate for this role, although final confirmations are still pending. Sebi is working to introduce a framework regulating digital platforms as Specified Digital Platforms or SDPs. An SDP is a digital platform that has mechanisms in place to prevent and address misuse, ensuring compliance with Sebi’s strict guidelines. This framework will impact platforms like Rigi.Club, Qoohoo, Cosmofeed, and Moneyyapp, which aid content creators, particularly those involved in securities-related content, Neha Joshi reports. These platforms will need to integrate advanced technologies like AI and ML to monitor and report securities-related activities effectively. Although this could lead to significant compliance costs, especially for smaller platforms, it's seen as a crucial step to maintain market integrity and protect investors from misinformation. India's wedding season is set to hit its peak from November to March, and it's shaping up to be a blockbuster. Last year, weddings raked in a whopping ₹4.25 trillion on just 23 auspicious days, according to the Confederation of All India Traders. This time around, we're looking at an expected ₹25 trillion from about 3.5 million weddings. Prices for venues and catering are skyrocketing due to high demand. For instance, hotel catering charges have surged by up to 30% compared to last year, now costing between ₹6,000 and ₹8,500 per plate. Varuni Khosla spoke to couples who are finding that even less popular dates are pricey, with potential costs reaching around ₹30 lakh for a modest ceremony. On the other hand, the hospitality industry is buzzing with optimism, with weddings being a major driver for growth. The 160-year-old Shapoorji Pallonji Group, known for iconic constructions like the RBI headquarters, is now ramping up its real estate game. While giants like DLF and Godrej dominate with sales around ₹73,000 crore, Shapoorji's real estate arm is playing catch-up, aiming to boost its bookings from ₹5,000 crore to over ₹18,000 crore in the next four years. Taking a cue from the late Cyrus Mistry, the group merged its various real estate activities—from residential to office spaces—under Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate (SPRE). With this move, SPRE n
Thu, October 31, 2024
What's in store for Samvat 2081?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, October 31, 2024. This is Nelson John, wishing you a very happy Diwali. As we step into Samvat 2081, speculation is rife about whether the Sensex can breach the 100,000 mark by March 2025. A Mint survey, reported by Mayur Bhalerao, reveals a split verdict among analysts: about half expect it to reach the milestone, driven by robust corporate earnings and steady foreign inflows, while others remain cautious, citing global uncertainties. Market volatility is now the new normal, with most experts anticipating a turbulent stretch ahead—marked by a potential correction followed by a gradual recovery toward the year-end. All eyes are on the US Federal Reserve, with many expecting a rate cut in December, which could provide a timely lift to Indian markets. Diwali brings a unique tradition to India's stock market with Muhurat Trading, where the National Stock Exchange and the BSE will light up for a special one-hour session from 6-7 pm this Friday. This auspicious hour marks the start of the Hindu calendar year, Samvat 2081. Since last Diwali, the Nifty 50 has surged 25%, buoyed by strong GDP growth, robust corporate earnings, and plentiful liquidity. Which sectors have beaten the benchmark, which stocks have been the winners and laggards, and what can investors expect in the medium term? Abhinaba Saha brings a recap of Samvat 2080. Europe’s largest paint maker is planning to exit its India business. Anirudh Laskar reports that Akzo Nobel is eyeing a ₹25,000 crore valuation for the sale, with Citigroup managing the transaction. Among the potential bidders are Adani, Aditya Birla, JSW, and Asian Paints. While Asian Paints already owns a 4% stake in Akzo Nobel’s Indian arm, any acquisition bid may attract regulatory scrutiny, given its dominant position in the market. India is positioning itself as the next hub for artificial intelligence. Major players like Nvidia and Meta have already set up operations and are optimistic about India’s role in shaping the AI landscape. However, the government's push for indigenous development presents both challenges and opportunities for global firms. Leslie D'monte writes that initiatives like Viksit Bharat offer tech giants a platform to collaborate with local companies, fostering research and job creation. High-profile visits from tech leaders reflect this growing momentum, while Indian firms are also making strides with localised AI models. In India, where privacy is a coveted luxury, the hotel industry is evolving to cater to the ultra-wealthy. A prime example is Arq by The Leela—a collection of exclusive villas that debuted in Udaipur this month, offering unparalleled seclusion. Despite its premium pricing, demand for these opulent stays remains strong. The luxury travel sector has seen a robust po
Wed, October 30, 2024
Biggest winners from Swiggy's IPO
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, October 30, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. As Sebi comes down hard on futures and options trading, the National Stock Exchange is seeing fewer trades. Turnover and trades on the NSE have hit a six-month low. Ram Sahgal writes that average daily turnover fell nearly 12% to ₹1.07 trillion in October, with only 734.3 million trades taking place. Market experts said that Sebi's incoming clampdown on F&O trading is the main reason for the decline. Additionally, increased selling by foreign investors has contributed to a pessimistic market sentiment. Swiggy is gearing up to “deliver” an IPO in early November. The quick commerce company is eyeing a valuation of $11.3 billion with a price band of ₹371-390 p er share. The IPO spells huge gains for Swiggy’s early backers like Accel, Apoletto, and Elevation Capital, with returns possibly soaring up to 35 times their initial investments, reports Priyamvada C. The IPO will be a mix of ₹4,499 crore in fresh issues and a secondary sale of 175.1 million shares. Swiggy is looking to expand its quick commerce arm, Instamart, and scale up its network of dark stores. As Swiggy steps into the public market, it's set against the backdrop of its rival Zomato's recent profitability and booming market cap. Bharti Airtel recently announced a unique CEO transition plan with a 14-month wait before the new chief takes the helm on January 1, 2026. This prolonged handover period raises questions: What’s the ideal CEO transition time? Shelley Singh tackles that question in today’s Primer. Traditionally, CEO transitions can vary. For instance, Starbucks and Boeing witnessed rapid transitions due to performance crises, with new CEOs stepping in within a month. However, planned transitions generally allow six months to a year for a new CEO to settle in, providing clarity on a company’s direction to investors and employees. India and Canada are at loggerheads. Diplomatic tensions between the two nations have affected geopolitics and harmed their trade. Previously on an upward trajectory, trade has dropped from last year's total to $3.38 billion in the first five months of this fiscal year. India's imports from Canada and exports both saw minor reductions, contributing to a widening trade deficit, reports Rhik Kundu. This slowdown in trade comes at a time when global trade is generally muted due to economic slowdowns in major economies and geopolitical tensions. It's tough to grow out of your parent company's shadow. Peak XV (pronounced fifteen) Partners is experiencing just that. The venture capital firm is experiencing a decline in brand value since it was hived off from global brand Sequoia last year. Shelley Singh writes that despite inheriting assets worth $9.2 billion, Peak XV
Tue, October 29, 2024
How big conglomerates survived in India
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, October 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John, wishing all our listeners a very happy Dhanteras. Let's get started. Inflation, no more? That's what the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, thinks. In a recent economic review, the IMF declared that the global battle against inflation has "largely been won". That means that most countries across the globe have either met or are very close to their inflation targets. N. Madhavan explains that despite that, growth forecasts remain low. Projections for global economic growth have stabilised at 3.2% in 2024, slightly down from 3.3% in 2023. With a growth rate of 7%, India fares well in this aspect. However, global risks such as geopolitical conflicts, trade protectionism, and potential economic slowdowns remain significant — hence the low growth projections. When the Indian government liberalised the economy in 1991, domestic conglomerates were worried: a sudden change challenged their collective dominance. That was 30 years ago. Safe to say, the dominance of empires like Reliance, Tata, Adani, and Kotak, among others has assuaged those fears. Our partners at How India Lives . com write that corporate India had a resurgence in the late 2010s, led by a huge influx of cash. As banks ran out of credible entities to loan money to, India Inc. stepped up — and never looked back. Ultimately, they conclude that conglomerates aren't going anywhere, anytime soon, while the medium-sized ones might have to reconsider their positions, or perish. RBI is set to boost its digital security measures by introducing an AI-driven early warning system. This system will be designed to alert users to potential financial fraud during transactions. The initiative aims to tackle emerging threats in the digital finance space by leveraging AI to analyze data, identify high-risk platforms, and notify users of suspicious activities in real time. Subhash Naryan reports that this system will build on existing technologies like the MuleHunter AI, which detects mule accounts used in fraud schemes. The government is planning to shift its strategy for PSUs. Instead of rushing to sell them off, the government now wants to work on their operational efficiency and governance, reports Gulveen Aulakh. The plan, sources told Gulveen, focuses on transforming these PSUs into professionally managed entities capable of yielding substantial dividends and potentially achieving higher market valuations through future public listings. In recent initiatives, specific PSUs like Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd are receiving targeted interventions to address their financial and operational challenges, with plans ranging from restructuring packages to debt resolution strategies. The Open Network for Digita
Mon, October 28, 2024
Why Ratan Tata’s biography didn’t have his final sanction
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, October 28, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The recent India visits of AI’s godfather Yann LeCun, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and inventor Mustafa Suleyman have put the country in an interesting position when it comes to the tech landscape, especially AI. Following the Global Partnership on AI Summit and India's push to co-create tech IPs, these visits highlight India's strategic importance in tech. Historically, India attracted global tech leaders due to its skilled, cost-effective workforce and proactive government policies, dating back to Bill Gates in 1997 and Google's founders in 2004. So what do these visits by tech CEOs actually mean for India? Shouvik Das explains. The Adani Group is planning to construct its first greenfield cement factory in Odisha. The conglomerate is aiming to complement its string of recent acquisitions with new builds. The proposed facility, expected to cost between ₹3,000-3,500 crore, will have a capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum and is projected to be operational within two to three years, reports Anirudh Laskar. This development is part of a broader strategy by Adani, which also includes a new clinker grinding unit in Bihar, to expand its cement manufacturing capabilities across eastern India. With substantial internal funds, the Adani group is well-positioned to continue its aggressive expansion in the cement sector. The rise of quick commerce is reshaping India's retail landscape. Quick commerce is challenging both traditional and modern retail outlets as fast deliveries become increasingly popular. FMCG companies are witnessing a surge in their quick commerce sales, with significant shifts in consumer purchasing patterns. Adani Wilmar reported a 36% growth in quick commerce sales in the September quarter, while Nestlé stated that quick commerce accounts for half of its e-commerce revenue. Suneera Tandon reports that this shift is leading to changes in inventory management across traditional retail channels. Companies are now adapting by offering channel-specific products and streamlining inventory to better align with the quick commerce model. The biography 'Ratan Tata—A Life' stirred up some controversy as it hit the shelves recently without Ratan Tata's blessing. He had distanced himself from the project due to the overly flattering content, a move that came after the manuscript review last year. Released just weeks after Tata’s death on October 9, the book has been published by HarperCollins and remains in the present tense, a choice made before it was finalized. The author, Thomas Mathew, a retired bureaucrat, initiated this project in 2018 but faced setbacks as Tata withdrew his support, leading to delayed releases. While the book touches on some controversial decisions during Tata's tenure, like the appointment of Cyrus Mistr
Fri, October 25, 2024
Why finance pros at PE, VC funds are flunking Sebi exam
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, October 25, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Qatar's Nebras Power was supposed to acquire up to a 49 per cent stake in Aditya Birla Group’s renewable energy business for about $400 million, but the deal has been put on hold due to a valuation mismatch. Utpal Bhaskar reports that challenges such as competitive returns and execution risks in the Indian market continue to be concerns for investors. The Aditya Birla Group company is still seeing interest from Alberta Investment Management and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners. India's startups aren't complying with certain rules. The Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued notices to 11 e-commerce companies including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy and Meesho for violating declaration rules. These violations include failing to display product manufacturing and expiry dates, among other packaging and labelling norms. Soumya Gupta writes that the CCPA took this action after users complained about receiving perishable items close to or after their expiry dates. After a long and contentious battle, the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India has approved the Burman family's proposed acquisition of Religare, reports Anirudh Laskar. This nod marks a significant step towards the Burmans’ takeover of Religare. Only approvals from the banking and market regulators are now pending. Despite initial resistance from Religare's management, the Burman family, which owns Dabur India, aims to solidify its ownership through an open offer of more than 3,400 crore rupees. In a surprising turn of events, 60 out of 100 private equity and venture capital executives in India failed a mandatory exam set by the National Institute of Securities Management (NISM), under directives from SEBI. This exam, which is crucial for maintaining registration, has stirred concerns within the sector. Critics argue that the exam's content, which spans various fund types—venture capital, private equity and public markets—is disproportionately focused on public markets, and does not reflect the practical differences between these fund categories. Sneha Shah and Ranjani Raghavan report on the embarrassing situation India’s PE and VC sector is staring at. Last year, Ecom Express found itself at a crossroads, searching for new leadership after the health-related departure of its co-founder and CEO, T.A. Krishnan. With growth stalling, the company turned to Ajay Chitkara, a veteran of the telecom industry, to inject new life into its operations. Chitkara, known for his successful stint at Airtel, took the reins at a tough time and now faces a daunting task: steering Ecom Express towards profitability and a successful IPO. The company has reduced its losses, but sustaining growth remains a challenge, especially with new players such as Valmo
Thu, October 24, 2024
What the border pact means for India and China
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, October 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. It was another quiet day for Indian markets as the initial rally in IT stocks, which powered the indices upward, was quickly offset by a sharp downturn in the financial and auto pack, resulting in a flat close for both the Nifty 50 and Sensex on Wednesday. The Sensex and Nifty have fallen more than 5 percent in the last month. One thing is for certain: foreign portfolio investors are pulling out money from Indian markets. But where is this money going? Dipti Sharma writes that while China is the biggest beneficiary, other Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia are also seeing inflows. The shift has also happened partly due to profit-taking in India after a strong market rally. Analysts told Dipti that investors feel the potential for returns is higher in other markets, especially like Indonesia and South Korea where the valuations are more moderate. India and China have announced that they have reached an agreement on patrolling their common border. This marks a significant step towards mending the strained relationship between the two countries since the clash in Galwan in 2020. N. Madhavan writes that despite some unresolved issues, bilateral trade has in fact grown between India and China. China became India's largest trading partner this year. However, given the vast restrictions, Chinese investment in Indian companies remains scarce. Madhavan writes that India stands to gain a lot by easing these restrictions, especially in the manufacturing sector. India is rethinking its approach to highway development, shifting focus from the ambitious long-term Vision 2047 plan to prioritizing shorter-term projects. The decision comes as the complexities and delays of lengthy projects prove challenging. While Vision 2047 aimed to guide development up to India’s centennial in 2047, the government now favours projects that can be quickly approved and completed. Ongoing projects under the earlier Bharatmala program will continue, with possible individual approvals for those yet to start. This strategic pivot is about efficiency—getting roads built faster and making them useful sooner, reports Subhash Narayan. Two years ago, HDFC Bank announced a huge merger with its parent company, HDFC Ltd, marking India's biggest-ever M&A deal. The merger aimed to boost synergies and enhance the housing sector and the overall economy. However, despite the initial excitement, which saw the bank's stock jump 10% on announcement day, the performance has been somewhat disappointing. Over two-and-a-half years, the stock has only seen a modest 4.7% increase, underperforming compared to market benchmarks. Market sceptics have pointed to the difficulties of maintaining growth momentum and managing financial metrics like net interest ma
Wed, October 23, 2024
Coming Soon: A New Noida
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, October 23, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. A strong wave of selloffs engulfed the Indian stock market on Tuesday, dragging the Sensex and Nifty down by more than one per cent each. The International Monetary Fund kept its global growth forecast for 2024 and 2025 unchanged at 3.2 per cent. It also maintained its India growth projections at 7 per cent for FY25 and 6.5 per cent for FY26 in its October 2024 World Economic Outlook. While global growth is stable, there are changes beneath the surface, IMF said. The US economy saw an upgrade, but European countries faced downgrades. India and Russia boosted growth projections for emerging markets, driven by strong demand for technology. The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has finally kicked off operations after numerous delays. Managed by Adani Ports and Logistics, this critical development positions it as India's deepest natural port and its sole container shipment hub. However, a significant hiccup remains—the port's poor road connectivity, with improvements not expected for another 12 to 18 months. Kerala faces a broader economic crunch, battling slow growth and steep debt as expenditures overshadow revenues. Demographic shifts, including an ageing population and evolving migration patterns, have obstructed remittance flows. N Madhavan delves deep into Kerala’s economic issues and God’s own country’s efforts to revive its economy. IPOs aren't only for the big boys: smaller startups are also heading to the public markets. Venture capital investors are nudging their early- to mid-stage portfolio companies towards IPOs amid a bullish stock market. Priyamvada C and Mansi Verma write that startups such as IntrCity, BHive, and Leverage Edu P are gearing up for listings soon. India's more lenient IPO requirements compared to the US are encouraging such moves, they add. Another reason investors are pushing for this move is that many funds are now reaching the end of their life cycles and have to return money to their limited partners. Ambuja Cement has bought more than 46 percent of Orient Cement, marking yet another landmark deal for the Adani-owned cement company. This is the Adani Group's fourth major transaction to bolster Ambuja's prowess in less than a year. Nehal Chaliawala writes that this acquisition marks the latest round in the cement war between Ultratech and Ambuja. Small players continue to be either bought or squeezed out as the two giants look at consolidating a huge chunk of the industry. Did you know that Noida is an acronym? It stands for New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. Now, there’s a new one on the way – the Uttar Pradesh government has greenlit the development of New Noida near Greater
Tue, October 22, 2024
Bank Nifty>Nifty50?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, October 22, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. When you don't agree with the outcome, just don't release the data: that's the approach Indian carmakers have taken of late. The release of a crucial carbon emissions compliance report has been delayed because companies like Hyundai, Kia, and Mahindra failed to meet norms. Alisha Sachdev reports that the automakers want a five-year period to bring down their emissions, while the government has already issued steep fines. If the companies publish their below par numbers, the fines will increase — leading to this stalemate. Indian emission norms are still better than their European counterparts, but carmakers don't seem like they want to budge as of now. The Edelweiss Group is set to unleash a sea of IPOs into the market soon. In an interview with Mint, the group's founder and chairman Rashesh Shah said that the company is hoping to list seven subsidiaries soon. The group intends to begin with the IPO of its mutual fund arm and its alternative asset management subsidiary, each valued at 1 billion dollars. Shah admitted that initially, the financial services company chased growth above everything else, which backfired later. The group also plans to pay off debt worth 6,000 crore rupees by the end of this year to prepare for a clean slate as the IPOs approach. After being a laggard for much of 2024, the Bank Nifty has finally turned a corner, led by HDFC and Axis Banks. Other stocks like Kotak Mahindra have provided mixed results. Ram Sahgal writes that the banks have had to adopt new strategies to adjust their loan books and attract more deposits. Ram also spoke to analysts, who said that the Bank Nifty could now outperform the Nifty50. HDFC's stock performance will be crucial to the Bank Nifty's growth, they added. Last week, fintech Navi got a huge jolt as it was barred by the Reserve Bank of India from disbursing any more loans. The RBI had banned Navi for charging high interest rates for its loans. Gopika Gopakumar reports that Navi and its founder Sachin Bansal assured its lenders in an unscheduled meeting that the company was well-prepared to manage any fallout until March 2026. Navi outlined a plan to cover 3,027 crore rupees in debt repayments due in the next six months, with expected customer collections touching 4,000 crore rupees. The company also has a liquidity buffer of 1,500 crore rupees, Bansal outlined. Navi focuses on personal loans of up to 20 lakh rupees, disbursed through its app. We told you yesterday about how gold prices in India are hitting record highs. The prices are peaking over 78,000 rupees per 10 grams, influenced by a mix of global and domestic factors. Initially, a cut in import duty led to a temporary drop in prices, spurring a s
Mon, October 21, 2024
Behind Noel Tata's first decision as Tata chairman
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, October 21, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Noel Tata's first move at the helm of Tata Sons has been a small but significant one. The philanthropic arm of the Tata group has moved away from having fixed terms, and instead now has permanent members. Varun Sood and Satish John report that this move aims to ensure continuity and stability within the Trusts that collectively hold a majority in Tata Sons. The Tata Trusts are pivotal in the governance of Tata Sons, and have a key say in the conglomerate's strategic direction. The second-quarter results for India's IT stocks weren't all that great. The four leading companies: TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech—all saw some declines. Jas Bardia reports that TCS saw a significant drop in large deal bookings. It attributed this decline to the lack of mega deals, but remained optimistic about its order value range. Infosys also witnessed a decrease in large deal values but saw an increase in smaller deals. Wipro was able to buck the trend and sign more large deals, as it opted for a consulting-led approach and offered more AI services. It's never a bad time to buy gold, but the recent surge in prices has put off buyers for now. Gold now costs around 80,000 rupees per 10 grams. Such high prices have led to a dent in demand during the festive and wedding season between October and December. Ram Sahgal writes that the increase in prices is due to uncertainties like the US elections, potential geopolitical tensions, and changes in US policy rate. Demand for the precious metal has dropped by around 10 to 12 percent. Some retailers are seeing a rise in exchanges. They are maintaining sales volumes as some consumers continue to buy more gold, worried about even higher prices. India's rubber production is prone to volatility. Climate change and low volatility have threatened what was once a thriving industry. Despite these hurdles, the demand for rubber has surged in India. George Skaria writes that India's rubber production slightly increased from 8.4 lakh tonnes to 8.6 lakh tonnes from 2022 to 2023, but consumption outpaced supply. That led to a shortage worth 5.5 lakh tonnes. This scenario has impacted tyre manufacturers, who now rely on imports to meet demand. George's story outlines the entire rubber trade in India, and the vast complications that adversely affect both manufacturers as well as consumers. Since the 1990s, Photoshop has been a staple in photo editing. You would think that the emergence of generative AI would replace Photoshop, but that hasn't been the case. Shouvik Das writes that rather than replacing it, AI is instead augmenting the process of editing images. Tools like Autodesk’s Pixlr and Canva have also embraced AI to expand their user base beyond p
Fri, October 18, 2024
Byju Raveendran plots an edtech comeback
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, October 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian stock market benchmarks—the Sensex and Nifty 50—extended their losing streak for a third straight session on Thursday. The Sensex slipped 0.61 per cent, while the Nifty 50 declined 0.89 per cent by the close. It's raining bomb scares, with over 22 hoax threats reported in recent days. In response, the civil aviation ministry is engaging with international bodies to devise strategies for managing such incidents. Mihir Mishra reports that proposed measures include imposing flight bans on offenders. The ministry is also in talks with VPN operators to trace the origins of these hoaxes. Over 400,000 Indian students are currently enrolled in Canadian universities, but this figure could shrink by 100,000 next year driven by diplomatic tensions and stricter student visa rules. Amid a housing crisis, Canada has introduced a two-year cap on new student permits, with a significant reduction expected by 2025. The financial proof requirement for living expenses has also doubled, prompting students from regions like Punjab and Haryana to explore alternatives in Australia and Europe. The potential drop in Indian enrollments is raising alarms at Canadian universities, where they form a crucial part of the international student community. Devina Sengupta explores the impact of diplomatic strains on the future of Indian students in Canada. Bajaj Auto's stock price plummeted by 11 per cent on Thursday, after the company announced its Q2 results. The automaker posted a bleak domestic demand outlook for two-wheelers this festive season. Despite a 24 percent increase in year-on-year ebidta, Bajaj's results were well below analyst expectations. Abhinaba Saha writes that this massive selloff casts a huge shadow on not just Bajaj, but the entire two-wheeler industry at large. Entry level products, in particular, have been poor as the market moves to more premium options. Not long ago, Northern India's political scene would periodically erupt with sugarcane farmers' protests, disrupting traffic and even threatening the capital's water supply due to the notorious "sugar cycle." However, this cycle has been broken thanks to the ethanol blending programme, which has turned excess sugar production into ethanol, stabilizing the industry and benefiting farmers. This shift has not only aided farmers but has also significantly contributed to India's energy security goals. Yet, challenges persist. Grain-based ethanol producers are grappling with rising feedstock costs for rice and maize, raising concerns of financial losses and potential loan defaults. Additionally, diverting maize to ethanol production has inflated poultry feed prices. Sayantan Bera unpacks the successes and hurdles of India’s ethanol blending programme in today’s Long Story.
Thu, October 17, 2024
How much lower can the rupee go?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, October 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian stock markets declined for the second straight session on Wednesday, with the benchmark Sensex shedding 319 points, or 0.39 per cent, and the Nifty 50 slipping 86 points, or 0.34 per cent. In the past three months, several films have been re-released in theatres, driving higher footfalls and occupancy rates for PVR Inox, India's largest cinema chain. Abhinaba Saha reports that re-releases now account for 6 per cent of the chain’s total footfalls. PVR Inox plans to continue this strategy in the coming quarters, with upcoming blockbusters like Singham Again and Pushpa 2 expected to further boost its business and, consequently, its stock performance. Over the past two decades, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) has emerged as Mumbai’s premier business hub, housing giants like the National Stock Exchange, Sebi, ICICI Bank, and Facebook. However, available office space in BKC is now scarce, with vacancy rates hovering at just 3-4%. Khushi Malhotra reports that the intense demand for office space has driven businesses to explore nearby areas such as Kalina, Kurla, Worli, and Lower Parel. Yet, with many projects in these locations still years from completion, companies seeking grade-A offices face a prolonged wait. How much does bhujia cost? According to Haldiram’s, about 10 billion dollars. The leading snack maker initially explored a majority sale, but is now eyeing a smaller stake sale, Sneha Shah reports. Despite the shift, investors like Bain Capital, Blackstone, and Temasek Holdings remain interested, eager to tap into India’s booming snacks market, which is projected to double by 2032. With its status as a profitable market leader and a potential IPO candidate, Haldiram's presents a compelling investment opportunity, Sneha adds. The Indian rupee hit a record low of 84.07 against the US dollar this week, marking a depreciation of over 9% since April 2022—far exceeding the typical 3% annual decline. The slide is attributed to foreign institutional investors pulling out around $8 billion this month, dampening demand for the rupee. With global markets in flux and geopolitical tensions—such as the Israel-Iran conflict and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war—adding pressure, experts anticipate further depreciation, possibly touching 84.20. Sumant Banerji breaks down how the weakening rupee impacts both you and the broader economy. Pratilipi, the platform for long-form regional stories, hit a major milestone in July 2024 by turning cash-flow positive. Founded in 2014, with backing from big names like Tencent and Nexus Ventures, Pratilipi saw its revenue jump 66% to ₹58 crore last year, while it managed to slash its losses by 62%. In a market where many content platforms have struggled or shut down, Pratilipi’s focus on in-de
Wed, October 16, 2024
The escalating India-Canada rift explained
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, October 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Sensex fell 153 points, or 0.19 per cent, while the Nifty 50 closed 71 points, or 0.28 per cent, lower. The country's biggest listed company presented its quarterly earnings report yesterday. Investors didn't like it too much: Reliance Industries' share price dropped by 2 percent on Tuesday. Its oils to chemicals business remains its biggest pain point: ebidta has fallen 19 percent year on year. But Jio made up for this, Manish Joshi writes. There is significant upside for Jio for the coming quarter, while Reliance's retail business is trending upwards too. Investors might not be too happy with the latest results, but future quarters might be much better for RIL. Urban India constantly uses quick commerce apps to order groceries and other household items. This comes at the expense of traditional FMCG players. Dipti Shah writes that this growing trend will affect FMCG stocks negatively. This is also evident from their modest returns, compared to the significant gains seen in shares of companies like Zomato and Trent. Even FMCG giants have acknowledged the rising contribution of quick commerce to their sales, signaling a transformative shift. After a brief break, startups are finally hiring CXOs again. Over two-dozen top-level executives were recruited in the last three months, report Sneha Shah and Devina Sengupta. According to industry insiders, this surge in hiring for roles like chief executives and business heads is a response to more funding coming in. They are also a strategic move by startups to strengthen their leadership teams in preparation for future growth, including IPOs. Such hires are receiving significant stock options as part of their packages, report Sneha and Devina. This week, relations between India and Canada soured further as each country expelled six of the other’s diplomats. This escalation follows Canada's allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist, in British Columbia in June 2023. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited non-cooperation from India in the investigation as a reason for the expulsion, intensifying tensions amid Canadian political dynamics as Trudeau faces decreasing popularity ahead of the election in 2025. Economic ties between India and Canada, characterised by substantial trade and investment, remain strong despite the diplomatic rift. Elizabeth Roche, associate professor at Jindal Global University, explains the fresh turn in the ongoing tensions. The Adani Group has its fingers in many pies — from power to ports to even pulses. Now, it is eyeing a new sector: semiconductors. Anirudh Laskar reports that the conglomerate is looking to invest 3 billion dollars with two Israeli tech firms to
Tue, October 15, 2024
How Surya Kumar Yadav’s endorsement fee is touching the SKY
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, October 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Thanks to gains in shares of select banking and IT heavyweights, including HDFC Bank and Infosys, Indian stock market benchmarks- the Sensex and the Nifty 50- resumed their upward march on Monday. The Sensex rose 0.73 per cent, while the Nifty 50 settled 10.66 per cent, higher. Vinay Dube, previously at the helm during tumultuous times at Jet Airways and Go First, now leads Akasa Air, facing similar challenges with its fleet of Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Akasa Air, aiming to carve a niche in India's aviation market, heavily relies on this model, notorious for its operational issues, despite its economic purchase price. The airline, commanding a modest 4.5% market share, seeks to establish itself against the dominating duo of IndiGo and Air India, which together control over 90% of the market. Akasa's strategy involves mirroring successful practices from industry leaders like IndiGo, which thrived on a sale and leaseback model that Dube intends to replicate. Nehal Chaliawala and Mihir Mishra write on Vinay Dube’s plans to take on the Indigo-Air India duopoly in India’s aviation market. Class actions are gaining momentum in India, with recent cases against Ola Electric and Jindal Poly Films showcasing their rising prominence. A class action allows people with similar grievances to file a single lawsuit, making it a powerful tool for addressing collective issues. The rise in class actions is largely due to growing awareness among consumers and shareholders, facilitated by technology and easy access to information. More people are now using these legal options to hold companies accountable. The digital age has also amplified opportunities for collective grievances, especially with the collection of vast amounts of personal data. Mint’s Krishna Yadav explains the rise of class actions in India. Becoming a cricketer in India can lead to vast riches. For Suryakumar Yadav, the money doesn't stop rolling in. Gaurav Laghate writes about how leading India to a recent T20 series win against Bangladesh has bettered Yadav’s financial prospects. Yadav's endorsement fee has jumped by a whopping 350 per cent, with deals worth 2 crore rupees each. Among companies shelling out this money for him are ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Reebok, and Lenskart. Sky, as he is fondly called, is now rubbing shoulders with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the other scions of cricket endorsement deals. In September, India witnessed a sharp rise in inflation to a nine-month high of 5.49 per cent, surpassing the expected 5.1 per cent. This increase was largely driven by a significant hike in vegetable prices, which surged due to a dissipating base effect and unfavorable weather conditions. This un
Mon, October 14, 2024
How Zomato’s District could be a blockbuster
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, October 14, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The upcoming festive period is usually a fruitful time for India's retail industry. As the sales increase, so does the advertising. However, companies are scaling back on traditional media spending. Instead, the industry is spending much more on digital ads, as well as those on e-commerce platforms. Varuni Khosla and Gaurav Laghate writes that FMCG and the auto sectors are likely to see good spending through such channels, but not on your TV or billboards. In 2021, amid a booming market for startup IPOs in India, Zomato was an exception in the landscape, focusing heavily on fresh share issuances rather than facilitating investor exits. Unlike Zomato, which issued new shares worth Rs 9,000 crore, the trend among other startups was to use IPOs as a primary exit strategy for existing investors. In that fiscal year, 48% of total startup IPO shares were sold through offers-for-sale, slightly less than the broader market's 63.3%. This increased to 64% by FY25, indicating a growing preference among startup investors to liquidate their stakes, reports Priyamvada C. While this trend means startups raise less capital for growth during their IPOs, it opens opportunities for new investors to engage with the startup sector as it rides a wave of market highs. In another case of poor trade practices, the Competition Commission of India has found WhatsApp and its parent company Meta Inc. guilty of breaching competition laws. The 3-year investigation concluded that WhatsApp violated competition rules by abusing its market dominance with a policy update. Gireesh Chandra Prasad writes that this update was deemed "exploitative and exclusionary" by CCI's investigation. The penalties could go up to 10 percent of Meta's global revenue. The latest data on India's industrial production, which showed a slight contraction in August for the first time in 21 months, raises concerns about a potential slowdown in the economy. The Index of Industrial Production dipped by 0.1% compared to a significant 10.9% growth in the same month last year. N Madhavan explains how this drop can be attributed to extraordinary rainfall impacting mining and electricity generation, alongside a high base effect from last year's strong performance. Despite this hiccup, experts suggest this is a one-off event, expecting a rebound in industrial activities starting September, buoyed by government infrastructure spending and other high-frequency indicators. Zomato evolved from food delivery to include quick commerce and most recently an events business by purchasing Paytm’s subsidiaries Insider and TicketNew. This expansion into live events and dining with the newly dubbed District app aims to integrate Zomato's dining
Fri, October 11, 2024
Farewell, RNT
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, October 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. A stalwart of India’s corporate world passed away on Wednesday night. We'll bring you some stories on his legacy and work over the decades. After retiring as the chair of Tata Sons in 2012, Ratan Tata shifted his focus to supporting startups through his investment vehicle, RNT Associates. By 2019, he was actively engaging with budding entrepreneurs on Instagram. However, he was clear that getting funded didn't guarantee success. Tata’s investments, though modest, were a mark of credibility in the startup community, especially when capital was hard to come by. His approach wasn't just about writing checks; he invested in mentoring the founders, focusing on their long-term vision and passion rather than immediate financial metrics. Mint’s startups editor Ranjani Raghavan takes a look at the former Tata group chairman’s vision for Indian startups. Ratan Tata, the visionary driving force behind Tata Motors, transformed it from a local truck maker into a global automotive powerhouse. During his tenure, the Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car, was launched, aimed at democratizing car ownership in India. Though it didn't hit commercial targets, the Nano exemplified Tata's visionary approach. Under his leadership in 1998, Tata Motors introduced the Indica, India's first indigenously developed passenger car. A landmark moment came in 2008 when Tata Motors acquired the iconic British brands Jaguar and Land Rover for 2.3 billion dollars from Ford. This was a stunning reversal of fortune, as Ford had previously considered buying Tata's car division. Tata turned these struggling brands into profitable entities, significantly enhancing Tata Motors' stature and revenues. Alisha Sachdev writes about Ratan Tata’s legacy at one of India’s biggest automobile companies. For over a century, the Tata group has been a cornerstone of the Indian industry, spanning multiple sectors. While JRD Tata was at the helm for 51 long years, his son Ratan was the one who did the heavy lifting. He took over right as India was on the cusp of opening up its economy. An opportunity, for sure — but it also would have led to a lot of challenges. Sundeep Khanna writes about the leadership at the Tata group, from JRD to RNT to now, N. Chandrasekaran, and how it has shaped not only the conglomerate, but also corporate India as a whole. He takes a retrospective look at its progress, pitfalls, and even some controversies over the years. The Indian equity market's rally has paused, with the Nifty50 index down 3% in the first seven trading sessions of October. India's volatility index rose 13%, indicating heightened risk aversion. Harsha Jethmalani writes that foreign investors are showing renewed interest i
Thu, October 10, 2024
Is your real estate agent a social media influencer?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, October 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Yesterday, the Reserve Bank of India left key policy rates unchanged, maintaining the repo rate at 6.5 percent. The RBI’s decision comes amid rate cuts by central banks worldwide, notably the US Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England. The RBI remains wary of inflation, and thus doesn't want to cut rates just yet. Gopika Gopakumar writes that the decision still leaves room for a rate cut at the monetary policy committee's meeting in December. Faced with cost pressures, companies are keen on retaining their employees. Some plan to disburse more than 90 percent of variable pay since raises are expected to be modest this year. Key sectors such as manufacturing, auto, and IT are likely to pay bonuses in full, while the retail and consumer sectors will be more cautious. Anandorup Ghose from Deloitte India tells Devina Sengupta that while bonus payouts are typically within 90-110 percent of the target, variable pay differs by seniority. Roopank Chaudhary of consulting firm Aon notes that though some sectors have seen improvements, overall bonus projections for 2025 are similar to last year's, at about 13.6 percent of fixed pay. Salary hikes are expected to be around 9.5 percent next year, a slight increase from 9.3 percent this year. India is pumping 25 billion dollars into its semiconductor sector as it looks to get at least four more chipmakers to set up fabs. The focus is on legacy chips, which are essential in industries such as auto, aerospace and defence. These older chips are cheaper to make and maintain than the most advanced ones, such as those used in iPhones. The Tata-PSMC facility, the only commercial fab in India right now, is set to make chips ranging from 28 nanometers to 90 nanometers. While these are more advanced than typical legacy chips, the plant will also churn out the older variety to meet domestic needs and reduce imports, boosting India's revenue in the process. Shouvik Das takes a closer look at India’s big gamble on legacy chips. The Kalyanis, known for their substantial holdings in India’s industrial sector, including Bharat Forge, are embroiled in a contentious legal battle over the family’s wealth. Gaurishankar Kalyani, the youngest brother of Bharat Forge chief Baba Kalyani, has challenged a 2012 will of their late mother Sulochana Kalyani. He claims a newer will from December 2022 names him as the main heir, but Gaurishankar accuses him of coercing their mother into sidelining him. Priyanka Gawande explains the legal battle for control over multibillion-dollar assets. Is your real estate agent a social media influencer as well? Madhurima Nandy writes about such agents, who earn nearly 2 crore rupees a year from
Wed, October 09, 2024
Goodbye zero brokerage fee apps
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, October 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Do you use a zero-brokerage app? That won't last too long. Soon, brokers such as Zerodha, Groww and AngelOne have to overhaul their business, as the market regulator has barred them from pocketing exchange fee waivers. It will force these brokers to raise their fees to make money. Dipti Sharma writes that these new-age brokers will now either charge a flat fee or a percentage of the order—much like their traditional counterparts. Sebi believes this will bring a balance in the market. Agricultural employment in India is rising. A recent survey showed that 46.1 percent of Indians now work in the farm sector, as opposed to 42.5 percent before the 2020 covid-19 outbreak. The primary drivers are the lack of better-paying jobs and more participation from women. Sayantan Bera writes that this raises concerns about productivity and disguised unemployment. Meanwhile, the political pressure for more state support due to agriculture's uncertain income continues to increase. He makes sense of the survey and proposes some solutions to counter this worrying trend. Bigger TVs are about to get cheaper! Televisions and ACs are in for a boost, thanks to some new government perks. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology plans to scrap import duties on TV panel open cells, Shouvik Das and Mihir Mishra report. This cut could make big-screen TVs cheaper in the country and is part of a bigger plan to crank up domestic TV production from 28 to 45 percent. The government is also looking at dropping customs duties on some TV parts and reducing the GST on local production of display panels from 28 to 18 percent. The Centre is also considering setting up local factories to boost domestic manufacturing of display components. Why does this matter? Well, the cost of display panels and open cells can make up half the price of a TV. Currently, most of these parts are imported, meaning a lot of the money from TV sales ends up outside India. But with these changes, we could see more of this cash staying in the country. India's renewable energy sector is seeing an unusual trend—companies are trading grid connectivity, with some aiming to profit quickly. Nehal Chaliawala spoke to executives who revealed that up to 10 gigawatts of the capacity to transfer renewable energy to the grid is up for grabs, priced between Rs 15-25 lakh per megawatt. In FY24, India ramped up its renewable capacity by 18.5 gigawatts to a total of 153 gigawatts. However, the infrastructure needed to connect these new green power sources to the Inter-State Transmission System hasn't kept pace. This mismatch has opened a door for middlemen and opportunists. The sellers range from companies altering their business strategies to
Tue, October 08, 2024
What's in store for IT stocks?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, October 8, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Over the previous quarter, the Nifty IT index rose around 14%, while the Nifty50 increased by around half that number. Harsha Jethmalani writes that this happened after the US Federal Reserve cut its interest rates by half a percent. That spurred BFSI clients to increase their IT spending. However, this money will only be seen on the books in the quarter next year. Harsha adds that recent comments from Accenture suggest a continued focus on cost-optimisation by clients, but the overall outlook does look better than it did a few months ago. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is in India, aiming to patch up strained ties and get Indian tourists heading back to his country’s stunning islands. Even though overall tourist numbers in the Maldives are up by 10 per cent this year, the number of Indian visitors has plummeted. Politics and international relations have nudged Indian travellers toward other destinations, which is a real hit to the Maldives where tourism isn't just big business—it's essential, contributing about 30% directly to its GDP. Back in 2023, Indian tourists made up 12 per cent of all visitors to the Maldives, but this year, that's halved to just 6 per cent. N Madhavan explains how Muizzu is planning to mend his country’s relationship with its biggest and most important neighbour - India. Hero Motocorp has dominated the two-wheeler sector for more than three decades. However, its former partner Honda now threatens to overtake this lead. This is the first time in years that the automative market has seen any sort of competitive action to this extent. The two companies were partners from 1984 to 2010. After their split, Hero and Honda ruled the motorcycle and scooter markets respectively. Sumant Banerji writes that both companies are making significant inroads into each other's strongholds. Sumant writes about the segment battles in detail, and outlines who is winning what — including the up and coming EV market. India's Ministry of Law and Justice is considering updates to the Civil Procedure Code to streamline civil lawsuits and reduce court backlogs. Inspired by the effective Commercial Courts Act, the proposed reforms aim to incorporate mandatory timelines and mediation efforts to expedite legal processes. This initiative is part of broader judicial reforms, including recent revisions to major criminal laws, aimed at speeding up justice. With over 5.6 million pending civil cases, these reforms are crucial for enhancing the efficiency of India's judicial system. The goal is to modernise the CPC, established in 1908, and ensure it meets contemporary legal needs more effectively, reports Manas Pimpalkhare. The festive season is here, and so is the se
Mon, October 07, 2024
How will your portfolio react to a World War 3?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, October 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Last week was a bit of a disaster for the markets: the Nifty fell 5% over the previous four trading sessions. This selling-heavy trend was in contrast to a bullish market from the prior week, which saw Nifty hitting a record high. Ram Sahgal writes that foreign investors sold heavily, booking profits. Meanwhile, a stimulus by the Chinese government into its economy too attracted investors. Ram analyses the current trends, and speaks to market experts on when a bounceback is expected. As tensions in West Asia escalate, you might be worried about your portfolio. But despite historical volatility, stock markets have shown resilience in the face of geopolitical tensions. Notably, the US stock market has, on average, only dipped 5% during major events since World War II — and recovered quickly. Abhishek Mukherjee writes that the pattern is similar for Indian markets. The NSE Nifty in India quickly rebounded after initial losses following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the tensions in Gaza. However, for India, the primary concern amid such conflicts remains the impact on oil prices. India has a significant dependence on oil imports, which are crucial to its macroeconomic stability. If any war-related tensions lead to prices of oil rising, the markets may not take to it very kindly. India’s shipping ministry is setting new guidelines that could significantly benefit domestic shipping companies. They're proposing that international container lines operating in Indian waters reserve at least 5% of their cargo space for local operators. This initiative is designed to bolster Indian container lines and non-vessel operating common carriers — companies that arrange shipments but don't own the vessels themselves, reports Subhash Narayan. Currently, Indian entities handle less than 1% of the nation’s trade, a figure this policy aims to increase by enhancing their access to global markets. This policy also supports the domestic shipbuilding industry and lessens India’s dependency on foreign shipping services, which often leads to high freight charges during global disruptions. RP Sanjiv Goenka Group’s music label Saregama India is eyeing a big move into the film industry by potentially snagging a majority stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. This isn't a done deal yet—sources told Lata Jha that the deal is still up in the air. This follows its acquisition of digital entertainment player Pocket Aces Pictures. Why the interest in Dharma Productions? Well, Dharma’s been feeling the heat from the unpredictable box office, pricey star fees, and shrinking revenue from traditional rights deals. These challenges are pushing it to find a financial lifeline to keep up its operations.
Fri, October 04, 2024
Bloodbath on D-street as hot money races to China
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, October 4, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The festive season usually brings a buzz to India's stock markets, but this year it's been anything but cheerful. Over July and August, investors saw their wealth shrink by a whopping Rs 11 trillion due to a record exodus of foreign investors, a bounce in Chinese stocks, and brewing tensions in the Middle East – not to mention steep valuations of Indian stocks. Here's the kicker: all this drama synced up with the weekly Nifty expiry on Thursday, known for causing wild swings, so the Nifty and Sensex dropped more than 2%. This was the steepest in two months, driven by a record single-day sale of shares worth more than 15,000 crore rupees by foreign institutional investors. While domestic institutional investors did step up with purchases worth nearly 13,000 crore, it wasn't enough to prevent the dip. Catch Ram Sahgal’s report chronicling the bloodbath on D-street in the show notes. Direct-to-consumer fem-tech startups are gaining traction in India. This trend is driven by increased female employment, higher disposable incomes, and savvy social media marketing. Sowmya Ramasubramanian and Suneera Tandon write that despite capturing less than 10% of the market, these startups are already worrying major players. There are obvious challenges, such as cultural stigmas and affordability, especially in rural areas. However, the sector has seen modest investments so far. It's placement season for engineering colleges. Last year was rough, with many companies backing out as they faced financial crunches. Devina Sengupta reports this year looks much the same, unfortunately, with recruiters staying cautious. Global economic uncertainties, including wars, inflation, and the US presidential election's potential impact on offshoring policies are to blame. Devina explains how colleges are responding to this problem, and the salaries graduates can expect in such a job market. Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has ended up as the sole candidate to pick up a majority stake in Yes Bank, after other potential buyers Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Emirates NBD backed out due to India’s strict caps on voting rights, Anirudh Laskar and Gopika Gopakumar report. MUFG sees big potential in India's financial sector and has begun conducting due diligence with help from JP Morgan. The road hasn’t been smooth, though. Yes Bank has been looking for a new owner for more than six months, but India's rules limiting voting rights in private banks to 26% have turned many away. Despite the restrictions, MUFG is exploring ways to buy more than 26% of Yes Bank. India's goods exports have grown marginally in the first five months of the fiscal year, rising only 1.1% year-on-year. The post-covid surge in
Thu, October 03, 2024
What’s next in the Israel-Iran conflict
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, October 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. We might be on the verge of world war three, as Iran's recent airstrikes on Israel underscore Tehran's readiness to confront any perceived threat. Shweta Singh explains why the situation could escalate, and how the US is involved in the mess. Shweta also explains the implications of this development on India, including how it could affect trade, and helps you understand the complex geopolitical dynamics at play. In a move to slash legal costs, the Indian government is setting the stage for a new national litigation policy, targeting cases where government entities end up suing each other. With this step, the law ministry aims to curb the financial drain caused by such disputes, particularly among public sector undertakings, Dhirendra Kumar reports. The initiative targets disputes like tender disagreements between PSUs, which not only incur substantial legal costs but also burden the judiciary. With over 50 million pending cases nationwide, such disputes exacerbate the backlog and strain on the legal system. The policy aims to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary legal confrontations. If you qualify as ultra-rich, chances are you’re tired of five-star hotels. Varuni Khosla writes that super-rich travellers are increasingly drawn to boutique resorts, which offer an intimate and luxurious experience accompanied by meals by high-profile chefs. These resorts are typically in remote locations and cater to the demand for unique and personalised vacations. Affluent millennials are spending more than 25,000 rupees a night to stay at such resorts. Google's in a bit of a spot in India. The tech giant has decided to settle an antitrust case after the Competition Commission of India flagged its deals with smart TV makers as a no-go under the competition laws. This is a big deal because it's the first time a company is testing India's new settlement process, writes Gireesh Chandra Prasad. Introduced last year, the process could get Google a 15% reduction on the penalty. The CCI initiated the probe in 2021, based on allegations that Google violated competition laws in the Android TV market, specifically through its restrictive agreements with smart TV manufacturers. These agreements allegedly limited the manufacturers' ability to use or develop alternative Android systems. Indian IT services are gearing up for their September quarter results, with Infosys expected to lead in revenue growth among the top five firms. Analyst forecasts suggest Infosys could achieve revenue growth exceeding 3%, driven by the ramp-up of previously secured deals and the integration of the newly acquired In-tech, Jas Bardia reports. TCS is also expected to grow, though at a more modest 1.5% to 2.4%, su
Wed, October 02, 2024
GST: Anti-profiteering regime to end soon
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, October 2, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian stock market closed the volatile trading session on a flat note on Tuesday, October 1, amid mixed global signals and uncertain economic indicators. The Nifty 50 closed the session 0.05% lower while the Sensex ended with a slight decline of 0.04%.. The Goods and Services Tax has undergone a series of amendments since it was introduced in 2017. Yesterday the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs announced yet another important change: an end to the anti-profiteering regime. This had been put in place to ensure that businesses passed on the benefits of GST rate cuts to consumers. Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports that with its removal, businesses will have more freedom to set prices. This change is part of a broader effort to simplify GST compliance, Gireesh adds. The Leela group of hotels filed papers for a 5,000 crore rupee IPO last month, reflecting a growing appetite for both luxury tourism and luxury hotel stocks. Experts told Abhinaba Saha they expect healthy demand for Leela’s IPO, the largest in the hospitality segment to date, as luxury tourism is just getting started in India. Luxury hotel chain operator Ventive Hospitality announced an IPO worth at least Rs 2,000 crore just a few weeks ago, while Juniper Hotels and Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels were listed in February. Ever seen ads for music CDs and glass tumblers? They are all over billboards and TV sets, but you’d be hard pressed to find the actual products on sale. That’s because they’re surrogate ads for products such as alcohol. Liquor manufacturers aren't allowed to advertise their products, so resort to such tactics. However, Dhirendra Kumar reports that the Central Consumer Protection Authority is now cracking down on companies that use surrogate advertising and could fine repeat violators 50 lakh rupees. When Ranveer Allahbadia's YouTube account – which has 17.33 million subscribers – was hacked on September 25th, it highlighted a growing concern about cybersecurity among content creators. Allahbadia's experience served as a stark reminder that no one is immune to cyber threats. Pratishtha Bagai writes about a recent Kaspersky study that revealed 20% of Indian internet users were victims of cyber threats in the first half of 2024 alone. Influencers are now increasingly using two-factor authentication (2FA) and limiting device access to their accounts. Yet, many creators rely on platform support after the fact, rather than taking proactive steps to secure their accounts. Industry experts suggest that influencers, like businesses, should seek professional cyber protection services. In India's film industry, big-budget spectacles such as Baahubali and Pathaan rake in massive su
Tue, October 01, 2024
What way will Haryana vote this time?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, October 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Nearly 300 stocks, including JSW Steel and NTPC, reached one-year highs on the BSE, despite the Sensex and Nifty 50 dropping over one per cent amid weak global cues. Last week, the government of China infused 143 billion dollars into its economy to try and revive it out of a slump. This led the Chinese public markets to experience their best week in more than 16 years. Initiatives also included a 2 trillion yuan bond, easing rules for buying homes, and revival of consumer spending. N. Madhavan explains this stimulus package, and how it might affect the Indian economy. Investors always wondered when Swiggy would list on the public markets. After its rival Zomato touched record highs this year, that intrigue turned into a fertile ground for Swiggy to have its IPO. This has also led Swiggy's shares being sold and re-sold all over at sky-high prices in the grey market. While Swiggy's current market cap is around 80 to 90,000 crore rupees, investors are hoping that this amount at least doubles to reach the vicinity of Zomato's 2.5 trillion rupee valuation. Neil Borate and Anil Poste speak to Swiggy's investors, and outline the current situation in the grey markets. Infamous Shark Tank judge and co-founder of BharatPe Ashneer Grover reached a settlement with the fintech unicorn yesterday. He officially ended all associations with the company. Mansi Verma writes that as part of the agreement, some of Grover's shares will be transferred to the Resilient Growth Trust, while the remainder will be managed by his family trust. All ongoing legal cases between the parties will be dropped. Placement teams at India's top tech schools, notably the IITs, are getting proactive. They're reaching out to potential recruiters early this year, hoping to avoid last year’s job placement struggles. Devina Sengupta however reports that companies from IT, manufacturing, and banking sectors are still on the fence about how many grads they’ll hire from the 2025 batch. The older IITs, like those in Madras, Bombay, and Delhi, typically start their placement season in December, while the newer ones begin as early as August to get a head start. Last year didn’t end well for many grads who remained unplaced due to a cautious hiring climate amid economic uncertainties. Some early recruiters like Samsung, Accenture, and Larsen & Toubro have already shown interest, and companies like Godrej Properties are looking to increase their hires from these institutes. IITs are also targeting startups and quick commerce platforms, with companies like Meesho planning to significantly increase their campus hires from last year. In Haryana, despite its economic prowess, life isn't as rosy for everyone. The state, boasting a per capita income much above the national
Mon, September 30, 2024
Stockbrokers raise alarm against fake WhatsApp groups
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, September 30, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. WhatsApp groups are full of people pretending to be legitimate advisors offering stock market advice. These groups promise unrealistic returns and insider information, and have caught the attention of market regulators. Stockbrokers are also raising alarms to such practices. The scams have not only duped investors, but also posed significant reputation risks to the impersonated firms. Dipti Sharma, Neha Joshi, and Shayan Ghosh bring you the details of how the authorities are fighting back to regain the public's trust. The subsidies provided by the Indian government keep dwindling. Now, the focus has shifted towards incentivising players to set up their manufacturing facilities in India. Alisha Sachdev reports that from next April, manufacturers will be required to locally source even the smallest components, otherwise known as child parts. The new phased manufacturing plan also outlines detailed processes for each component to ensure that key steps are performed domestically. Accenture's recent earnings report has sparked optimism within the 260 billion dollar Indian IT sector. Accenture has forecasted a better financial year moving head, especially in the Generative AI-related space. Shelley Singh writes that the Indian IT sector is using Accenture's report as a bellwether and hoping for better revenues moving forward. In particular, there are hopes that banking and the financial sector at large are likely to also spend more towards IT. In November 2010, then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited Chennai to invite Tamil Nadu textile entrepreneurs to set up spinning units in Gujarat. In a state where cotton was plentiful, and power was reliable, this invitation meant big savings on transport and energy. Despite his compelling argument, Tamil Nadu's textile industry, with its robust workforce and deep-rooted infrastructure, chose to stay put. Over a decade later, the textile industry in Tamil Nadu faces even greater challenges, from heavy reliance on migrant labour to increased operational costs. N Madhavan examines how this has prompted some units to consider relocation to states like Madhya Pradesh and Odisha for better proximity to labour and lower wages. Despite Tamil Nadu resolving its power issues, the textile sector's future in the state remains uncertain due to these compounded challenges. IBM and Accenture are making significant strides in the generative AI sector. IBM has reported over $2 billion in GenAI bookings and sales, with Accenture close behind at $3 billion for the fiscal year. Both companies attribute much of their success to their robust consulting services, a strategy not fully embraced by India’s top IT firms like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and HCL Technologies, which do not repo
Fri, September 27, 2024
Another telecom revolution brewing?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, September 27, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Online brokerage firm Zerodha generated over ₹8,000 crore in revenue last fiscal year, with profits reaching ₹4,700 crore, according to founder Nithin Kamath. However, Kamath cautioned that the coming year might not be as bright, with a significant revenue drop on the horizon. Recent regulatory changes, aimed at protecting retail investors, are expected to hit brokerages hard. Abhinaba Saha delves into these new rules and their potential impact on both brokerages and retail investors. India's National Medical Commission (NMC), responsible for overseeing medical education, is grappling with internal conflicts among its four autonomous boards. Poor coordination has led to the cancellation of several public notices, prompting the NMC to seek intervention from the Union health ministry, sources told Mint’s Priyanka Sharma. The issue came to light when the boards issued conflicting decisions while reviewing applications from medical colleges. In one instance, a college was penalized by one board while another approved an increase in its seat capacity. This inconsistency is raising alarm, especially in the wake of recent controversies, such as the NEET exam paper leak. Radisson Hotel Group is rapidly expanding its footprint in India, capitalizing on opportunities in both major cities and growing smaller towns. Nikhil Sharma, Radisson’s managing director for India, told Varuni Khosla that while the country has 200,000 branded hotel rooms, there's still a significant gap between supply and demand. This imbalance is driving Radisson’s aggressive growth strategy, which includes tapping into religious tourism markets with new properties in Ayodhya and Vrindavan. This move is part of a larger strategy that has already placed Radisson ahead of competitors like IHG and Hilton in India, with its 115 hotels generating around ₹4,000 crore in revenue. The group, which manages brands like Radisson Blu and Park Inn, has 80 more hotels under development as part of its broader expansion plan. The telecom department is exploring a major policy shift by potentially waiving the requirement for telcos to deposit bank guarantees for spectrum acquired before 2022. The move is part of the broader reforms in the telecom sector. Starting in 2024, companies will no longer need to provide these guarantees under the new rules. The potential waiver is backed by precedents set in 2017, when the government extended the payment period for spectrum purchases from 10 to 16 years and reduced interest on penalties. The recent wave of harassment allegations in the movie industry reveals that little has changed in Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam cinema. Lata Jha highlights that this misconduct manifests in various ways, including demands for sexual favours, unwar
Thu, September 26, 2024
How much will it cost to watch Coldplay in Abu Dhabi?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, September 26, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Were you one of the thousands of Coldplay fans stuck to their screens, trying to score a ticket? The rush for Coldplay tickets turned intense on September 22, with 13 million fans chasing just 150,000 spots for their Navi Mumbai concert next January. The original ticket price was 6,450 rupees, but now resellers are listing them for upwards of 36,000 rupees! Given the high resale prices, some fans are thinking outside the box by considering a trip to Abu Dhabi for Coldplay's January 11 concert, where tickets start at a more reasonable ₹4,411. After crunching the numbers, Sashind Ningthoukjam writes that flying to Abu Dhabi could end up cheaper than snagging a resale ticket for the Navi Mumbai show. A round trip from Mumbai, a couple of nights’ stay, and a short-term visa totals about ₹30,000. That's a savings tip and a mini-vacation rolled into one for die-hard Coldplay enthusiasts! India is setting its sights on becoming a major global maritime player by 2047. It currently holds less than 1% of the global market share in shipping. Spearheaded by Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal, the government’s new strategy aims to revolutionize maritime activities through twelve targeted missions. These include enhancing shipbuilding, reducing dependency on foreign vessels, and launching a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund to fuel these ambitions, Subhash Narayan reports. On top of boosting local shipbuilding and repair capacities, India is also stepping up its game in maritime arbitration with the new Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre, aligning with the "Resolve in India" mantra. Mahindra & Mahindra and the Volkswagen Group are in advanced talks to intensify their partnership. The two companies are aiming to leverage shared investments in future technologies rather than engaging in cash transactions. Sources told Alisha Sachdev that Mahindra might make significant investments in platforms and technologies to acquire a sizeable stake in Volkswagen's India operations, with a formal agreement potentially being finalized by early 2024. The focus of this collaboration is on utilizing Volkswagen's underutilized Pune plant, which has a substantial expansion capacity. After a long and successful run, home sales and project launches have gone tepid. All eyes are now on the coming festive season, which is traditionally considered as the best-performing period for the property sector. This could revive the momentum in sales and launches. Madhurima Nandy explains what's at stake for the real estate market this Diwali season. After a huge rise in the disbursal of small-ticket loans, borrowers are defaulting. The volume of credit card dues where repayments are delayed by over 90 days has increased
Wed, September 25, 2024
Why does LTIMindtree continue to struggle?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, September 25, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Anura Dissanayake became Sri Lanka's new president this week. Leading a socialist alliance, he won on the back of an anti-corruption campaign. We invited Shweta Singh, an associate professor in the department of international relations at the South Asian University, to explain the implication of his win. A massive focus on economic reforms is expected to be Dissanayake's first move as president. Shweta also explains the ramifications of the election result on relations between India and Sri Lanka, as well as China's growing influence in India’s southern neighbour. Boutique investment banks are expanding their roles in the startup ecosystem by not only advising on fundraising but also investing directly. Sprout Capital, Merisis Advisors, and Dexter Ventures have established micro-venture capital funds to tap into diverse revenue streams and capitalize on the potential of various stages of startup growth. These banks are particularly interested in unique investment opportunities, such as buying secondary blocks from ESOP holders and early angel investors looking for liquidity, Priyamvada C reports for Mint. This approach provides a solution for founders who want to avoid wealth firms//what’s that?// but need to create liquidity. For instance, IndigoEdge is setting up a $40-50 million fund to invest in late-stage startups, focusing on small, less attractive investment blocks that do not interest larger investors. India is ramping up its aviation game by planning 29 new airports in small towns over the next two decades, aiming to transform these areas into aviation hubs. The plan, spearheaded by the Airports Authority of India, targets states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand, with Gujarat getting the lion's share—nine airports. Mihir Mishra reports on the move, which is part of a broader initiative that includes a five-year strategy to upgrade 50 existing airports and develop additional ones in major cities to handle growing passenger numbers. These future airports, geared to accommodate large aircraft, are part of an effort to ensure long-term growth and connectivity, especially to international destinations. While the ambitious plan promises to enhance regional air travel and boost economies, experts advise that these expansions be driven by genuine passenger demand rather than political agendas. Foreign streaming giants are treading cautiously in India, a market notorious for its tough competition and price sensitivity. Companies like Warner Bros have delayed launching their own apps, opting instead to license content to local platforms like JioCinema. Similarly, Apple has partnered with Bharti Airtel to offer Apple TV+ without creating local originals. The hesitation stems from modest ad and subscri
Tue, September 24, 2024
Cheaper diamonds are here
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, September 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Banks are finding creative ways to attract new customers amid a deposit crunch. Smaller banks in particular are spicing up their offerings to stand out. They're partnering with fintechs and rolling out products such as standalone fixed deposits and secured loan-linked deposits. Anshika Kayastha reports on how this shift is helping banks compete with mutual funds and insurance options which have been drawing in more household savings. Banks are also teaming up with platforms such as PhonePe and Mobikwik to offer FDs without the need for a bank account, aiming to make banking as convenient as online shopping. As the festive season approaches, online sellers of refurbished electronics such as smartphones and laptops are gearing up for a sales boost. ReFit Global and Cashify, leaders in the refurbished market, are expecting significant increases in sales figures during the festive months, which is traditionally a high point for electronics purchases. Despite the availability of newer devices at competitive prices, refurbished models continue to attract consumers looking for cost-effective alternatives, reports Sowmya Ramasubramanian. These are particularly popular in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where budget-conscious consumers can access premium brands at reduced prices. Moreover, the convenience of monthly payment options and the increased presence of these products on major e-commerce platforms enhance their appeal. Speaking of smartphones, let's talk about Samsung. A workers' union is protesting against low wages at the company's plant in Chennai. Talks with Samsung’s management have not progressed and the protests are in their third week. Sumant Banerji and N Madhavan teamed up to bring you an on-ground report of this stalemate. The workers have three main demands: recognising the labour union, increasing wages and improving working conditions. For now, Samsung has hired contractual workers to ensure that its production isn't halted for too long. But who will blink first? The union doesn't seem like it will budge, while Samsung has faced a slew of issues that has reduced its market share. JSW Group is moving its massive 40,000 crore rupee EV and battery project from Odisha to Maharashtra, chasing political stability and new opportunities. Initially planned for Cuttack and Paradip, they're now eyeing Aurangabad and Nagpur, Alisha Sachdev reports. This switch follows Maharashtra's welcoming of big-ticket projects such as JSW Energy's 25,000 crore rupee lithium battery venture in Nagpur and a 27,200 crore rupee electric vehicle plant in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. This isn't the first time a big name has shifted a plant because of regional politics—remember Tata’s Nano move to Gujarat in 2008? Similarly
Mon, September 23, 2024
Time to work from Dubai?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, September 23, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Aswath Damodaran is known as the "dean of valuation". In a free-wheeling conversation with Abhishek Mukherjee, Damodaran talks about how he assesses companies — especially family-run ones, as well as the current dynamics of the Indian stock market, and how to read the corporate life cycle. Retail investors should not miss out on his answers about Zomato's stock price valuation, which is up more than 130 percent year to date. The Competition Commission of India is nearing the end of its four-year antitrust investigation into Amazon and Flipkart. They've been asked to hand over financials which could determine hefty fines based on global sales if found guilty of anti-competitive practices like favoring certain sellers and pushing aggressive discounts. This move comes as the CCI looks to ensure fair play in India’s rapidly growing digital market. With the law now requiring a thorough hearing before a final decision, all parties involved will get a chance to present their case, making sure the process is transparent and just. Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports on the antitrust body’s push for a level playing field where small businesses can compete fairly against the big e-commerce platforms. Brands are tweaking their influencer strategies to maximize their marketing spend. The growth in influencer marketing in India is strong, but figuring out the actual return on investment is tricky. Pratishtha Bagai reports on how new-age companies are cutting down on influencer marketing budgets. For instance, beauty brand Plum slashed its influencer budget to half after seeing the real numbers. Similarly, Libas, an ethnic wear brand, is honing in on affiliate links and coupon codes to directly track sales from specific influencers, paying them based on performance. Smaller brands are also eyeing nano influencers—those with fewer than 10,000 followers—since they engage more and cost less, despite not always getting the spotlight from big agencies. Some brands even bypass agencies altogether, managing influencer relations themselves to ensure a better fit and efficiency. Netflix and other streaming platforms are on edge after a recent controversy over a Netflix series prompted calls for stricter content regulation. Already cautious under the 2021 IT Rules, these platforms are worried that the outcry might lead to tighter controls. A senior streaming executive told Lata Jha that companies are closely monitoring social media reactions to avoid potential legal battles. The fear is that any new regulatory body could slow content approval processes, akin to the current film censorship board, stifling creative expression. This anxiety comes as streaming services see stagnating subscription growth in India, despite a broad viewer base. Controversies n
Fri, September 20, 2024
Adani readies $7 billion war chest
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, September 20, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. On Thursday, Indian equity markets hit another record high following the US Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 50 basis points—double the expected 25-point reduction. Harsha Jethmalani notes that Indian markets are anticipating further rate cuts ahead. While the European Central Bank has already reduced rates, Harsha points out that the RBI may refrain from doing the same due to persistent inflationary pressures. This week, dozens were injured and some killed across Lebanon and Syria after pagers exploded. Hezbollah had been using these low-tech devices to communicate, fearing smartphones could be tracked. These pagers, which only receive messages via radio frequencies and aren't connected to any network, offer a lower-tech alternative. Leslie D'Monte reports that despite their perceived redundancy, pagers and walkie-talkies are still widely sold. He also notes that cellphones and smartphones, equipped with GPS tracking, are even more vulnerable to such attacks. The Adani Group is on a shopping spree. The budget? Around 7 billion dollars. Anirudh Laskar reports that this amount would be spread across cement, airports, defence, ports, and FMCG. The deals are supposed to be concluded in the current financial year. While the conglomerate has completed over 60 acquisitions in recent years, activity paused following the Hindenburg Research report in early 2023. Anirudh notes that in its three-decade history, the company has never embarked on such an aggressive expansion plan. In the pre-pandemic era, Indian startups and their investors were fixated on one key metric: Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), which measures total sales without accounting for discounts or operational costs. This focus drove rapid growth, backed by abundant investment. However, the pandemic shifted attention towards unit economics, pushing investors to scrutinize profitability per rupee spent as startup losses mounted. This transition marked a shift from celebrating growth at any cost to prioritizing financial sustainability. Priyamvada C reports that many Indian startups are now adopting this more sustainable approach, with a renewed focus on improving their unit economics. Goa’s picturesque beaches and vibrant nightlife have long been a magnet for tourists, but in recent years, the region has also emerged as a hotbed for real estate development. Spurred by the pandemic, demand for 'second homes' in Goa has surged, with luxury homes and premium plots reaching record prices. Property portals like 99acres.com and Housing.com now list residential plots in Goa for up to ₹5 crore, highlighting the intense interest in the market. However, this boom is not without challenges, writes Madhurima Nandy. The rapid transformation has ra
Thu, September 19, 2024
Be aware of the bull market’s investing myths
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, September 19, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. India’s frontline equity indices traded within a narrow range on Wednesday amid market volatility, as investors remained cautious ahead of a crucial US Federal Reserve meeting. The Nifty ended the session down 0.16 percent, while the Sensex also slipped 0.16 percent from its previous close. As the festive season approaches, online shoppers might find it harder to return fashion, accessories, home decor, and kidswear. Sowmya Ramasubramanian reports that companies like Flipkart and Amazon are setting tougher return policies to boost profits and cut logistics costs. Typically, returns jump 30% during festival sales, but this year, firms might shorten return periods, charge fees, or offer store credit only, particularly for serial returners. While loyal customers might enjoy some leniency, the aim is to curb the costly trend of impulse buys and returns that surge during sales. This strategy includes not just the major e-commerce players but also direct-to-consumer brands, all navigating the trade-offs between customer service and profitability. With the festival season in full swing, Indians are shopping in bulk, and metro cities are witnessing a shift in large purchases—more people now prefer home delivery. This spells good business for e-commerce and quick commerce firms. However, as demand surges, these companies will need additional manpower to manage and deliver orders. Sowmya Ramasubramanian, Suneera Tandon, and Devina Sengupta report that these firms are expected to increase their workforce by up to 20 per cent between August and December. To meet the rising demand, logistics firms are offering gig workers both monetary and non-monetary incentives. Many investors place all their bets on equities, driven by their bullish outlook on the Indian stock market and the hope of reaping windfall gains as their portfolios rise. The broader market supports this optimism, with Nifty and Sensex both up over 20 percent in the past year. Finfluencers often advocate for a strong equity-focused approach as well. However, through a fun narrative, Vivek Kaul explains why it’s still wise to consider less thrilling assets like fixed deposits or PPF to maximize your returns. Singapore's Temasek Holdings is set to acquire an 18-20 percent stake in Cloudnine Hospitals from Peak XV for approximately $125 million. This move comes as Cloudnine, a specialist in mother and baby care, prepares for a public listing next year, with the deal valuing the company at around $600 million, reports Sneha Shah. Peak XV is making its exit after more than a decade, securing a substantial return on its 2013 investment. The transaction is part of a broader cap table realignment for Cloudnine, whic
Wed, September 18, 2024
Adani’s semiconductor play
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, 18 September 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian benchmark indices, the Nifty and the Sensex, saw a marginal rise on Tuesday as traders remained cautious ahead of US Fed’s policy decision. The Nifty ended the session with a 0.14% gain while the Sensex ended with a 0.11% rise. On Tuesday, we wrote about Brookfield's plans to venture into the semiconductor fabrication sector. The sector is hot — today, Gulveen Aulakh and Shouvik Das report that the Adani Group wants a piece of this pie too. It's planning a joint venture with Israel-based company “Tower Semiconductor”. The JV will be based in Maharashtra's Raigad district. While the chips to come out of this factory will meet the Adani Group's requirements, they will also cater to foreign demand. Millions of investors are trying to make a small fortune in IPOs. Every new listing, irrespective of its size, is oversubscribed dozens of times at least. Why? Cases like Bajaj Housing Finance, which doubled when it debuted on Dalal Street on Monday. Listing day gains aren't a new concept, but it's incredibly difficult to secure an allotment for a new IPO. Sashind Ningthoukhongjam writes about strategies one could adopt if they want better chances at securing allotment. You can apply via the shareholder quota, or the small high net investor quota as well. This is a good read for you if you've missed out on some of the blockbuster IPOs we've had this year. Urban Company's early investors, Steadview Capital, Elevation Capital, and Accel, are eyeing a partial exit, planning to sell off stakes worth $100-150 million. This move is part of a broader trend where early backers cash out before a company hits the public markets, and Urban Company is preparing for an IPO next year. These secondary sales let old investors liquidate at a valuation slightly under Urban Company's estimated $2.6 billion—a strategic move as they near the end of their fund cycles. Mint’s Sneha Shah and Priyamvada C report on the secondary share sale at Urban Company - something that reflects a broader trend in the Indian startup scene. What's your portfolio mix?.... Most savvy investors would say stocks, mutual funds, gold and real estate. But there's a new player in town: “Rare Collectibles”. Dipti Sharma writes that Indian investors are diversifying into luxury items like art, vintage cars and luxury watches. Rare Japanese whiskeys are part of such investments too, as the market now has both buyers and sellers. Some experts believe that these collectibles will turn into a key asset class. What rich Indians once bought for personal enjoyments, are now treated as investments that could give you decent returns. Back in 2013, India launched a plan to strengthen small farmers by creating Farmer Producer Companies or FPCs, giving them the power to n
Tue, September 17, 2024
Govt boost for drone industry
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, September 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian frontline indices ended Monday's trading session with modest gains despite hitting fresh record highs intraday. The Nifty 50 ended the session 0.11 per cent higher, while the BSE Sensex ended with a 0.12 per cent gain. After delaying hikes last year, Wipro is likely to give a raise to its staff on time this year. Jas Bardia reports that India's fourth-largest IT company is doling out hikes to its 2 lakh employees just in time for the festive season. The hikes will be around three to eight percent on average. The company had rolled out smaller increments in December last year, as opposed to the usual cycle of September or October. Slowly, but surely, India's IT sector is getting back on track. Millions of soft drink bottles are sold today in India. While glass bottles ruled the sales, plastic bottles are more common today. One thing's clear: it's a good time to be a bottler in India. Coca Cola is considering listing its subsidiary in India. Priyamvada C writes that this move allows the popular soft drink company to cash in on its investment. The parent company can also reduce its exposure risk to seasonal problems. Moreover, FMCGs might consider spinning off their subsidiaries to optimise their balance sheets — much like Coca Cola hopes to do, if the IPO goes through. The Reserve Bank of India's tightening grip on unsecured loans has fintechs pivoting to secured loans, using assets like stocks and mutual funds as collateral. Companies like PhonePe and Mobikwik are teaming up with non-bank lenders to offer these digital loans, appealing to a tech-savvy crowd that prefers to skip bank visits. Mint’s Anshika Kayastha spoke to fintech insiders who shared that leveraging their digital prowess can reshape secured lending, making it more accessible and efficient. This shift comes as unsecured loan growth cools off, thanks to stricter regulations. The central government's production-linked incentive schemes have been successful in invigorating certain sectors: solar energy, mobile phone components, semiconductors, and automobiles. Soon, drones too might get such a financial incentive, report Shouvik Das and Mihir Mishra. At 165 crore rupees, the government already has a tiny purse for developing drones. Shouvik and Mihir report that this kitty might go up to 3,000 crore rupees to facilitate better research and local manufacturing of components. As India gears up for the festive season, starting in October and stretching until Holi next year, OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ZEE5 are queuing up major releases. They're timing big releases like Netflix’s "CTRL" starring Ananya Pandey and Amazon’s spy series "Citad
Mon, September 16, 2024
Will this leap of ‘faith’ pay off?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, September 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. India’s antitrust watchdog, the Competition Commission of India, just made it easier for companies to get their hands on up to 25% of another company's shares without asking for permission first. This tweak in the merger and acquisition rules is a big deal, especially for those looking at hostile takeovers. Before, you'd have to pause and get a nod from the CCI before buying shares off the market, which wasn't exactly speedy. Now, as long as you're not trying to take control right away, you can go ahead without waiting on that green light. This change means businesses can move faster during the initial buying phases without getting tangled up in red tape, Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports. It’s all part of a bigger push to cut down on the hassle and make doing business a bit smoother in India. In India, where tradition meets tech, there’s a rising star sector: faith-tech. It’s catching the eye of big-time investors like PeakXV Partners, Blume Ventures, and Matrix Partners. Just recently, AppsForBharat bagged $18 million in a round led by Fundamentum, highlighting the surge in interest. This year alone, the faith-tech sector saw its funding leap to more than $50 million from just $4.3 million last year. This booming sector offers everything from virtual pilgrimages to digital pooja bookings and astrological services, targeting both young Indians and the global diaspora craving a slice of home. However, the sector is not without its challenges. The seasonal nature of religious activities and the necessity to establish trusted partnerships with religious institutions are hurdles these companies continue to navigate. Samiksha Goel takes a deep dive into a sector which is possibly unique to India and has carved a niche for itself. Family businesses are usually well-oiled machines, as there is a clear hierarchy and established workflows. But when it comes to succession, things get murky. That's exactly what happened with Bharat Forge and its promoter family. A dispute between the managing director Baba Kalyani and his sister Sugandha Hiremath ended up in court after the brother refused to transfer shares to another pharma company. Now, a new court affidavit has come to light that might rule the verdict in favour of Sugandha. Priyanka Gawande and Anirudh Laskar report that this affidavit goes against the claims made by Baba Kalyani, who has allegedly diverted significant assets away from his father. The Reserve Bank of India has been cautioning the Indian banking industry about the ever-growing amount of loans being disbursed. Finally, the banks are listening: the gap between the credit and deposits is finally narrowing, reports Shayan Ghosh. RBI now wants banks to get innovative in its ways to hold more deposits. It has
Fri, September 13, 2024
Why did the markets hit record highs yesterday?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, September 13, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian stock markets set new record highs yesterday. Nifty was up by 1.9 percent, while Sensex rose by 1.8 percent. But this time it wasn't just benchmark indices that were setting records — even midcaps joined the party. Dipti Sharma explains that Thursday's rally involved a lot of hopes of rate cuts – in China, Europe, and the US. Dipti also answers a crucial question for investors: will the uptrend continue or will investors look to book profits? Imagine buying a cake but not being allowed to eat it. Confused? Me too. But that's exactly what the Reserve Bank of India wants from a Japanese bank. The Sumitomo Mitsui Bank wants to buy 51 percent of Yes Bank. Fair enough — RBI has been looking for a majority buyer since it intervened to prevent a collapse. But the banking authority wants to cap Sumitomo's voting rights at just 26 percent. The RBI doesn't want the Japanese bank to have the power to veto any big policy decisions, yet is fine with it bankrolling the entire operation. Anirudh Laskar and Gopika Gopakumar bring you the inside details of this rather confusing development. Lately, several venture-capital insiders have been leaving their jobs at big firms to start their own funds. However, they’re hitting a wall when it comes to drumming up investor interest. It turns out investors are currently more captivated by the juicier returns of the public markets. For example, while some public stocks are offering returns of around 25%, private ventures are lagging behind at about 15%, making them a harder sell as they are also riskier and less liquid. Mansi Verma and Priyamvada report on these new VC firms that are finding it hard to raise funds, especially as limited partners prefer to stick with established managers they trust. Sashind Ningthoukhongjam's sister has been pestering him with questions about the best mutual funds to invest in. To help her, and you, Sashind took a deep dive into thematic and sectoral funds, which have been growing by leaps and bounds of late, owing to stellar returns. But here’s the catch. Every year, a different new sector does well. By the time most investors catch on to the trend, the returns start petering out and a new sector takes the top spot. This can lead to excessive churn and more tax. If you’ve been thinking about investing in thematic or sector funds, you can’t afford to miss this story. The Central Consumer Protection Authority is finalising new guidelines to prevent misleading practices by IAS coaching institutes. Under these guidelines, coaching centres will no longer be able to require UPSC aspirants to sign agreements upon enrollment, allowing the use of their personal details for advertising. Soon, those
Thu, September 12, 2024
What's wrong with a millet burger bun?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, September 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Bigbasket's quick commerce game is going strong — not just in big cities, but also in smaller towns. Customers from these cities are spending upwards of 500 rupees per order, Bigbasket CEO Hari Menon told Priyamvada C in an interview. This success points to a wider trend where quick commerce is catching on fast, thanks to the ease of ordering through platforms like Zomato and Swiggy. As Bigbasket pushes its quick commerce branch, BB Now, it’s also bulking up its offerings. It is adding up to 25,000 different products and setting up more dark stores, Menon said. Influencers who partner with multiple brands will now need to pick just one. Companies want influencers to exclusively promote their products on long-term contracts. Pratishtha Bagai reports that such deals have a wide-ranging impact on the influencer marketing industry that's currently worth 1,900 crore rupees. Pratishtha spoke to companies and influencers, who might soon be at loggerheads due to such conditions. The Competition Commission of India is gearing up to potentially hit Amazon with a hefty fine, reports Gireesh Chandra Prasad. This development occurs following an investigation that confirmed the e-commerce giant's anti-competitive behaviour. Amazon is at fault under the new competition laws that could see it facing penalties up to 10% of its global turnover. The case stems from a complaint by a Delhi-based trade association in January 2020, which led to a detailed probe into Amazon’s business practices. The report said that Amazon indulged in preferential treatment and exclusive product strategies of certain sellers. The market for wearable tech products like smartwatches, earphones, and rings has exploded in India over the past few years. They might not serve much utility outside of tracking your sleep, but they've become a fashion accessory, almost. Four Indian startups — Boat, Noise, Boult, and Fire Bolt are powering this industry. The scale of opportunity in India is so large that these companies turned into global leaders in the wearables category just a couple of years after starting operations. However, the demand has finally tapered off. Sumant Banerji explains the perils of these companies, who are now left holding massive inventory and muted demand in both India and around the world. Last week, during National Nutrition Week, McDonald’s introduced a multi-millet burger bun in its South and Western India outlets. It was an attempt to offer a healthier alternative to the regular refined flour bun. This new bun comprises around 22% millets like Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi. However, the move has sparked controversy among nutritionists who argue that partnering a government-funded research institute
Wed, September 11, 2024
Apple's new iPhone expected to sell well in India
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, September 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian equities markets rose for a second consecutive trading session yesterday. Both the Sensex and the Nifty rose by around 0.4 percent on Tuesday. After a lull the previous two years, startup IPOs are back. 10 such new age companies have gone public so far this year. The market is now conducive for such listings, and investors continue to pour in more money than ever. But this isn't just an IPO momentum: investors have held on to their shares well after a bumper listing. But in his detailed story, Abhishek Mukherjee advises some caution. He writes that even the most promising startup will have to beat incredible odds to emerge as a market leader. This process takes many years, if not decades. In a bull market, every stock seems like the next best thing — investors would do well to keep a long-term outlook in mind. On Monday, Apple's Tim Cook unveiled the latest iPhones. While other companies like Google and Samsung have dipped their toes into AI-driven phones, Apple’s global reach—boasting about 1.3 billion active users—means it has the clout to push AI into the mainstream. Apple's track record of transforming industries, like it did with music through the iPod and iTunes, suggests it could do the same with AI technology, writes Shouvik Das. However, there's some debate about how essential AI is in smartphones right now. While previous Apple innovations like the touchscreen became indispensable, AI features are seen more as helpful extras rather than must-haves at this stage. Shouvik also spoke to analysts and retailers, who expect Apple's new phones to make a significant dent in India. A sales boost of nearly 20 percent is expected in the next three months, as the launch coincides with the festive period in India. The average price of the new iphone is likely to be 75,000 rupees, up from 69,000 for the previous model. However, analysts expect a rise in demand due to the new AI features. Get ready to see a host of people with shiny new iphones soon. India's retail inflation for August is anticipated to remain stable at 3.5%, buoyed by a favourable statistical base effect, according to a survey by Mint of 27 economists. This level is comfortably below RBI’s medium-term target of 4%, suggesting inflation is under control for the second consecutive month. While this might seem like good news, experts who spoke to Mint’s Payal Bhattacharya and Manjul Paul, advised not to jump to conclusions about long-term trends just yet. The stability in August's inflation is partly due to expected declines in food prices, which make up nearly 40% of the inflation basket, but again, this too would be because of a favourable base effect. The real test will be the impact of September's rainfall on food inflation, as adverse wea
Tue, September 10, 2024
From pennies to billionaire, thanks to Adani
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, September 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity markets rose on Monday. Nifty was up by 0.34 percent, while Sensex increased by 0.46 percent. India Inc is tightening its employment contracts and policies to eliminate any ambiguity around remote working. Firms are now clearly stating who is eligible to work from home and the specific hours employees must be available, ensuring remote work isn't seen as an automatic entitlement. Mint’s Neha Joshi and Devina Sengupta spoke to industry insiders who highlighted that this shift helps manage expectations and prevent habitual absenteeism, reflecting a broader move to formalize work-from-home setups. Moreover, to cater to a diverse workforce, companies are expanding their leave categories, including options like pet-parenting leave and marriage preparation leave, which accommodate various personal needs. Just two years after climbing out of bankruptcy, Diamond Power Infrastructure Ltd., based in Ahmedabad and known for its electric cables and transmission towers, has seen its fortunes soar to nearly a one billion dollar market cap. A big part of this turnaround? A steady stream of business from the Adani conglomerate, led by Gautam Adani, who happens to be the brother-in-law of Diamond Power's chairman, Rakesh Ramanlal Shah. Although a hefty chunk of Diamond Power’s orders come from Adani companies, these aren’t flagged as related-party transactions in their reports, sparking debate among experts about whether regulations need tightening. Varun Sood reports on how a company on the brink of bankruptcy is now worth almost a billion dollars, thanks to a push from the Adani Group. It seems that whatever Vodafone Idea does to get its act together, investors remain unimpressed. Last Friday, its share price sank by 14 percent, after receiving a sell rating by Goldman Sachs. Gulveen Aulakh writes that the report was surprising, given that Vodafone has been desperately trying to raise funds to fill its coffers. It raised 18,000 crore rupees in April, and is in talks with banks to raise nearly 35,000 crore rupees more. It has also taken care of some long-standing debt on its books. However, Vodafone continues to lose market share to Airtel and Jio. Gulveen analyses the company, and writes about its potential in India's deeply worrying telecom sector. The central government wants everyone to sell EVs. And if the companies don't want to, they might still be forced to. Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said automakers that are not manufacturing EVs will be forced to make the shift, due to the competitive nature of the market. Manas Pimpalkhare wrote about Gadkari's speech, where he reiterated that the the government does not feel the need to provide subsidies for EVs any mo
Mon, September 09, 2024
Why are Indians buying fewer cars?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, September 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian government is exploring the creation of its first sovereign wealth fund by pooling shares it owns in publicly traded companies. This proposed fund could control assets worth around 50 trillion rupees, sources told Mint’s Mihir Mishra. The government would maintain control by possibly issuing non-voting shares and exploring a "golden share" concept, which grants specific rights without affecting voting power. Globally, about 40 countries have sovereign wealth funds, using them to secure critical assets and improve infrastructure. This new fund could also enhance public sector efficiency by encouraging mergers or reorganizations. Are you planning on buying an electric vehicle soon? You might want to hurry up, otherwise you’d be forced to upload selfies with your new car to qualify for a subsidy. Alisha Sachdev reports that the central government plans to issue digital certificates to EV buyers under the third phase of its flagship FAME scheme. These certificates will note the subsidy provided by the government. This initiative seeks to vocalise the government’s role in popularising EVs for the masses, but might rub some buyers the wrong way. Just ahead of the festive season, India's passenger vehicle sales have taken a hit, dropping for two months straight, with dealers facing a glut of unsold cars. Over 7.8 lakh units worth close to 78,000 crore rupees remain unsold. This year started strong, with sales initially surpassing pre-pandemic levels, but recent figures show a decline of 2.5% and 1.4% in July and August, with a similar trend in retail sales. The current dip in demand is attributed to a high base effect from previous growth spurts and dwindling pandemic-era demand, despite improved production rates due to resolved semiconductor shortages. Sumant Banerji explains why the sale of passenger cars has slowed down in today’s Primer. Sundaram Finance controls nearly 6,000 crore rupees worth of deposits. Its loyal customer base has unwaveringly placed its support, despite the company being a non banking financial company. However, Sundaram Finance lags behind peers like Bajaj Finance due to its conservative approach focused on serving the underserved, resulting in slower growth. The Reserve Bank of India wants NBFCs like Sundaram to turn into full fledged banks. Will Shriram Finance take the bait and march towards growth? N. Madhavan tries to answer.I The UAE's Golden Visa program is catching the eye of wealthy Indians, with about 4,300 people expected to relocate to the Emirate in 2024. The top choice? Dubai. A 10-year renewable residency that can be yours with a minimum real estate investment of around 4.57 crore rupees. Once you've invested, you'll snag a six-month multi-entry visa to start, then head
Fri, September 06, 2024
The looming threat of a US recession
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, September 6, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity markets fell for a second consecutive day on Thursday. The benchmark Nifty index was down 0.21 percent, while Sensex dropped 0.18 percent. Concerns are growing over the possibility of a US recession, with rising unemployment rates and inflation serving as key indicators. However, as N. Madhavan points out, the US GDP growth remains strong despite these warning signs. Some economists suggest a potential soft landing, where inflation is controlled without leading to a full-blown recession. In his primer, Madhavan explores these scenarios and their potential impact on India. The market has seen a frenzy of SME IPOs, with many getting oversubscribed by over a thousand times, despite warnings from regulators about potential malpractices. Some of these could soon become penny stocks. Aprajita Sharma highlights the warning signs investors should be mindful of, noting that SME stocks, with their relatively low market cap, are more susceptible to manipulation. In her story, she emphasizes the importance of thorough research to avoid falling victim to promoters looking to offload their holdings at inflated prices. Change is indeed afoot in Bollywood, with actors becoming more selective about projects they take on. Many are opting out of films that may not resonate with today’s post-pandemic audience, industry insiders told Lata Jha. Biopics and dramas, once staples of the big screen, are now increasingly seen as better suited for streaming platforms. A notable example is Ayushmann Khurrana stepping away from a Sourav Ganguly biopic. So, what’s driving this shift? While the rise of the OTT industry plays a major role, the evolving dynamics of the film industry run deeper. Audiences have raised their expectations, and stars are adjusting by being more cautious about their choices. This year is proving highly lucrative for lawyers as India's top law firms engage in an intense competition for talent. With retention and discretionary bonuses, faster paths to partnership, and larger salary hikes on offer, firms are pulling out all the stops to retain their best employees. Leading law firms are even bringing in consultants to overhaul their compensation structures. Neha Joshi and Devina Sengupta spoke to insiders who revealed that firms are incentivizing talent primarily through two strategies: offering a quicker path to partnership and enhancing performance-linked incentives. Law firms typically have two types of partners—equity partners, who generate business and receive a share of the firm's revenue, and non-equity partners, who are paid a fixed salary with bonuses. The latter group is now the main focus of these efforts. Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company, plans to i
Thu, September 05, 2024
Mamata Banerjee faces her biggest challenge yet
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, September 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity markets fell on Wednesday. The benchmark Nifty50 index was down by 0.32 percent, while the Sensex dropped 0.25 percent. Just a few years ago, dining out was a special occasion—something you did to celebrate or treat yourself. Then the pandemic hit, and if you didn’t feel like cooking, ordering in became the only option. This shift fundamentally changed consumer behaviour, particularly for fast-food diners. Suneera Tandon and Varuni Khosla report that quick-service restaurants like Domino’s, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut are now struggling to draw customers back to their outlets. Dine-in sales remain under pressure, while competition in the delivery space has intensified. To entice customers off their couches, these chains are offering discounts and promotions to boost in-store demand. Tata Motors launched its popular EV, the Nexon, in 2020. Early buyers may now be considering selling their first-generation green cars. Alisha Sachdev brings encouraging news: the resale value of Indian EVs is outperforming their global counterparts. However, EVs still depreciate faster than petrol and diesel vehicles. Despite this, Alisha notes that as the EV market continues to mature and the availability of used electric vehicles grows, this depreciation gap is likely to shrink, potentially making electric mobility more accessible and appealing to a wider range of consumers. India’s festival season, kicking off in early September and culminating with Diwali sometime in November, is a critical period for e-commerce players. It's traditionally marked by a surge in offers as consumers' buying appetite increases. This year, India’s quick commerce sector is taking on e-commerce head-on during this busy time. Zomato is expanding its "dark stores" and introducing more consumer electronics categories to meet festive demand, while Tata-owned Big Basket has ventured into selling large appliances. Sowmya Ramasubramanian and Suneera Tandon report on the trend. Pharmaceutical companies have long been criticized for their aggressive marketing tactics aimed at doctors. A prime example is Dolo-650, which became the most prescribed drug during the pandemic in 2020. By 2022, however, Dolo’s manufacturer, Micro Labs, was facing scrutiny from the tax department for allegedly offering ₹1,000 crore in freebies to doctors to promote the pain and fever reliever. Now, the government is tightening its focus on such ethically questionable practices, writes Priyanka Sharma. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has mandated that companies disclose details of their spending on free samples, conferences, workshops, and other promotional activities, including specifics on s
Wed, September 04, 2024
Are our Paralympians better than able-bodied Olympians?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, September 4, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity markets were little changed on Tuesday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty moving less than 0.01 percent during the day. Seventeen-year-old Sheetal Devi, an armless Indian Paralympian archer, has captured the world's attention by scoring a perfect 10 earning a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024, using her foot, jaw, and shoulder with remarkable precision. Her achievement underscores a significant advancement in tech for Paralympians. Leslie D'Monte writes that Devi's success is part of a broader narrative of technological evolution in Paralympic sports. From rudimentary equipment to today's customised, high-tech aids like 3D-printed prosthetics, Paralympics have come a long way. This ensures fair competition, and showcases incredible human spirit and determination. India is currently at 15 medals in these Games — watch out for a better tally in the days to come. At R-I-L's annual general meeting last week, Mukesh Ambani formally announced the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. This deal has stirred unease among producers and content creators, who fear it could lead to a market monopoly. With one fewer player in the market, their bargaining power is diminished, and the commissioning of new shows and films may decline. Lata Jha reports that Disney+ Hotstar had already been slowing down on commissioning new content. Despite these concerns, some media experts see potential benefits in the merger. It turns out you can have your brownie and eat it too. The sale of Theobroma Foods is nearing its final stages, reports Ranjani Raghavan, drawing strong interest from private equity firms like Bain Capital, Carlyle Group, and Chrys Capital. The sale, initiated by its major private equity partner ICICI Venture, involves offloading a 42% stake. The patisserie brand is valued at ₹2,800 crore, with an asking price slightly higher by a few hundred crores. IT companies are making it clear they want employees back in the office. LTI Mindtree has revised its leave policy to deduct a quarter-day of leave for each day an employee misses office, reports Jas Bardia. This policy categorizes employees into three groups based on their work requirements: those required in the office full-time, those working at client locations as needed, and those on a hybrid model. Hybrid employees must come to the office at least two days per week, with total leave deductions capped at 1.5 days per month. Jas notes that employees are generally receptive to the change, viewing it as the formalization of previously understood expectations. Currently, the minimum limit for starting an SIP is ₹500. Sebi chief Madhavi Puri Buch has proposed reducing this to ₹250—a 'micro SIP,' if you will. The move aims to democ
Tue, September 03, 2024
How to spot a "ghost job"
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, September 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity markets set another record on Monday, with the Nifty rising by 0.17 percent and the Sensex gaining 0.24 percent. This marks the thirteenth consecutive trading session where the markets have closed in the green. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India proposed a major regulatory change for stock brokers, requiring them to implement a payment mechanism that blocks funds for trading in the secondary market. Mint’s Neha Joshi explains that this type of block mechanism, where investors set aside money for transactions, enhances security while allowing them to earn interest on the funds held in their accounts. Ever encountered a "ghost job"? These are fake vacancies posted by companies to gather resumes for future use and test market interest. Additionally, they might also post such jobs to maintain their brand image or signal growth. Devina Sengupta reports that these postings are usually done by smaller companies. Read her primer on this trend, and find out how to avoid wasting your time by applying for a ghost job. Regulatory challenges for India Inc. have been steadily increasing, prompting companies to seek assistance from "crisis consultants" to navigate these issues. Recent incidents, such as the problems with IT systems at Kotak Mahindra Bank, highlight this sectoral shift. Shayan Ghosh and Devina Sengupta write that the emergence of crisis consulting as a sector is imminent. They also note that the use of artificial intelligence is significantly reducing resolution times from months and weeks to mere days. In July, SBI Card reported a rise in non-performing assets, attributing it to customers over-leveraging by securing multiple credit lines, which directly affected their repayment capacity. Our partners at How India Lives highlight that this trend reflects a broader issue of rising household debt in India, exacerbated by the pandemic. Soaring household debt is impacting savings and expenditure, raising concerns about the broader implications for economic growth and the urgent need for a rebound in household financial savings. In New Delhi, the renewable power sector is facing a challenge as nearly 30 gigawatts of capacity is struggling to find buyers. Potential buyers expect uniform tariffs and improved grid connectivity, both of which are missing. Rituraj Baruah reports that projects worth at least 15 gigawatt lacks Power Purchase Agreements, while around 14 gigwatts are awaiting Power Supply Agreements. India aims to significantly increase its green power project tendering to meet an ambitious goal of achieving 500 gigwatts of non-fossil-based energy capacity by 2030. Such a backlog by the authorities in approving projects is spooking investors
Mon, September 02, 2024
Adani’s FMCG expansion
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, September 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Adani Group plans to invest $1 billion in acquiring packaged consumer goods brands in southern and eastern India. Anirudh Laskar reports that the investment will be made through its subsidiary, Adani Wilmar. This move is part of the group's strategy to expand its presence in the fast-moving consumer goods segment. Adani Wilmar aims to make multiple acquisitions over the next few years and anticipates a surge in demand for its products. The Group has previously used this strategy in other sectors too, like renewable energy and the cements business. India's audit authority plans to close a loophole that lets companies escape scrutiny over fund misuse by making lead auditors of conglomerates more responsible. This addresses a gap in accounting standards that let main auditors depend on subsidiary auditors without accountability. Gireesh Chandra Prasad writes that the previous practice posed a potential risk and additional burden for auditors. The National Financial Reporting Authority aims to issue new, stricter guidelines to ensure lead auditors fully oversee and answer for the entire group's financial statements — this would be aligned more with global practices. In July, a massive digital attack on a popular cryptocurrency platform led to half the depositors losing their money. India's largest crypto platform WazirX saw a massive attack that led to a huge chunk of their user base of 42 lakh people lose some money. But since this is a decentralised currency, the government isn't safeguarding investors. Neil Borate and Anil Poste spoke to investors who lost their money in this attack, who have no redressal mechanisms so far. A lack of regulatory clarity and no action from WazirX has baffled those who used the platform to buy crypto currencies. Even though online betting is mostly illegal in India, global betting platforms are finding clever ways to sneak back into public view. They're popping up everywhere, from digital ads to sports jersey sponsorships, and they're using celebrities to grab attention. For instance, cricketer Dinesh Karthik and actor Jacqueline Fernandez are just a few of the faces you might see promoting brands like Parimatch and FairPlay India. These companies are cleverly leveraging the massive social media followings of these celebrities to reach millions, despite ongoing government crackdowns on such ads. Varuni Khosla reports on how betting apps in India are circumventing the legal hurdles with the help of surrogate advertising. Food prices in India have been persistently high, driven by a combination of climatic events and policy responses. According to RBI data, food inflation has been notably higher in recent years, averaging 6.3%
Fri, August 30, 2024
Reliance’s 47th annual general meeting
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, 30 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian equity markets touched record highs on Thursday. The Sensex rose by 0.43 percent, while the Nifty was up by 0.33 percent. Messaging app Telegram's founder Pavel Durov was recently arrested in France. He is accused of not acting against harmful content on the app. Allegations include drug trafficking, fraud, cyberbullying, and generating fake images. Earlier, John McAfee and Julian Assange have been arrested on similar grounds. Shelley Singh explains the reasons for the arrest, which might have more to do with politics and diplomacy than crimes. Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, announced ambitious plans for Reliance Industries during the company's 47th annual general meeting. He revealed a strategy to double the income of Reliance’s digital and retail branches under the brands Jio and Reliance Retail in the next 3-4 years. Ambani envisions RIL’s new energy venture to match the size of its oil-to-chemical business, which generated ₹5.64 trillion in FY24, in just five years. Ambani highlighted the transformative plans for Reliance Industries, detailing initiatives across five key business areas: O2C, retail, Jio, media, and green energy, Mint’s Anirudh Laskar reports. Ambani is betting big on a future where Reliance isn't just a heavyweight in traditional sectors but also leads in green energy and tech. The plan includes a massive green energy complex in Jamnagar, envisioned as a future global energy hub. Up until a few years ago, you could only take an international flight from one of India's major airports. Flying outside India meant you'd first have to go to either New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Bengaluru to hail a long-distance flight. But that changed when many non-metro airports secured the rights to fly internationally. Anu Sharma reports that airports such as Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow and Kozhikode are seeing robust growth in international travel. Travellers from these regions usually go to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Anu writes. Millions of students pursue an engineering degree every year in hopes of getting a job offer from India’s top IT companies. Last year’s graduates were caught in the midst of a storm as many IT firms refused to go for campus placements. This year, Wipro has decided to come back for this exercise. A student might be excited to see that they have been placed in the “elite” category at Wipro, but the salary comes in at only 3.5 lakh rupees per annum. Jas Bardia reports that while Wipro will be going to recruit in a couple of weeks, they will only be rolling out their lowest packages to students. In previous hiring cycles, packages for freshers went as high as 10.5 lakh rupees. Last year’s struggles continue for
Thu, August 29, 2024
ISRO plans to launch home-made space station by 2028
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, August 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. India’s benchmark index Nifty 50 hit a new high on Wednesday, marking 10th straight day of gains. It ended the day 0.14 per cent above its previous close. BSE’s Sensex too edged into the green, surging 0.9 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India is gearing up to launch the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) nationwide, aiming to revolutionize the lending process much like the Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, transformed payments. So, what exactly is ULI? Mint’s banking editor Gopika Gopakumar explains. It's a digital hub that helps fast-track loan approvals by pulling together digital info like land records from various sources right to the lenders' fingertips. This could seriously cut down the time it takes to get a loan, especially for sectors craving credit like agriculture and small businesses. The Competition Commission of India has greenlit the merger of Disney Star and Reliance's Viacom18, setting the stage for a colossal shake-up in India's media landscape, creating an $8.5-billion behemoth. This merger, bringing under one roof entities like Reliance Industries, Viacom18 Media, and Star India, is set for completion following voluntary modifications agreed by the parties, reports Gaurav Laghate. The combined entity, to be primarily owned by Reliance and its affiliates, marks a significant consolidation in the media and entertainment sector. Post-merger, the landscape will see Disney Star and Viacom18 merging their considerable media assets, ranging from television channels to OTT platforms, potentially reaching over 750 million viewers. This move is poised to streamline operations and enhance content delivery but could lead to significant job redundancies, affecting around 1,000 employees. The integration process is expected to kick off by October. India's renewable energy scene is buzzing, but it's hitting a snag with regulatory grey areas, especially around Virtual Power Purchase Agreements. These aren't your typical energy deals; they let energy be sold at fixed prices on an exchange, not directly through the grid. This setup skirts around the traditional system and should be a game-changer, right? Well, there's a catch. The problem lies with the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, which have made companies cautious of stepping into potential legal grey areas with these contracts, Nehal Chaliawal reports. Though the Supreme Court has clarified that physical electricity delivery falls under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, the industry is still treading carefully. Indians might lose over three years of life expectancy due to air pollution, reveals the University of Chicago's Air Quality Life Index report. Despite a 19.3% reduction in particulate levels from 2021 to 2022, persistent pollution l
Wed, August 28, 2024
It's easy to get a US visa — just spend ₹9 crore
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, August 28, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian equities markets edged just slightly upwards on Tuesday. Sensex increased by 0.03 percent, while Nifty was up by 0.02 percent. Getting a US visa seems to be getting more difficult by the day. But if you have some money in your bank account, the process might be easier. Neil Borate writes that the US investor visa programme, known as the EB-5, allows individuals to obtain a green card. The programme means that one needs to invest in a US-based project that leads directly to the creation of at least 10 jobs. Neil outlines this process and speaks to immigration experts to find out the fine print of this deal. For many kirana stores, quick commerce has proven to be a bit of a death knell. Foot traffic in these mom-and-pop shops has dwindled. Whatever customers that do walk in, rarely want big, heavy items. Suneera Tandon spoke to owners of small grocery stores, who reported dips of 20 percent in their business. Quick commerce players like Zepto, Dunzo, BlinkIt, and Instamart are now becoming direct distributors for major FMCG companies. While this phenomenon is restricted largely to major metro cities, smaller retail stores are increasingly feeling threatened, Suneera writes. Will the government intervene? After suffering through the effects of the Hindenburg Research report in early 2023, the Adani Group is focusing on improving its financial health. The Gautam Adani-led Group is reducing debt and contemplating selling stakes in certain entities. While it still has plans for expansion, the group is cautiously balancing its debt. Mayur Bhalerao and Niti Kiran report that debt growth slowed to 6 percent in 2023-24. That included a significant shift from domestic bank debt to bonds—from 86 percent to 15 percent. The Bureau of Indian Standards, or BIS, is an important body that ensures standardised products for the Indian consumer. BIS is used to certify items like children's toys, LPG cylinders, electronics, and even cement. Soon, it could be used to certify... artificial intelligence, reports Dhirendra Kumar. The Indian government has decided to start certifying, and to some extent standardising, generative AI. Gen AI finds usage in areas such as healthcare, finance, and education. Regulating it will help prevent unintended consequences that might have far-ranging impact, Dhirendra notes. In almost every sport, backups exist — those who can play in a pinch in case of an injury, usually. But that's not restricted to just sports: IT companies have their version of a substitute bench, too. These employees are on the sidelines, waiting to be deployed on a project. But need for continuity and poor interviews lead to many employees being on the bench for extended periods of time. Clients sometimes interview empl
Tue, August 27, 2024
Will you get more time to buy an imported laptop?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, 27 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian stock market saw solid gains on Monday, with the Nifty and the Sensex climbing nearly 1 per cent each. India is setting the stage to enhance its local manufacturing with a new initiative called 'Rapid', which stands for Research, Analysis, Programme Implementation and Data Intelligence. Mint’s Shouvik Das and Mihir Mishra write that the mission aims to boost domestic private-sector research and development through strategic incentives. ‘Rapid’ will target key sectors like automobiles, electronics, medical devices, and aerospace. Chaired by Pawan Goenka - who is also at the helm of INSPACE - the initiative is part of India's broader strategy to build a design-led manufacturing ecosystem. This is essential for advancing India's manufacturing goals and aligning with its ambitious targets to grow the economy to $5 trillion by FY28. Last year, India briefly banned imports of certain IT hardware products like laptops, desktops, and tablets. This decision was quickly reversed after pressure from industry leaders such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, and the US Trade Representative. However, the government is now reassessing whether to extend deadlines for import restrictions, reports Gulveen Aulakh. This comes as local manufacturing shows signs of improvement, though not fast enough to fully replace imports. Through the Production-Linked Incentive scheme, local production has increased. About 30-35 per cent of laptops sold in India in 2023 were made domestically. This figure is expected to rise above 40 per cent. Global manufacturers are expanding their local production bases. Yet, most won’t start significant production until next year. With ongoing analysis of import and production data, the government has not made a final decision on extending import restrictions. The recruitment industry is hitting a rough patch after the post-pandemic hiring boom. Companies like Teamlease have to tighten their belts, adjust team sizes and tweak incentive targets because projects are drying up, clients are squeezing costs, and the deadlines to fill positions are stretching out. This shake-up has led to a shortage of hiring agents, with sourcing fees dipping well below the usual 8.33 per cent of a candidate’s annual salary, reports Mint’s workplace correspondent Devina Sengupta. This slowdown marks a stark shift from the 'Great Resignation' era when the demand for recruiters surged. Firms are now refining their strategies; for example, ABC Consultants is zeroing in on senior management roles, while Xpheno pivots towards contract staffing, especially targeting global captive centres. This shift comes as IT bigwigs like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro scale back their workforces significantly. Reserve Bank of India Governor
Mon, August 26, 2024
What does the new pension scheme have to offer?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, August 26, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Set to roll out next year, the Unified Pension Scheme is a new government initiative that combines features of the Old Pension Scheme and the National Pension Scheme. It aims to offer government employees a guaranteed pension equivalent to 50% of their last salary, incorporating both employee and government contributions. N. Madhavan writes that the UPS also will try to address the sustainability concerns of OPS and the uncertainties of NPS pensions. Will it work better than its predecessors? Madhavan tries to answer. Ola Electric's claim of being the biggest two-wheeler EV company in the world had a curious asterisk — that claim only stands if China is excluded. Currently, China dominates the global EV market. Chinese companies hold a combined 72% global market share for electric two-wheelers and lead in the electric four-wheeler segment as well, with a stock of 21.8 million units. Our partners at How India Lives explain how China's rapid shift towards electric mobility is significantly supported by the government, which contrasts with a more modest uptake in markets like the US. Have you been coughing more due to bad air quality? It's going to affect your insurance payments. Health insurance premiums in India are expected to increase due to rising rates of diseases caused by extreme weather and polluted air, reports Puja Das. The number of claims for respiratory, vector-borne, gastric, and abdominal diseases has risen significantly leading to a potential hike in premiums. Additionally, waterlogging from heavy rains has caused a surge in water- and vector-borne diseases, which again worry the insurance companies. AI is transforming print media advertising by generating human-like figures, raising industry concerns yet offering cost-effective production alternatives. Varuni Khosla and Pratishtha Bagai write that this shift could potentially eliminate the need for real models and expensive shoots. Technology and AI's ability to replicate human-like figures is evolving rapidly, and some believe it could reshape the advertising landscape. In the 1970s, the FMCG sector in India changed because of a single product innovation: sachets. Selling smaller quantities of a product proved to be a game changer in a cost-conscious market like India. While that strategy worked for items like shampoo and detergents, Godrej Consumer Products is trying to replicate that phenomenon for mosquito repellents. Suneera Tandon writes about the company's CEO, Sudhir Sitapati, and his efforts to make Godrej's consumer goods arm at par with the other players in the market.
Fri, August 23, 2024
Get ready for a govt-owned OTT platform
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, 23 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian equity benchmark index, the Nifty, extended its winning streak to six consecutive sessions on Thursday, rising by 0.17 per cent. BSE’s Sensex too saw a surge of 0.18 per cent at the end of the trading session. Zomato is making strides by entering another duopoly market. It already competes with Swiggy in the food delivery market, and now it is entering entertainment and ticketing, dominated by BookMyShow. The company is planning to acquire Paytm’s ticketing business and rebrand it as a separate entity called ‘District’. Zomato will acquire the business for a little over 2,000 crore rupees. However, launching District as a separate app could pose challenges in user convenience and operational costs, Mint’s startup correspondents Priyamvada C and Sowmya Ramasabramanian explain. Despite these potential hurdles, analysts are optimistic, predicting significant revenue growth for Zomato through this expansion. Ronnie Screwvala's Swades Foundation has stirred up interest in social stock exchanges or SSEs by raising 10 crore rupees on the National Stock Exchange's SSE. This move has other non-profits curious, but the complex compliance requirements are a bit of a deterrent. Since the concept launched in early 2023, just a handful of NGOs have actually raised funds through SSEs. Introduced in India in 2019, SSEs are designed to help non-profits raise funds transparently, hoping to draw individual donors and build trust. Mint’s Sneha Shah and Nehal Chaliawala write that allthough there's potential for SSEs to make fundraising more accessible, experts caution that they may not offer significant advantages over existing channels like crowdfunding. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent trip to Ukraine marks a significant stride in India's foreign policy, especially following his visit to Russia. The move showcases the fact that the country can maintain ties with both Russia and Ukraine while navigating its relationships with Western allies like the US. Modi's visit—the first by an Indian prime minister since diplomatic ties were established 30 years ago—aims to enhance relations in sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and education, among others. Shweta Singh, associate professor at the department of international relations, South Asian University, explains the significance of the PM’s trip to the war-torn Eastern European nation. Get ready for a government-owned OTT platform. Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcaster, is diving into the crowded digital scene with its own OTT platform. This new venture aims to feature content from private broadcasters and indie creators, potentially expanding streaming access, especially in rural areas, Mint’s entertainment and media correspondent Lata Jha report
Wed, August 21, 2024
Is India ready to tackle Mpox?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, 21 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian stock market saw solid buying on Tuesday, with key indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, closing up by half a per cent, driven by mostly positive global cues. The World Health Organization has sounded the alarm on Mpox, tagging it as a global health emergency. Originally identified in the tropical rainforests of Africa, this virus, which we used to call monkeypox, was detected in humans back in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mint’s Priyanka Sharma explains that the disease manifests symptoms similar to smallpox, such as skin lesions and flu-like symptoms, and spreads through close contact, making prolonged interactions, especially of a sexual nature, high-risk scenarios. In terms of preparation, India is on alert, with enhanced surveillance at international borders and readiness in specific healthcare facilities to manage potential cases. Despite this, the situation calls for heightened vigilance and public awareness, especially among high-risk groups including newborns, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems. The recent turmoil in Bangladesh has put thousands of Indian students in a tough spot, stirring anxieties about their safety and academic futures. Over 19,000 Indians, including 9,000 students, are currently stranded amidst escalating violence, with many worrying about lost academic years and severed communications due to frequent internet shutdowns. This situation echoes students’ plight during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Due to lower fees than that charged by Indian private colleges, Bangladesh was fast becoming a popular educational destination for Indian students, writes Sanghamitra Kar. As of now, violence continues to unsettle Bangladesh, leaving Indian students uncertain if they’ll return to their chosen universities. India's smartphone exports really took off last year, hitting over $15 billion, thanks in part to Apple ramping up production here. Each month in early 2024, we were shipping out smartphones worth about $1.6 billion! While that's impressive, it's worth noting that India is still playing catch-up to manufacturing behemoths like China. This increase is largely attributed to the government’s production-linked incentive scheme initiated in 2020. Mint’s partners at HowIndiaLives.com write about how, despite this growth, India remains primarily an assembly hub rather than a full-fledged manufacturing giant like China, heavily importing the components required to build smartphones. Businesses are upgrading their old PCs due to the end of support for Windows 10 and growing AI demands, leading to a significant increase in PC sales across India. The latest data from the International Data Corporation s
Tue, August 20, 2024
How cars are changing due to climate change
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, 20 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. On Monday, the Sensex was down by 0.02 percent, while the Nifty edged up by 0.13 percent. Women's safety is a prominent issue right now, and corporate India is trying to protect half its workforce. Indian companies are enhancing office safety measures to protect female employees. Priyamvada C and Devina Sengupta write about these Initiatives, which include more helplines, safer travel options like hotel stays near airports during assignments, self-defence training, and gender sensitization classes. Amidst rising harassment cases, firms are now more focused on gender diversity and safety, with measures such as SOS applications and secure transportation partnerships. The importance of creating a safe and inclusive work environment is underscored by reports of women contemplating leaving their jobs due to various workplace challenges. The National Payments Corporation of India, or NPCI, has announced that it would hive off Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), a payment app based on UPI, into a separate subsidiary. The move aims to boost BHIM’s market position amid competition from other UPI apps like Google Pay and PhonePe. The NPCI hopes that with a dedicated team focusing on its development, BHIM's market share will improve. Additionally, BHIM is looking to increase its user base by foraying into the e-commerce sector via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), explains Gopika Gopakumar. During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's aim to achieve 500 gigawatts of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. This includes renewables and nuclear power. Despite missing a previous target, recent progress indicates India is on track, having added 15 gigawatts in the first half of 2024 alone. Manjul Paul writes that the government's plan to invite bids for 50 gigawatts annually until 2027-28 supports this ambition. With renewables now accounting for 33 percent of India's energy capacity — up from 18% in 2017 — the push towards a greener grid is evident. However, meeting the 2030 goal also requires overcoming challenges like India's reliance on coal and ensuring budget allocations are fully utilized. After leaving his position as CEO of PayU India in 2019, Amrish Rau envisioned starting afresh in India's fintech scene. He approached Sequoia Capital for funding. Instead of funds, he was offered the leadership of Pine Labs by Shailendra Singh, a company well-established in the payments industry with a key focus on point-of-sale terminals and solutions. Samikha Goel writes that Rau was Initially hesitant to build a new venture. But he accepted, recognizing the growth potential and existing 1.6 billion dollar valuation. Under his leadership
Mon, August 19, 2024
Adani eyes Reliance Power’s thermal plant
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, 19 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Adani Group is on an aggressive expansion bid - from realty to cement. Now, the Gautam Adani-led company is eyeing a thermal power plant. Sources told Mint’s Anirudh Laskar and Dipti Sharma that the group is keen on buying Anil Ambani’s bankrupt company Reliance Power’s 600-megawatt thermal power plant in Butibori, near Nagpur. The potential acquisition, valued between 2,400-3,000 crore rupees, aligns with Adani's strategy to expand its thermal power capacity amid growing electricity demands, particularly in Maharashtra, India's largest power-consuming state. This move could integrate Adani’s existing coal-based power plant in Tiroda with Butibori, enhancing its competitive edge in the region. In March this year, Swedish investor EQT and Singapore’s Temasek - joint owners of O2 Power- decided to sell the renewable energy company. Since then, buyers have lined up to buy the company in a one-billion-dollar deal. The company has drawn significant interest, with seven major entities submitting non-binding offers. These include prominent firms like Stonepeak, I Squared Capital, JSW Neo Energy, Sekura Energy from Edelweiss Alternative Asset Advisors, Actis Llp, Sembcorp Industries, and Macquarie Group, reports Utpal Bhaskar. Managed by Barclays, the sale process values O2 Power at $2.3 billion in enterprise value. Seven bidders were selected from thirteen who had signed non-disclosure agreements. In her second full year at the helm of India's market watchdog, Madhabi Puri Buch oversaw a record 342 investigations by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the most in nearly 30 years. Behind this spike is a mix of a bustling equity market with more everyday investors jumping into both stocks and derivatives and Sebi's smarter use of tech to keep an eye on things. The regulator's getting sharper, using AI and other tools to sniff out market manipulation and insider trading like never before, writes Mint’s Neha Joshi. India is planning to establish a new independent regulator for its upcoming coal exchange, which is expected to be launched within the current fiscal year, FY25. Originally, it was considered that the Coal Controller Organisation would regulate the exchange, but concerns about independence and market trust have led to discussions about creating a separate regulatory body. As the government aims to boost domestic coal production to 1 billion tonnes annually and reduce import dependency, the need for a modernized and efficient coal exchange becomes crucial, writes Rituraj Baruah. This exchange will serve as a marketplace where buyers and sellers of coal can transact, offering options in terms of coal grade and location. Nestled within IIT Madras’ Rese
Fri, August 16, 2024
Prime Minister Modi’s 11th Independence Day speech
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, 16 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. When ChrysCapital's executives flew to Pune during the covid-19 pandemic, they were looking to invest in FirstCry, a baby products giant founded by Supam Maheshwari. They were struck by Maheshwari's modest office—a sharp contrast to the flashier setups of many new-age entrepreneurs. This meeting led to a 315 million dollar investment in the startup, boosting its valuation to nearly 2 billion dollars. Maheshwari, an introvert unlike the more outspoken Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola Electric, strategically builds businesses with an eye on the long game, focusing on deep market understanding rather than just following trends. Mint’s startup reporter Sneha Shah explores the journey of Maheshwari, who has founded three unicorns - FirstCry, Xpressbees and Globalbees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation for the 11th consecutive time from the Red Fort on Independence Day. In his first speech since assuming office for the third time, the prime minister spoke for 98 minutes, making it his longest Independence Day speech. He laid out many ambitious plans, from adding 75,000 medical seats over the next five years to ramping up India's renewable energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030. Modi emphasized revamping agriculture with a big push towards natural farming, with plans to use advanced tech like drones, Dhirendra Kumar writes. He's also got his sights set on making India a powerhouse in semiconductor manufacturing to cut down on imports and boost self-sufficiency. At IIMs - India's top management institutes - students are facing a stagnant job market where median salaries haven't budged much. Median pay - the salary a middle-ranked candidate would get - has stagnated. This is despite the continuous rise in tuition fees due to operational costs. For example, at IIM-Kozhikode, the median salary has been stuck at 27 lakh rupees for the past couple of years. This stagnation is attributed to global economic uncertainties and a cooling job market following the pandemic hiring spurts, reports Mint’s Devina Sengupta. Despite this, institutes are revising their curriculums and infrastructure to better align with industry needs and ensure robust placement outcomes in the future. India's law ministry is taking a big step towards transforming the country into a top spot for global arbitration. Mint’s Manas Pimpalkhare reports that the ministry wants to streamline processes and cut down on the hefty legal bills the government faces as the country's most frequent litigant. They're studying how places like Singapore and the UK handle arbitration to figure out what changes are needed back home. One of the main goals is to speed up how arbitral awards—decisions made outside of court—are enforc
Thu, August 15, 2024
China's mangoes are eating into Indian exports
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. Wishing you a happy independence day! It's Wednesday, 15 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Markets remained largely flat on Wednesday. The Sensex was up by 0.2 percent, while the Nifty 50 edged up by just 0.02 percent. India is 78 today. Our markets reach record highs regularly, although not without volatility, and our economy is chugging along. This has been made possible due to some path-breaking economic decisions that have been taken along the way. N. Madhavan takes a look at some of these decisions that have helped India become the fifth-largest economy in the world. Some moments over the years include the green revolution, Manmohan Singh's LPG, and GST. The recent turmoil in the markets is largely caused by foreign investors pulling their money out of Indian equities. But they have been kept in check by retail investors, who are acting as a counterbalance. Ram Sahgal writes that Indian investors have helped prop the Nifty up and perform better than its peers like Japan's Nikkei, South Korea's Kospi, and Singapore's Straits Time Index. Despite foreign investors pulling out in large numbers, domestic investors are keeping things going for the Indian public markets. The Nifty has fallen 1.8% during the past 30 days. One of the major factors has been the announcement of the Q1 results for FY25. Manjul Paul analysed nearly 1,500 companies listed on the public bourses, which yielded moderate growth this quarter. Combined revenue increased by 9 percent annually, while net profit was up just 5 percent for the same period. Profits have been trending downwards for a few quarters, economists note. But a closer analysis shows some disparate trends: Manjul finds out that sectors like oil and gas, power, chemicals, and agriculture are performing much more poorly than their peers. This year's Union Budget allocated nearly a billion dollars towards the National Quantum Mission. But what is that? India wants to be a hub for super-fast quantum computers, and it also wants to make semiconductor chips. The central government has also been bullish on artificial intelligence and has announced several schemes. These are good, healthy targets. Leslie D'monte takes stock of India's technological progress and how these ideas will receive policy support over the years to make the plans a reality. Indian mangoes ruled the foreign market for decades. Farmers grew varieties like alphonso, langra, and dasheri specifically for export, as they fetched a better price in the western countries. India produces 40 percent of the world's total mangoes. However, India is losing its stronghold over everyone's favourite fruit. There's a new exporter in the market: any guesses?? It’s China. Dhirendra Kumar reports that China expo
Wed, August 14, 2024
Why EV charging is a big headache
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, 14 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. A series of explosions in South Korea has prompted discussions in Mumbai about a ban on charging electric vehicles in basements. Alisha Sachdev explains that since EV charging involves high-voltage electricity, such discussions are paramount to the safety of those who live in such buildings. Automakers have been asking for regulation on this front ever since EVs went mainstream in India. The government has taken up the mantle of creating public charging infrastructure, but hasn't formed any regulations about safer charging at home. Another EV-related story for you: this time, about BluSmart. If you haven't heard about it, BluSmart is an EV-only cab service operating in NCR and Bangalore. Anmol Jaggi, the founder of BluSmart, is happy with the company's growth and progress. But he has one big problem: The lack of sufficient charging infrastructure. Sumant Banerji writes that, unlike their petrol and diesel counterparts, BluSmart's EVs have a considerably higher downtime. Moreover, BluSmart also owns its entire fleet, as opposed to a commission model by Ola and Uber. This is a capital-intensive setup. In his Long Story, Sumant lists out the challenges and opportunities for BluSmart. Cab hailing is already a cash-burning business; BluSmart's current business model doesn't allow for much headroom to change a lot at the moment. According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, or Sebi, a registered investment advisor needs to be at least 21 years old. But Sebi's jurisdiction ends when you type youtube.com. Here, teenagers can give you advice too. Sashind Ningthoukhongjam writes about kids as young as 13 advising investors to try out futures and options, or F&O, trading. They boast of turning the share market into a "sure market", with annual returns of over 36%. While Sebi has strictly dissuaded F&O trading, that doesn't stop these kids from promising their viewers the moon with their investing tips. It's not just F&O trading that has picked up in India. Take, for example, factor funds. In July, more than 26,000 crore rupees has been invested in this kind of funds. Factor funds track attributes like size, value, momentum, and volatility to try and offer better returns to investors. Dipti Sharma writes about the rise of factor funds, which are growing in size as well as in number. These funds have risen more than 15% so far this year, as opposed to the Nifty's 12%. Read this story to see if it’s worth investing in these funds. At some point, over the last couple of years, everyone started wearing a smartwatch. Watches that just showed the time and perhaps date were passe; now, you could know your heart rate, step count, and even pick up calls with a digital watch. In 2021, more than 12 million smartwatches were sold in India, writes Sh
Tue, August 13, 2024
Japan’s Mitsui Banking Corp eyeing a stake in Yes Bank
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, August 13, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty 50 ended Monday's session flat amid mixed global cues. Retail investors like us, once mere spectators in the stock market, are now major players. Just last July, a staggering 4.5 million new demat accounts popped up, a big jump from the 3.5 million monthly average of the past year. To put it in perspective, back in 2019, we only saw about 400 thousand new accounts monthly. Now, 43% of companies listed on the NSE have over 50,000 retail shareholders, a significant increase from just 441 companies in March 2020. Even more impressive, 54 firms now have over a million retail shareholders—almost five times more than four years ago. So where is this inflow from retail investors headed? Are they betting big on blue-chip giants, or taking risks on smaller companies? Niti Kiran from Mint’s data team takes a look. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s top boss, Akihiro Fukutome, is flying to India this week, eyeing a big slice of Yes Bank. Three people aware of the development told Mint’s banking editor Gopika Gopakumar, that Fukutome is thinking about snapping up a whopping 51% stake, pegging the deal at 5 billion dollars. Fukutome's trip includes meetings with top officials from the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India, which currently holds a 23.99 per cent stake in Yes Bank. The discussions are critical, as SMBC has started the due diligence process, leveraging the financial expertise of JPMorgan and legal guidance from J Sagar Associates. But why Yes Bank? Well, SMBC sees a lot of promise in the private lender and is keen to make a major play in India’s banking scene. Airfares for the upcoming Independence Day weekend have surged by as much as 50% due to a combination of holiday timing and slow fleet expansion. Independence Day and the Parsi New Year on August 15, followed by Rakshabandhan on Monday, have created a perfect storm for a long, five-day weekend, encouraging many to take extended breaks. This has led to a spike in bookings, particularly for popular destinations like Bengaluru, Delhi, Srinagar, and Leh. Mint’s Anu Sharma reports that the rise in airfares is partly due to the slow pace at which new aircraft are being added to India's fleets, even as the demand for travel significantly outpaces supply. Industry insiders point to a shortage of spare parts and delayed aircraft deliveries as key factors keeping capacity from meeting the surging demand. The Hindi film industry, which traditionally relied heavily on the star power of individual male leads, is shifting gears. As solo star vehicles falter at the box office, producers are increasingly turning to ensemble casts, betting on the combined drawing power of multiple big names to lure larger audie
Mon, August 12, 2024
Hindenburg tries to sink Sebi's Madhabi Puri Buch
Good morning listeners, Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, August 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Our first four stories of today have to do with the Hindenburg allegations against the markets regulator Sebi. Strap in. When Hindenburg Research issued a note on the Adani Group in January last year, it had set off a firestorm in India’s capital markets. At one point, the Adani Group lost more than 100 billion dollars worth of market cap. On Saturday night, Hindenburg turned its attention to India yet again — but this time, towards the markets regulator. Hindenburg has put Madhabi Puri Buch, the head of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, under the lens. This is the first time Hindenburg has targeted an individual — the head of the regulator, no less. Varun Sood breaks down the new report, and gets some reactions from the markets industry. Specifically, Hindenburg accused Buch of conflict of interest as she owns a consulting firm based in Mumbai. The research group said that Sebi's clean chit to the Adani Group became tainted because of this issue. Buch and her husband, who works at private equity firm Blackstone, have strongly denied these allegations. However, some governance experts told Varun and Shayan Ghosh that Hindenburg has some legitimacy to its argument. It's a tough gig to be the chief of the markets regulator, and this muck slinging certainly doesn't bode well for Buch. Buch and her husband have termed this report as a "character assisination" by the US-based short seller and research group. They maintain that there was no conflict of interest; all stakes were either disclosed or transferred prior to Buch assuming her position at Sebi. However, the Buchs also have an offshore fund in Mauritius, which also held Adani Group shares. Ram Sahgal and Neha Joshi help you untangle this complicated situation, to help you understand the facts and decide for yourself on whose side you'd like to believe. Another thread that the Hindenburg report pulled on was Reits, or real estate investment trusts. Hindenburg pointed out that since Bunch took over at Sebi, she has introduced a lot of legislation that has to do with governing Reits. Hindenburg alleges that this helped her husband, who as we mentioned already works at Blackstone. Blackstone was involved in launching India's first and second Reits, as well as the first listed Reit. Madhurima Nandy explains the complexities of this allegation — the first of which would be to help you understand how Reits have actually fared in India since they were launched in 2019. Moving on, you must have been annoyed by misleading advertisements. They can claim one thing and offer another, or exaggerate certain facets. The Supreme Court has taken note of this matter too, and pulled up the
Fri, August 09, 2024
RBI holds rates at 6.5%
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's friday, August 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market benchmarks—the Nifty and Sensex—resumed their downward march on Thursday, falling by 0.73 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate steady at 6.5 per cent for the ninth time in a row, pointing to a slower-than-expected drop in inflation. The decision aligns with the ongoing scrutiny of rising food prices, which greatly influence the consumer price index. Though some members advocated for a rate cut, the majority voted to maintain the current monetary stance. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said while India's economic growth appears robust and forex reserves have soared to $675 billion, achieving the 4% inflation target remains challenging. Persistently high food prices, especially in June when vegetable prices rose sharply, are a key concern. Shayan Ghosh reports on the central bank’s decision amid slow disinflation. Foreign airlines are increasingly tapping India's rich pool of aviation talent amid rising travel demand. Airlines such as Riyadh Air, Turkish Airlines and Saudia are conducting recruitment drives in India to hire cabin crew, particularly for flights with many Indian travellers. Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma spoke to senior executives and other industry insiders, who highlighted the strategic importance of the Indian market to global aviation. Remember Ramalinga Raju? The founder of Satyam Computers confessed to a 1.5 billion dollar accounting fraud in 2009. Now Brane Enterprises, a firm linked to his younger son Byrraju Rama Raju, is in hot water. The Hyderabad-based company recently to let go of more than 1,500 employees and hasn't paid salaries for the past three months. It is also behind on some of its financial obligations such as tax deductions and provident fund contributions. While management promised to clear dues by August 12, Mint’s Samiksha Goel reports that employees are skeptical because of previous broken promises. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty is gearing up to take the helm at State Bank of India, India's largest lender, for three years starting August 28. He steps into a complex financial landscape in which the bank confronts a noticeable disparity between robust loan growth and slower deposit accumulation, alongside rising delinquencies in unsecured loan products such as Xpress Credit. Despite these challenges, the bank's balance sheet remains strong. Shayan Ghosh reports that industry experts see potential in Setty's leadership to enhance strategic areas such as deposit market share, SME growth, and digital initiatives. Irfan Razack, chairman of real estate developer Prestige Group, has been methodically expanding the company’s footprint. Starting with Bengaluru, the group gradually entered other southern cities. Despite tempting offers from Mumbai
Thu, August 08, 2024
Markets are tenuous — here's why
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, August 8, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: After crashing for a few days, the Indian equity markets recovered on Wednesday. Sensex and Nifty were up by more than 1.1 percent. Ram Sahgal writes that much of yesterday's recovery could be attributed to a change in investor sentiment. The Bank of Japan's deputy governor soothed investors by saying that the sell-offs were temporary, and adopted a dovish stance. Markets in Japan crashed after the BOJ increased its interest rates by 25 bonus points, and its effects were felt in bourses all over the world — including India. However, market experts told Ram that any more conflicts arising in the Middle East could yet again lead to more selling of stocks. Bangladesh was born in 1971, after being carved out of Pakistan. It was a nation grappling with poverty and socio-economic challenges and several coup attempts. However, it achieved a remarkable feat in just about four decades when it emerged as the world’s second-largest garments exporter. Bangladesh capitalized on the availability of labour to produce garments at cheaper rates and became an exporting hub, with the sector making up about 85% of its total exports. As the country continues to combat domestic unrest, Payal Bhattacharya explains the country's economic progress and the reason why a stagnant economy led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Tata Motors sells 80 percent of four wheeler electric vehicles sold in India today. But it's not resting on this laurel. Its latest model the Curvv is priced rather aggressively. Alisha Sachdev writes that such prices, combined with the reduced GST on EVs, has helped Tata corner such a large share. Alisha spoke to Sailesh Chandra, MD of Tata's passenger vehicles division. Chandra avoided calling this pricing as strategic, which is competitive with Tata's petrol and diesel versions. Tata hopes to buck the trend of slowing four wheeler sales with this launch — and its pricing will definitely help. If you were planning on becoming an investment advisor as a career option, you'd have to register with Sebi to pursue it. Becoming a registered investment advisor or a research analyst is a long process — or at least was, until Monday. Late on Tuesday evening, Sebi came out with a draft proposal that would ease the requirements for one to become an RIA or an RA. Neil Borate and Anil Poste break down these requirements, and tell you how this notice is a shot in the arm to India's beleaguered investment advisory landscape. Kota - was the mecca for any competitive exam aspirant. Millions of kids flocked to the coaching capital of India to try and become an engineer, doctor, or civil servant. But of late, the inflow of students has reduced greatly. A couple of years ago, nearly 200,000 students used to come to Kota. This year, coaching
Wed, August 07, 2024
What the unrest in Bangladesh means for India
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, August 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market benchmarks—the Sensex and Nifty—extended their losses for the third straight session on Tuesday. The Sensex finally ended the day down 166 points, or 0.21 per cent, while the Nifty 50 closed 63 points or 0.26 per cent lower. India’s neighbour to the east is facing political turmoil. The recent regime change in Bangladesh is shaking up India’s trade and infrastructure plans. India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, and with the economic stability of its neighbour wavering, the government needs to be watchful. This instability could push Bangladesh to reduce imports from India, potentially benefiting competitors such as Vietnam and China. Meanwhile, Indian textile companies saw their stocks soar, betting on a business boost as Bangladesh’s global textile reputation takes a hit. The fallout from these tensions includes a potential reshuffle in regional trade dynamics, as India could lose a top trading partner to political chaos. Mint’s Rhik Kundu, Dhirendra Kumar and Suneera Tandon explain how the political instability could affect a wide range of sectors, from textiles and technology to energy. The emergence of "de-influencers" – individuals who criticise products online – is reshaping brand perceptions and consumer choices. These ‘reverse influencers’ post negative reviews on social media, warning consumers about certain products and in turn hitting companies’ sales. As de-influencers gain traction, companies are increasingly wary of the impact on their reputation and sales. Regulatory bodies are stepping up to ensure that advertising claims are accurate and that negative reviews are fair. Mint’s Pratishtha Bagai and Suneera Tandon write about the rising phenomenon. The rural Indian job scene is still very much tied to agriculture, although that is changing. Rural youth are setting their sights on more stable, salaried jobs, though these are hard to come by. In a survey of 5,000 rural youth engaged in farming, a huge majority expressed a strong preference for salaried jobs over agriculture. The survey, conducted by the Development Intelligence Unit, Global Development Incubator, and Transforming Rural India, showed that many young people are turned off by the low returns and labour demands of agriculture. While many older rural women are choosing to run small businesses instead, the younger crowd – especially women – is more keen to snag government jobs. Mint’s Pragya Srivastava looks at the changing landscape of jobs in rural India through data. Click the link in show notes to see the charts and graphs prepared by Pragya and team. Imagine you work in the tech department of a big IT company and decide to make a little extra cash by trading stocks, only to end up with a one l
Tue, August 06, 2024
Why did the stock market crash yesterday??
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, August 6, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Global currents affected the Indian stock markets too: Sensex and Nifty both were down by about 2.7 percent during yesterday's trading session. This was the steepest intra-day drop in nearly two months. Ram Sahgal writes that fears of an economic slowdown in the US and a huge equities crash in Japan prompted the massive sell-off. The worst may not be over yet: Ram also writes that foreign investors have turned bearish on Indian markets, and are betting that they will fall even further. India is a global economy — that means it is also prone to suffering from the headwinds of other economies, in the form of crashes like yesterday's. There's violent trouble with one of our neighbours: yesterday, Bangladesh's newly-elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign by protestors. Most of these protestors were students. She had been in power since 2008, and will be succeeded by an internal government controlled by the country's army. Elizabeth Roche explains the turmoil, its rich history, and why India should keep a close eye on this coup's ultimate result. According to new rules set by the markets regulator, any company in India that has sizeable debt on its books is liable to turn public. That put Tata Sons in hot soup: despite having 16 listed entities, the parent company often leveraged itself to balance out the books of its subsidiaries. After Sebi's ruling, Tata Sons quickly pared this debt down to avoid getting listed. Shayan Ghosh and Varun Sood report that it has now reduced its disclosed debt to just 5 crore rupees. Last year, it had nearly 19,000 crore rupees worth of borrowings. It used its crown jewel, TCS, to repay most of the debt, write Shayan and Varun. Have you noticed a growing trend of consultants among your peers? While their work remains the same, their designation changes. Mid to senior level employees who are switching roles enjoy a host of tax benefits via this method, writes Shipra Singh. When you earn as a consultant, your income gets categorised as a business revenue. This allows you to claim a lot of deductions. This strategy could help you save tax on more than half your income, tax experts told Shipra. Instead of paying tax at your slab rate, you instead pay a flat 6 percent GST on this income — helping you amass quite a bit of savings. Kunal Bahl is one of the most prolific people in India's burgeoning startup landscape. He is the co-founder of Snapdeal, an e-commerce app. At one point, Snapdeal hoped to topple Flipkart from its position as India's top online seller. That fight didn't turn out so well for Snapdeal and Bahl. However, some would argue that Bahl is a better investor than an executive. Bahl is also the main man be
Mon, August 05, 2024
Climate crisis is coming for your Sambar
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, August 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Toor dal, a staple across India and a vital protein source for the nation’s millions of vegetarians, is facing a crisis. Unpredictable weather patterns—from droughts in Karnataka to heavy rains in Maharashtra—have severely impacted production. Compounding the issue, many farmers are shifting to more lucrative crops, such as rice and soybean, leading to a significant drop in toor cultivation. Considering that less than 10% of toor farms are irrigated, these crops are highly vulnerable to weather fluctuations. The surge in prices by 60% between 2022 and 2024, also underscores that while rice and wheat have managed to adapt to climate changes, toor hasn't. The situation has forced India to rely heavily on imports, with significant quantities now coming from distant countries such as Mozambique and Myanmar. This dependence has introduced risks, as was seen by recent events where traders from Mozambique held shipments hostage. Mint’s Sayantan Bera explores this pressing issue affecting Indian kitchens. Now, onto our next topic: In response to the NEET scandal and exam paper leaks, the Union government is set to increase undergraduate medical seats by 3,000 from the next academic year, bringing the total to 115,000. This move includes approving 28 new private medical colleges, significantly boosting India’s medical education capacity, as endorsed by the National Medical Commission. To ensure transparency and address past controversies, the process for adding seats and establishing new colleges will be closely monitored. Mint’s Priyanka Sharma reports that officials have implemented rigorous checks and physical inspections for all applications to prevent bias and fraud, aiming for a more secure admissions process. The third news highlight involves a survey of 15 economists and treasury heads conducted by Mint. It revealed that the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee is expected to maintain a status quo on policy rates at 6.5% at its meeting on August 8, despite speculation about rate cuts, particularly in light of recent global central bank actions. From what economists are predicting, it looks like the RBI isn’t ready to change gears just yet. All 15 experts consulted by Mint expect the MPC to maintain its current stance of "withdrawal of accommodation”. In a job market simmering with competition, a staggering 95% of employees are eyeing a job switch post-appraisals, according to the latest Mint+Shine study. The April-June Talent Insights Report, which surveyed 3,000 job seekers and employers, revealed that a lacklustre appraisal season has intensified the job search activity, with 78% finding the environment overly competitive. Approximately 89% of employees are demanding clearer performance metrics durin
Fri, August 02, 2024
Will investors get a spark from Ola Electric IPO?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, August 2, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s benchmark equity indices ended at fresh highs on Thursday. The Nifty 50 closed above the historic 25,000-point mark for the first time, rising 60 points from previous close. The 30-share Sensex climbed 126.21 points to settle at a new lifetime high of 81,867.55. Ola Electric is set to debut on the stock market this Friday, with its valuation reduced to $4 billion, significantly lower than the initial target of $7 billion. This recalibration aligns Ola more closely with the global EV industry's valuation range, typically spanning 3 to 8 times annual sales. The adjustment reflects challenges posed by policy shifts and stiff competition from established players like Hero MotoCorp, underscoring the turbulent path Ola has faced due to fluctuating sales driven by changing government subsidies. Despite holding a 49% share of India’s electric two-wheeler market, Ola's financial standing is less robust compared to Hero, which benefits from healthier profit margins. The key question remains: will the lower valuation of Ola's IPO appeal to investors? Manish Joshi explores this in his Mark to Market piece. This month is super exciting for India's startup scene because Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola Electric, Supam Maheshwari of FirstCry, and Kunal Bahl of Unicommerce are about to make some serious waves by taking their companies public. This isn't just big news for these founders; it's a game-changer for everyone watching the space. Bhavish Aggarwal is all set to join the elite club of startup billionaires, much like Deepinder Goyal from Zomato and Falguni Nayar from Nykaa. Mint’s startups and new economy editor Ranjani Raghavan writes on how these listings illustrate the growing confidence in Indian startups. These IPOs are not just about cashing out; they're about setting a precedent for the market and instilling confidence in new entrepreneurs. If you are a Tata Play customer, this next bit is for you. The Tata-group DTH service, is pulling the plug on all Sony Pictures Networks India channels from nearly 10 million subscribers’ plans over the next ten days. The decision, which began with one million subscribers on Thursday, is based on low viewership figures, Tata Play's CEO, Harit Nagpal told Mint’s Gaurav Laghate. Despite the potential revenue loss, Nagpal justified the move as a cost-saving measure for subscribers, emphasizing that those interested in Sony channels can easily reactivate them. On the flip side, Sony criticized the action as "arbitrary" and potentially retaliatory, linked to disputes over audit rights and discrepancies in subscriber data management. India's innovative faceless tax assessment system, launched in 2020 to eliminate biases by concealing the identities of tax officials from the assess
Thu, August 01, 2024
Should you invest in Ola Electric's IPO?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, August 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Slowing revenues and weak projections have prompted India's top IT companies to hit a pause on pay hikes. Tata Consultancy Services is the only company proceeding with salary increases, while HCL Tech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, and LTI Mindtree have delayed their disbursements. Mint’s Jas Bardia notes that this delay in pay hikes could lead to more disgruntled employees, and comes at a time of falling headcounts at most tech companies. Ola wants its electric scooters division to be the new favourite of the stock market, debuting on Dalal Street today. With a price band of 72 to 76 rupees per share, the company is targeting a valuation of $4 billion. Mayur Bhalerao breaks down the IPO, helping you decide if investing in Ola Electric is a smart move. The Byju's saga has a new chapter: Riju Raveendran, the younger brother of the struggling edtech company's founder Byju Raveendran, has raised Rs 158 crore to pay the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), one of the company’s operational creditors. Once India’s most celebrated startup, Byju’s, which had signed on as a sponsor for the Indian cricket team, told the appeals court that it has paid 50 crore rupees to the BCCI, with the remaining payments to be made in two instalments. However, the company still owes its employees their salaries. Licious, a pioneer in the online meat ordering business in India, has realized it can't rely solely on its online presence. Mint’s Samiksha Goel reports that the company is now venturing into offline stores to compete with local meat sellers. The meat industry in India is valued at an estimated $31 billion, with online ordering accounting for just $500 million of that market. But offline stores are tricky, Samiksha notes. Previous players have faced significant overhead costs, leading to business closures. Will Licious turn out any different? There have been global calls for "de-dollarisation," urging a reduction in the world economy's reliance on the US dollar. India, naturally, is keen to see other countries trade using the rupee. The Union Budget included provisions to encourage the adoption of the rupee as a global currency. However, achieving this is not straightforward, writes Nandita Venkatesan. It requires transforming the Indian rupee into a "hard currency," meaning it must be seen as politically and economically stable. Nandita outlines the challenges and the measures the Indian government must take to reach this goal. She also includes informative charts to help better understand the situation. We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage poi
Wed, July 31, 2024
Who will earn how much with Ola Electric IPO
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 31, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian stock market's frontline indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, closed flat on Tuesday, July 30, reflecting mixed global cues. More than a year after the Hindenburg setback, Gautam Adani-led Adani group’s expansion is in full swing. The Ahmedabad-based conglomerate is considering acquiring Jaypee Group's real estate business for up to a billion dollars. Mint’s Anirudh Laskar reports that the planned deal could quadruple Adani's real estate footprint, solidifying its position in the bustling property markets of Noida and Gurgaon. This is part of a strategic offer Adani is preparing to pitch to the lenders in the massive insolvency saga of Jaiprakash Associates, which owes a staggering 50,000 crore rupees. For Jaypee’s real estate and cement businesses, the Adani group is willing to invest 15,000 crore rupees. This move could catapult Adani into the league of heavyweights like Godrej, Tata, and Mahindra in the realty sector. India is on the verge of potentially opening up its online gaming sector to full foreign direct investment, a move that could significantly benefit the industry. Mint’s tech correspondent Shouvik Das reports on the government’s plan to allow 100% FDI in online gaming, specifically targeting real-money games of skill while excluding gambling and betting activities. This initiative aims to simplify the process for Indian startups to attract foreign investments in this high-growth sector. Although there is currently no ban on FDI in online gaming, regulatory ambiguities have made it difficult for companies to secure banking and governmental clearances, deterring potential investors. As Ola Electric prepares for its IPO this Friday, with a price band set at 72-76 rupees per share, top executives and early investors are poised for significant financial gains. CEO Bhavish Aggarwal's stake is expected to be valued at nearly 10,000 crore rupees (approximately 1.18 billion dollars). Additionally, he plans to sell some of his shares, potentially earning around 240 crore rupees at the lower end of the price band. The total issue size of the IPO is estimated to exceed 6,100 crore rupees, including an offer for sale and new shares. Mint’s startup reporter Priyamvada C notes that prominent investors, such as Japan’s SoftBank Group, US hedge fund Tiger Global Management, and Matrix Partners India, are also set to benefit significantly. Bollywood siblings Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar could see their shares in the company valued at 1.3 and 2.5 crore rupees, respectively. Recently, there’s been a noticeable buzz around premium products in the FMCG sector, with more people willing to spend extra for quality items like hair serums, granola, and fabric conditioners. Mint’s Suneera Tandon cites a report from market
Tue, July 30, 2024
Ola Electric slashes valuation before IPO
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 30, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s benchmark equity indices rose on Monday, with the Nifty nearly reaching the 25,000 mark during the session before paring its gains and closing just one point above its previous close. Similarly, the Sensex experienced marginal gains, ending the day 0.3 percent higher than its Friday close. Current and former employees of Byju's, once India's most-celebarted startup, are scrambling to file claims for unpaid salaries and other dues. The deadline to submit these claims is 31 July. This rush follows the edtech company's admission of insolvency, triggered by a bankruptcy petition filed by the BCCI. Employees are seeking to recover their compensation amid ongoing legal battles by Byju’s founder, Byju Raveendran, who is challenging the insolvency order. As the legal drama unfolds with upcoming hearings, Mint’s Mansi Verma reports that many employees are banding together to file their claims more efficiently and affordably. However, some are still out of the loop, struggling with the process or being deterred by potential legal fees. Ever wondered why alcohol brands often advertise products like music CDs and glass tumblers? This is known as surrogate advertising. Since direct alcohol ads are legally prohibited, companies use these alternative products to promote their brand name. The consumer affairs ministry is now drafting new rules to ensure these surrogate products genuinely stand alone in the market, rather than serving as covert advertisements for alcohol. Mint’s Dhirendra Kumar reports that the ministry plans to require companies to prove that these products are actually sold in stores, with sales data made publicly available online. This initiative is part of the upcoming Consumer Protection Act 2029, which aims to clearly define acceptable advertising practices and prevent companies from using brand extensions to subtly market alcohol. Google, the titan of internet search, is now facing a wave of new challengers as AI reshapes the landscape. While Google's search engine has long been the default choice, the emergence of AI technologies like OpenAI’s SearchGPT suggests a potential shift. SearchGPT, similar to Microsoft's Bing which also uses OpenAI’s tech, enhances search capabilities with AI, making them more interactive and capable of retaining queries for smarter follow-up interactions. Google isn’t resting on its laurels; it's experimenting with its own AI-enhanced search technologies through projects like the Search Generative Experience and the expanded Gemini AI model. However, the advent of these new AI-driven platforms indicates that Google’s long-standing dominance could be under threat. Mint’s Shouvik Das, in today’s Primer, explores whether Google should be concerned about its position in a category it esse
Mon, July 29, 2024
Bad debt worries RBI
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, July 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Some massive consolidation happened in the cements segment yesterday: UltraTech Cement is buying a 32.72% stake for nearly 4,000 crore rupees, and making an offer for 26% more, taking the deal to nearly 9,000 crore rupees. Anirudh Laskar reports that if things go as planned, UltraTech will own over 81% of India Cements. Meanwhile, Adani-owned Ambuja Cement is also increasing its production capacity to compete. The Reserve Bank of India reported that bad loans in banks are expected to decrease to 2.5 percent by FY25 under normal stress conditions. Shayan Ghosh writes that the report highlighted improvements in the banking sector's health, with a record low bad loan ratio of 2.8 percent last year. Public banks lead in bad loan ratio, but the overall situation is improving due to fewer new bad loans and increased write-offs. Personal loans are a concern, and the RBI is closely monitoring the situation. The 2024-25 budget introduces tax changes to benefit those involved in international transactions. It lowers the long-term capital gains tax for investing in foreign stocks and eases the process for remitting money overseas, among other provisions. Jash Kriplani writes that these changes aim to simplify tax calculations and make international investments more attractive for Indian investors. Softbank Investment Advisors, a Japanese tech-focused investment firm, is expecting significant returns from its investments in the Indian market as several of its portfolio companies prepare to go public this year. Sneha Shah and Ranjani Raghavan write that Ola Electric Mobility, Firstcry, and Unicommerce are among the companies planning to go public. Softbank's India portfolio has nearly peaked to 14 billion dollars, and the firm has made over 5.5 billion dollars in exits from its India portfolio. Softbank is anticipating a wave of tech IPOs in India, and its other potential IPO investments include Flipkart, OfBusiness, Lenskart, and Oyo. Artificial intelligence was tech's next big thing. Billions of dollars have been poured into it by every investor and big tech company. But where are the results? We were told that AI would change everything — but it's shown little utility so far. Research suggests that additional investments of 1 trillion dollars need to be made to make further advances in AI. Shelley Singh looks into the industry, and speaks to industry veterans who give their 2 cents on the future of everything AI. We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance. That’s all for today. Thank you for listening. We're eagerly
Fri, July 26, 2024
Why India shouldn't host the Olympics
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, July 26, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex was down by 0.14 percent, while Nifty dropped by 0.03 percent during trading hours yesterday. Nifty and Sensex aren't the only ones having a poor run. Their cousin in the US, Nasdaq, is having a bit of a meltdown too. Technology stocks, which were having a dream run over the past couple of years, have seen a massive sell-off this week. So far this week, Nasdaq is down nearly 3 and a half percent. Widespread fear of the artificial intelligence bubble bursting for these tech stocks has spooked investors, who have decided to sell en masse. Abhishek Mukherjee brings you the details of this sudden change, and what lies ahead for Nasdaq's tech stocks. Gold prices too are down around 7 percent since the Union Budget cut the import duty on gold. This move by Nirmala Sitharaman raised fear among investors because this directly affected the yields of sovereign gold bonds. But Ram Sahgal reports that despite this beating, investors in the gold bonds still stand to double their investments. As per the Reserve Bank of India, bonds bought in 2016 which are to be redeemed in August this year will give an annual compounded rate of 10.3 percent. In comparison, Nifty has compounded 13.8 percent over the same period. It's not all dull for gold bond investors, after all. Out with the dollar, in with the yen. Indian companies are increasingly open to taking on debt in Japan's national currency, as opposed to the standard US dollar. The yen has slid 18 percent against the rupee since the beginning of 2023. Nehal Chaliawala and Shayan Ghosh report that this makes it quite appealing for Indian corporates to take on debt — a sliding currency means that the borrower will have to pay less than anticipated. Companies like JSW Steel, Power Finance Corporation, and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation have taken yen-denominated debt worth about 11,000 crore rupees in the past 11 months. Even the Tamil Nadu government has borrowed a substantial amount in the Japanese currency, note Nehal and Shayan. Patanjali has a new segment it wants to conquer in the FMCG industry: toothpaste. After faring well in areas like ghee, biscuits, hair oil, and honey, the Baba Ramdev-led company wants to beat out the likes of Colgate, Nestle, and Unilever. We invited freelance journalist Devika Singh to take a deep dive into the company's latest pursuit. Patanjali has also done quite well in the ayurveda space, and now wants to replicate that success across the FMCG board. Devika writes about Patanjali's past, how it turned its focus into FMCGs, and what the road looks ahead after consecutive years of flat revenues. The Olympics start today! The celebrated sporting event starts in Paris today, and will continue for the next two and a half weeks. Every
Thu, July 25, 2024
The Ultimate Budget 2024 explainer
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, July 25, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 continued their decline for the fourth straight session. Sensex dropped 0.35 per cent while Nifty fell 0.27 per cent. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman faced new challenges as she prepared for her seventh consecutive budget amidst changing political dynamics. The recent electoral results have shifted the political landscape, impacting the government's approach and introducing the pressures of coalition politics. Despite these pressures, the budget focused on maintaining fiscal discipline and promoting capital expenditure-led growth, writes N Madhavan. This was evident in the government's commitment to reducing fiscal deficits and boosting public investment to stimulate economic activity, hoping to catalyze private sector investment. Employment remained a central theme, with the government introducing schemes to enhance education, skills, and job creation, reflecting a proactive approach to harness India's demographic potential. Capital expenditure was maintained at robust levels to ensure continued infrastructure development and encourage state-level spending, which is typically more immediate in its economic impact. Overall, the budget balanced prudent fiscal management with necessary spending on critical areas, aiming to sustain growth without compromising financial stability. This explainer by Mint’s senior editor N Madhavan is the only one you will need to understand the Union Budget of 2024. Click on the link in the show notes to read. The $250 billion IT services sector had a rough start in Q1 FY25, with mixed performances from big names like TCS, HCLTech, Infosys, Wipro, and LTIMindtree. Companies are still holding back on spending, and the much-anticipated boom from AI projects hasn’t quite hit yet. For instance, TCS saw a dip in its operating margins and overall contract values, while Infosys actually did better than expected, prompting it to boost its revenue outlook for FY25. Looking forward, there's a cautious optimism in the air. Global IT spending is expected to rise by 7.5% this year, but sectors like banking and financial services are keeping their wallets tight, which affects overall growth. The industry is hopeful for a stronger second half of the fiscal year as companies start loosening the purse strings and AI projects scale up. Mint’s Shelley Singh explains whether the IT sector will see a resurgence in the ongoing fiscal year or not in today’s Mint Primer. In its first budget after a modest election victory, the BJP-led government is putting job creation at the forefront with new financial incentives to boost formal-sector employment. Details are pending, but the gist is clear: financial perks for hiring and for new employees signing up. However, given th
Wed, July 24, 2024
A special Budget episode
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian market's benchmark indices reacted poorly to the Union Budget yesterday. Sensex fell during the day, but recovered by the time markets closed. It was down by 0.1 percent. Nifty dropped by 0.12 percent. First things first — if you're looking for a quick primer to catch up on yesterday's announcements, we have you covered. Vivek Kaul lists out the Budget in 8 succinct points. Topics ranging from personal income tax to the stock market and even the added benefits to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are covered. The Budget had some setbacks for investors: both short and longterm capital gains taxes were increased. In this new environment, how should you invest? Ram Sahgal spoke to market veterans, who said that the adverse reaction from the markets might not last too long. Some volatility in trading is expected in the next few trading sessions. However, investors must ride out this volatile period before chasing any dips, Ram writes. There were also changes to the income tax brackets. Aprajita Sh arma writes that these changes to the new tax regime will attract a maximum benefit of 17,500 rupees. She analyses both old and new tax regimes, and presents a study of which one you should choose. While anyone earning less than 7 lakh rupees should choose the new regime, higher income brackets have some decisions to make. Aprajita also speaks to a chartered accountant to get additional inputs on this crucial decision. The Union Budget had some raucous background noises every time the Finance Minister would talk about initiatives for the states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Nitish Kumar and N. Chandrababu Naidu cashed in on being good allies of the NDA government. Dhirendra Kumar writes that Bihar will be receiving nearly 60,000 crore rupees worth of assistance from the central government, while Andhra Pradesh is set to receive 15,000 crore rupees. Dhirendra explains the various schemes that will benefit the two states over the coming year. This was a great budget if you were the founder of a startup or a large investor. The industry has received two big bonuses from this year's Budget: abolition of the angel tax, and reduction of long-term gains tax for unlisted securities. Ranjani Raghavan writes that this will boost domestic capital investment into the Indian startup ecosystem, at a time when funding for such companies has been stagnant. We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance. Show notes: <a href="https://www.livemint.com/budget/mint-primer-seven-points-to-note-from-the-union-budget-117217341
Tue, July 23, 2024
All eyes on Modi 3.0’s first full budget
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 23, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Continuing their losing streak for a second consecutive session, Indian stock market benchmarks, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, closed in the red on Monday, July 22, ahead of the Union Budget 2024. The Economic Survey - an annual document presenting the state of India’s economy - was tabled in Parliament on Monday, a day ahead of the Union Budget. The Survey serves as the government's most detailed analysis of the economy and plays a crucial role in shaping policy decisions. Today, let's take a look at the critical stories around the Survey, as the country prepares for the third Narendra Modi government’s first full budget. As we look ahead to the Union Budget for 2024-25, Mint’s N Madhavan looks at the insights the Survey might offer into what may be prioritised. The Survey cautiously pegs next year's economic growth at between 6.5% and 7%. To keep this momentum, it points to several key areas. These include enhancing job and skill development, supporting small and micro enterprises, maximizing agricultural outputs, managing environmental transitions, tackling inequality, and growing the corporate bond markets. Madhavan also explains what the Survey has to present on key economic indicators. The Economic Survey highlights a critical need for job creation in India, projecting a requirement to generate 7.8-8.1 million jobs annually up to 2036, which totals about 103 million new roles. The emphasis is not only on quantity but also on quality, as current data indicates only half of college graduates are directly employable. To address this, there has been an increase in youth receiving formal vocational education, although participation remains in the low single-digits. Informal training channels are compensating somewhat, contributing an additional 16.6% in trained youth. Read today’s Long Story by howindialives.com to understand the government’s recipe for growth in charts. You can click on the link in the show notes to see the charts prepared by our partners at howindialives.com. The Economic Survey 2023-24, delivered by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasizes the pivotal role of the private sector in scaling up investments and spearheading job creation in an era increasingly shaped by technology and AI. The Survey critiques the private sector's investment patterns, noting a preference for real estate over sectors like machinery and intellectual property, which are crucial for transforming India into a manufacturing hub and creating quality jobs. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran stresses that employment offers dignity and self-respect, urging corporates to prioritize job creation. Additionally, the Survey advocates a strategic embrace of Chinese FDI, suggesting that India can boost its export cap
Mon, July 22, 2024
Can the Budget ensure safer trains?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, July 22, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Last Friday, a global tech blackout hit airports, hospitals, banks, and more. As more systems rely on a few tech service providers, can we avoid future blackouts? Blackouts can recur due to human errors like faulty code or incorrect updates. Tech firms regularly push updates to fix issues, but unknown bugs can slip through. Cyberattackers exploit these bugs, making global blackouts a recurring risk. Complete insulation from blackouts isn’t possible, but resilience is. In today’s Primer, Mint’s tech correspondent Shouvik Das explains what happens during a cyberattack and how you can stay safe from one. A train accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district on Thursday afternoon - just five days before the Union budget - has left four passengers dead and over 30 injured. This accident was not the first in recent times. In fact, over the course of the last year, India has seen a string of major train accidents - the biggest one being the derailment of the Coromandel Express in Odisha’s Balasore district last June. So how is the government planning to ensure a safer Indian Railways for its passengers? The Railways budget allocation has risen from 0.3% of GDP in 2018-19 to 0.8% in 2024-25. However, much of the capital expenditure has gone towards new lines, track renewals, and rolling stock, with less than 20% allocated to safety. This neglect has coincided with several fatal accidents. Payal Bhattacharya from Mint’s data team explains why a big budget for the railways does not really guarantee safety. This summer, the country saw one of the harshest heatwaves in recent memory. Our cities are getting hotter day by day while rampant climate change disturbs weather cycles. To counter this, the government is planning to promote urban forests. A senior environment ministry official told Mint’s Puja Das that the plan is a part of Modi 3.0’s 100-day agenda.Under the Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) scheme launched in 2020, the ministry aims to boost urban biodiversity to mitigate pollution, provide cleaner air, reduce noise, and harvest water. Urban forests are also expected to address issues like the rising mosquito population and monkeys encroaching on cities due to dwindling green spaces. The story of COVID-related deaths is not over yet. A new study by researchers from several universities, including Oxford, pegs the number of “excess deaths” at 1.19 million. That’s almost 12 lakh lives we’re talking about. What are excess deaths? The term refers to the difference between the number of lives lost in an unusual period (like a pandemic year) and a normal year. Published in the Science Advances journal on 19 July, the study indicates that life expectancy at birth was 2.6 years lower and mortality 17% higher in 2020 compared to 2019. This data is based
Fri, July 19, 2024
Small and midcaps aren't overvalued, says market veteran
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, July 19, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian market's benchmark indices —Nifty and Sensex—increased during Thursday's trading. Sensex and Nifty both were up by around 0.77 percent. IT giant Infosys was up 2.2 percent during yesterday's trading session. Investors expected a good earnings report, and Infosys delivered. The company's revenue for the first three months of FY2025 increased by 3.3 percent. Jas Bardia writes that Infosys is now pulling in more money than ever from the financial services sector. It made a total of 34 deals in the last three months, a record high. Infosys's earnings from India-based companies also grew. Jas notes that this is a pattern among Indian IT companies, as their clients in the west continue to tighten their budgets. A-S-K Asset and Wealth Management Group handles assets worth more than 80,000 crore rupees. So when such an entity comments on the market, you take notice. Bharat Shah, whole-time director of the group, doesn't think the market is overvalued. This is in contrast to a lot of other financial gurus, who get startled seeing the price-to-earnings ratio multiples. Speaking to Dipti Sharma, Shah said that today's market is ripe with opportunities, and that investors have never had a more diverse group of stocks to choose from. He feels that the classic notion that small and midcaps will eventually fizzle out is wrong, and that the Indian equity markets have matured enough to think long-term and move on from the boom-and-bust cycle. This week, Byju's faced a legal showdown with the Board of Control for Cricket in India over non-payment of dues. The National Company Law Tribunal has admitted BCCI’s insolvency petition against Byju’s, resulting in Byju Raveendran losing control of his company. Byju’s will now be overseen by a bankruptcy resolution professional until the legal matter is closed. Other edtech companies, like Unacademy and Vedantu are struggling too. Is this the end of edtechs as we know them? Mansi Verma answers. The Union Budget will be unveiled on Tuesday. Employment and jobs will be key focus areas for the government. Political experts pointed out that rising unemployment was one of the reasons that the BJP government could not secure a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha election. Our partners at howindialives.com examine a report by the Reserve Bank of India on the jobs situation in India. The controversial report has a lot of loopholes, which are fact-checked. RBI said that 46 million additional jobs were created between 2022 and 2024, which is a tall claim. Such optimistic interpretations of data might not serve the on-ground reality too well. There's been a sudden boom in equity trading. But that isn't restricted to just stocks and mutual funds: investors are now dabbling in futures and optio
Thu, July 18, 2024
Karnataka pauses controversial private sector reservations bill
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, July 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian stock markets BSE and NSE remained closed on Wednesday on the account of Muharram. The upcoming Union budget on 23 July is set to unveil a new initiative aimed at boosting the domestic production of medical devices, mirroring an existing program for pharmaceuticals. This move is intended to enhance self-sufficiency in medical equipment, potentially lowering healthcare costs. While the specifics of the financial backing remain under wraps, ongoing discussions signal a strong government focus on enhancing the sector's global standards. Currently, India’s medical device market is predominantly composed of disposables and implants, which contributed to an $11 billion industry in 2022, accounting for about 1.5% of the global market. Projections suggest this could expand to $50 billion by 2030. Mint’s Priyanka Sharma reports that the proposed scheme is expected to resemble the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme launched earlier this year. The scheme supports technological advancements in the pharma sector through financial incentives. A new piece of legislation from the Karnataka government made news on Wednesday. The now-halted bill required that 50% of management and 75% of non-management roles in the private sector be reserved for local residents. Local residents are defined under the bill as individuals born in Karnataka or have lived in the state for at least 15 years. Being able to speak Kannada is also mandatory under this bill. The pause came after this policy shift was being seen as a serious challenge, particularly to the IT sector, which is a major contributor to the state's economy. The potential impact on these sectors includes a decrease in investments and a possible exodus of companies to other regions with less restrictive employment laws. Industry bodies like Nasscom even expressed deep concerns, predicting that such protectionist measures could deter global firms looking to invest in the state. Mint’s Devina Sengupta explains how the now-paused piece of legislation could have impacted Karnataka’s position in the race to become the country’s biggest tech hub. Guess what tech startups can do without? A Chief Technology Officer. Major tech-driven companies like Zomato, Healthify, Swiggy and others are reconsidering the necessity of this senior executive role. Mint’s Mansi Verma reports that instead of hiring new CTOs, these firms are redistributing responsibilities to existing team members or leaving the position vacant altogether. So what's causing this shift? Firstly, the cost of maintaining such a high-level position is substantial. CTO compensation packages often include hefty salaries and stock options, which can be financially burdensome. Additionally, internal promotion
Wed, July 17, 2024
Predictions for the Union Budget
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian market's benchmark indices —Nifty and Sensex—inched up during Tuesday's trading. Sensex was up by 0.06 percent, while Nifty increased by 0.11 percent. Today, we're publishing a collection of pre-budget stories, ahead of the Union Budget set to be presented next week. I'd recommend you pick up a physical copy of Mint today to read this special edition. The lead story of our special pre-budget collection is penned by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. He predicts that all roads lead to the government's massive gamut of promises to be completed by 2047. First and foremost, NDA's third successive government is likely to want to boost GDP growth even further. A fiscal deficit of 5.1 percent is achievable, Ahluwalia writes. Lastly, an overhaul of the current Goods and Services tax should also take place to aid India's economic progress. Alhuwalia lists some other challenges the government would do well to achieve a superpower status in the next two decades. India's insurance companies, barring LIC, aren't exactly in the most strong positions. Three state-owned insurance companies, namely National Insurance, Oriental Insurance, and United India Insurance, need more money in case they need to settle a high amount of claims together. Subhash Narayan and Rhik Kundu report that the upcoming Union Budget might allocate anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 crore rupees as a shot in the arm to these insurance companies. Subhash and Rhik report that the solvency numbers of these three insurers are much worse than they should be, and a one-time infusion of funds could help with either a public listing or privatisation. Notice that groceries have gotten expensive again? Official data shows that food inflation has shot up to 9.4 percent year-on-year, the highest in six months. Vegetables are dearer by 29 percent, pulses by 16 percent, and cereals by 8.8 percent. Sayantan Bera explains these numbers, and the reasons why your shopping carts have gotten more expensive yet again. Byju's has been dealing with a lot of financial struggles of late. Yesterday, the national company law tribunal, or N-C-L-T, admitted an insolvency petition. Interestingly, the petition was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India — that's right, the management of the Indian cricket team. BCCI is suing Byju's for non-payment of dues. But the latest in this saga has dire consequences for Byju Raveendran and his team. They lose control of the startup, which will now be controlled by a resolution professional as appointed by the NCLT. Mansi Verma explains what this decision means for Byju's, its investors, and all those it has defaulted against. Financial influencers, or finfluencers, generally dole out
Tue, July 16, 2024
Inside India’s stressed real estate projects
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian market's benchmark indices —Nifty and Sensex—inched up during Monday's trading session to settle at fresh closing highs. The Indian government is exploring an exciting proposal: getting public sector banks to take equity stakes in state-owned specialized infrastructure financiers. The spotlight is on the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development. This plan is part of a broader effort to supercharge India's infrastructure development, which is already set for a massive investment boost. In fact, the 2024 interim budget has earmarked a hefty 11.1 trillion rupees for capital expenditures, a solid 11.1% jump from last year. Mint’s Mihir Mishra and Shayan Ghosh report on the plan that focuses on increasing the capital base of DFIs to 1 trillion rupees, utilizing contributions from banks with robust capital adequacy ratios. Macquarie Group, JSW Group, and Actis have thrown their hats in the ring to acquire Gurugram-based renewable energy platform O2 Power. The companies have even signed a non-disclosure agreement. Mint’s economy and policy reporter Utpal Bhaskar reports that the deal, managed by Barclays, is set to potentially value O2 Power at around 1 billion dollars in equity with an enterprise value of about 1.5 billion dollars. O2 Power, counts EQT and Temasek as major investments. The company is eyeing an ambitious expansion to reach a capacity of 5 gigawatts; it’s already close, with a current capacity of 4 gigawatts. The acquisition deal is poised to be a landmark in the renewable energy sector, reflecting growing interest in sustainable investments. Kota's coaching centres, once the epicentre for competitive exam preparation, are seeing a notable shift in their student base. With new branches opening in cities like Patna, New Delhi, and Latur, these centres are attracting local students who would have traditionally travelled to Kota. This shift is reshaping the coaching landscape, leading to reduced enrollments in Kota itself and impacting the city's once-thriving educational ecosystem. Mint’s Mansi Verma spoke to faculty members across various institutes, including Allen Career Institute. Representatives from Allen highlighted that while Kota is dealing with salary cuts due to fewer students, new centres in other cities are booming. Did you buy a flat in a stressed real estate project and are now waiting for the possession? Thousands in Delhi-NCR bought units in projects across the region around the turn of the last decade - only to find their investments stuck in limbo. While the Supreme Court intervened in 2019, asking state-owned construction corporation NBCC to take over the construction at Amrapali Group’s Noida projects, involving 38,000 units, the stressed project landscape otherwis
Mon, July 15, 2024
Implications of the attack on Trump
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, July 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: US Presidents have had a long history of being targets of assassinations — Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and Ronal Reagen, to name a few. Yesterday, former president Donald Trump joined this illustrious list after being shot at by a 20-year old. Trump survived, but the shooter did not, after the Secret Service found him. The attack could intensify political divisions and influence the upcoming US presidential election. Elizabeth Roche brings you the implications of the shot heard around the world. The new government is set to present its next union budget next week. If you're a little confused, the Budget presented a few months ago was a small one — meant to keep the government machinery chugging till the election results were announced. The next budget, also presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, is much-anticipated: some reports state that income tax rate cuts might be coming. This is expected to boost the economy. But with only 0.4 percent of the country paying 86 percent of the taxes, will this really stimulate any growth? Vivek Kaul answers this crucial question in a narrative format the way only he can. How much processed food do you consume? It's difficult to ascertain — nearly every packeted item might contain some additive. From beloved namkeen snacks to instant noodles, everything has some preservatives. Shuja Asrar and Niti Kiran take a deep dive into a government survey that outlines India's eating habits. While urban India has started to get more health conscious — think the different varieties of Maggi — rural India loves snacking on biscuits. The rise of junk food in the Indian diet has also worried experts, but that doesn't stop Indians from thronging to fast food joints. TCS investors might want to close their ears: the company's CEO said that hard times are just starting. Tata Consultancy Services shares are up 7 percent since they announced their Q1 results last week, but global conflicts and confusion about interest rate cuts might prove to be dampers moving forward. Demand for the IT company's services has remained muted — if you leave out a contract from state-owned BSNL, and TCS's numbers look much worse. Varun Sood got the chance to sit down with K. Krithivasan and have an in-depth and honest interview about the state of TCS, the IT sector at large, and the impact of AI on jobs in the IT sector. Some people like to cook when they want a break. But what happens when cooking is your job? This weekend's cover story on Mint Lounge explored just that. Avantika Bhuyan spoke to chefs from India's top kitchens about what they did when they took a break. Answers range from playing music to painting to long distance cycling. These activities help them unw
Fri, July 12, 2024
Is it time for you to leave Delhi?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, July 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market benchmarks- the Sensex and the Nifty 50- closed flat on Thursday, as gains in shares of ITC, ONGC, Tata Motors and SBI were offset by losses in those of Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Larsen and Toubro and HDFC Bank. Delhi's summer has been nothing short of extreme this year. With temperatures frequently soaring well beyond the usual, hitting near 50 degrees Celsius, the capital found itself grappling with intense heatwaves. The sweltering heat prompted a significant response, with public hospitals establishing special heat treatment wards and reported heat-related fatalities reaching 58 by mid-June. However, as June ended, the weather took a drastic turn. The city experienced its highest single-day rainfall in 88 years on the 28 June.This sudden deluge not only disrupted daily life but also resulted in significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of a canopy at Delhi Airport which tragically resulted in a fatality. The first half of 2024 has indeed been challenging for the residents of Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region, home to a combined population of over 70 million. And the outlook for the remainder of the year suggests no respite, with the meteorological department predicting an unusually wet monsoon, which could lead to further flooding. Looking ahead to the winter, the situation appears equally grim with the anticipated onset of Delhi's notorious smog, which annually contributes to a high number of respiratory-related illnesses and deaths. This persistent cycle of extreme weather conditions underlines the urgent need for comprehensive environmental and infrastructural strategies to mitigate these impacts. Delhi’s weather also begets the question - Is it time for you to leave Delhi? Mint’s Sayantan Bera examines in today’s Long Story. India’s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services has set a strong pace in the first quarterly earnings of FY25, outperforming its average growth rate over the past five years. TCS reported a quarterly revenue of $7.5 billion, a 1.9% increase from the previous quarter, surpassing expectations from analysts who had projected a revenue of $7.44 billion. A significant portion of this growth, however, is attributed to an unusual surge in its India operations, Mint’s IT correspondents Jas Bardia and Shouvik Das report. The push in revenue is primarily because of a $1.83-billion 4G network project from BSNL. This has raised questions about the organic nature of TCS's growth, as half of its $142 million sequential revenue increase was derived from this Indian deal, marking a deviation from its traditional revenue streams predominantly from the Americas, Europe, and UK. Despite these doubts, K Krithivasan, TCS’s CEO, asserts th
Thu, July 11, 2024
How cricketers are minting money post-retirement
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, July 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market indices ended the day around half a percent down each on Wednesday dragged by profit booking at higher levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently wrapped up a two-day visit to Russia, a trip that stood out for the diplomatic delicacy amid ongoing global tensions due to the Ukraine conflict. Addressing President Vladimir Putin as a “friend,” Modi highlighted the longstanding ties between India and Russia. Yet, he didn't shy away from addressing tougher issues, including a recent Russian missile strike in Kyiv. The economic talks were particularly fruitful, with both leaders aiming to balance the currently skewed trade relationship, heavily dominated by India's purchase of Russian oil. They set an ambitious target to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, up from a previous goal of $30 billion, which has already been surpassed. So what did the visit to Russia achieve for India diplomatically? Jindal Global University’s associate professor Elizabeth Roche explains in today’s Primer. Allen Career Institute, a major player in India's competitive exam coaching industry, has implemented significant salary cuts for its over 4,000 faculty and administrative staff. This decision follows a sharp 35-40% decline in student enrollments, signalling tough times for the coaching hub in Rajasthan’s Kota. Two years after a high-stakes battle to attract top faculty, the coaching giant is now facing severe financial strain, cutting salaries by 20-40 per cent. In a recent meeting led by CEO Nitin Kukreja, it was revealed that student admissions had plummeted from 131,000 last year to just 81,000 this year. The revised salary structure will now include a variable pay component. This move has sparked unrest among the staff, with around 600 teachers already voicing their discontent through a formal letter. Mint’s Devina Sengupta and Mansi Verma spoke to industry insiders who suggest this could be the start of a challenging period for Kota’s educational institutions. Several retired cricketers are discovering that their earning potential doesn't have to drop after hanging up their professional boots. Mint’s Varuni Khosla reports that thanks to leagues like Legends League Cricket, or LLC, these seasoned players are not only staying in the game but also scoring paychecks that often surpass what they made in their last IPL seasons. Take Gautam Gambhir, for instance. His last IPL paycheck was Rs 2.8 crore, but the LLC offered him a cool Rs 3.75 crore. Irfan Pathan saw a similar bump, going from Rs 50 lakh in the IPL to Rs 1.65 crore in the LLC. It’s not just them—players like Hashim Amla and Aaron Finch are also enjoying hefty salary boosts in these senior circuits. The LLC has become quite the attraction, now ho
Wed, July 10, 2024
Why Sony’s new head has a tough job ahead
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s stock market benchmarks- the Nifty 50 and the Sensex - hit fresh highs on Tuesday despite mixed global cues. Both indices saw a rise of just under half a percentage point from their previous day’s close. India's journey towards electric mobility has hit a bit of a speed bump. After a promising start, sales of electric vehicles, or EVs, are beginning to stagnate, largely because subsidies were slashed earlier this year. This has shifted a lot of expectations onto the upcoming third phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles—or FAME—scheme, which everyone is eyeing ahead of the budget announcement on July 23. The FAME scheme first rolled out in 2015 and has been a cornerstone of India’s push to get more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. It saw a significant boost in 2019 with FAME II, which pumped in ₹10,000 crore to support the adoption of EVs across various segments, from buses to two-wheelers. The impact of these initiatives? Pretty impressive initially. From selling just under 2,400 units in FY2015, EV sales soared, breaking the 100,000 mark in FY19 and reaching a whopping 1.68 million units by FY24. So, what’s the buzz around FAME III? Mint’s Sumant Banerji explains in today’s Mint Primer. The industry is hoping it will not only bring back better subsidies for individual car buyers and two-wheelers but also expand support to include trucks. India's recent net surplus in its current account, at $5.7 billion for the first quarter of 2024, is quite the headline. But it's not just about more money coming in than going out; it's a story that calls for a deeper look. Typically, India runs a current account deficit because our massive investment needs outpace the collective savings of our households, businesses, and the government. In fact, barring the first pandemic year, this year's deficit, projected at $23 billion, or 0.7% of GDP, is on track to be the second-lowest in two decades. Now, you might think this sounds like great news, but here’s where it gets complex. The Reserve Bank of India pointed out an uptick in investments, particularly driven by higher government spending and a surge in the housing sector. With investments pegged at 33.7% of GDP, that's a big deal because it means we're saving at a rate of 33% to maintain a current account deficit of just 0.7%. When the savings rate climbs, it opens the door for more substantial investments without widening the current account deficit. Picture this: with a modest 2% deficit and a savings rate of 33%, we're looking at an investment rate of 35%. That translates to a whopping ₹6 trillion directed towards nation-building efforts. So, a deficit isn't necessarily a bad thing when it
Tue, July 09, 2024
RBI says yes to Yes Bank's sale
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex and Nifty remained largely flat on Monday. Both fell by less than 0.05 percent during trading hours yesterday. Yes Bank has had a phenomenal turnaround. After collapsing in 2020, a new set of people resurrected the struggling lender to a respectable position. Now that Yes Bank is in decent shape, it's attracting interest from outside. But any potential buyer wants at least a controlling 51 percent stake in Yes Bank. Anirudh Laskar reports that the Reserve Bank of India has given a go-ahead for Yes Bank to find a buyer with a controlling stake. Such approvals are quite rare, as RBI usually has an upper limit of 26 percent for any promoter. Anirudh also reports that the sale will be made at a valuation of 10 billion dollars for Yes Bank. As the income tax filing deadline approaches, many people will hand over their IDs, passwords, and OTPs to their chartered accountants to file returns on their behalf. No matter how much you trust your CA, that isn't a wise decision. Shipra Singh tells you a couple of alternatives for your CA to file your returns — without having access to your personal information. However, Shipra writes that Indian taxpayers aren't very apprehensive about this. Only one in ten clients express any hesitation about sharing their personal information, one executive from an accounting firm told Shipra. That isn't the best habit, but it seems that Indians don't care about sharing information as long as their work gets done. If you're not one of them, this article is for you. There are some media reports that the upcoming Union Budget will feature some income tax cuts. Theoretically, this move will stimulate the economy as people will have more money in hand to spend. But as Nandita Venkatesan outlines, this doesn't really work out. 92 million people in India pay taxes; a third of them reported a gross annual income of less than 5 lakh rupees. Another 24 million people earn less than 10 lakh rupees. So the most dominant tax-paying base already pays zero to minimal taxes. Nandita also spoke to economists to show why this presumption may not be correct after all, and has presented her story with some charts to drive the point home. If mobile phone companies had their way, we'd all be using foldable phones today. They occupy half the space, turn into much larger screens when opened, and have a good battery life. Foldables came back into the mainstream five years ago, and the Indian market has plenty of options. Despite that, foldables still aren't used widely. Shouvik Das writes that sky high prices and lack of innovative use cases are hampering the sales of foldable phones in India. App support is also poor; the split screen setup doesn't accommoda
Mon, July 08, 2024
India’s digital bigwigs brace for stricter regulation
On July 8, the Supreme Court will review nearly twenty petitions regarding NEET-UG. The outcome could affect around 2.4 million students. Allegations of paper leaks, exam delays, and unusually high scores have sparked demands for a reexamination. The petitions also sought CBI and ED investigations, besides the formation of an independent committee to probe these irregularities. Responding to the uproar, the government has withdrawn grace marks for some students and formed a committee to review the exam administration process and enhance security. Mint's legal correspondent Krishna Yadav and education reporter Devina Sengupta discuss the implications of this entire fiasco in today's Mint Primer. Moving on to our next topic of the day: Following India's thrilling victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup Finals, India's cricketing dominance is at an all-time high. However, amid this glory, a critical pillar of support is faltering—a unique cricketing asset, the Kashmir Willow. Skilled artisans, famed for crafting cricket bats from Salix alba caerulea willow, are rallying for a renewed emphasis on local production, calling upon Indian cricketers to champion domestic industries, and highlighting the challenges they face. The craftsmen like Mohammad Yousuf are contemplating closure due to severe shortages of willow clefts, and rising costs. Irfan Amin Malik, a Kashmiri journalist, delves into the stories of families linked to Kashmir's bat-making tradition, capturing their resilience and hardships in today's extensive Long Story. Now let’s switching gears to enter the world of entertainment: In the dynamic OTT landscape, the rise of advertising video-on-demand (AVoD) within traditionally subscription-driven platforms is causing waves in the streaming world. Leading this charge are platforms like Amazon's miniTV and Disney+ Hotstar, which are now offering popular shows and major sports events for free on mobile devices. This shift isn't just about cost efficiency—AVoD content is notably cheaper to produce than SVoD. It's also levelling the playing field for new talent and smaller production houses to make their mark. Mint’s entertainment and media correspondent, Lata Jha, spoke with industry insiders who emphasised the challenge of maintaining robust ad rates and crafting compelling content that turns casual viewers into devoted subscribers. India's burgeoning digital marketplace could soon face a new regulatory hurdle. Companies like Zomato, Myntra, and Nykaa, alongside international giants such as Alphabet and Meta, are in the spotlight, and might soon find themselves classified as 'systemically significant digital enterprises' or SSDEs under the proposed Digital Competition Bill. It will henceforth be mandatory for them to stick to a strict set of rules and report compliance to the Competition Commission of India every year. But here’s the kicker—any slip-ups could see these firms facing fines of up to 10% o
Fri, July 05, 2024
Tiger Global's roar dies down to a yelp
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, July 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex and Nifty remained largely flat on Thursday. Both rose by around 0.5 percent during trading hours yesterday. The share of foreign investors in HDFC Bank is set to drop below 55 percent. This is crucial for India's largest private lender as its weight in the MSCI India Index will double. Investors are excited for this move — HDFC's share price has increased by more than 16 and a half percent over the last month. Despite this surge, HDFC's share price has remained flat from a year ago. In sharp contrast, ICICI Bank’s share price has increased by more than 30 percent over the same period. HDFC's inclusion in the MSCI index might provide some cheer for investors in the short term, but it has plenty to catch up. The banking industry in India looks quite different than it did just five years ago. In September 2019, the Reserve Bank of India had directed all banks to link their interest rates to the repo rate as well as the treasury bonds. This meant that when any change in RBI's repo rate or the bond yields took place, the interest rates that the banks charged to the consumer would change proportionally. Prior to that, banks were quick to pass on interest rate hikes but not the savings that came with rate cuts. Shayan Ghosh writes that this transmission has been swift: 58 percent of all floating loans in India are now tied to \rates standardised by RBI. The regulator’s main motive is to protect consumers, and it's doing a good job of it so far under governor Shaktikanta Das. At Mint, we're closely following the next Union Budget. Our big Budget story of the day is that the government is planning on easing business-related hurdles, plugging in tax gaps, and recaliberating customs duties to empower domestic companies. The industries that are set to benefit from this move are textiles and engineering goods, report Gireesh Chandra Prasad and Rhik Kundu. Policymakers want to improve domestic production of goods, and will resort to these protective measures to ensure Indian companies fare better than their foreign counterparts. The Indian startup industry has had one major complaint for the entirety of its existence: the angel tax. This was a duty amounting to 30.6 percent — a steep price to pay when any startup is raising money. The government imposed it in 2012, and earlier this year, extended it to NRIs as well. This made fundraising a much more expensive process for both investors and the startups. But finally, there's some reprieve: Dhirendra Kumar reports that the ministry of commerce has recommended that this tax be repealed. This decision now lies with the ministry of finance. If this goes through, expect a lot more investments in India's ever-growing startup industry. At its peak, Tiger Global was one of the most
Thu, July 04, 2024
GenZ: the new player in India’s investment game
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, July 4, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market benchmark indices Sensex and the Nifty hit fresh highs on Wednesday. The Sensex breached the coveted 80,000 landmark, while the Nifty scaled its fresh peak of 24,309 points. The Sensex finally ended the day 0.69 per cent higher, while the Nifty closed 0.67 per cent higher. A new player has entered India’s investment game - and it's not a new company or a new investor. It's an entire generation of Indians. GenZ now makes up 40 per cent of the 95 million registered users on the National Stock Exchange. This marks a substantial increase from the 22-23% share before the pandemic. Mint’s Ram Sahgal and Sneha Shah spoke to industry insiders to report on the changing demographics of Indian investors. Dhiraj Relli, MD & CEO of HDFC Securities, notes that this age group tends to favour short-term gains through index options and intraday trading rather than long-term investment strategies. This trend is reflected in the overall dynamics of the NSE's investor base, where the median age has dropped from 38 in FY18 to 32. When Uttar Pradesh reported higher GST collections than Tamil Nadu for April, it stirred discussions about potential shifts in economic performance between the states. However, this occurrence seems more like a statistical outlier rather than a trend, as Tamil Nadu quickly regained the lead in May. Over the past six years, Tamil Nadu's gap in GST collection over Uttar Pradesh has actually widened from 13% to 16%. When GST was rolled out in 2017, there was a theory that it might benefit larger but economically weaker states due to their higher population and consumption. But the numbers tell a different story. Despite their large populations, states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar haven't seen the surge in collections many expected. In contrast, Maharashtra, another populous state but with a stronger economic base, has consistently outperformed in GST collections. Our partners at howindialives.com report on this scenario that challenges the simplistic equation that a bigger population equals higher GST revenue. The price of onions has always been a pain point for parties when it comes to electoral politics. Historically, soaring onion prices have influenced voter behaviour. The looming shadow of another onion price hike is causing the Indian government to take preemptive measures to avoid a repeat of last year's crisis when skyrocketing prices hit consumers hard. Despite a good harvest, fewer onion-laden trucks are rolling into the country’s largest vegetable market—Delhi’s Azadpur mandi. This raises concerns about a potential price rise. This decrease in supply has not yet reached alarming levels, but it's enough to make the government cautious. Mint’s Puja Das reports that the government is considering r
Wed, July 03, 2024
New chapter in Adani-Hindenburg saga
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex and Nifty remained largely flat on Wednesday. Both fell by less than 0.1 percent during trading hours yesterday. It's difficult to keep the Adani Group out of the news cycle. More than a year and half after it was accused of various irregularities by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research, we're back at it. The markets regulator Sebi sent a show-cause notice to Hindenburg and its financial partner, accusing their report of being sensationalist and profit-oriented. Hindenburg fired back and denied Sebi's accusations, calling it, and I quote, "nonsense". Hindenburg added that Sebi's report was premeditated, and the research firm stood by its report. Varun Sood outlines the entire saga, and explains the notices and responses between Sebi, Adani, and Hindenburg. It's incredibly easy to get a loan these days. Fintech apps have brought in the "buy now, pay later" revolution, which means that you can order a pizza for dinner tonight and pay for it in the next three months, without any interest. But Indians aren't just borrowing small amounts — home, car, and education loans have been disbursed at the highest volumes since 2008. Vivek Kaul points out a glaring contrast between borrowing and spending data: we're borrowing more than ever, and spending... less? Private consumption today stands at just 8.5 percent, the slowest in two decades. Vivek answers why this dichotomy has taken place, and how the Indian economy is getting affected by such a pattern. While fintechs have more business than ever, their voracious potential for growth is only limited by one possibility: regulation. Priyamvada C and Mansi Verma team up to report that India's fintech companies want clarity on such regulations. They want hassle-free licensing, tax considerations, and provisions for financial inclusion. Fintech players told Priyamvada and Mansi that a clear framework would help in streamlining their work. For example, currently, a fintech has to apply for multiple licences to offer their services. They claim that they could be making much more progress and digitising more of India's finances if they had such a framework to adhere to. It's July, which means that it's the rainy season for most of India. While the season officially starts in June, this year's progress has been slow. This is bad news for India's agricultural sector, which completes much of the sowing for its kharif crops this month. A slow or insufficient monsoon can spell disaster for the country's economy, writes Harsha Jethmalani. She points out the concerns around inflation in June, and a cascading effect on rural incomes. India needs rural demand to rise, and a poor monsoon won't help with that. July also means that it's tax season. The deadline to file your income ta
Tue, July 02, 2024
PLI boost for Railways in upcoming Budget
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 2, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian market’s benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex both gained more than 0.5 per cent by the end of the trading session on Monday. In a significant push to bolster the 'Make in India' initiative, the government is considering a Production-Linked Incentive scheme that could transform the railway sector. The scheme—likely to be introduced in the upcoming Union budget—will specifically target the manufacturing of certain railway components that we typically import. Now, what’s on the cards? The government is thinking about offering incentives ranging from 5-10% for locally produced products like wheels, axles, and braking systems, crucial for modern train sets such as the Vande Bharat and green trains running on alternative fuels like hydrogen. They've proposed this scheme to last three years with an expected incentive pool of ₹1,000-1,500 crore. Mint’s Subhash Narayan reports on the scheme, aimed at making our rail component industry more robust and competitive. Indian investors have been showing unparalleled enthusiasm towards the defence sector–something that was seen post-world war 2 on Wall Street. Since its inception in January 2022, the Nifty India Defence Index has surged nearly 400%, overshadowing gains in other sectors. With India's significant military size and budget commitments to defence modernization, the sector presents a massive opportunity. In the fiscal year 2023-24, defence exports from India reached an all-time high, boosting investor optimism. However, the escalating stock prices have raised concerns about sustainability. Experts like Anirudh Garg from Invasset and George Thomas from Quantum AMC advise caution, pointing out that the sector might be overheated despite its growth potential. Mint’s Abhishek Mukherjee takes a detailed look at whether defence stocks can armour-plate your portfolio - in today’s Long Story. Private investors are increasingly initiating forensic audits earlier in their relationships with portfolio companies, aiming to identify and address potential financial and governance issues preemptively. This shift comes in response to significant financial losses caused by mismanagement in high-profile startups, leading to a more proactive approach in risk management. Previously, audits were typically conducted after issues surfaced, but now, they're often triggered by early warning signs, enhancing the ability to manage risks effectively throughout the investment lifecycle. Mint’s startups correspondent Sneha Shah reports. The first half of the year was packed with big Bollywood releases like Fighter, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and Maidaan, but even these star-studded films couldn't shake the Indian movie industry out of its slump. Box office collections dropped from ₹4,868 crore in t
Mon, July 01, 2024
The promise that was Amaravati
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, July 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Three days ago, Reliance Jio hiked its tariff rates across all its plans. Its closest competitors Airtel and Vodafone Idea soon followed suit. This is the third such hike in the last five years. Average rates for all plans were increased by 10 to 25 percent. Gulveen Aulakh reports that another hike could come in the next financial year. However, increased prices are good news for investors, as this will lead to better revenues across the board. India will continue to have some of the cheapest data tariffs anywhere in the world. Telecom companies feel that these hikes can be easily absorbed by the end users at the moment. Over 2.3 million aspirants had pinned their hopes on the results of the UGC NEET exam. However, the entire debacle has dashed the hopes of many hoping to pursue medicine as a career option. Rajrishi Singhal opines that this fiasco was a failure of the government's education policy. NEET was conceptualised in an era where the contrast between the applicants and the number of medical seats was far too high, while most states conducted their own entrance exams. This supply-demand problem led to huge financial exploitation of aspirants. The NEET exam was intended to level the playing field. That problem still exists: the 2.3 million students are vying for just over a hundred thousand seats. Rajrishi argues that fixing this would involve long-term solutions, not immediate band-aid fixes that have proven to be a bane for India's education system. If you've been planning to buy a new phone, you'd most likely rather wait till the upcoming festive season to capitalise on all the discounts. However, at smartphone showrooms, these discounts are rolling in already. And no, these aren't bank-specific offers that are now run-of-the-mill at any online retailer. For example, you can now take EMIs without any down payment. You can even immediately exchange your existing smartphone for a new one. Shouvik Das writes that mobile phone makers might soon extend further discounts to boost weakening consumer sentiment. The prices for flagship phones are only increasing, putting off potential buyers. These offers are intended to lure such buyers, notes Shouvik. So before you add to cart, make sure to visit your nearest store — you might just find a better deal. Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh was supposed to be the next big megapolis. It was supposed to have lush green manicured lawns and a city plan that accounted for trees all over the city. In 2014, Amaravati was declared as AP's new capital, to be inaugurated in a decade. Well, it's that time, and Amaravati is... a ghost town? But with K. Chandrababu Naidu and the Telugu Desam Party roaring back to power, Amaravati is poised to return to its planned glory. Amaravati is centrally located
Fri, June 28, 2024
Get ready for more roads under construction
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, June 28, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: ˛ The equity markets rose on Wednesday. Both Nifty and Sensex were up by about 0.7 percent yesterday. The bond market is up and kicking again. Starting today, India's bonds will be included in JP Morgan's emerging markets bond index. This will make India the 25th country to join the index. 23 Indian bonds will join the much-tracked index, and will certainly bring in a flurry of income. Mayur Bhalerao and Gopika Gopakumar write that foreign investors bought around 67,000 crore worth of bonds ahead of this much-anticipated decision. JP Morgan will itself passively invest around 25 billion dollars into Indian bonds over the next 10 months. If you're travelling to a small town, chances are you might see an Air India flight pop up on your route. Air travel between smaller cities is called regional aviation, and is less popular among airlines due to lack of occupancy and highly competitive pricing. The Tata Group is now planning on entering this space, report Anu Sharma and Mihir Mishra. Market leader Indigo currently dominates this landscape, while other routes are fulfilled by state-owned Alliance Air. Air India is also beefing up its fleet with aircraft suited to ply on these routes, Anu and Mihir add. Indians have mastered chess. We have 85 grandmasters at the moment. But to become a grandmaster, one might need to spend around 30 lakh rupees a year. Gaurav Laghate writes that through online chess games, entering the world of chess is easy. But to hone your skills, you have to compete with the best — and the best come together in international tournaments. To facilitate that, parents often have to take loans to fulfil their kids' potential. Thankfully, there are scholarships available. Chess players also earn money by playing for clubs, competing in tournaments, sponsorships, and appearance fees. Gaurav's piece covers the breadth of the global chess world and the work it takes to get to the top. While the earning avenues for chess players are growing, those for actors are dwindling. OTT platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime are tightening their purse strings. This is directly affecting actors' salaries. Lack of shared data on viewership and performance also makes it difficult for actors to determine the success of certain seasons — leading to a stalemate when it comes to salary discussions. According to industry estimates, popular OTT actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui earn between 8 to 10 crore per season. While OTTs want to give a raise of 10 to 12 percent, actors are demanding as much as twice if the previous season was successful, reports Lata Jha. The Indian government wants to keep building roads. Subhash Narayan reports that the centre is mulling an increase in
Thu, June 27, 2024
GST @ 7: an analysis
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, June 27, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The equity markets rose on Wednesday. Nifty was up by 0.62 percent, while Sensex edged up by 0.80 percent. It's been seven years since the central government imposed the Goods and Services Tax, commonly known as GST, on India. The aim was to create a common market where sellers and buyers didn't have to worry about a myriad of state and municipal taxes. However, the current slab structure has introduced a lot of complexities into the tax structure. The largest friction point has been over the funds that the states receive from the centre. How India Lives . com analyses these claims, and tries and figures out if the distribution of collected taxes is equitable for all the states. Central banks in the UK and Canada have cut their interest rates. The US Federal Reserve, which directly and indirectly controls the world economy to a large extent, has been mulling a rate cut for months as well. India's mutual fund industry is anticipating such a move from the Reserve Bank of India as well. If that happens, funds want to cash in. They're doing this via duration funds — a portfolio of bonds. Bond yields change according to current interest rates. As Anil Poste explains, a declining interest rate would provide higher returns via longer duration bonds. Mutual fund experts are bullish considering India's inflation and the relatively stable economic environment. Even just a 50 bonus point cut — that's half a percent over the next 12 months— would greatly improve the yields of this bond, Anil writes. Ask any lay person for categories of four-wheelers, and they would probably list out hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs. But ask any sector expert, and they'd tell you CV and PV: commercial and passenger vehicles, respectively. Commercial vehicles are a category of vehicles that you wouldn't really buy: this includes trucks, buses, vans, and tempos. Tata Motors has now decided to split its two businesses in order to focus better on these respective segments. The combined entity had CVs as the cash cow, but was bankrolling Tata's PVs. Nehal Chaliawala writes that now that the PV segment has turned profitable on its own, Tata Motors' split between the two will help CVs power through on the back of its own revenue. Meanwhile PVs, which include the new successful upstart electric vehicles as well, will hope to achieve an Ebidta margin of 10%. Every year, the government boasts of lifting millions of people out of poverty. However, as N Madhavan writes, the way it goes about it isn't the most reliable. Poverty is measured by arriving at a poverty line. Those who fall under this line are considered poor by definition. The current achievements have been touted because we're still using the p
Wed, June 26, 2024
How a subnormal monsoon could affect India’s economy
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, June 26, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Traders booked profits on Wednesday after India's benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened at fresh all-time highs on Tuesday and climbed higher still. Sensex, which had opened at a record high, created a fresh all-time high of 77,851 points, but later pared some gains and closed 0.05 per cent higher from its previous close. Similarly Nifty touched another record at 23,664 points, before coming off its high and closing 0.18 per cent above its previous close. Saudi businessman and chairperson of energy giant Aramco Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been on the board of Reliance Industries for three years now, but he’s missed about a quarter of the meetings. This hasn't gone unnoticed—nearly 40% of the company's public shareholders recently voted against keeping him on board. Another board member, Haigreve Khaitan, faced opposition from a third of the large investors due to his commitments on multiple boards, raising concerns about his availability for Reliance. Despite opposition, both members were reappointed, thanks to the backing of Reliance’s promoters. Mint’s Varun Sood reports on the event that has stirred discussions about shareholder rights and corporate governance, with experts pointing out potential conflicts of interest. Indian filmmakers are getting creative with how they make money from big-budget films. It's not just about box office sales anymore. Filmmakers are now branching out into merchandise and even animations that continue the story on TV or streaming platforms. Take, for example, the movie 83, which starred Ranveer Singh and focused on India's cricket World Cup win in 1983. They didn't just stop at the movie; they launched a whole range of merchandise. We're talking clothes, home decor, even travel bags—all themed around the film. Then there are movies like Baahubali and Singham, which have taken things a step further by spinning off into animated series that fans can watch long after they leave the cinema. Even more interesting is the case with Kalki 2898 AD. Before this film hit the theatres, its spin-off series started streaming on Amazon Prime. This idea of turning films into ongoing intellectual properties (IPs) that live on beyond the theatre is pretty new in India. Mint’s media and entertainment correspondent Lata Jha spoke to industry insiders who told her that diving into merchandise and spin-offs isn’t just about making extra cash; it’s about keeping fans engaged and turning memorable movie moments into something they can hold onto. India’s ports-to-power conglomerate Adani Group is gearing up for a major expansion, planning to nearly double its capital expenditure to ₹1.3 trillion in FY25. It’s focus is going to be mainly on infrastructure and green energy. The Gujarat-based group’s CFO Jugeshinder Si
Tue, June 25, 2024
Rice instead of cash for MNREGS workers?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, June 25, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The equity markets rose slightly on Monday. Nifty was up by 0.16 percent, while Sensex edged up by 0.17 percent. Imagine investing a hundred rupees into a business, and recovering nothing. You might brush it off, but you'd still like to have made some money off your investment. Dutch investment firm Prosus invested a total of 530 million dollars into Byju's. For that money, it was hoping Byju's could change the education sector in India. But yesterday, it wrote off its entire investment. Prosus's investment was worth around 2 billion dollars just a couple of years ago. But since then, the edtech has had a huge fall from grace, running into financial issues such as alleged misselling and billions in unpaid debt. Mint's newest writer Mansi Verma explains why Prosus gave up on any hopes of making money off Byju's. If you've thought of buying an electric car, you would have understandably been worried about it dying on you on the road. And unlike their fossil fuelled cousins, chargers for EVs aren't as widespread as petrol pumps are. Currently, India is home to only 12,000 charging stations. But EVs aren't just environmentally friendly — they are also really cheap to drive. The next best thing is a hybrid car: a petrol or diesel engine with a small electric engine too. These don't need to be charged separately: the internal combustion is enough to power this too. Sumant Banerji writes a detailed story on the emergence of hybrid cars, and why carmakers are pushing for this new category of vehicles to take over the Indian market. Recently, the government cancelled the National Entrance Test for postgraduate entrances just hours before the test was to commence. One of the fears was that the test had been hacked, and the questions uploaded on the "dark net". Devina Sengupta and Krishna Yadav explore this possibility. Cybersecurity experts told them that while such leaks would be rare, they could have occurred when the papers are set or being sent for printing. However, such breaches are more common in areas such as banking or IT. As Devina and Krishna note, competitive exams may be their next target. The Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Scheme is the biggest such initiative anywhere in the world. It guarantees anyone at least a hundred days of employment. But now, instead of being paid in cash, MNREGA employees could be paid in grain. Puja Das reports that the centre is planning on offering rice as part-payment for the workers due to rising rural distress and swelling granaries. The current rate differs from state to state, but ranges between Rs 234 and Rs 374 a day. Look at any household objects you have — chances are, the tag says "Made in China". Understandably so, since no other country has the manufacturing prowess th
Mon, June 24, 2024
Adani’s clean energy push
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, June 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Let’s first jump onto the clean energy bandwagon. The Adani Group plans to invest between 25,000 and 27,000 crore rupees (or close to 3 billion dollars) in its first pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) facility. According to Mint’s Anirudh Laskar, Adani Green will set up 5 gigawatts of PSH capacity over the next five years. This process involves moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations to generate electricity, essentially functioning like a giant battery that stores power during periods of low demand, and releasing it when needed. This technology is particularly essential for ensuring stable, round-the-clock power supply, unlike the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy. The planned facilities will be located across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Diving into our second highlight of the day: In a world increasingly shaped by technology, smartphones may soon face obsolescence. The smartphone, often hailed as the Swiss Army Knife of the digital age, is now threatened by innovations like extended reality glasses, gesture-based interfaces, and brain-computer interfaces such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Musk envisions a future where devices, such as the Neuralink, could render smartphones redundant by directly interfacing with the human brain to perform all the current functions of smartphones. And it isn't just Musk. Tech and internet analysts have long speculated about a future where wearables and embedded chips could supplant the functions of smartphones. What challenges could this future pose, and which technologies could dominate this transformative tech landscape? Mint’s Leslie D’Monte explores these questions in today’s Mint primer. Now, we will shift focus to regulatory developments: Indian authorities are looking to expand their scrutiny beyond LinkedIn and Samsung to include more local branches of multinational corporations. In fact, six unlisted Indian units of MNCs are now under the lens of the Registrars of Companies. Officials are meticulously reviewing disclosures and shareholding information of these companies, as reported by Mint’s Gireesh Chandra Prasad. Earlier this month, the RoC in Uttar Pradesh found that two Samsung subsidiaries had failed to adequately disclose Samsung Electronics' executive chairman Lee Jae-Yong as a “significant beneficial owner." Last month, LinkedIn's Indian subsidiary was penalised 27 lakh rupees for failing to comply with SBO reporting standards, involving several top executives, including Microsoft's CEO. A source informed Gireesh that India’s business landscape is expanding rapidly, with approximately 150,000 new entities registering annually. This growth underscores the need for stringent regulatory oversight to maintain order and prevent future co
Fri, June 21, 2024
One charger to rule them all
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, June 21, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices, Nifty and Sensex, opened at record levels and touched new highs during the session before ending the day marginally higher, with Sensex up 0.18 percent and Nifty up 0.22 percent. From next June, every new smartphone and tablet sold in India will need to have a USB-C charging port so that consumers can charge all their devices with just one type of charger. The rule, which will include laptops by 2026, is part of India’s efforts to align itself with global standards set by the European Union to enhance convenience and reduce waste. The new rule doesn’t apply to feature phones and wearables for now, but it's a big step in the right direction. The Indian government said it plans to enforce the new standard vigorously. Companies that fail to comply will face penalties under the Consumer Protection Act, Mint’s Dhirendra Kumar and Gulveen Aulakh report. There's also a push for makers of basic phones and other devices to voluntarily adopt USB-C ports, which would further unify charging standards. Leading smartphone makers such as Xiaomi and Oppo have already voiced their support. Sebi has issued a stern directive to Religare Enterprises Ltd, ordering it to comply with securities law. The development unfolded as the Burman family, promoters of Dabur, made moves to increase their stake in Religare through an open offer. Sebi instructed Religare’s chairperson Rashmi Saluja and the board to seek necessary approvals from the Reserve Bank of India within a week. The action highlights Sebi’s concerns about Religare's attempts to obstruct the open offer by the Burmans, who are significant stakeholders in Religare through various family-owned entities. Sebi intervened despite resistance from Religare – which expressed doubt about the Burmans' ability to improve the company’s management – highlighting the importance of adhering to the proper procedures in an acquisition. Mint’s Ranjani Raghavan and Neha Joshi report. Apple and Google are diving deep into generative AI, and making smartphones more capable in the process. Apple recently announced ‘Apple Intelligence’, a set of tools that will allow iPhones, iPads and Macs to perform tasks such as transcribing calls, crafting emails, and generating images and emoticons. Google rolled out similar capabilities last September, and Samsung also offers similar AI features on its top-tier devices. However, not all AI tasks are processed on the device itself. Apple's Siri will soon be able to handle simple queries on-device but could tap OpenAI’s ChatGPT for more complex requests. Google’s Pixel phones and Samsung’s devices need internet connections to access hefty AI models stored in the cloud. For now, these cutting-edge AI features are limited to premium mode
Thu, June 20, 2024
How do we prevent train accidents?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, June 20, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Equity markets were more or less flat on Wednesday. Nifty was down 0.18 percent, while Sensex edged up 0.05 percent. Markets have rebounded after a huge crash when the general election results were announced at the start of the month. Small- and mid-cap stocks are leading the charge, taking valuations to fresh highs. Dipti Sharma writes that benchmark indices such as Nifty Smallcap 250 and Nifty Midcap 100 have each surged by almost 20 percent. However, this immediate rebound has raised questions about the sustainability of the current bull run. Market experts told Dipti that volatility is always possible in small- and mid-cap stocks. Moreover, their sky high valuations also raise concerns about the potential upside moving forward. As always, investor caution is advised. A few years ago, Yes Bank was in a constant crisis. Then, the Reserve Bank of India stepped in. Changes were made and Yes Bank had new stakeholders to steer the ship out of troubled waters. State Bank of India picked up a 49 percent stake in the bank, while a host of private lenders invested some 10,000 crore rupees. These investments were locked in for at least three years to ensure that depositors continue to be serviced. Today, the bank is in a far better position, writes Gopika Gopakumar. Credit for the turnaround goes to Prashant Kumar, the MD and CEO of Yes Bank and an SBI veteran. While Kumar has done well so far, his real challenge begins now, as the investors' three-year lock-in has expired. Some will no doubt come knocking to get their money back. How will Kumar deal with this challenge? Gopika tries to answer this and other questions. India witnessed another train accident this week, which killed 10 people. Plans to modernise and improve the country’s railway infrastructure have been underway for a while. The government has been rolling out a system called "Kavach", which means shield in Hindi. The system automatically hits the brakes on a train if it sees another one approaching. However, only 1,500 km out of 68,000 kilometres of train tracks have been fitted with Kavach. That’s less than 5 percent Such anti-collision systems have been in place in Europe since the 1960s. Shelly Singh notes that we need to increase the coverage of Kavach to prevent or at the very least reduce train accidents. Generally, air travel is safer than rail. One reason is that airports are more modern and adopt safety technologies much faster. Anu Sharma writes that Indian airports are now using artificial intelligence tools to improve their services. AI will mostly help with customer service. However, Anu writes that Delhi international airport, the busiest airport in India, is using AI to plan travel, and manage traffic at crucial places such as immigration coun
Wed, June 19, 2024
Meet the heroes protesting against the NEET fiasco
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, June 19, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian stock market's record-breaking spree continued as key equity indices—the Sensex and the Nifty 50—settled at their fresh record highs on Tuesday. The Sensex closed up by 308 points, gaining 0.40 per cent. The Nifty gained 0.39 per cent at the close. A severe heatwave has been lashing parts of North and East India for weeks now. Daytime temperatures have perpetually been above 45°C, affecting Indians' daily lives. The recently concluded general election was notably impacted by the heat, with voters in 19 states enduring dangerous 'heat stress' during polling. A recent analysis by Respirer Living Sciences highlighted that during the last three phases of the election, over 70% of the constituencies experienced significant heat stress. The long-term effects of these rising temperatures are evident. Even areas traditionally unaffected by severe heat, like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, recorded multiple heatwave days this year. This year alone, heat-related illnesses have been deadly, and discrepancies in government-reported data on heatwave-related deaths have raised concerns. As the country continues to face record-breaking temperatures, the electricity demand has surged, hitting a five-year high in June. Mint’s Manjul Paul explains through charts how the harsh effects of the heatwave have deepened the misery of millions of Indians. Click on the links in show notes to read the stories featured in today’s podcast. India Inc is calling for a significant increase in government capital expenditure. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president Sanjiv Puri argues for a 25% rise from the ₹11.11 trillion set in the 2024-25 interim budget for 2024-25. The proposed increase would cost an additional ₹2.78 trillion, raising capex to 4.25% of GDP. This demand is aimed at bolstering the rural sector, which has not fully recovered from the pandemic's impact. This demand is somewhat unexpected, given that other economic drivers like government spending, private consumption, and exports have improved. However, private investment has lagged despite significant corporate tax cuts since 2019. So how will this demand affect fiscal consolidation? And will the government heed the call by India Inc? Mint’s senior editor N Madhavan tackles these questions in today’s Mint primer. In Bengaluru, top tech companies like Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro have seen their office spaces shrink over the past year, reflecting broader changes in the industry. Collectively, these firms ended the previous financial year with a collective 103.2 million sq.ft., a decrease of 3.7% from 107.25 million sq.ft. in FY23. This downsizing has helped bolster profitability amid concerns about the future role of these companies as major
Tue, June 18, 2024
How can the govt control airfares?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, June 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: We have no market updates for you today, as the markets were shut on the occasion of Bakri Eid on Monday. Looking for a new property? You might soon be buying from insurance giant LIC. Anirudh Laskar reports that the Life Insurance Corporation of India is looking to sell some plots and commercial buildings. LIC is India's third-largest landlord, and hopes to net at least 6 billion dollars from these transactions. It has properties in marquee areas such as Delhi's Connaught Place and Kolkata's Chittaranjan Avenue. Since these have been with LIC for decades, a sale valuation of the properties will need to be carried out. Anirudh writes that ascertaining the value of these properties seems to be the biggest hurdle for LIC. Additionally, some of these properties are part of litigations against LIC, complicating the sale process. Last week, financial services company 360 One announced its acquisition of ET Money, a direct investment platform. Neil Borate writes that it's a puzzling transaction. Just FYI, 360 One was earlier known as IIFL Wealth. But now that ET Money, a mutual fund investment platform, will come under the ownership of a mutual fund, the operations get murky. ET Money might be incentivised to sell the products of its parent company but the markets regulator Sebi prevents such cross-selling or preferential treatment. ET Money also has a paid feature named Genius, an advisory service used by more than 75,000 people. How will this new acquisition play out under Sebi's regulations? ET Money's founders have maintained that no such conflicts will occur, Neil writes. When the pandemic set in, most industries came to a standstill, and took a while to get back on track. But the logistics sector wasn't one of them. In fact, with everyone stuck at home, more deliveries took place, propelling logistics to another level. Mahindra Logistics, a third-party logistics provider, was a beneficiary of the boom. The company now rakes in an annual revenue of more than Rs 5,000 crore. By FY26, it wants to double that figure. Madhurima Nandy writes that Mahindra's logistics arm is expanding at a dizzying pace to accomplish that. But it has also started a worrying trend: Mahindra Logistics has recorded a net loss for the first time since it listed on the markets in 2017. E-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho have beefed up their own logistical arms. How will Mahindra Logistics achieve its targets while maintaining profitability? Madhurima explores the possible answers. Ever since Jet Airways and Go First shut down, flight ticket prices have skyrocketed. But the new civil aviation minister has vowed to control these prices. Is this even possible? Anu Sharma explains that the Indian aviation market is quite seasonal. Fares
Mon, June 17, 2024
Can Hyundai’s India IPO beat the ‘Korean discount’?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, June 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Hyundai, the South Korean carmaker, has announced plans to list its Indian unit. The company, which began its Indian journey 25 years ago with the Santro hatchback, aims to raise between $2.5 billion and $3 billion by offering 142.2 million equity shares, representing 17.5% of Hyundai Motor India Ltd.’s post-offer paid-up equity share capital, valuing the subsidiary at $25-30 billion. This proposed IPO could surpass the record set by the Life Insurance Corp of India’s $2.46 billion issue in May 2022, making it the largest in the country’s history. The IPO also aims to address the traditional undervaluation that Korean companies face due to the dominant, often opaque, chaebol structure—a term for large family-controlled business conglomerates. Hyundai's IPO would make it the fourth major passenger vehicle manufacturer in India to be publicly listed, joining Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra, as reported by Mint’s autos correspondent Alisha Sachdev. The timing of this public offering is crucial as it coincides with Hyundai’s rival, Tata Motors, making significant strides towards EVs and SUVs, efforts that have helped close the market share gap with Hyundai. Following the recent Lok Sabha election results, which resulted in the formation of a coalition government, bank stocks took a hit due to the perceived political uncertainty. Public sector banks saw sharper declines than the broader market on the results day. While the Nifty 50 index fell 5.9%, the Nifty PSU Bank index dropped about 15%. Although these indices have since recovered, the plunge and subsequent rebound highlight the transformative changes public sector banks have undergone in recent years, thanks primarily due to government decisions. These initiatives have dramatically improved the profitability of these banks. In fiscal year 2023-24, the net profit of the 12 PSU banks exceeded ₹1.4 trillion, a 35% increase from the previous year and a fourfold increase from 2020-21. Our partners at howindialives.com have explained how these PSU banks - the stock prices of which are heavily dependent on policy and regulation - are on an upward trend again. Click on the link in the show notes to check out the charts prepared by howindialives.com. Since the recent election results, foreign investors have been rapidly cutting down their bearish bets on Indian stock indexes, helping the Nifty and Bank Nifty reach new highs. Initially, these investors held a significant number of short positions—essentially betting that stocks would fall. By June 14, they had dramatically reduced these positions, suggesting a potential shift towards betting on stocks to rise, reports Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal. This substantial change is largely due to increased political sta
Fri, June 14, 2024
Don't involve your politics in your investing ethos
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, June 14, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Equity markets rose on Thursday, with the Nifty up by 0.33 percent and the Sensex edging up by 0.27 percent. After a brief period of volatility, the markets seem to have settled down. Experts told Mayur Bhalerao that the formation of a government and a clear policy directive following the election results have soothed investors. The surge in investor confidence is making stocks more expensive, with 18 percent of the stocks listed on the BSE trading at a premium of at least 25 to 50 percent, compared to their five-year median price-to-earnings ratios. After a brief acid reflux, investors are saying cheers to the markets yet again. The elections demonstrated that the Indian markets can be a real roller coaster ride. Exit poll results buoyed the hopes of investors and propelled the markets to new highs. However, when these polls turned out to be wrong, the markets crashed as results were announced. Typically, the average investor would consider some fundamentals of a stock before investing: the price-to-earnings ratio, quarterly and annual financial results, and sometimes the CEOs of the companies. Vivek Kaul writes that investors should now account for politics in their stock picks as well. While mixing politics and investing ethos isn't the ideal approach, June 4 showed us that some investors still resort to that line of thinking. The Life Insurance Corporation, better known as LIC, which provides life insurance to around 250 million people in India, holds a commanding market share of 61.5 percent. This dominance leaves only five other private health insurers operating in the country. However, LIC isn't content with maintaining its position; it is aiming for an even bigger slice of the pie. To achieve this, it is open to acquiring a private insurance company. Anirudh Laskar reports that LIC is seeking a composite licence, which would allow it to sell both life and non-life policies. If successful in obtaining this licence, LIC plans to buy out one of its competitors, potentially leading to considerable consolidation in the health insurance market, Anirudh notes in his story. With a new government at the helm, you might see more Indian airlines flying international routes. However, this is a two-way street: if a deal is struck with a foreign country to allow a route to India, that country's airlines must also be permitted to operate on the same route. In the past, this has proven tricky. Anu Sharma writes that international airlines have invariably made better use of these routes, and Indian flyers often prefer foreign airlines over Indian ones. Despite these challenges, opening up more bilateral routes will likely reduce airfares, ultimately benefiting customers. However, Indian companies might not gain as much from
Thu, June 13, 2024
The curious case of missing voters
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, June 13, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian equity benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, surged on Wednesday to hit fresh highs, driven by heavyweights RIL, HCL Tech, and HDFC Bank. However, by the end of the session, the indices came off their day's highs and closed with mild gains. N. Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the 18th chief minister of Andhra Pradesh yesterday. Naidu’s term begins under challenging conditions, as he inherits a financially strained state that has been largely overlooked industrially. His Telugu Desam Party (TDP), along with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, secured a sweeping victory, capturing 164 out of 175 seats in the state assembly. During his campaign, Naidu promised to enhance governance and kickstart economic development, aiming to revive industrial activity and generate two million jobs. However, the financial reality of Andhra Pradesh could complicate these plans. The state is grappling with a high debt level—44% of its GDP—and its finances are stretched thin, primarily going towards revenue expenditures rather than building productive assets. This fiscal strain makes the ambitious welfare promises and the revival of the Amaravati capital project, initially estimated to cost ₹50,000 crore, particularly challenging. Mint’s senior editor N. Madhavan explains the challenges Naidu faces as he takes over from Jagan Mohan Reddy as the CM of Andhra Pradesh. During the recent Lok Sabha elections, many voters, especially in urban areas, seemed reluctant to visit their polling booths. The Election Commission highlighted this trend, noting that urban voters were particularly hesitant. Ultimately, only about 65.8% of eligible voters cast their ballots, down from 67.2% in 2019. In some regions like Nagaland and Manipur, turnout significantly decreased, while Jammu and Kashmir saw an increase. Why does this matter? Niti Kiran from Mint’s data team explains through charts and maps. Lower turnouts can sometimes indicate voter satisfaction with the current government, which appeared to be the case in this election. The National Democratic Alliance held more seats in areas with lower voter turnout. However, it's not just about the numbers—it's about who shows up, or rather, who doesn’t. Metros saw a sharper decline in turnout compared to rural regions. Despite this, the overall gender gap in voting was virtually non-existent, similar to the previous election. Women turned out in higher numbers than men in nearly 20 states. The reasons behind voter participation or apathy can vary widely from state to state, influencing everything from local policy to national politics. India is on the verge of significant changes to its organ transplant policies, aiming to address the mas
Wed, June 12, 2024
Another down year for IT stocks?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, June 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The equity markets remained flat on Tuesday, with no major gains or losses across any market indices during the trading session. The financial year 2023-2024 was largely forgettable for information technology (IT) stocks. Revenues were low across the board, leading to muted stock prices for companies such as TCS, Infosys, and HCL Tech. Mint correspondent Harsha Jethmalani notes that the situation isn't expected to improve in the current financial year. The revenue guidance for these companies is bleak, with growth expectations of just 1 to 3 percent. If you hold IT stocks, Harsha's detailed analysis is a must-read. Now that the portfolios have been allocated, the real work begins. The new government must reconstitute the parliamentary committees that are the backbone of India's policymaking process. Subhash Narayan, Manas Pimpalkhare, and Rituraj Baruah report that major parliamentary panels, such as finance, IT, and defence, are likely to retain their current heads to maintain policy continuity and ensure a quick rollout of reforms. Each ministry has a parliamentary committee that plays an advisory role in policymaking. Those concerned about big-ticket reforms slowing down due to a coalition government might find reassurance in this story. Early last year, there was much celebration as scientists discovered high reserves of lithium in Kashmir. The Geological Survey of India found about 5.9 million tonnes of the precious metal. Lithium is crucial for many sectors, including infrastructure and electric vehicle batteries. However, the initial excitement has since died down. Sumant Banerji notes that one concern is the location of these reserves — just 50 kilometres from the Pakistan border. Additionally, such discoveries take a long time to realize, potentially decades before mining can begin. Despite this, lithium is the future, and corporate India remains eager to win bids for these mines. While the response is currently lukewarm, Sumant writes that interest will increase as the mines become more viable for exploration. Online shopping has become an integral part of our lives, leading to many malls shuttering and others struggling to survive. However, real estate developers remain optimistic about brick-and-mortar stores. Madhurima Nandy reports that the organized retail space is poised for a significant upsurge, with around 45 million square feet set to be added by 2028. Despite the closure of smaller malls, larger ones are thriving with better occupancy rates and increased footfall. If you live in the National Capital Region, Hyderabad, or Chennai, expect to see more retail stores popping up near you. Here are some movie names fo
Tue, June 11, 2024
Modi 3.0 to greenlight more international flights
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, June 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices closed in the red on Monday, ending a three-session streak of gains. The Nifty fell by 0.13%, while the Sensex dropped by 0.27%. India's IT giants, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, have seen a significant decline in their younger workforce over the past couple of years. According to an analysis by Mint’s IT correspondent Jas Bardia, the share of employees under 30 at TCS has decreased from 59% in FY22 to 50.3% in FY24. Similarly, Infosys has seen a drop from 60% to 55% during the same period. This trend is not due to AI replacing jobs but rather the IT sector's slowdown in hiring following a period of subdued growth. Analysts note that both companies, along with others like Cognizant and Wipro, have a substantial portion of their workforce based in India. TCS and Infosys are particularly transparent about their younger employee demographics. Just last week, Nvidia briefly surpassed Apple to become the world's second most-valuable company, reaching a market capitalization of $3.01 trillion. This milestone left Nvidia's CEO and shareholders in high spirits but also raised concerns among analysts about the company's future trajectory. What's behind Nvidia's meteoric rise? According to Mint’s Shouvik Das, it's all about AI. As AI technology like OpenAI's ChatGPT gained prominence, Nvidia's GPUs, for long a favourite among gamers, became essential for major companies globally. This surge in demand has placed Nvidia in a favourable position—its chips are now on a years-long waitlist, allowing the company to set premium prices. India is on the brink of a significant boost in international air travel. The government is considering greenlighting more international flights due to a surge in demand, sparking a mix of reactions within the aviation industry. Akasa Air and several foreign airlines are in favour of increasing flight rights, but Air India is strongly opposed. Discussions, which began pre-election, are focusing on potential increases to destinations where flights are already at capacity, such as Dubai and Qatar. This could lead to more air traffic and more options for travellers. However, the impact on Indian carriers is a major concern. While newer airlines like Akasa are eager for the expansion, fearing that limiting flights will lead to skyrocketing airfares, Air India worries that it might hinder their growth and plans to become a major global hub. Airlines like Emirates and Saudia are also pushing for more access, arguing that the current caps no longer reflect the growth in air travel demand, especially from the booming Indian diaspora. Mint’s aviation correspondents Anu Sharma and Mihir Mishra report on the evolving landscape of Indian aviation. Maniraj Pattamsetti, a mechanical
Mon, June 10, 2024
How will the aam aadmi afford a trip to the movies?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, June 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The markets are still recuperating from the bloodbath from election results day. However, it wasn't so bad for all of them: Ram Sahgal writes that retail investors, who buy and sell shares directly, outsmarted the broader market. Instead of buying while the markets were rising prior to the results, retail investors sold heavily. These stocks were bought by foreign portfolio investors, as well as mutual funds. When the market tanked by nearly 6 percent the following day, retail investors were fairly safe, while the other sets of investors were left holding the losses. This was a rare case of the average investor outsmarting larger, institutional investors, Ram writes. Public sector utility stocks have continued to fare poorly since the election results were announced. The formation of the coalition government has exposed these PSUs to certain risks. As Manish Joshi points out, the coalition members would have opinions about sensitive issues such as the price of fuel and electricity. These decisions may be taken to placate the political partners — but might not be fundamentally sound for the businesses. Subsidised rates in electricity, in particular, are concerning. Investors might steer clear of these stocks until the new government is established and takes some policy decisions. Corporate India always waits to see which sectors get a boost after a new government is formed. This time around, consumer goods companies might have some reason to cheer: a post-election analysis by brokerage firms says that the new government is likely to roll out "pro-consumption initiatives". Suneera Tandon writes that this could provide a boost for FMCG stocks. The central weather department has predicted that India will see a normal monsoon this year — another positive sign for these consumer goods companies. FMCGs have had a rough couple of years, owing to increasing prices due to inflation. On their part, FMCGs are investing heavily in improving their distribution networks to improve their revenue, notes Suneera. In India, the heart of the jewellery market is the wedding market. In its early days, Tanishq didn't exactly understand that: much of its marketing was aimed at a different target market. The jewellery business in India is worth some 50,000 crore rupees — but Tanishq was only pulling in a revenue of about 500 crore rupees. CK Venkatraman, ex-COO of Tanishq, details how the company went from this feeble income to the behemoth it is today. Venkatraman writes it in his own words in his book titled "The Tanishq Story", an excerpt of which we have published. Movie ticket prices have slowly been creeping up. Once in a while, you'll notice that tickets are available for a flick you want to watch — but they cost an arm and a leg! That's be
Fri, June 07, 2024
What ‘Modi 3.0’ means for your investment portfolio
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, June 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices closed higher for the second day running, buoyed by progress on the formation of a new government by Narendra Modi-led NDA alliance. Both Sensex and Nifty gained almost one per cent on Thursday. With the Bharatiya Janata Party led by Modi securing a fractured mandate, India's back to coalition politics. So, what does this mean for the big reforms we've been hearing about? Mint’s Sumant Banerji explains in today’s Primer. Well, green energy reforms like renewables and electric mobility are likely still on the menu. Modi himself has been big on green energy, talking it up in his post-election speech. We've already seen initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive schemes boosting local manufacturing of EVs and lithium cell batteries. Expect more of these sector-specific perks to roll out, including the next phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme. But what about the sticky issues of labor and land reforms? These have always been tough nuts to crack, and with a coalition, don't expect any sweeping changes soon. Speaking of reforms and policy decisions that could be put on hold as a result of a coalition government, the BJP might have to give up on its ambitions of introducing a nationwide Uniform Civil Code. Key coalition partners, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), have expressed their opposition to the UCC, Mint’s Dhirendra Kumar reports. The proposed UCC aims to standardize personal laws across all religions in India, addressing marriage, divorce, and inheritance with a single legal framework. However, the nuanced victory in the elections means the BJP must rely more heavily on its allies, making contentious legislation like the UCC difficult to advance. Soon, navigating from Google search results directly to a hotel’s website or Google Maps might become a thing of the past. This change stems from the proposed digital competition bill aimed at putting a stop to anti-competitive behaviours. This proposed bill is about stopping companies from mixing personal or business user data across different services without clear user consent. It also talks about ending 'self-preferencing'—which means a platform can't push its own services in search results. Mint’s senior editor Gireesh Chandra Prasad spoke to industry experts who believe the law intends to enhance market competitiveness and benefit consumers. However, there's concern that broad prohibitions could backfire, diminishing user experience and product effectiveness. For instance, due to these restrictions, users might soon find themselves taking multiple steps to transition from a Google Search result to Google Maps. Bollywood is hitting the pause button on new p
Thu, June 06, 2024
Understanding the market's roller-coaster ride
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, June 6, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: After suffering the worst crash in four years, the Indian equity markets bounced back yesterday to recoup some losses recorded on Tuesday. Nifty and Sensex rose around 3.2% each. The last three have been a roller coaster for investors. Why have they been reactionary and jittery? Ram Sahgal has the answer: BJP being unable to secure a simple majority on its own has spooked investors. They feel that the new NDA government will have to resort to populist measures in order to effect some damage control. This could potentially delay major infrastructure projects like new airports or bullet trains, making market participants unhappy. Ram explains that future market movements will likely be based on which politician gets which ministry in the new government. Like the broader market, Tech Mahindra too rose more than two percent yesterday. But a broader look at its share price and financials would have any investor worried. The IT company's net profit crashed by more than 40%, while revenue declined too. While the overall picture for the IT sector looks grim, Tech Mahindra, in particular, seems to have borne the worst of it. Still, it's not a small company with a total revenue of more than $6 billion. But for Mohit Joshi, this situation provides an opportunity. Joshi took the reins of the company in December 2023. He wants to transform Tech Mahindra into an upper-tier IT company that competes with TCS and Infosys. As Shelley Singh outlines, this is easier said than done. Joshi has his work cut out for him, but the only way for Tech Mahindra is up. One of the main issues in this year's general elections was jobs — or the lack thereof. Creating new jobs should be a central focus of the new government. Devina Sengupta writes that two-thirds of Indian citizens are now under 35 years old. This statistic means that the ongoing job crunch will only worsen as more of India comes of working age. Analysts told Devina that the focus needs to be on higher-paying jobs and getting small and medium businesses to hire employees on a larger scale. Tier 2 and beyond cities especially have immense scope to create and localise jobs, they added. Lastly, a concerted effort needs to be made in the labour market, which is dominated by migrant workers. It's a tough task ahead that will almost immediately assume importance for the new government. If you've been in the market for earphones, it's tough to look past Boat. The electronics company, which started with audio and then moved into wearables, provides a tonne of cheap options for earphones, speakers, and smartwatches. As Sowmya Ramasubramanian and Samiksha Goel write, the company transformed the domestic market for wearables by unleashing an affordable range of products. But now, you have plenty of o
Wed, June 05, 2024
Coalition politics is back as Modi looks at a third straight term
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, June 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The people have spoken. Results of the 2024 General Election are here, and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is set to form the government at the Centre. This time, however, no single party got an absolute majority. Far from the centre’s seat of power in Delhi, Dalal Street in Mumbai saw a milestone day. The last two days have been a rollercoaster ride for the Indian markets. The markets, which were soaring a day before results - on the back of a strong comeback predicted for the BJP by pollsters - saw a day of bloodbath on Tuesday. Investors lost more than ₹31 trillion on Tuesday as benchmark indices plunged. Both Nifty and Sensex saw a fall of close to 6 per cent - the biggest since the first pandemic-induced lockdown was announced on March 23 2020. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal reports on the biggest market crash in four years. Coalition politics is back. A decade after the BJP won a majority on its own for the first time, NDA - the coalition led by it, is seeing a comeback to power. Narendra Modi is set to become the Prime Minister for a third straight term. While the NDA’s tally of about 290 is nowhere close to the government’s call for “400 paar”, the coalition made a dent in key southern states. The BJP finally breached Kerala, winning one seat in the state. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP failed to open its account but saw its vote share rise to 11% from earlier 3.7%. The opposition INDIA bloc is likely to secure 234 seats led by the Indian National Congress, which has nearly doubled its strength in Parliament to 99 seats. The crown jewel of the BJP’s electoral victories in the past - Uttar Pradesh - favoured the opposition alliance over the BJP. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party-led INDIA bloc outnumbered the NDA by 43 to 33. Modi’s BJP also broke into new territories in the east - notably Odisha, where it not only swept the Lok Sabha election but also closed in on a majority in the state assembly. The results also imply that Modi will now have to rely on his allies - mainly TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu and JDU’s Nitish Kumar - for a stable government at the centre. Mint’s Sayantan Bera and N Madhavan report on the results of the world’s largest election. N Madhavan also explains the verdict of 2024 in today’s Mint Primer. From a setback for the BJP in the heartland states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to the return of regional parties, the 2024 verdict was full of surprises. Despite holding 206 public meetings and rallies over the course of the last 45 days, it became evident that Modi’s magic too has its limits. The Lok Sabha will also boast of a stronger Opposition - something that was missing for a decade. Another insight from the verdict is how inaccurate exit polls can be. Most
Tue, June 04, 2024
Markets reach new highs after exit poll results
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, June 4, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The markets surged on Monday, after every exit poll predicted the BJP to come back to power. Nifty was up 3.25 percent, while Sensex surged by 3.39 percent. Experts told Ram Sahgal and Dipti Sharma that the markets could still zoom by 2 to 3 percent today if the BJP wins 400 or more seats. However, some of them advised caution: this sudden uptick could mostly be attributed to the election resultsn, but the highs may not last too long if investors start quickly booking their profits later in the week. While the stock market is already seeing a huge push, what about India's economy? The world's fastest growing economy needs some energy to sustain the run it is on. N. Madhavan writes that a third term with a stable government at the helm can bring about policy changes and unleash new reforms that could accelerate India's growth. While the infamous GST has finally settled into India's economic framework more than seven years after it was introduced, other areas like labour, land, and agriculture need to be relooked at by the next government. It's simple enough to say that the next government "has to fix the economy". It's a broad target, and one that is understandably difficult to achieve. Our partners at howindialives.com list out some other challenges that need fixing: joblessness, private capital expenditure, and exports to name a few. Along with these ideas, they add some charts to show the potential that India has in excelling in these fields, but there's still work to be done. In particular, this story notes that a determined government could help India and its economy reach its full potential. It's time to say good bye to Vistara: by the end of 2024, the Tata Group plans on shuttering the Vistara brand. Anu Sharma reports that the Tatas plan on starting 2025 with just two main brands: Air India, and Air India Express, its low-cost counterpart. After a lengthy process, the Tata Group won the ownership of Air India in 2022 — welcoming the airline it had first started. It had planned to integrate all three of its brands: Air India, Vistara, and Air Asia into a simplified version, which will now just have Air India and AI Express in around 8 months. Conducting the world's biggest exercise in democracy is not a simple feat. The polling, which lasted for 7 phases across 44 days, finally came to an end last week. But the preparation for these 44 days begins months in advance. Krishna Yadav presents an on-ground report on how difficult it is to organise such a humongous activity for millions of voters across the length and breadth of India. He travels from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh, and speaks to prior and current officials in charge of making sure that every India can
Mon, June 03, 2024
Markets eye surge on exit poll predictions
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, June 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: 2024’s marathon seven-phase elections finally came to an end on Saturday, with voters across 57 constituencies exercising their democratic rights. In just 24 hours, elections officers across the country will start counting votes that will decide the future of India. The pollsters, however, have already spoken. Almost all of the exit polls predicted a sweeping victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance , and along with a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Buoyed by the poll predictions, market experts expect Nifty to surge by 2.5-3% when markets open today. This expectation is leading to a scramble among foreign institutional investors and proprietary traders to cover short positions, anticipating the NDA securing well over the expected 300-310 seats. Exit polls predict around 350 seats for the NDA, with some forecasts even suggesting as many as 400 seats. This is likely to boost market sentiment as it solidifies expectations of continued policy and fiscal stability. Mint’s markets correspondents Ram Sahgal and Dipti Sharma report the bullish sentiment among traders on D-street on the eve of election results. Artificial intelligence systems, often compared to "black boxes," work in complex ways that are hard to explain. Like the human brain, they process information through multiple layers but, unlike humans, their decision-making paths are not easily traceable. This makes it difficult to understand why an AI makes certain choices, such as a self-driving car failing to stop for a pedestrian. To address these challenges, the field of explainable AI or XAI aims to make AI decisions more transparent and understandable. Mint’s senior editor Leslie D’monte explains the emergence of this new field, which involves developing methods to clarify AI processes, auditing these decisions, and implementing regulatory measures to ensure accountability. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM, alongside research institutions and government bodies, are actively working on XAI technologies. India's external debt, at 18% of its GDP, is relatively low among G20 countries, as pointed out by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. However, to fully understand what India owes to other countries, it's better to look at the International Investment Position, which covers all foreign financial assets and liabilities. This includes the country's reserves and any domestic assets owned by foreigners, such as investments and loans. India's net international investment position is negative, meaning the country owes more to the rest of the world than it owns in foreign assets. This debt increased from 60 billion dollars in 2003 to 396 billion dollars in 2023, rising from 9.9% to 11.1% of its GDP. This status places India among countries that owe m
Fri, May 31, 2024
Where are the jobs for MBA grads?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, May 31, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: It's been a rough week for stockholders: the Indian equity markets fell slightly again on Thursday. Nifty was down by 0.95 percent, while Sensex dropped 0.83 percent. The Reserve Bank of India released its annual report yesterday. It said that despite challenges, India is set to grow faster and stronger over the next decade. RBI noted the resilience of the Indian economy in the face of multiple external factors, including geopolitical tensions and risks due to climate change. Shayan Ghosh and Gopika Gopakumar write that another challenge that the RBI specifically pointed out was the rapid development of artificial intelligence, as opposed to being treated as an opportunity. Interestingly, a deficient monsoon meant that India had to over rely on manufacturing and services sectors to power its 7.6 percent growth last year. Thierry Delaporte's time as the CEO of Wipro was a rocky one. He was set to be at Wipro's helm for five years, but could barely eke out 14 months. Despite the short stint, he became one of the richest executives in India's IT sector. When Delaporte was asked to resign by Wipro chairman Rishad Premji, he was told he could have a hefty severance — 4.33 million dollars, or 36 crore rupees. However, public investors weren't too thrilled at such an expensive severance package: Varun Sood reports that more than 75 percent of investors voted against it. However, strong promoter holding meant that Premji could guarantee Delaporte his exit pay. It's a rare dispute between investors and the management in a company as well managed as Wipro, Varun writes. It's not been a good year for MBA students: a Deloitte report said that campus placement budgets for business graduates had fallen by 33 percent. This is the first time companies have reduced their budgets for freshers. Even top engineering colleges have failed to attract recruiters this past placement season. Devina Sengupta writes that a global economic slowdown has affected foreign companies hiring Indian graduates, while other companies are looking for hires that require minimal training. It's a dim job market out there. Chinese EV makers were hoping to expand across the globe, but the options are dwindling. First, the European Union planned to increase their import duties to around 25 to 30 percent on these vehicles. Next, the US said it would increase the taxes to 100 percent of the car's value. And now, the next most viable foreign market, India, might soon lose out too: the central government is ramping up its efforts to monitor the dumping of Chinese EVs in India. Dhirendra Kumar reports that senior government officials are worried that after being shunned from the western markets, these automakers will fill the Indian market with cheap electric cars. Offic
Thu, May 30, 2024
Why heatwaves are getting hotter and longer
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, May 30, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices closed in the red for the fourth straight session on Wednesday. BSE’s Sensex closed 0.89 percent below its previous close, while NSE’s Nifty was down 0.8 percent. Delhi hit a blistering 52.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, marking its hottest day in history. The scorching summer sun has been draining the energy of Delhiites. Earth sciences minister Kiren Rijuju later said this was “not official yet” and described such a high temperature as “very unlikely” while asking the weather office to verify the report. Unfortunately, it is not just the people of Delhi-NCR who are suffering; the entire country is grappling with a nearly violent heatwave. Moreover, heatwaves are becoming more prolonged and intense. So, what causes a heatwave? Experts attribute this to two factors: One is El Nino, the infamous weather phenomenon frequently in the spotlight, and the second is the presence of high-pressure areas over southern peninsular India. Mint’s senior editor, N Madhavan, examines the long-drawn heatwaves and the reasons behind their increasing duration in today’s Mint Primer. In the world of stock trading, it’s crunch time, much like the final overs of a gripping cricket match. As India nears the end of its Lok Sabha elections, with the last votes being cast this Saturday and exit polls expected the same evening, investors are on the edge. Recently, there's been a notable shift in the stock market, particularly among retail and high-net-worth investors. These individuals, often referred to as the 'Client' category by the NSE, have traditionally been savvy, sometimes even outguessing foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in predicting market trends. However, in a striking move, they’ve significantly scaled back their bullish positions on Nifty and Bank Nifty futures. Conversely, foreign investors, who were net bearish in mid-May, flipped their stance to net bullish by the end of the month. This shift suggests a mix of caution and repositioning as everyone braces for the election results. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal spoke to experts who pointed out that the market is playing between a position of optimism and caution. The 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option in Indian elections hasn't quite stirred the political pot as some might have hoped. Despite being around for a decade and touted as a tool for voter dissent, its impact has been minimal. In the last couple of Lok Sabha elections, barely 1% of voters chose NOTA. It has gained slightly more traction in places like Bihar and Odisha, particularly in tribal areas, but it’s still not causing major ripples. To break it down: in both the 2014 and 2019 elections, the majority of the 543
Wed, May 29, 2024
Why political parties are wooing women voters
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, May 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian equity markets fell slightly on Tuesday. Nifty was down by 0.19 percent, while the Sensex dropped by 0.29 percent. We've got a pretty hot edition for you today: a lot of our top stories of the day have to do with the summer. Let's get into it. The summers are here — and with it, comes enormous demand for power. Temperatures are a good indicator of the demand for electricity, but that can vary a lot for a given place — and even on the same day. 2024 is shaping up to be warmer than last year , which would mean that India's power demand will peak again at some point in the next few weeks. Can India keep up with this fluctuating demand? Our partners at How India Lives . com try and answer that in five succinct charts. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kbPDA/full.png The heatwave is also bad news for automakers. Fewer people are stepping out to escape the sun, and in turn, fewer prospective buyers are going to the showroom to look at cars. Sales in May are sharply down from the same period a year ago, reports Alisha Sachdev. But the heatwave isn't the only one at fault: the election cycle, as well as a lack of auspicious days are also to blame. To counter that, dealerships are offering widespread discounts and doorstep deliveries. If you're in the market for a new set of wheels, now might be the time to capitalise. Despite a record harvest, wheat prices are still rising. Lower production due to untimely rains in some states has marred the distribution for wheat. This might push the Indian government to allow the import of wheat, which is currently banned. While currently wheat prices are fine, they might steadily but surely rise as there's less wheat stock in the market. Sayantan Bera explores the current predicament and the future outlook in this Mint Primer. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0B1nT/full.png For global media conglomerate Walt Disney, a particular piece of inheritance in India has turned into a white elephant. When Disney bought out 21st century Fox, it also received a 30 percent share of Tata's DTH company, Tata Play. However, sources told Gaurav Laghate that Disney wants nothing to do with this business. The Tata Group has refused to buy Disney out, and other buyers aren't interested either — further complicating the matter. The Tatas had hoped to IPO this company in at least three different instances, but decided against it. Tata Play has now become the strange DTH that nobody wants to play with. https://www.livemint.com/lm-img/img/2024/05/27/600x338/HULU-EVALUATION-DISNEY-COMCAST-1_1715095044262_1716804336688.JPG The Indian society isn't firmly patriarchal anymore: women now have various ri
Tue, May 28, 2024
Markets raise a vote of confidence
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, May 28, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark equity indices touched their all-time highs intraday trading on Monday only to end the session on a muted note. The Sensex touched a new high of 76,009 points before climbing down and closing 0.03 per cent below its previous close. Similarly, the Nifty touched an all-time high of 23,110 points, only to close 0.11 per cent below its previous close. As the Lok Sabha election reaches its final stretch, with the last phase of polling scheduled for this Saturday, Mint’s Plain Facts series on the government’s schemes brings an overview of the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) - a rural housing scheme. Originally evolving from the Congress-era Indira Awaas Yojana, PMAY-G has targeted 60% of its homes for SC/ST families, managing to reach about 11.4 million households. Launched in 2016, the scheme covers roughly 22% of India's rural SC/ST population, according to the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census. One standout feature of PMAY-G is the substantial ownership by women, who individually or jointly own nearly 72% of the houses constructed under the scheme—a stark contrast to the national rate of 43%. However, despite these impressive numbers, the implementation of PMAY-G has been uneven. Most houses were constructed in a concentrated period from 2019 to 2021, with recent years showing a slowdown. Moreover, the financial model supporting PMAY-G involves substantial central funding and a significant reliance on unskilled labour from the rural job guarantee scheme. Click on the link in the show notes to see the charts and interactive maps prepared by Mint’s data team and senior editor Nandita Venkatesan. Markets too are reacting to the final leg of the Lok Sabha election. Signs of restored investor confidence are emerging in the equity markets. The net value of marketwide options' open position saw a drastic reduction, from ₹4.96 trillion on May 7 to ₹91,149 crore by May 24, reflecting a shift in market sentiment. This decrease is significant as it indicates a wave of short covering. This means investors are unwinding their bets against the market. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal spoke to market insiders and mutual fund executives who see this as an expectation of political continuity at the centre. People for years have been getting intellectual property rights protected for their own innovations. Be it technological innovations or a brand symbol - IP or intellectual property rights cover all of them. However, recently, Bollywood bigwigs Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor won legal protections for their iconic phrases "bhidu" and "jhakaas," stirring quite the pot about creative freedom. Essentially, they've set a legal boundary that prevents anyone from using their catchphrases, or even their images and voices, without permissio
Mon, May 27, 2024
A few questions for BJP, INDIA alliance
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, May 27, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The seventh and final phase of the 2024 general elections will conclude this week. Despite numerous rallies and manifesto releases, the parties' economic plans remain unclear. Puja Mehra raises a critical question to the two main blocs: how will they kick-start India's economic progress? She argues that both parties' plans have glaring loopholes. The prime minister must justify the modest economic progress over the past decade of his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, while the INDIA coalition must specify the source of their planned economic development. Mehra also poses open-ended questions about corporate tax policies and the relationship between public and private investment. Be sure to read this piece for thought-provoking queries about the country's future, regardless of who comes to power. While election results are yet to be announced, the central government is already planning for the next term. The Centre aims to significantly scale up its interest-free loans to states to boost capital expenditure. Rhik Kundu reports that this initiative will be part of the full budget, set to be released in July. The government has currently earmarked 75,000 crore rupees for this scheme. To qualify, states must implement several reform-oriented structural changes in sectors such as housing and vehicle scrappage. Facebook has faced widespread criticism over its content moderation policies, leading it to contract IT giant Cognizant to filter out harmful content. Cognizant directed its staff to manually review reported content to determine its suitability for posting. However, these employees, who have since left the firm, are now suing Cognizant. They allege that the reviews were extreme in nature and high in volume. The 14 plaintiffs claim the work was misrepresented to them and that they now suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Varun Sood provides the details of the latest issue facing Cognizant. Eleven successive quarters of net profit, an EBITDA margin of around 25 percent, and a stock price increase of nearly 200 percent—any chief executive would be delighted with these numbers. But Amur Lakshminarayanan has just one question: what's next? Lakshminarayanan, the MD and CEO of Tata Communications, is now in his fifth year at the helm. The Trichy-born engineer has successfully diversified Tata Communications' revenue streams, including an exciting new venture into live streaming sports events. Right before the pandemic, Tata Communications also began modernizing its operations with artificial intelligence—a move that has paid off dividends. Arun Janardhan profiles Lakshminarayanan in this "Business of Life" piece for Mint Lounge. There are necessities, and then there are luxuries. Common Indian wisdom says it'
Fri, May 24, 2024
Markets reach new record highs
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, May 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s stock markets had a great Thursday, with the Nifty and Sensex benchmarks each rising more than 1.6% to close at record highs. As a result, India's stock markets are now valued at over 5 trillion dollars, writes Dipti Sharma. Banking stocks, which have largely underperformed this year, also saw significant gains. Additionally, investor sentiment was boosted by the Prime Minister's projection that the stock markets would hit record highs on 4 June if the BJP returns to power with a comfortable majority. Zomato, on the other hand, rose just about a per cent yesterday. However, its share price has surged over 50 per cent since the beginning of the year. The food delivery company distinguishes itself from its startup peers as a consistently profitable and innovative entity. However, Zomato wasn't always this way—it spent its first four years burning through investor money. TN Hari, a senior executive with multiple growth-stage startups, chronicles Zomato's journey from a struggling startup to an investor darling. Paytm, another startup, which listed around the same time as Zomato, has faced a contrasting fate. Yesterday, Paytm's shares dropped nearly 3 per cent, bringing its total decline in 2024 to over 44 per cent. When the Reserve Bank of India cancelled its banking licence, Paytm's share price cracked. That has had an impact on its employees as well, who have flooded the job market with their resumes. Shayan Ghosh and Devina Sengupta report about the fintech's challenges. While Paytm hasn't resorted to any layoffs, yet, employees are concerned about potential cuts and career stagnation. If you're hiring, expect to see resumes from Paytm employees soon. Every year, India adds to its electric power generation capacity, a necessity given the record highs in electricity consumption we hit annually. With summer officially here, the demand for electronic items to keep cool has surged. However, June might bring with it a power crisis. As N. Madhavan writes, the power deficit in June is expected to be the highest in 14 years. Night-time demand is projected to reach 235 gigawatts, while supply lags at only 221 gigawatts. In response, the government has reopened old coal plants and plans to open new ones to meet this demand. Despite these efforts, power cuts are likely this year. These days, it seems only brands text me on WhatsApp. The app, once a cheap way to communicate with friends and family, has become a platform for endless coupons and shopping offers. This shift began a few years ago when Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, integrated commercial features into the messaging app. According to our reporter Gulveen Aulakh, this trend will only become more widespread. Gulveen spoke with Sandhya Devanathan, the head of Meta Ind
Thu, May 23, 2024
GenZ vs Millenials: Workplace wars
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, May 23, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian benchmark equity indices closed higher on Wednesday, driven by positive cues from global markets and strong Q4 earnings reports from major companies. The Sensex climbed 267 points, closing 0.36% higher than the previous session. The Nifty remained relatively flat, gaining a modest 22 points. For decades, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been a beacon of hope for millions of Indians aspiring to build a stable and strong career. However, this year, IITians are struggling to get placed. The anxiety at IITs is palpable, with hundreds of students from the 2024 batch still jobless even after the second round of placements. The traditional powerhouse of engineering talent is now casting a wider net, reaching out to startups, alumni, and exploring new industry segments to secure opportunities for its students. In particular, IIT Bombay reports that out of 1,973 students registered for placements, 1,387 have secured jobs in the first and second phases. Yet, 300 to 400 students are still searching for employment. To address this, the placement teams are proactively contacting previous recruiters and broadening their search to include companies offering lower starting salaries than before. The challenge is more acute this year due to several large IT firms scaling back campus hires, a direct consequence of the economic downturn which has tightened budgets and led to job cuts across sectors. The newer IITs are feeling the pinch as well, navigating their placement season with cautious optimism. Mint’s careers correspondent Devina Sengupta, along with Pratishtha Bagai, report on a challenging placement season at the IITs. Amid a severe heatwave and unpredictable weather patterns, India is grappling with a rise in health issues such as heatstrokes and vector-borne diseases like dengue. In response, the health ministry has introduced an initiative that feels more necessary now than ever: including climate change in the medical curriculum. Medical students could soon be learning about climate change and its effects. The proposed course aims to prepare future medical professionals to better understand and tackle health challenges directly linked to climate fluctuations. Given the complexity of diagnosing conditions like heatstroke and managing emerging diseases like monkeypox, which are exacerbated by climate shifts, this educational update seems timely. Mint’s health and pharma correspondent, Somitra Ghosh, reports on the proposed inclusion, which could help our healthcare professionals deal with climate change more efficiently. The Indian state has been in existence for close to 77 years, yet a basic necessity like clean water for all remains a challenge. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Wed, May 22, 2024
Flipkart’s quick-commerce FOMO
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, May 22, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. Indian benchmark indices climbed off the day's high to close on a mixed note on Tuesday. Sensex fell marginally by 52 points to end the day 0.07 percent below its previous close while Nifty rose 27 points to close 0.12 per cent higher. India's IPO market is heating up and could be on track to set a new record in FY25. The apparent surge in enthusiasm seems to defy the usual election-season jitters. Just two months into the financial year, new share offerings valued at more than Rs 50,000 crore are already in the pipeline. This figure is fast approaching the nearly Rs 62,000 crore that 76 companies raised through mainboard IPOs in FY24. Well-known companies such as Ola Electric Mobility, Swiggy, and NSDL are among those that have filed for IPOs with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, and with heavy hitters like Tata Capital and Hexaware Technologies also expected to join the fray, the buzz is undeniable. Mint’s Dipti Sharma and Ranjani Raghavan spoke to market experts who are particularly bullish on the IPO scene. They predict the number and size of IPOs in FY25 could double those of the previous year. Munish Aggarwal of Equirus echoed this optimism and suggested that barring any major volatility, issuances could top ₹1.5 trillion this year—a milestone previously achieved only in FY22. The growing IPO market isn't just about raising more funds; it's a testament to the maturing of India's primary markets. The expanding real estate market has seen a distinct shift in dynamics that has particularly affected the availability and sales of affordable housing. Over the past five years, there's been a noticeable decline in the sale of homes priced ₹40 lakh or less in top Indian cities, even as the overall property sector has seen a recovery. The share of affordable housing in total home sales dropped dramatically from 38% in 2019 to just 19% by 2023, with a slight increase to 20% in early 2024. This trend is mirrored in the supply of new budget housing projects, which plummeted from 40% to 18% over the same period. Conversely, the luxury housing segment has thrived during this period. Benefiting from the real estate upcycle post-pandemic, luxury homes have seen an increase in both supply and sales. So, is there a way the affordable housing market could see a recovery? In which cities is this trend most visible? And has the government decided to step in? Mint’s Madhurima Nandy tackles these questions in today’s Mint Primer. Just days after the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, Norway’s Norges Bank, blacklisted its ports business, Gautam Adani's conglomerate is setting up a $3 billion fund to enhance its global ports capacity significantly. The Adani Group aims to create a strong presence in the crucial international trad
Tue, May 21, 2024
RBI’s ‘no carrot, all stick’ approach
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, May 21, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. No stock market updates from us today as the markets remained shut on Monday as Mumbai went to the polls. Yesterday, Iran's interior minister confirmed that the country's leader, Ebrahim Raisi, had died in a helicopter crash that also killed the country’s foreign minister. We invited Elizabeth Roche, an associate professor at Jindal University, to write about the implications of this tragedy. Roche also answers what's next for Iran, and how this will affect India, the Middle East, and the West. A couple of weeks ago, a research paper by Banaras Hindu University sparked widespread worries among Indians. The paper said a significant number of people faced adverse side-effects after taking Covaxin, the indigenously developed covid vaccine. Bharat Biotech, which developed the vaccine, brushed off the concerns, pointing to other studies that proved the vaccine's safety record. Now, the government is stepping in to dismiss any concerns: the Indian Council of Medical Sciences said that BHU's study was poorly designed, and had no control group of unvaccinated individuals to compare with. Priyanka Sharma writes that the participants were contacted by telephone, and no physical examination was conducted. This ought to put Covaxin users at ease. The Reserve Bank of India has reprimanded a host of financial entities lately, from Paytm to Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bank of Baroda. Under governor Shaktikanta Das, the banking regulator is doing its best to whip every lender into shape. Prior to Das, Raghuram Rajan was at the helm. His goal was cleaning up banks' balance sheets, while Das wants to ensure better governance. But as Shayan Ghosh writes, the way the RBI has been going about this is interesting: it is now not afraid of taking big decisions. Earlier, the central bank relied on fines and warnings. Today, it is cancelling banking licences and preventing companies from taking on new customers — essentially hurting the core of their business. Shayan takes a deep dive into the RBI's practices, and why it's resorting to such measures to protect citizens. If you go to buy an electric vehicle, you'll realise that one big advantage EVs have over their fossil fuel-counterparts is that they don't carry any road tax. For example, in Karnataka, the road tax for petrol cars can be up to 17 percent of the car's price. This is an incentive from the government for companies and buyers to go green. But you don't have to electrify yourself fully to get discounts from the government. Take for example, ethanol-powered cars. Alisha Sachdev reports that union road minister Nitin Gadkari expressed interest in lowering the taxes on ethanol and ethanol-blend cars from anywhere between 2 and 14 percent. This would significantly lower the cost of cars that u
Mon, May 20, 2024
Bye-ju’s: Key advisors quit Byju’s
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, May 20, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: What used to be the poster child of Indian startups and had a presence everywhere, from the FIFA World Cup to the Indian Cricket Team’s jersey - Byju’s - has witnessed a fall from grace over the last two years. The company, which was once a unicorn saw a 95% nosedive in its value. The Bengaluru-based company’s woes do not seem to end. Rajnish Kumar and T.V. Mohandas Pai, advisors on the panel of Byju’s parent company Think & Learn, have decided not to extend their tenure beyond June 30. This adds to the challenges faced by the company, as it navigates board exits, financial troubles, and increasing litigation. Both advisors have chosen to leave due to the company's ongoing legal entanglements, report Mint’s senior editors Gopika Gopakumar and Varun Sood. The advisory panel, established in July last year following notable resignations from the board due to governance concerns, was part of a strategy to address these corporate governance issues. Unfortunately, Byju's continued to face operational challenges, including the inability to secure additional funding, leading to layoffs and delayed salaries. In the past three years up to March 2023, a staggering revelation came from India's food safety authorities: out of 43 million food samples tested, a quarter did not meet domestic food safety laws. Alarmingly, one in six of these were found to be either 'unsafe' or 'substandard,' while the remainder failed to adhere to labelling laws, often misleading consumers with incorrect information. While India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or FSSAI, did initiate litigation against these outliers, what they forgot to do was inform the citizens about them. Fssai and state agencies have not sufficiently informed the public about the specific manufacturers or brands involved, leaving consumers uninformed about potentially harmful products. The lack of transparency is evident in Fssai’s 2021-22 annual report, which notably omits any mention of product recalls or license cancellations — standard practices in many other countries to protect consumers. Mint’s Sayantan Bera and Suneera Tandon spoke to FSSAI insiders to understand why the central government agency has failed to crack the whip on companies selling substandard products, amidst global scrutiny of Indian packaged food brands. Sayantan and Suneera also break down the challenges being faced by the FSSAI including a lack of testing labs. The Financial Services Institutions Bureau, an autonomous body under the central government, is set to conduct interviews on May 21 to recommend a candidate for the chairman's post of the country's largest bank - the State Bank of India. This decision will be finalised on the same day, replacing the incumbent Dinesh Kumar K
Fri, May 17, 2024
Fresh setback for Adani
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, May 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: After Wednesday’s fall, the Indian benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex rose by nearly one percent on Thursday. While the Sensex climbed 670 points, the Nifty surged by more than 200 points. As we edge closer to the final phase of the Lok Sabha election, there's a clear divide between domestic and foreign investors' market play, especially in their bets on Nifty derivatives. Retail and wealthy investors, usually called 'clients' on NSE, are really bullish right now. They believe the ruling NDA coalition is heading for a big win, and have ramped up their bullish positions on Nifty futures to the highest levels since November 2. On the flip side, Foreign Portfolio Investors are treading cautiously. Maybe they're sensing a potential upset because they've gone and hedged their massive $794-billion portfolio of Indian stocks by taking on a hefty amount of bearish index futures. It's their highest level of bearish bets since, well, the same date as the domestic bulls. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal brings the latest on how the markets are reacting to the national election. The Supreme Court recently made a big decision: lawyers are now exempt from the Consumer Protection Act. This change could pave the way for doctors to get a similar exemption. So what does this mean for you when you need to complain about poor service? Mint’s senior editor N Madhavan explains in today’s Primer. On 14 May, the Supreme Court said that legal services are unique and don't fall under the Consumer Protection Act. It pointed out that the law never intended to include professionals like lawyers and doctors. Instead, these professionals are regulated by their own bodies, like the Bar Council of India or the Indian Medical Association. Here’s where it gets interesting. The Supreme Court also hinted that it might reconsider its 1996 ruling that brought doctors under the Consumer Protection Act. This could mean doctors might also be exempted soon. The biggest sovereign wealth fund in the world - Norway’s Norges Bank Investment Management pronounced Nor-ges> has blacklisted billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, or APSEZ. The fund, which has $1.63 trillion in assets under management, blacklisted the firm citing unacceptable risk related to “serious violations of individuals' rights in situations of war or conflict.” Adani Ports became the 16th Indian company to be on its exclusion list. The Adani Group company acquired Israel’s Haifa port in 2022. However, it is unclear whether the $1.15 billion acquisition is the reason behind the blacklisting. APSEZ, which owns 14 ports globally, handles a significant portion of India’s cargo. Norges Bank, which owns 1.5% of the world’s
Thu, May 16, 2024
Govt to crack down on fake reviews
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, May 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: After a couple of days of gains, the Indian stock markets fell on Wednesday. The Sensex shed 117 points, while the Nifty dropped by 0.16 percent during yesterday's trading session. Fake reviews have plagued e-commerce. But the central government might soon have a solution. The ministry of consumer affairs wants to establish a quality check order to crack down on fake reviews on e-commerce platforms. Dhirendra Kumar reports that these platforms will have to curb these dubious reviews or face action under the centre's consumer protection act. This proposal comes after there were a substantially large number of consumer grievances related to e-commerce on the national consumer helpline. In 2023, the helpline saw more than 440,000 complaints pertaining to e-commerce alone. Canada was the preferred destination for thousands of Indian students every year, but that is now changing. As Devina Sengupta writes, applications to Canadian universities have dropped by more than 40 percent this year. Canada is to blame here — the government had vowed to cut its international student number by a third last year. Moreover, a housing crisis and lack of jobs have also dissuaded Indian students from flying there. Devina spoke to higher studies consultants who told her that this dip is likely to continue till at least the end of 2025, which is when Canada is scheduled to have their next round of general elections. Health-conscious people always read the nutritional value of items when they buy any packaged foods. But what happens when the labels themselves are misleading? To help with that, the National Institute of Nutrition has issued a list of 17 do's and don'ts as dietary guidelines. This assumes importance as more than half of India's total disease are borne out of unhealthy diets. Indian diets are quite low in protein — the guide recommends you to increase your intake of proteins to improve your health. As Sayantan Bera writes, some fruit juices contain way too much sugar and not enough fruit. Getting into mutual funds can be a little daunting. There are some 140,000 mutual fund distributors in India today. These distributors cherry-pick their best-performing funds to get you to invest your money — but past history is not a certain indicator of the future. Some buy through banks because it's more convenient, but banks take a healthy cut out of your earnings. Neil Borate and Sashind Ningthoukhongjam outline some basic advice to help you choose a path through the mutual fund maze. They write about what a good distributor should have, and more importantly, how to spot a bad investment advisor. Remember: if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Hilton, Hyatt, Taj, Marriott — these are some of the most famous hotel chains across
Wed, May 15, 2024
Why election results scared investors
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, May 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock markets trended upwards on Tuesday. Sensex and Nifty gained about half a percent each in yesterday's trading session. That was welcome news for Indian equity investors, who suffered through a string of loss-making sessions last week. That's all due to Vix — no, not the cough drop. Vix is an indication of the fear in the market sentiment. If the markets are up, Vix is down, as there is less fear of volatility in the market. Last week, the markets took a turn for the worse as the results of the general elections stoked fear among investors. Vix has been at a 19-month high of late, and investors want to book their profits in case of an unexpected result on June 4. Ram Sahgal writes a detailed explainer on why the elections are causing such instability across Indian equities. When the government launched the open network for digital commerce, or ONDC for short, it was supposed to be a game changer. A year and a half later, only one segment has actually seen some noted disruption: food delivery. Mobility, especially auto-rickshaw rides, are also doing well. But the rest of the apps haven't made ONDC their home just yet. As Sowmya Ramasubramanian writes, apparel, electronics, and other e-commerce ventures haven't fared well on ONDC. Even its success story, food delivery, did roughly 10 million orders, as opposed to 100 million between Zomato and Swiggy. ONDC was once heralded as the next possible success story after UPI. That comparison pales heavily today. Will ONDC be able to pick up some momentum soon? If you had friends in the West, you probably would've gotten some spectacular pictures of the sky from them. Social media was full of colourful skies last week, delighting many. But they were the result of a solar flare on the surface of the sun. This phenomenon can hurt power infrastructure, communications, and disrupt navigation. The pretty aurora borealis can thus disrupt our lives as we know it. Shouvik Das explains this occurrence, their severity, and how we can defend ourselves from a solar flare's negative effects. Godrej Properties is a landmark in India — both in terms of its name, and its real estate business. It has a market cap of 78,400 crore rupees, but its beginnings were quite humble. When it listed publicly in December 2009, it raised just 469 crore rupees — double of its revenue. But today, Godrej Properties rakes in more than 22,000 crore rupees as annual revenue. Its shares have increased by 239 percent in the last five years. There's one man from the Godrej family who can take credit for making its real estate arm as successful as it is today: Pirojsha Godrej. Godrej now competes with DLF, Prestige, and Macrotech in the real estate market. Madhurima Nandy tries to answer a burning question:
Tue, May 14, 2024
Entry-level hatchbacks are popular no more
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, May 14, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices remained upbeat on Monday, with both Nifty and Sensex closing the session in the green. BSE’s 30-company Sensex surged 0.15 percent while NSE’s Nifty-50 saw a rise of 0.22 percent. Mini-cars have long been the gateway to four-wheeled transport for many in India, but they're facing a bit of a rough patch. Maruti Suzuki, the big player in India's car market, is hitting the pause button on sprucing up this segment. Why? Well, it boils down to costs and affordability. Right now, Maruti dominates the hatchback market, holding about 70% of it, but they're choosing to hold off on upgrades until these cars become more wallet-friendly for the average buyer. Their mainstays—the Alto, Celerio, and S-Presso—won't see significant changes for a while. Maruti's betting that once incomes go up, these entry-level cars will become popular again among first-time buyers. But here’s the kicker: the overall market for entry-level cars has really dipped, from more than 470 thousand units back in 2011 to just over 160 thousand in 2024. Customers are more inclined towards entry-level SUVs instead. Mint’s autos correspondent Alisha Sachdev writes on the shrinking market for entry-level hatchbacks. Nasdaq-listed IT firm Cognizant, which has more than 250 thousand employees in India, is getting tough with employees who are resisting returning to the office. They've warned that continued absence could lead to termination. This move, detailed in a letter from April 15, makes Cognizant one of the first major IT companies to use firing to get people back to their office cubicles. Until recently, Cognizant was flexible about office attendance, letting individual teams decide based on their project needs. But earlier this year, they changed gears and started asking their employees in India to be in the office three days a week. They even began tracking office attendance closely. Mint’s IT correspondent Jas Bardia reports on the emerging trend of IT companies using termination as a tool to get people back to office. Companies like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have also been tightening policies around office attendance, linking them to pay hikes and bonuses, indicating a significant shift from the more flexible remote work policies during the pandemic. The banking sector is basking in the glow of an extraordinary earnings season for the March quarter. State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, just posted a record-breaking profit of more than 20,000 crore rupees for the quarter, outshining even Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company. Punjab National Bank is another state-run lender that's making waves, with its net profit skyrocketing almost three-fold. Private players including HDFC and Axis Bank,
Mon, May 13, 2024
India: a chess powerhouse
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, May 13, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Active investors in Indian equity markets have had a good run: in the last three years, the Sensex has increased by more than 45 percent. Often, the state of the stock markets also reflects the mood of the nation. If the country's economic output is robust, the market trends upwards. As Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda, writes, it is often assumed that a rising stock index is indicative of broad confidence in the economy and acts as a foreteller of its performance. But is this really true? Sabnavis argues that broader market trends do not reflect the true picture of Indian commerce or macroeconomic conditions. He compares India's GDP, Nifty, and Nifty companies' profits to make his point. Next time someone says the country is doing great because the stock market hit a new high, you might want to point out that the correlation isn't necessarily true. Investors opt for mutual funds when they want a more passive experience to investing. If you're bullish on one sector, you can even choose a sector-specific fund like banking, PSUs, and auto stocks. But what if you want to reap the rewards from a more risky instrument like cryptocurrencies? Since January 2020, the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index, which is a collection of some of the top cryptocurrencies, has delivered 500 percent returns. That's where a fund like BitSave comes in. BitSave is a startup that operates a crypto-only fund, and isn't bound by SEBI's regulations as it operates out of Seychelles. We invited Yash Roongta, founder of Alt Investor, to write about this interesting but volatile investment option. AI this, AI that — it's impossible to escape the all-encompassing artificial intelligence. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is drumming up hype for GPT-5. Some believe that along with GPT-5, OpenAI is also set to launch a search engine that would go toe-to-toe with Google. ChatGPT has also been licensed to a variety of businesses, and makes a lot of money from it. But as Leslie D'Monte writes, companies would do well to hedge their AI bets. Despite the hype for GPT-5, it might turn out to be a dud — that's where the competitors come in. If you've made international summer vacation plans, I must commend your patience. It's incredibly difficult to get a visa to the US or Europe these days. Appointments for the Schengen visa are months away, and you're not certain to get them either. Spurned by Europe, Indians are now looking at other destinations, writes Varuni Khosla. Varuni spoke with travel agents who are curating trips for holidays to places such as South Korea and Japan. Closer home, countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand are attractive destinations too, especially after they started providing visa on arrival for Indians. Europe's loss is India's gain,
Fri, May 10, 2024
The steady saffronisation of Mamata didi
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, May 10, 2024, and I'm Nelson John. Let's dive in: The Indian benchmark indices ended deep in the red on Thursday, marking their third consecutive session of losses, weighed down by a raft of weak March quarter results and uncertainty surrounding the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Sensex, which had opened higher, tumbled more than a thousand points to close 1.45 percent lower than its previous close. The Nifty also ended in the red, down 1.55 percent. Spices and Indian masalas are an integral part of the subcontinent’s history and global identity. The spice trade in medieval times shaped India’s colonial history. However, Indian spices are now facing a crisis of confidence. It all began early last month when regulatory authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore suspended the sale of MDH and Everest spice mixes due to alleged chemical contamination. The regulators found high levels of ethylene oxide, a carcinogen, in the spice mixes. The Maldives has also banned both brands, while regulators in the US, Bangladesh, and Australia have initiated investigations. Indian spice exports are substantial, estimated at $4.25 billion in FY24, constituting 12% of the global spice trade valued at $35 billion. Mint’s senior editor, N Madhavan, explains how the regulatory action against these Indian spice companies could impact the $4 billion spice export sector. India’s largest public sector bank, the State Bank of India, announced stellar fiscal fourth-quarter results on Thursday. Profit for the quarter ended in March rose to more than Rs 20 thousand crores. Rising 24 percent year-on-year, the profit was the highest quarterly number it has ever reported. For the whole of FY24, SBI’s income stood at more than Rs 61 thousand crores, yet another record for the lender. SBI chairman Dinesh Khara expressed confidence in the bank’s growth prospects, saying that the lender aims to expand its credit book by 14-16%. Despite the positive outlook, SBI's projected deposit growth for FY25 is expected to lag its credit growth, a trend playing out across the banking industry. Khara remains optimistic, citing broad-based growth across various loan segments, including retail, corporate, small businesses, and agriculture. Mint’s banking correspondent Shayan Ghosh writes on SBI’s results and examines what the current fiscal year has in store for the bank. In 2023, Tesla chief Elon Musk conceptualized the Hyperloop—a revolution in mobility. The Hyperloop is envisioned as a low-pressure tube for high-speed transportation of cargo and passengers using magnetically levitated pod-like vehicles. Despite skepticism about its viability, Satyanarayan Chakravarthy, a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, believes in its potential. Speaking with Mint’s senior editor Leslie D’Monte, Chakravarthy revealed p
Thu, May 09, 2024
Most Indians don't have a favourite IPL team
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, May 9, 2024, and I'm Nelson John. Let's dive in: Indian benchmark market indices remained largely muted for the second straight day on Wednesday. BSE’s Sensex ended in the red, falling 0.06 percent, settling below its previous close. NSE’s Nifty 50, on the other hand, closed largely flat, dropping 45 points. The biggest spectacle of Indian cricket is in full swing. The Indian Premier League started early last month and is nearing its final leg as 10 teams battle it out for the coveted trophy, which comes with a prize money of ₹20 crore. The tournament—usually the biggest TV event every year—exhibits a peculiar trend among its fan base. According to a recent study by marketing analytics firm Crisp and agency Kadence, nearly half of IPL viewers don't consistently support a specific team. However, there are some favourites. The survey, which looked into brand-recognition dynamics and involved about 20,000 people, shows that there's a strong emotional connection that goes beyond just victories. Take Chennai Super Kings, for example; a lot of their appeal comes from the 'Dhoni effect.' Despite not topping the table like they do every year, CSK has emerged as one of the fan favourites. Nearly a third of those surveyed from 13 Indian cities said they prefer the team over others. Mint’s Varuni Khosla reports on the survey, which revealed that more than 86 percent of the fans prefer one of four teams. These teams are CSK, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Varuni also looks at how the league’s brand value hasn't budged an inch as ad rates remain on par with the previous year. Since you are listening to this podcast, it is fair to assume that you get your information from podcasts. Now, imagine listening to a podcast run by the government. The consumer affairs ministry is taking creative steps to combat consumer fraud with the launch of a new podcast. Aimed at educating digitally literate consumers about fraudulent practices, the podcast will utilize storytelling to share real experiences of fraud victims and how their issues were resolved. Mint’s Dhirendra Kumar reports on the initiative being developed by the Central Consumer Protection Authority. The podcast is set to air episodes every Sunday across various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The government is mulling over a proposal to eliminate import duty on business jets, aligning it with the zero-duty policy on commercial jets. Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma, along with Gireesh Chandra Prasad, reports on the change advocated by the civil aviation ministry. The tax changes aim to stimulate growth in the private charters industry, which has stagnated over the last decade and a half with only 100-120 operators. The current tax, a modest 2.5%, has been in p
Wed, May 08, 2024
Investors seek protection ahead of election results
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and I'm Nelson John. Let's dive in: India’s equity markets fell on Wednesday, with both the Sensex and Nifty declining by about half a percent. However, consumer stocks such as Marico, HUL, and Godrej performed well, defying the broader market downturn. IT stocks, meanwhile, have been on a downward spiral for a while now. However, a reversal in fortunes might be imminent, thanks to 'clouds'—and no, I'm not referring to the impending monsoon season, but to cloud computing. Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud have had a spectacular first three months of the year. Historically, the success of these companies has directly and positively impacted the bottomlines of IT firms in India. As Microsoft, AWS, and Google continue to pick more business, companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro are likely to benefit as well, writes Varun Sood. This could be some much-needed good news for the IT sector, at last. Following the potential upturn in the IT sector, attention shifts to how the general elections might influence the broader stock market. Generally, the market favours stability at the helm. And a change in leadership could introduce new policies and widespread uncertainty—conditions no investor likes. Ram Sahgal reports that investors are increasingly taking measures to protect their portfolios in case of a regime change, or in a scenario where the BJP secures a win but with a narrower margin than expected. Currently, there are nearly 1.48 million put options on the market, indicating that investors are betting on a market decline. Market experts have told Ram that the mood among investors is nervous and jittery, evidenced by a persistently high volatility index. Everyone loves Haldiram snacks — but how much are you willing to spend on them? Maybe 500 rupees? A thousand? It turns out, private equity firms are willing to shell out a lot more to acquire a majority stake in the popular snack company. Sneha Shah and Ranjani Raghavan report that Blackstone, Temasek, and Bain Capital are gearing up to buy at least 51 percent stake in the sweets-and-savouries maker. The company has been valued at 8 to 10 billion dollars. Currently, the companies are conducting due diligence on the deal. That’s one expensive snack, indeed. Every election season, voters get their fingers stained with indelible ink. This practice, started in India in 1962, has found worldwide adoption as election commissions attempt to eliminate fraudulent voting. Such voting ink is made by a single company: Mysore Paints and Varnish. Originally founded by the king of Mysore, the company is now owned by the government of Karnataka and is a listed entity. Mysore Paints comes into the limelight once every five years, as production ramps up significantly during the general elections. Howe
Tue, May 07, 2024
Why Elon Musk chose China above India
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, May 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The public markets stayed largely flat on Tuesday. Sensex was marginally up, while Nifty fell by 0.15 percent. Linde India, an industrial gas giant, did better than the market indices yesterday: its shares were up 1 percent on the day. In the past two months, the company’s share price has surged by 50 percent as investors have anticipated a windfall from Linde's parent company announcing multiple deals to supply gas in India. As India gears up to try and become a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, there are some unanswered questions regarding Linde's India business. Linde's parent company, which is listed in the US, had announced the proposed business deals in India. Investors assumed that these businesses would be carried out by the company's India arm. However, Linde hasn't provided any clarity over this matter at all, reports Nehal Chaliawala. This is an odd case of a parent company being at odds with a regional unit, and millions of retail shareholders might get hurt as a result. A few weeks ago, Elon Musk appeared pumped to come to India. He was going to meet the prime minister, as officials provided Tesla with a slew of benefits to sell the electric vehicle in India. But at the last minute, he cancelled this trip—and ended up in China instead. Musk was able to secure an approval for Tesla's self-driving cars to be sold in China as a result of this trip. This was crucial for the company: China is the world's largest market for EVs. These are some of the reasons why Musk rebuked India for China, write our partners at how india lives . com. Click the link to the story from the show notes in your app to see the charts accompanying this story. Indians love to shop — and they want their cart to be delivered to their doorstep. While metro cities have always enjoyed widespread service, e-commerce penetration has also improved in smaller towns of India. But it's not just online marketplaces that are reaping the benefits: logistics firms are enjoying the boom too. Priyamvada C writes that companies like Ecom Express, XpressBees, ShadowFax, and Delhivery are earning a significant chunk of their revenue from tier 2 and beyond cities. Priyamvada spoke to executives from the startup ecosystem for this story, one of whom told her that around 60% of growth is likely to come from smaller towns. Who doesn't like to save on tax? In India, the personal finance industry seemingly finds loopholes in no time. Often, these are plugged by the authorities. The rules for a particular type of tax-saving insurance scheme with expensive premiums were changed. Now, any premium above 5 lakh rupees gets taxed at your income tax rate. But since the loophole was plugged, expensive life insurances have seldom found buyers. But fret not: another looph
Mon, May 06, 2024
Student protesters could lose potential jobs
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, May 6, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Summer's here and it’s vacation time in India, despite the sweltering heat waves and steep airfares. Air travel reached a daily peak in April and it looks like it's going to soar even higher through May and June. Interestingly, the extreme heat hasn't deterred travellers. Destinations traditionally known for their warmth are also attracting tourists. According to industry insiders, who spoke to Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma, this high demand has maintained elevated airfares. Aloke Bajpai, CEO of ixigo, said that there has been no decline in bookings due to the heat wave. In fact, flight searches for May have surged to record highs, with domestic and international flight searches for May and June up 20% and 70%. This uptick in travel is supported by a shift in the mindset of Indian travellers post-COVID, with more frequent travel becoming the norm, helped by the increase in airport accessibility and budget-friendly options. Tata group’s Titan - the popular watchmaker - is gearing up to appoint a new CEO, marking only the fourth time in its 40-year history that it has done so. Currently led by C.K. Venkataraman, Titan is considering three internal candidates for his successor. Venkataraman, set to retire next October when he turns 65, took the helm on October 1, 2019. He has been granted an extension until the end of December 2025. According to an insider who spoke with Mint’s Varun Sood, the candidates in the running are Ajoy Chawla, CEO of the jewellery division which generates 81% of Titan's revenue; Suparna Mitra, CEO of watches and wearables; and Saumen Bhaumik, who leads the eyecare segment. Chawla appears to be the front-runner due to his significant impact on revenue, although Mitra being appointed would mark the first time a woman has taken the CEO role at Titan. Titan started as a watchmaker in a joint venture between Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corp. and the Tatas in 1984 and has grown into a diversified lifestyle company. Despite the expansion into new business areas like eyewear and perfumes, jewellery remains its core revenue driver. Having an opinion or protesting for a cause you believe in may cost you a job, if you are a student participating in protests across US universities. Recently, campuses like Columbia University, UCLA, Yale, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Arizona have been buzzing with protests over Israel's actions in Gaza. The protests have taken an occasional violent turn, necessitating police intervention. However, the problem for students seems to be a much bigger one. Recruiters are taking notice of students participating in these demonstrations. Companies are wary of recruiting them, fearing they might strugg
Fri, May 03, 2024
BJP scores well in welfare schemes
Good morning listeners, Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, May 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian markets rose slightly on Thursday. Both Nifty and Sensex were up by around 0.18 percent. Godrej Industries was the biggest loser, washing away gains made by the announcement of its plans to split. Vedanta is another conglomerate that wants to head for a demerger. It has been preparing for this possibility for months, but the group finally has a crucial go-ahead: that of its lenders. Anirudh Laskar and Shayan Ghosh report that a consortium of lenders, led by the State Bank of India and including Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Punjab National Bank, has given its go-ahead for the proposed split of Vedanta Limited into six different entities. Vedanta will now begin the process of dividing its debt worth seven billion dollars into these new companies. Freshworks now has a new person at the helm: founder and longtime CEO Gireesh Mathrubootham stepped down yesterday. The news did little to excite investors: The Freshworks stock was down more than 25 percent at the time of recording this podcast. Dennis Woodside will be replacing Mathrubootham. Woodside came into the organisation as its president 18 months ago, a period that was meant to be transitional. He has his task cut out, and investors might find him more palatable than his predecessor, writes Ranjani Raghavan. Another reason why American investors have turned bearish is the lack of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. For months now, Americans have been anticipating a rate cut. But the Federal Reserve and its chairman, Jerome Powell, have consistently maintained the status quo citing fragile macroeconomic data. Despite Powell's hawkish stance, data show inflation to be favourable. The Fed’s current interest rate is the highest in nearly 25 years, write our partners at the Wall Street Journal. A rate cut now will spur the economy, but the Fed wants to be sure of subdued inflation before confirming any cuts. It's a precarious position, and Americans aren't the only ones watching: every central banking authority throughout the world, including the RBI, looks at the US Federal Reserve for guidance on setting their own interest rates. All political parties promise some form of welfare schemes as a part of their poll promises. Over the past decade, voters seem to remember the BJP's initiatives fondly. These schemes include monetary benefits as well as construction of roads and toilets. We invited political writer Ruhi Tewari to write about how the incumbent party is faring well on these issues. Ruhi visits Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh to speak to voters and the real effects of the BJP's welfare schemes. Turns out these initiati
Thu, May 02, 2024
Congress vs. BJP: Digital ads edition
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, May 2, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian markets fell slightly on Wednesday. Nifty was down by 0.17 percent, while Sensex lowered by 0.25 percent. Following the announcement that it would split its businesses up, Godrej Industries gained more than 6 percent during yesterday's trading session. The 127-year-old conglomerate could yield multiple opportunities, even in a field where Godrej already has a commanding presence. Till now, Godrej and Boyce owned the group's land assets, while Godrej Properties developed the same land. But as part of the demerger, the former entity plans to hold on to the lucrative business, reports Varun Sood. They will only be able to do this after 6 years and not under the Godrej brand name, as per the competition commission rules. A move like this has massive consequences for corporate India, and we're just uncovering the ramifications. The Congress and the BJP are fighting it out in the voting booths. But even prior to that, there's another platform where they are vying for your attention: social media. Both parties are using features offered by Meta and Google to target specific audiences. Meta in particular is helping these parties to micro-target their advertisements to the intended audiences, write our partners at howindialives.com. They analyse ad spends of up to 50 crore rupees, and break it down across their strategies, form factor, and spending on particular platforms. What's common between Byju's, BharatPe, Zilingo, Housing.com, and GoMechanic? There were notable concerns around the governance practices of these startups. Unethical behaviour and mis-reporting numbers from founders led to the downfall of many of the aforementioned startups. As Tina Edwin writes, these concerns have given rise to a corporate governance charter. If a startup adheres to these norms, investors are more likely to find it attractive to invest in. While these practices aren't binding on non-listed companies, founders would do well to pay heed to help establish an open and fair work environment for their employees and investors. Good Glamm Group started out as a company that sold skincare items. It then went on an acquisition spree: first, e-commerce, and then, digital content publications. But Good Glamm's shopping cart wasn't restricted to India: they also expanded their presence in the US. But closer home, their Indian partners weren't paid their dues. A slew of top-level exits, layoffs, and a confusing focus has led Good Glamm Group to a confusing business strategy, write Ranjani Raghavan and Suneera Tandon. As an impending IPO looms, will the company be able to chart out a sustainable path moving forward? It's been terribly hot these days. No matter which part of the co
Wed, May 01, 2024
What has changed with Indian Railways?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, May 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian markets broke the upward trend on Tuesday ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision today. Both Sensex and Nifty saw a slump, ending the session down 0.25 per cent and 0.17 per cent respectively. As the wave of Generative AI continues to swell, major global IT companies like Accenture, Cognizant, and Capgemini are stepping up, recognizing the technology as a significant business risk. This shift points to GenAI's growing impact within the tech sector, prompting a crucial conversation about the potential legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with AI deployment. These leading firms have started flagging concerns in their latest annual reports about how the rapid evolution of AI tools could negatively impact their operations. From potential legal liabilities to disruptions caused by fast-paced technological changes, the risks are mounting. Moreover, there's an underlying worry about the technology's still-developing regulatory environment and its ability to deepen social divides or amplify cyber threats like AI-generated deepfakes. Mint’s Varun Sood reports on the cautious approach of IT companies towards AI and how Indian IT majors like TCS and Infosys could follow their lead. The global pandemic changed many aspects of our lives, and one of them was the way we vacation. Covid restrictions across the world gave rise to the phenomenon of ‘staycations’ and ‘workations’. Villa rental emerged as a trend because of this. However, the way we vacation in villas has really shifted since the pandemic. There was a time when these private holiday villas were booked for about 15 days a month on average. Now, they're seeing just nine days of occupancy. What's behind this change? As more of us head back to the office, the need for extended stays has dropped. Plus, there's been a bit of a boom in the number of high-quality villas. Mint’s senior editor Varuni Khosla spoke to industry insiders including the heads of villa rental platforms StayVista and SaffronStays, who told her that these villas are now popping up all over the country. However villa owners are hopeful for a turnaround and modelling their villas around the needs of vacationers. This push towards luxury is helping operators pump up their revenue despite an overall fall in bookings. As the luxury villa market continues to grow and evolve, it's clear that this segment of the hospitality industry is headed for some exciting times. Anant Goenka, the 40-year-old vice-chairman of the $4.4 billion RPG Group, is charting a new course for the conglomerate. Unlike his father, Harsh Goenka, and grandfather, Rama Prasad Goenka, who expanded the business through aggressive acquisitions, Anant is known for a more conservative approach. Yet, after a decade
Tue, April 30, 2024
Bulls rage through D-street
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, April 30, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock markets kicked off the week on a high note, with benchmark indices surging over 1% driven by strong gains in large-cap banks including ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd, and SBI. The market rally on Monday propelled the Nifty Bank index to a record high. By the close of trading, the Nifty itself had climbed a solid 223 points, ending the day at 22,643, while the Sensex posted a gain of 1.28 per cent, reaching 74,671. The big banks weren't just showing off; they were closing the valuation gap with smaller banks, which have been priced pretty high lately. Take HDFC Bank, for example. Its price to book ratio is currently at 2.55, quite a bit lower than its five-year average of 3.45, making it look like a bargain compared to some of the smaller banks. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal reports on a stellar start to the week for Indian banks. India is gearing up to boost its thermal power capacity big time! The plan? To set up six massive thermal power generation hubs, boasting a combined capacity of 30 gigawatts. With an eye-watering estimated cost of around 2.5 trillion rupees, this is no small feat. The government’s move comes as part of an effort to meet the country's soaring energy demands. These hubs are strategically planned near coal mines to slash coal transport costs, a smart move that also taps into existing resources. It’s like setting up shop right next to the supplier—efficient, right? Coal India Ltd and other public sector giants are set to team up with power companies, pooling their resources and expertise to get these projects off the ground. Mint’s energy correspondent Rituraj Baruah reports on the government’s move to set up more coal-fired power plants even as it aspires to lean more on sustainable energy sources. Unicorns, or startups valued over a billion dollars, are finding it tough to attract investors. Nowadays, investors are leaning towards smaller startups valued under a billion dollars. This year, there's been a notable difference in investment activity. Data from Tracxn shows 318 deals in smaller companies, but only a few in the billion-dollar club. Investors are particularly wary of companies valued over 2 billion dollars. Mint’s senior assistant editor Sneha Shah spoke to several analysts, including Pankaj Naik of Avendus Capital, who notes that investors are scrutinising the potential for substantial returns, especially for companies valued over $2 billion. The dilemma for companies with larger valuations is proving their ability to triple in value within 5-6 years. In the previous fiscal year, promoters of prominent Indian companies including Adani Power, Tata Consultancy Services, and Tata Motors significantly reduced their share pledges by more than 56,000 crore rupees - th
Mon, April 29, 2024
How much appraisal can you expect this year?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, April 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Over the past decade in power, the BJP and PM Narendra Modi have repeatedly promised "acche din". But reforms are easy to promise, and extremely difficult to implement. Nandita Venkatesan and Pragya Srivastava pick one initiative a year from 2014 and examine their effectiveness. From banking to housing to GST, this detailed story has it all. I'd recommend reading the story by clicking the link in the show notes on your app to also go through all the charts prepared by Nandita and Pragya. If San Francisco is known as the silicon valley, India would make its backyard. Post 1990, a host of Indian companies took the opportunity to provide cheaper, and in many cases better, services to supplant the world's digital economy. This turned India into an information technology powerhouse in its own right. Companies such as TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, and Wipro are multibillion dollar enterprises that also championed the Indian stock markets. These companies recently announced their annual results, but the numbers aren't very exciting. Indian IT companies are losing out on large deals, and headcounts are dropping. While these large companies seem to be going through a moment of reckoning, mid-sized IT companies are enjoying healthy growth. Abhishek Mukherjee takes stock of the Indian IT sector, providing an important retrospective look and asking pertinent questions for these companies' futures. It's appraisal season. We asked more than 3,000 HR executives and employees what kind of year-on-year salary increments were expected. Nearly half of the respondents in this Mint-Shine survey said that they expect a raise in the range of 9 to 12 percent. Another 25% expect it to hover around 6 to 8 percent. Last couple of years saw widespread hiring as firms rushed to digitise their companies. But a sluggish global economy and geopolitical tensions have thawed these prospects. These numbers aren't the only way to keep employees happy though — a lot of companies will use promotions to keep their workers happy. Devina Sengupta and Tanay Sukumar team up to break down the results of this survey. Hotel companies enjoyed a fruitful FY24, with record bookings and revenues. But FY25 has gotten off to a tepid start. The crucial summer season is too hot for some to step out, resulting in fewer bookings. Additionally, the election season also dampened booking numbers. Large chains like Taj, Marriott, and Hyatt are now offering heavy discounts to lure people in these lean times. While discounts and offers are nothing new, hoteliers are gearing up for a poor summer and autumn, writes Varuni Khosla. Discounts now range anywhere between 15 t0 50 percent — if you're planning an impromptu trip, now might be a good time!</
Fri, April 26, 2024
Is Tesla coming to India or not?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, April 26, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark equity indices surged for a fifth straight session on Thursday with BSE’s Sensex recording its all-time high of 74,571 points. NSE’s Nifty 50 ended the day 0.75 per cent higher. Packaged food is a convenience a lot of us rely on. From cereal for infants to readymade spice mixes, packaged food has become a crucial part of our diets. But recently, some big-name brands have found themselves in hot water over their food products. Public Eye, a Swiss watchdog group, has called out Nestle for adding too much sugar in its infant products and cereals in India. Nestle says it's been cutting down on sugar, but concerns linger. MDH and Everest, two popular spice brands, got flagged by regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore for using ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical, to keep spices fresh. In response to these concerns, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is conducting thorough investigations, including sample testing from various production sites. Sayantan Bera, who covers food and nutrition for Mint, explains the implications of lingering regulatory action on packaged food brands. Is Tesla on its way to India or not? That is a question a lot of Tesla fans and enthusiasts are grappling with right now. Despite India rolling out the red carpet with a new electric vehicle policy aimed at wooing automakers like Tesla, Elon Musk’s powerhouse remains on the fence. People in the know told Mint’s autos correspondent Alisha Sachdev that the Texas-based EV-maker hasn't engaged significantly with state governments or local suppliers, nor has it taken steps to set up its crucial supercharger network in India. Other automakers like Vietnamese EV-maker Vinfast, meanwhile, are making strides towards setting up their operations in India. Tesla on the other hand seems to prefer entering the market through imports to gauge potential before committing to local manufacturing. India is currently in discussions to sidestep a potential G7 mandate that requires all diamond imports to the G7 countries to be tested in Belgium. The G7 mandate is to ensure that diamonds originating from Russia do not enter its member nations. India on the other hand wants the diamonds to be tested in domestic hubs like Surat and Mumbai to avoid escalating costs for diamantaires. India, a major player in the diamond industry, processes about 91% of the world’s rough diamonds and is looking to negotiate with European authorities to prevent a disruption in its exports. Mint’s Mihir Mishra and Ram Sahgal report on India’s efforts to keep its diamond testing within its borders. The finance ministry's latest report is buzzing with optimism, thanks to predictions of a bountiful monsoon
Thu, April 25, 2024
Why UP is likely to vote for the BJP
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, April 25, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian equity markets increased marginally on Wednesday. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty both rose by about 0.15 per cent. Vodafone Idea, Tata Consumer, and Sun Pharma were some of the notable names that lost a lot of shareholder value during yesterday's trading session. The board of Tata Sons is soon headed for a revamp, with two directors set to retire over the next 15 months, reports Varun Sood. Last month, a new independent member joined. In effect, about one-third of the Tata Sons 10-member board will be going through a turnover in just over a year. The main task for the new board members will be to ensure that the Tata group becomes a debt-free company. The group currently owes over 20,000 crore rupees to its lenders. But through selling of shares in its crown jewel TCS, and other measures, Tata Sons can realistically achieve this goal by next year. Kotak Mahindra Bank received a huge jolt yesterday when the banking regulator barred it from onboarding any new customers online. The Reserve Bank of India also barred Kotak Mahindra from issuing any fresh credit cards. RBI said that serious lapses in the bank's IT services had forced it to take such a drastic measure. Shayan Ghosh writes that existing Kotak customers shouldn't face any hurdles, but this is a huge loss of confidence for new CEO Ashok Vaswani's bank. At Mint, we've been steadily bringing you some in-depth election coverage. For today's Long Story, we invited Ruhi Tewari to write about the election landscape in Uttar Pradesh. UP is inarguably the most pivotal state when it comes to the general election: 15% of all elected Lok Sabha members come from this state. But what issues are UP citizens voting on? The usual, writes Ruhi: electricity, roads, and water. India's most populous state will vote for the party that guarantees them these basic necessities. However, the ruling BJP is expected to win this state again—not because of the Ram temple, but because of an improved law-and-order situation in the state. Ruhi gets the on-ground pulse from Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Mathura for this deftly reported story. If you've watched IPL this year, a host of betting apps would've tried to lure you in. But if you log in, they don't just offer bets on how much Dhoni will score or how many runs RCB will lose by this time—you can even punt on the results of the general election. Varuni Khosla writes that the advertising standards council of India has flagged brazen promotions by these illegal betting apps, but to no avail. This issue assumes importance especially as the Supreme Court forced Patanjali to apologise for its misleading advertisements, and hauled up other consumer goods companies as well. <p
Wed, April 24, 2024
Supreme Court pulls up FMCG firms on ad practices
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, April 24, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices continued their momentum on Tuesday to close in the green for a third straight session. BSE’s Sensex closed 0.12 per cent above its previous close while NSE’s Nifty too ended the day up 0.14 per cent. Are Indians changing the way they travel? It certainly seems so, given the surge in air travel. On April 21, a record-breaking number of over 470,000 passengers flew across India, surpassing last year's record on April 30. India, already the third-largest aviation market after the U.S. and China, has witnessed a remarkable growth in air traffic, more than doubling over the past decade. Experts suggest this boom is fueled by increasing incomes, competitive pricing of airfares, and the untapped potential of first-time flyers. Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma explores what's driving this shift, the impact on airlines, and the challenges that could temper this rising trend. The conversation around lowering the extra charges on hybrid vehicles is stuck in a bit of a limbo. People close to the development told Mint’s autos correspondent Alisha Sachdev that despite backing from the ministry of commerce and transportation, no real movement is possible without a bigger shake-up of the overall tax system. Right now, hybrids get slapped with a hefty 43 per cent tax, while electric vehicles cruise by with just a 5 per cent GST, thanks to policies aimed at cleaning up transportation. But not everyone's on board with making hybrids more attractive—major local car makers, led by Tata Motors, argue that cutting taxes on hybrids could slow down the electric vehicle revolution. Amid all this, there's a growing anxiety within the auto industry about what future tax rates might look like for electric vehicles as they become more common. Will the current low rates hold as EVs grab a larger market share? The scorching heat wave sweeping across East and South India isn't letting up anytime soon. The India Meteorological Department has issued a heads-up that we’re in for another five gruelling days of high temperatures. This heat wave is hitting just as voters in states including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Bihar gear up for the second phase of the Lok Sabha election this Friday. IMD has predicted a particularly harsh summer with the possibility of extended heat wave conditions lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 days. An orange alert is out for regions like Odisha, Bihar, and Gangetic West Bengal, signalling moderate health risks, especially for the more vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with chronic health issues. Mint’s Puja Das reports on the met department’s predictions for the upcoming weeks. The Supreme Court of India has widened its lens in the Patanjali case to include all fas
Tue, April 23, 2024
Conglomerates: results and investments
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, April 23, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian equity markets bounced back on Monday. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty both rose by about 0.8 percent. The country's largest conglomerate, Reliance Industries, filed its earnings report yesterday. While profits were down quarter-on-quarter, overall profit increased 4 percent in FY24, as compared to the previous financial year. The oil and chemicals giant reported a dividend of 10 rupees per share. Reliance Retail and Jio also reported their earnings yesterday, recording steady growth. Since the results were declared after the market closed, RIL's stock didn't record any significant change owing to the results. Let's move to another oil conglomerate, this time from across the Arabian Sea: I'm talking about Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil refining company. Aramco's venture capital arm is interested in the Indian startup sector, and is willing to bet on it. Sneha Shah reports that this arm, named Prosperity7 Ventures, is looking to set aside around two to three hundred million dollars to invest in early-stage Indian startups. It plans on spreading that amount across nearly two dozen companies, Sneha writes. Prosperity7 has a portfolio worth about 3 billion dollars worldwide, and wants India to be the home for its next set of investments. You can't talk about conglomerates without talking about the Adani Group. Last year, the group bought a majority stake in infrastructure behemoth Ambuja Cements, and has slowly increased its share in the company. But the plan doesn't stop there, writes Anirudh Laskar: Ambuja is planning a series of acquisitions to overtake Ultratech as the country's number 1 cement company. A capital expenditure of over 9 billion dollars is in the works, Anirudh reports. This would take Ambuja's annual production capacity to at least 180 million tonnes, from about 80 million tonnes now. But Ultratech too has plans to add to its current capacity of 151.6 million tonnes a year. The Adani group has lots to catch up, at least in the cement sector. Metro cities are full of e-commerce deliveries constantly in action: vans, scooters, and even trucks fulfilling orders round the clock. But e-commerce hasn't penetrated as much into India's hinterlands. That is now changing, writes Priyamvada C. E-retailers like Rozana and Floryo are targeting customers in tier 2 cities and beyond, where customers are increasingly ready to pay more for products but unwilling to compromise on quality. These e-tailers are also attracting enough money from investors to become viable businesses, Priyamvada writes. She also spoke to executives from venture capital funds to assess the scope of startups that operate primarily in such markets. Election campaigns are in full flow. In most corners of the country, vo
Mon, April 22, 2024
Bitter days ahead for chocolate lovers?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, April 22, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The earnings season is in full swing for India’s 245 billion dollar IT industry. Over the last couple of weeks Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys and Wipro announced their quarterly earnings for the last quarter of FY24. But what about the future of the industry that employs close to 5.4 million Indians? Recent deal wins and Gartner’s forecast have painted a pretty optimistic picture for the IT sector's future. For instance, Infosys just announced its highest-ever annual contract value at $17.7 billion for FY24, and it’s not just Infosys riding this wave. Wipro and TCS have also reported strong order books, with TCS raking in a whopping $13.2 billion in the last quarter alone. They’re all betting on better times post the upcoming US presidential elections, expecting a boost in client spending. Mint’s Shelley Singh takes a look at what the future could look like for the Indian IT industry amidst a rapidly declining workforce. Top three companies in the sector - TCS, Infy and Wipro saw a deduction of more than 64,000 in their workforce. Chocolates are about to get pricier and it’s not just regular inflation at work. Cocoa prices have shot up recently, and not just by a little. Crop failures in big cocoa-producing countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana, have sent cocoa prices up by 133 per cent since last June! Behind this failure is climate change, adverse weather and a crop disease that affects the root of the cocoa tree. India too is set to feel the pinch. This story by howindialives.com breaks down the bitter truth unfolding in the chocolate industry. Even though we grew about 30,000 tonnes of cocoa in 2022-2023, it wasn't enough to keep up with our chocolate cravings. We had to import close to 1 lakh tonnes of cocoa products like beans, butter, and powder last year, and with global prices on the rise, our costs have soared as well. This price hike might cool down later this year if the crop yields improve, but it’s not just about the weather. The cocoa market has some deep-rooted issues. Most cocoa farmers are barely scraping by, earning much less than what their valuable crops should bring in. India’s tech epicentre and the internet’s favourite city Bengaluru lately has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Be it the soaring temperatures in a city otherwise famous for its “air conditioned” weather or the severe water crisis it’s been going through for the past couple of months. Amidst the empty tanks and drying lakes one has to ask whether the city’s companies are using its water judiciously. An analysis of Bengaluru-based top BSE-listed firms reveals an 11% spike in water usage in the last year, signalling the severity of the situation. 56 of the top 1000 listed companies on BSE are headquartered in Ben
Fri, April 19, 2024
WFH means poor appraisals at TCS
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, April 19, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Markets continued to fall for the third consecutive trading session. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty both fell by about 0.6 percent. Markets aren't likely to be any better tomorrow, if the annual results for Infosys are anything to go by. Infosys reported that revenue increased by only 1.4 percent over the previous financial year. FY2025 doesn't look much better either: revenue is likely to grow less than 3 percent. Analysts remain disappointed, write Shouvik Das and Jas Bardia. Marginal increase in revenue, lower profits, and poor future projections: the situation is not kind for Infosys right now Let's talk about Infy's rival, TCS. India's largest IT company is now assessing in-office attendance as part of its appraisal system. Jas Bardia reports that TCS employees who attended office regularly received much better annual pay hikes than their colleagues who chose to work from home frequently. An executive from TCS told Jas that the IT giant has been nudging its employees to come to office regularly for more than 15 months. That led to a directive in January, where everyone was asked to come to the office all five working days of the week. Those who chose to ignore that notice are now facing the consequences. In most parts of India, summer came early — and it seems, is here to stay. But the weather department's prediction of a bountiful monsoon season provides some much-needed hope. Of course, the IMD's weather predictions have often been mocked for being wrong. Sayantan Bera explains this year's prediction in his primer. A healthy monsoon would provide relief to India's sluggish farm economy and poor rural consumption. Equal distribution of rains is more important than the quantity of rainfall, Sayantan writes. That would help in reducing food inflation too. Foxtrot nuts are touted as a healthy alternative for snacks like chips. Now, they are being sold the world over, but closer to home, we might recognise them as makhana . Believe it or not, these white, fun to eat pops actually originate in muddy waters. About one lakh families from Bihar are the only ones engaged in the farming and harvesting of the foxtrot nut, writes Alisha Sachdev. But, makhana could emerge as the next big thing in India's 20 billion dollar snacking industry. Makhana goes up against millets in the health foods category, but is already bigger than the pulse in terms of sales. As more FMCG companies venture into selling makhana, industrial processing might soon propel it in everyone's kitchens as a healthy snack to have with your evening tea. Baahubali, KGF, and RRR had Indian audiences flocking to a movie theatre to watch vernacular movies. But the filmmakers of these movies chose to dub it in Hindi, English, and other languages, ma
Thu, April 18, 2024
Why the BJP’s fortunes in Tamil Nadu may change
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, April 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto last week. While most of the promises are pretty boilerplate for an incumbent party, the civil aviation sector gets some outsized attention. These promises include setting up of a commercial aircraft manufacturing centre, and turning India into an aviation hub. That would mean convincing foreign airlines to have layovers in India, en route to global destinations. Mint Snapview argues that some of these promises might be foolhardy and mistimed. India needs to make a lot of advancements across the board for this to happen. Economic feasibility and logistical issues are plenty in India, which prove to be detrimental to any such projects. For the BJP to make good on these promises, these challenges need to be addressed first — lest they end up like most hollow poll promises. The BJP has another, Tamil Nadu-sized challenge for the upcoming elections. Five years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was viewed in the southern state as anti-Tamil. Contrast that to his campaigns in the region today, which are attended by no less than 10,000 voters. BJP is doing its best to garner support from the Dravidian heartland. They are targeting young and first-time voters, writes N. Madhavan. He writes that for the first time in decades, a national party is now a serious challenger in the electoral landscape. Madhavan writes about the history of Tamil Nadu's rich history of regional parties, the politicking, and how the BJP fits in the picture in 2024. In the last couple of months, Modi has visited the state eight times — and the campaigning is making a stark difference among voters, Madhavan reports. At 83.5, the rupee has reached a new low against the US dollar. While this makes exports more lucrative, imports now turn dearer. Geopolitical instability across Europe and the Middle East has lowered the prospect of the US Federal Reserve cutting its interest rates. Since India is a net importer of goods, a falling currency is not a good sign, writes Sumant Banerji. However, fret not: the Reserve Bank of India is likely to intervene to arrest any further sliding of the rupee, Sumant adds. In the 1960s, the space race between the US and the Soviet Union was in full flow. That led to a lot of advancements in the sector. In the present day, startups and private companies are now taking further strides towards outer space. Elon Musk's SpaceX has taken full advantage of that opportunity, making multiple efforts to launch their own rockets into space. Musk is visiting India soon, and some Indian aerospace startups have the opportunity to pick his brain about SpaceX. Shouvik Das reports that at least three Indian startups working in the space sector have been invited to meet Musk on 22 April. The m
Wed, April 17, 2024
Get ready for more privately managed airports
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, April 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices fell for the third consecutive session on Tuesday, influenced by negative cues from global markets which are currently under pressure due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Sensex closed down 0.62 per cent, while the Nifty ended the session 0.56 per cent lower. Shaktikanta Das, the Reserve Bank of India - India’s highest monetary authority - has recently flagged concerns about unauthorised forex trading platforms, urging banks to keep a sharp eye on them. This has sparked a broader discussion about the need for tighter regulation in India's forex market. These platforms are where most foreign exchange transactions happen. They are primarily used by businesses like importers and exporters to manage their currency risks. These trades usually happen on Over-the-Counter platforms authorised by the RBI or through recognized exchange-traded segments of bourses. So what exactly is going on with forex trading platforms? And what has the RBI done about it? Mint’s banking editor Gopika Gopakumar tackles those questions in today’s Primer. Smartphone companies in India finally have some good news. The scramble for smartphones in the country, triggered by Covid-19 lockdowns ebbed back as the world returned to normal. However, the March quarter has ignited some hope in the hearts of smartphone manufacturers. This past March quarter, smartphone shipments rose by 5% year-over-year to somewhere between 32.5 to 35 million units, according to data from four industry analysts. It’s a refreshing change, especially considering that back in the March quarter of 2021, shipments had peaked at 38 million units. Since then, there's been a bit of a slump. Mint’s technology correspondent Shouvik Das reports on this turnaround which is especially crucial for big players like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Vivo, who together made about $38.8 billion in sales in India last year. However, despite these positive signs, industry veterans are advising caution. The broader economic pressures still loom large, affecting consumer confidence. The market has also seen a shift toward refurbished and second-hand smartphones, thanks to the growth of organised retailers in this space. India is gearing up for the third phase of its airport privatisation plan. More airports are expected to see private stakeholders after the upcoming election. Officials close to the matter told Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma of Airports Authority of India’s plans to sell off its remaining 13 per cent stake in Bangalore International Airport Ltd . But that’s not all — they're also planning to throw the doors open for private bids to manage, operate, and develop 13 other airports, including popular ones like Bhubaneswar, Trichy, Indore, Raipur, Amrits
Tue, April 16, 2024
The battle to save the great Indian Bustard
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, April 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock markets fell by over one per cent for the second consecutive day on Monday, weighed down by rising tensions in the Middle East and resulting negative investor sentiment. India is in for some good news, especially for our farmers. After a tough year with less-than-ideal rain and the ongoing scorching summer, it looks like India is on track for a better-than-average monsoon season this year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates that the fading El Niño – a weather phenomenon – will transition to neutral by June and possibly to La Niña conditions by late summer, promising higher rainfall. This could bump up our monsoon rainfall to 106% of the long-term average of 87 cm, which is above normal. This forecast is a relief considering the dry spell last year linked to El Niño, which reduced rainfall by 6% and nudged up inflation. Historically, when La Niña follows El Niño, India tends to see more rain. However, this could also result in uneven distribution of rainfall, meaning floods in some places. Mint’s Puja Das and Arshdeep Kaur report on the latest IMD forecasts. Tata Electronics has sealed a deal with Elon Musk’s EV manufacturer Tesla to produce crucial components for the car company. This partnership marks a significant boost for Tata in the electronics manufacturing space. The Tata Group company is also gearing up to set up a new facility dedicated to crafting essential parts like printed circuit board assemblies for Tesla vehicles. Interestingly, Tesla decided to go with Tata Electronics over its usual global partners like Foxconn and Jabil Inc. This choice seems to hinge on a couple of key factors: Tata’s aggressive expansion in semiconductor fabrication and its strong stance in securing government incentives in India. This strategy is a win for Tesla too, as it aligns with Indian policies that lower import duties for EV makers ramping up local production. These policies require that EVs achieve 50% local sourcing within five years to enjoy these benefits. Mint’s autos correspondent Alisha Sachdev reports on a development crucial for India’s EV and manufacturing landscape. Once the most valued Indian startup, Byju’s is going through its most turbulent phase yet. Now, another exit has shook the edtech company. Arjun Mohan stepped down as CEO of Byju's India after just seven months, handing the reins back to the company's founder, Byju Raveendran. Initially brought in to cut costs and reorganise operations, Mohan leaves behind a business that's noticeably scaled back. It's been a rough patch for Byju's, especially during the January-March quarter, which usually sees the bulk of its sales. However, this period turned out to be one of its worst, company insiders told Mint’s startup correspondents
Mon, April 15, 2024
How will Iran-Israel fight affect India?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, April 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: There's a reason why central banks and prominent investors take notice when the price of gold moves significantly in either direction: its track record as the flagbearer of wealth stretches for over 5,000 years. As of last week, gold prices have hit lifetime record highs. Rising geopolitical tensions and a possible rate cut by the US Federal Reserve keep pushing the yellow metal to new highs. But despite much of the fighting going on in the Middle East, India and China contribute to over half of the global gold demand. Traditionally, the price of gold has had an inverse relationship with the equity markets, writes Abhishek Mukherjee. But that seems to have changed in the present day, when both gold and stock market valuations are taking off. Abhishek spoke to market experts and analysts, who pointed towards an increase in the volume of trading across the board. This, combined with most central banks around the world stocking up on gold, has led to a parallel surge. Will this trend continue? Experts, as always, ask you to exercise immense caution. While geopolitical tensions have been high over the last few years, we haven't seen many direct attacks across borders. That changed on Saturday, when Iran launched missiles at Israel. This was in response to a bombing of Iran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, ostensibly by Israeli forces. If Israel chooses to respond in kind, we might be at the cusp of a global war, writes N. Madhavan. Immediately, oil prices are likely to be affected: the cost of a barrel of oil had already crossed 90 dollars last week, a six-month high. An all-out war will cause huge disruption in oil, gas, and logistical supply chains. This is especially bad news for India, where inflation is just about cooling and industrial production is ramping up. The Tata Group has a reputation of never firing any employee, unless they're found guilty of sharing sensitive information or indulging in corruption. This is even more impressive when you consider the sheer volume of people they hire every year. But that is now changing: take the group's crown jewel, Tata Consultancy Services. TCS isn't rushing to fill the roles that have turned vacant after people leave the IT giant. This resulted in TCS having a lower headcount at the end of the financial year 2024 than when it started, report Jas Bardia, Varun Sood, and Devina Sengupta. This was a first since the company listed on the public markets 20 years ago. Historically, TCS's headcount and its revenue had a proportional relationship: revenue would grow with headcount, and lower with more headcounts. Some industry executives are of the view that as artificial intelligence becomes more useful in replacing roles. However, TCS has brushed aside any concerns of AI replacing human roles
Fri, April 12, 2024
What Modi has to say about the upcoming election
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, April 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian markets ended Thursday on a robust note with the benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex both ending the day in the green. Touching an all time high of 22,775 points, Nifty closed just 22 points below it, up 0.49 per cent from its previous close. Sensex too closed on a higher note, up 0.47 per cent from its previous close. Equity trading at record levels, which has been going on for some months now, may soon hit its peak. Fresh data from the National Stock Exchange shows that retail investors as well as high net-worth investors have turned bearish on index futures amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. This group of investors became net sellers of more than 16,000 Nifty and Bank Nifty futures contracts, after the NSE index hit a fresh high on Thursday. Mint’s markets correspondent Ram Sahgal reports on the significant shift in sentiment from this group of investors. This comes after 84 days of bullish stance from the group of investors referred to as ‘Client’ by the NSE. Historically, the positioning of clients in index futures has been a reliable indicator of market tops or bottoms. When these positions turn light or negative, it often signals a market peak, while a substantial increase in bets typically indicates a market bottom. Generative AI - buzzword of the decade - is still a concept people are trying hard to grasp. It is important that people understand what generative artificial intelligence is. But it is even more crucial for lawmakers of the world to have a good understanding of the concept because laws around Gen AI will shape the technology’s future. One such law that could prove to be crucial for AI’s future has been tabled in the US Congress. The proposed “Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act, 2024”, introduced by US Congressman Adam Schiff, addresses growing concerns over the fair use of copyrighted materials in the development of AI models. So what does the bill propose to do? This bill mandates that tech firms like OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Meta, which have developed large AI models trained on vast amounts of data, disclose the use of any copyrighted data in their training datasets. So what does the bill mean for innovation in AI? If passed, will it set a precedent? Will AI models be able to train themselves on copyrighted work? Mint’s Shouvik Das tackles these questions in today’s Primer. It hasn't been smooth sailing lately for Tata Group’s Vistara. The airline has been seeing some turbulence after it had to ground 30 to 50 flights a day with pilots calling in sick as a protest against an imminent cut in their salaries. The carrier even blamed botched up rostering for the delays and cancellations. Now the airline’s CEO, Vinod Kannan, has addressed the airline's recent operational ch
Thu, April 11, 2024
How will Maharashtra's heartland vote in the elections?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, April 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian equity markets edged higher on Wednesday. Nifty and Sensex increased by around half a percent each, with Sensex closing at more than 75,000. The markets will remain shut today on the occasion of Eid. It's unusual for the stock market to be so bullish close to an election. Past election cycles have shown that the public markets deal with plenty of volatility and price corrections, as nervous traders choose to play safe. But market indices show that investors seem awfully calm this time around. They don't expect any large swings in the markets, and trading volumes have been robust, we argue in our special online-only premium segment, Mint SnapView. However, the current calm doesn't mean that it's going to stay this way: May and June might see some volatility, despite the bullish nature of the market at present. You might be playing the long game or short, but do continue reading Mint to understand the underlying sentiments of the markets as the runway to the general elections gets shorter. Much of India's general election coverage is focused on Uttar Pradesh, and perhaps justifiably so: the state has the most number of seats for the Lok Sabha. But with 48 seats, Maharashtra is the next biggest. Voting should be quite interesting here too: voters are spoilt for choice. Apart from the household names, a host of regional political parties — including not one, but two Shiv Senas — are contesting the ballot. Mint's national writer Sayantan Bera visited Wardha and Nagpur, two cities in the heart of Maharashtra, to bring you an on-ground pulse of the region. Sayantan writes about the hot button issues, the mass confusion among turncoat candidates and the parties they represent, and speaks to locals about how they plan on voting, and why. Life Insurance Corporation, the biggest insurer in India, has a market cap of over 6 trillion rupees. It invests a chunk of this money into other companies, often owning sizable shares of publicly traded companies. Due to its investing power, it often has a unique position among the board members. Anirudh Laskar and Niti Kiran team up to analyse these decisions, which paint an interesting picture: LIC has been an active cap table member in many of its invested companies. In the nine months ending December 2023, LIC had either outright rejected or abstained from nearly 10% of the proposals put forward to it. For more than 40% of the proposals it had rejected, LIC stated governance issues as a reason for its dissent. Most of these decisions were to do with appointment of directors, or their remuneration. The state-owned insurer is turning into a bit of an activist investor, data shows. For a long, long time, VIP was the most prominent branded luggage maker in the Indian market. But then ca
Wed, April 10, 2024
India Inc’s push for democracy
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, April 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Having opened at record highs on the back of bolstered expectations of a strong showing by companies during the last quarter of FY24, Indian benchmark indices pared most of their gains to close in the red on Tuesday. BSE’s Sensex closed 0.8 per cent down from its previous close, while Nifty dipped marginally by 0.1 per cent below its Monday close. The last fiscal year was full of ups and downs for the Indian markets, but for one section of companies, FY24 proved to be the best one yet. Small and medium enterprises or SMEs took the Indian stock market by storm in the fiscal year ended March. A remarkable 204 SMEs launched their initial public offerings, raising close to 6,000 crore rupees. This marked a massive 167 per cent jump from previous years. Larger companies on the other hand, could only increase their IPO mop-up by a modest 20 per cent. Mint’s market correspondent Mayur Bhalerao writes about the surge which highlights the rising investor confidence in SMEs. Experts Mayur spoke to point at the rising interest for SMEs among high net worth individuals and retail investors .March 2024 alone saw 27 SMEs raise 862 crore rupees, setting a record for the highest number of SME IPOs since September 2023. We are only in the second month of summer and the country is already struggling with severe heat waves. With heat waves comes scarcity of water. While water shortage in metros like Bengaluru makes a lot of noise in the public sphere, what goes under the radar are the depleting sources of water used by farmers. At a time when the government is trying to reign in food inflation, dwindling water reserves across the country are only going to make it worse for a number of crops. Experts are now predicting an increase in the prices of crucial winter crops like gram, paddy, and maize, due to drying up reservoirs. Water levels in India's 150 major reservoirs, as of last week, stood at 35 per cent capacity. This figure, as reported by the Central Water Commission, not only marks a 17 per cent decrease compared to the previous year but also falls 2 per cent below the decade's average. These agricultural hurdles are compounded by above-normal temperatures and diseases, particularly affecting states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Puja Das, who writes on agriculture and climate change for Mint, spoke to experts about the anticipated rise in the price of some key winter crops. Not all is grim though, experts predict that prices of other key winter crops such as wheat and mustard are expected to remain stable. With over 960 million eligible voters and spanning seven phases over 45 days, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are poised to be the largest democratic event in history. In an unprecedented move, to bol
Tue, April 09, 2024
Why Reliance could buy Disney India at a haircut
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, April 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian equity markets surged on Monday. Nifty and Sensex increased by around 0.6 percent each, hitting fresh record highs. The Bombay Stock Exchange's total market cap crossed the 400 trillion rupee mark for the first time during yesterday's trading session, as global crude oil prices dropped further. Chennai-based Veritas Finance, a private lender to small businesses, , is heading for the public markets soon. Mint's new economy reporters Ranjani Raghavan and Sneha Shah report that Veritas is looking to raise 2,000 crore rupees. It has appointed four entities: Kotak Mahindra, HDFC Securities, ICICI Securities, and Jeffries, to help with the share issue. Last year, the company raised 1,200 crore rupees from a clutch of private equity investors. Veritas specialises in offering loans to small and medium enterprises in semi-urban and rural areas, with an average ticket size of 5 lakh rupees. These days, banks are offering relatively high interest rates even for a simple savings account. It's a simple supply-and-demand equation: they want more money as deposits, so they can offer more loans to applicants. According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India, 80% of deposits in banks are now being doled out as loans. This number is called the credit-deposit ratio, and is at its highest mark since the RBI started recording this data in 2005. Mint's banking correspondent Shayan Ghosh analyses this data, which is buoyed by the merger between the blockbuster HDFC merger. Some analysts expect the credit-deposit ratio to remain high, while others think it'll moderate soon, writes Shayan. Speaking of blockbuster mergers, let's talk about the one between Disney and Reliance. In February, Disney agreed to merge its India business with Reliance Industries at a cost of just over 3 billion dollars. This raised some eyebrows in the media and entertainment industry: reports stated that Disney had acquired Star earlier at around four to five times that number just five years ago, in a bid to consolidate its position in India. Mint's consumer bureau editor Gaurav Laghate analysed the transaction document to find the cause for this steep haircut. Gaurav reports that despite it being labelled as a merger, Reliance will essentially take control of the joint venture moving forward. The reports also revealed that Viacom18, Reliance's media arm, is sitting on a cash pile of over 1.9 billion dollars at the moment. That, combined with the lack of potential suitors, meant that Reliance had the upper hand throughout the negotiations. The final step? An approval from the Competition Commission of India, as the new entity will have more than a 40% market share in many media segments. Insiders told Gaurav that they are confident of an approval.
Mon, April 08, 2024
Why Thierry Delaporte resigned as Wipro’s CEO
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, April 8, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Just as India’s 245 billion dollar IT industry prepares for its earnings season, a high level exit has shook the industry. Bengaluru-based Wipro’s CEO and managing director Thierry Delaporte put down his papers late on Saturday. People aware of the matter told Mint’s Varun Sood that the real reason behind the Frenchman’s exit was a phone call from Wipro chairman Rishad Premji. Despite expectations of a stagnant performance for April to October, Delaporte expressed optimism for the latter half of FY25 to company chairman Rishad Premji. However, internal projections remain undisclosed as Wipro, India's fourth-largest IT firm, braces for a potential revenue dip in its upcoming April 19 earnings report. Delaporte was expected to complete his five-year term in July next year. However, to his surprise, the Wipro chairman declined to offer him a second term. On Saturday evening at 7:13 PM, Wipro announced a significant leadership change, appointing Srini Pallia as its new CEO, making him the company's eighth CEO since 2000. Thierry Delaporte’s departure from Wipro’s C-suite follows a larger trend of expat CEOs finding it difficult to work in Indian IT boardrooms. Beyond the straightforward management of profit and loss, these leaders often grapple with cultural disparities that can significantly impact their effectiveness. Some of the Indian IT firms have ventured to appoint expat CEOs over the past few years. Notable names include Vishal Sikka - a US citizen - at Infosys, Brian Humphries at Cognizant, and Delaporte at Wipro, all of whom eventually parted ways with their respective companies under less than ideal circumstances. Mint’s Shelley Singh takes a look at the reasons behind the quick exits and temporary tenures of expat CEOs in Indian IT companies. Shelley writes that the primary issue lies in cultural integration. Expat CEOs often find it challenging to bridge the gap between Indian employees and a diverse client base, leading to a disconnect that adversely affects business operations. Last month Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with information and technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the first national creators awards. Winners included popular YouTubers, Instagram influencers and other social media celebrities. The move came right before elections, underscoring the government’s attempt to woo young voters between the age of 18 and 29 - the generation of ‘digital natives’, which will have a significant role to play in the upcoming elections. Turns out the ruling party isn't the only one trying to cash in on the popularity of internet influencers. With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, parties are aggressively adopting digital strategies to captivate the young, tech-savvy electorate. They are embrac
Fri, April 05, 2024
Southern Indian states want more revenue from Centre
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, April 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian equity markets surged on Thursday. Nifty and Sensex increased by around 0.4 percent each. IT companies had a tepid financial year. A lukewarm ending in the fourth and final quarter has resulted in decline in revenue and mediocre profit margins. Mint's tech writer Shovik Das and IT correspondent Jas Bardia took a deep dive into the results of six of India's top IT companies: TCL, HCL, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, and LTI Mindtree. Analyst estimates and projections don't paint a pretty picture, as the financials are likely to remain flat or go down in some instances. Recovery is also likely to be slow, Shouvik and Jas write. While we won't know this for sure till these companies release their quarterly and annual reports, the expectations are low from India's IT sector. https://blankpaper.htdigital.in/dash/story/11712234575918 The central government decides how much money every state will receive — a process called financial devolution. Well, the states in southern India aren't happy with their share. That’s because Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu receive far less from the divisible pool of taxes than UP or Bihar. In the last couple few months, leaders from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have publicly protested against this new fissure that’s emerged in India’s federal structure. It has also become the biggest campaigning point for regional parties, as the general elections draw closer. Mint's longform writer N. Madhavan examines if constitutional federalism is alive in 2024, and speaks to bureaucrats and economists to offer a possible solution for this conundrum. https://www.livemint.com/politics/tax-divide-why-are-southern-states-upset-11712235311609.html Land and property taxes are a huge revenue stream for most states. In 2023, a boom in the sale of houses also led to widespread buying of land. Top developers are buying land at record prices after being bankrolled by the public markets and healthy cash flow. An acre of land now costs around 16.5 crore rupees on average in India, reports Mint's Madhurima Nandy. Growing demand for homes will ultimately result in national and regional builders buying up more land, Madhurima explains. If you've taken a Vistara flight this week you may have achieved a rare feat. Vistara flights have been getting cancelled en masse: every day, at least 50 of them have been cancelled due to unavailability of pilots. These pilots have been calling in sick as a form of protest against the Air India-Vistara merger. Under the transition, Vistara pilots will get a fixed salary only for 40 hours of flying a month, instead of the 70 hours they had earlier. Two major pilot unions, including one that only has pilots from Air India, wrote to the Tata Group chairman N. Chandra
Thu, April 04, 2024
Why IPL is in a whole different league
Indian markets largely remained flat on Wednesday. For a second consecutive day, benchmark indices closed in the red with both Nifty and Sensex ending the day less than 0.1 per cent below their previous close. In 2020 the central government production linked incentive or PLI scheme. Hailed by the commerce ministry, with an outlay of almost 2 trillion rupees, the scheme aimed at supporting manufacturing growth in 14 different sectors spanning industries such as electronics, pharma and textile among others. The government is now set to tweak the flagship scheme by periodically reviewing its performance across different sectors and making necessary adjustments. This move aims to revitalise sectors lagging in progress and potentially eliminate the scheme in areas lacking investor interest and advancement. While the scheme has seen varying degrees of success across sectors, with electronics and pharmaceuticals among the beneficiaries, others like IT hardware and textiles have shown slower progress. Mint’s senior assistant editor Rhik Kundu reports on the government's proactive approach, which includes restructuring the scheme for underperforming sectors, enhancing efficiency, and positioning Indian manufacturers on the global stage. Moody’s, Fitch, Standards and Poor. If you follow business or economy news you have probably heard these names a lot. These are sovereign debt rating agencies which rate countries based on their creditworthiness. These rating agencies grade countries based on several factors such as economic conditions, political climate and their ability to pay back a loan. The grade stretch from AAA for a country with a good credit score to D for countries that are unlikely to pay back the loan. Now an Indian player is set to jump into the sovereign debt rating game. Care Ratings Ltd, is set to debut in sovereign debt ratings, beginning with Asia and Africa and eventually targeting Europe. To facilitate this expansion, the company is establishing CareEdge Global IFSC Ltd in GIFT City, focusing initially on countries like Nepal, Mauritius, and South Africa where it has a footprint. Speaking to Mint’s senior editors Shayan Ghosh and Satish John, Mehul Pandya, the managing director and CEO of CareEdge, talked about the strategic move towards rating foreign currency denominated debt through the GIFT City subsidiary. March saw a surge in the sales of electric two wheelers across the country. More than 1.3 lakh electric scooters and bikes were sold in March. The reason? Consumers rushed to capitalise on the soon-to-be-reduced government subsidies, which were cut by more than half. But it is not all rosy for the electric two wheeler makers, in fact if the numbers tell a completely different story. FY24 recorded the slowest EV adoption rate since FY21, primarily affected by a significant subsidy reduction last June. This reduction slashed the subsidy from covering 40% of the ex-factory price to just 15%. This
Wed, April 03, 2024
A new scheme to replace electoral bonds in the works
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, April 3, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian equity markets remained largely flat on Wednesday. Both Sensex and Nifty fell marginally around 0.1 percent each. Director Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur became a cult classic because of its realistic depiction of 1980s gang wars in eastern India’s coal belt. However, reality is stranger than fiction – an adage that journalists strive to prove. We invited Romita Datta, a West Bengal-based journalist, to write about Sheikh Shahjahan, a revolver-toting goon who came to rule over the village of Sandeshkhali. As his power and popularity grew, Shahjahan aligned himself with the various political forces in West Bengal, including the Left, CPI (M), and the Trinamool Congress. But before becoming an elected official, Shahjahan got caught up in allegations of extortion, land grabbing, sexual abuse and money laundering. He was finally arrested in February. Romita's exhilarating story of this powerful shrimp-farming thug captures his rise to prominence and how he then ended up behind bars. The pandemic, social distancing, inflation and unseasonal rains all got in the way of the alco-bev industry’s success over the last few years. But an unusual Indian Summer seems to be just what it needs for a revival of its spirits. In this weather, a cold beer can turn around a hot, sweaty day. Beer makers hope so too: they are gearing up for increased sales in 2024. Last year, sales dropped 10 percent as unseasonal rains dented demand. However, officials from these companies expect some uncertainty stemming from election dates. A long election cycle will result in sporadic dry days, lowering sales, writes Mint's lifestyle and hospitality correspondent Varuni Khosla, in this seasonal industry forecast. The devil works hard, but political parties in India work harder. After the Supreme Court struck down Electoral Bonds as "unconstitutional", the Ministry of Finance is now working towards a new scheme for campaign financing or the funding of political parties. Mint's economy reporter Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports that the new scheme will directly address the apex court's concerns around transparency and extent of financing. This scheme, however, is only likely to come into place once the general elections are over, Gireesh adds. For years now, electric two-wheelers have enjoyed generous subsidies by the central government. The government recently introduced another subsidy, but this is capped at 10,000 rupees per vehicle. Mint's national editor and auto expert Sumant Banerji writes that this move will hike prices by anywhere between 5 to 10,000 rupees per scooter — an increase of about 7 to 10% for automakers. The industry, for its part, hasn't passed on this hike to the con
Tue, April 02, 2024
How climate change is biting India’s FMCG companies
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, April 2, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian markets started the new financial year with a fresh vigour as benchmark indices closed in the green on Monday. BSE’s Sensex rose more than 350 points to close 0.49 per cent up from its previous close. NSE’s Nifty-50 also climbed more than 130 points to close 0.61 per cent above its last close. Tata Steel, Ultratech Cement and NTPC were among the top gainers on Monday. How fast is India growing? Is it really growing? Well, there are a couple of ways to find out. One can look at the constant construction happening in all major metros across the country. More and more infrastructure projects are coming up - a likely indicator of growth. Another way to track this growth is to look at GDP numbers. In FY23 India’s GDP grew at 7 per cent. For the first three quarters of the outgoing fiscal, the growth remained above a healthy 8 per cent. The government estimates the number for the full fiscal year 2024 to be at 7.6 per cent. So what’s driving the growth? While there is more than one driver, some attribute this boost in GDP numbers to the government's push for capital expenditure. But there are other engines of growth too - public consumption being one of them. Mint’s senior editor N Madhavan examines the factors behind India’s surge. What’s in a name? Not much according to William Shakespeare, but for small finance banks, it might make a world of difference. Small finance banks in India are advocating for a rebranding, seeking to drop the 'small finance' label to enhance their appeal to depositors and investors. This request was discussed in a meeting with RBI officials, people aware of the matter told Mint’s banking editor Gopika Gopakumar. The banks aim to improve customer perception and attract more current and savings account deposits with the name change. Some banks are testing the waters. Hoardings outside AU Small Finance Bank’s regional office in Mumbai’s Kurla read simply ‘AU Bank’. Websites of almost all SFBs, barring Ujjivan SFB and North East SFB, have dropped the label from their domain names. The term 'small' was initially used in the naming of small finance banks to highlight their core mission of promoting inclusive banking. Over time, these banks have achieved their goal of extending credit to small and micro businesses, demonstrating their commitment to supporting underserved segments. Now to continue inclusive growth, having more accounts and fixed deposits is necessary, which will be helpful if the word ‘small’ is dropped, a spokesperson for Unity SFB told Gopika. What’s light, has high strength, is durable and is extremely useful for the aerospace industry? It is a material called carbon fibre. Carbon Fibre is also extensively used to make sports equipment like hockey sticks, racquets, archery b
Mon, April 01, 2024
What drives Carl Pei?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, April 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: With the financial year wrapping up last week, a lot of data was published from the past 12 months. One crucial data set was that from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This act provides a 100 days of guaranteed employment to every household. Most routinely, these jobs are available in the construction sector. With a poor monsoon last year, it was expected that more people would take up MNREGA (pronounced mun-rega) jobs. However, official data shows that year-on-year jobs remained largely flat. Usually, a bad monsoon would result in less agricultural work — and in turn, more MNREGA job applicants. Mint's economy reporters Gireesh Chandra Prasad and Rhik Kundu bring you the details. The big tech development from last year was the release of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence system that generates answers based on inputs. ChatGPT's free model runs on the GPT 3.5 version, while the paid model that costs 20 dollars a month uses GPT 4. But many users are unhappy with the output, even in the paid model. ChatGPT's founder Sam Altman agrees: he admitted that it "kind of sucks". A new version is expected this year. Mint's tech editor Leslie D'Monte writes about what we can expect with GPT-5, and how ChatGPT's competition is currently performing. If you're a tech geek, you might have heard of Carl Pei. He's the original mastermind behind the wildly successful brand of OnePlus, and later started his own company, named Nothing. The China-born CEO started out by making a website at 12 years old to help people beat a Pokemon game, and never stopped tinkering with both software and hardware. The result? Helping establish OnePlus, which ended up selling millions of phones — first in China, and then the rest of the world. But Pei still felt he needed to prove something on his own, and left in 2021 to start Nothing. Mint Lounge's Nitin Sreedhar speaks to Carl Pei about his journey and work for this fantastic profile. Chances are, you haven't been to watch a Bollywood movie in the theatres so far this year. And I won't blame you: the releases have been quite lacklustre. Mint's media and entertainment reporter Lata Jha reports that the absence of major stars from released movies has caused a drop in cinema goers. But the trend doesn't stop there: a slump in prices paid by OTTs such as Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime to stream movies post-release are also hampering the movie business. You may have heard of ShareChat and Moj. These are two short-video platforms that became popular after the Indian government banned TikTok in 2020. Both ShareChat and Moj are owned by the same company, Mohalla Tech. But despite being operational for more than four years, the companies haven't yet figured out a sustainable business m
Fri, March 29, 2024
How offshore funding impacts smallcaps
Good morning listeners, Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, March 29, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Markets continued to pick up on Thursday. Benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex increased by around 0.90 percent each. Power, auto, and metal stocks led the surge during yesterday's trading session. Despite yesterday's good news, the markets have been volatile of late. Much of this volatility can be attributed to smallcap stocks, which suffered a crash after the markets regulator warned investors of the possibility of a smallcap bubble. The BSE Smallcap index is flat for the year, and down 4.5% in March. Mint's corporate writer Varun Soo unpacks one of the reasons behind this volatility: offshore funds. After a long investigation, Varun discovered that three men at the helm who were involved in dozens of smallcap stocks. They have been accused by the Enforcement Directorate of operating a "hawala" scam and manipulating stocks. This is an excellent read if you want to understand how smallcap stocks operate. Thursday was also the last trading day of the financial year for 2024. For the last 12 months, Nifty and Sensex have increased by 31 and 27 percent respectively. Small and midcap stocks increased by more than 65%, despite the recent volatility. Mint’s markets correspondent Dipti Sharma brings you a summary of the equity markets’ performance in the past financial year. You might have made some gains on a stock, but earlier you still had to wait two working days for the proceeds to be deposited to your account. This changed to one day. Now, you can realise your gains instantly: the markets regulator Sebi has approved same-day settlement on a trial basis. This process is called the T+X system, where X is the number of days taken to process a transaction. A limited number of brokers and a set of 25 stocks are currently following the T+0 system. Sebi is going to assess the results in 3 and 6 months from now, before deciding if a universal rollout is possible. Dipti Sharma explains the T+0 model, and how it might change equity investing forever. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India asked Federal Bank and South Indian Bank to stop issuing new co-branded credit cards. Usually, these tie-ups are either with retail outlets or fintech companies. Mint's banking correspondent Gopika Gopakumar writes that these partnerships came under the RBI's scanner after it found that banks were sharing their risk assessment models with the companies they tied-up with. These assessments are supposed to be done in-house by the banks, which contain sensitive information about a user’s financial data. The RBI also wants to prevent the rapid rise in credit cards issued — about 99 million such plastic is currently in circulation in India. We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to
Thu, March 28, 2024
A snowballing governance nightmare for corporate India?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, March 27, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Markets enjoyed an uptick on Wednesday. Benchmark index Nifty increased by around half a percentage point, while Sensex was up by 0.73 percent by the time markets closed. India is short on directors. Not the ones that make movies — plenty of those around — but those that run companies. According to the Companies Act, every board must have a certain number of directors, depending on the size of the company. These directors should ideally be independent and impartial, and take decisions that benefit the company's future, and in turn, its shareholders. But as Mint's corporate governance writer Varun Sood reports, these directors might be shaky. Over 25 such appointed directors have called it quits before they could join boards since 2021. These directors have time and again cited personal reasons for their sudden decision to quit. As Varun writes, these often take place at companies which are undergoing a governance crisis, like Zee Entertainment, Dish TV, and other firms like Alkem Laboratories and Union Bank of India. Varun spoke to directors, investors, and governance experts to find out why this curious trend is gathering steam in India Inc. Alternative investment funds, or AIFs, are going through a rough time right now. The markets and banking regulators came down heavily on these financial instruments, issuing notices that limited their scope of investments. Private and public banks have a fair bit of exposure to AIFs, so the Reserve Bank of India wanted to protect depositors against risky or fraudulent borrowing. But after Sebi floated a consulting paper, RBI might be willing to change its course: it is exempting banks and NBFCs from liquidating or provisioning the money it had in AIFs. Provisioning is the process of setting aside an equal amount of money to protect investors and depositors. The regulators came down hard on AIFs in December after it came to light that AIFs had borrowed from the very same banks who had invested in them, leading to a potential conflict of interest. If you're a startup, it's a hard time to raise money these days. Despite that, automobile platform CarDekho is working towards a new round of funding, reports startups and new economy reporter Sneha Shah. The company is in talks to raise anywhere between a 100 to 150 million dollars that will provide exits to existing investors. The company will now be valued at 1.3 billion dollars after this round, and claims it is on its way to an IPO in the next two years. CarDekho had a revenue of more than 2,300 crore rupees in FY23, which was a 46 percent jump from the previous financial year. Maruti Suzuki had high hopes from Jimny, a model it launched last year catered towards a market that likes off-road driving. That capability should come in h
Wed, March 27, 2024
India’s copper conundrum
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, March 27, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices broke the three-day streak of higher close to end the trading session on the red on Tuesday. BSE’s benchmark index Sensex closed down 0.5 per cent, while NSE’s Nifty closed 0.42 per cent below its open. It's election season, and across the country, people are being encouraged to vote for their preferred political candidates. It's one thing to have a political party knocking on your door asking for your vote, but retail shareholders of ICICI Securities are facing a different kind of voting pressure altogether. In the run-up to a significant voting deadline, these retail shareholders reported an unusual campaign from ICICI Bank employees. ICICI employees have been urging them to vote in favour of a proposed demerger. In June, the boards of private sector lender ICICI Bank and its broking arm ICICI Securities approved the delisting of equity shares of ICICI Securities. This aggressive outreach, which includes calls and home visits confirmed by shareholders, has raised eyebrows over privacy concerns and the unwarranted access to shareholder data. Mint’s correspondents Shayan Ghosh and Nehal Chaliawala report on this peculiar method of shareholder outreach employed by ICICI. Credit card nerds are a different breed. They put in a lot of effort to carefully curate their spending — yes, curate — to maximise the benefits from any given card. Some go the lengths of opening a fixed deposit with a bank only to get a credit card. Axis Bank's offerings were too good to pass up for many. But last week, Axis devalued all of its cards: a process in which the benefits were watered down. Users who pay anywhere between 2,500 rupees to nearly 60,000 rupees as joining or renewal fees were shocked to hear of this news. Airport lounge visits, which were earlier free, are now dependent on spending at least 50,000 rupees in three months — this is over and above the fees mentioned earlier. Mint Money's Shipra Singh and Shashwat Mohanty report that some of these users are going to sue Axis Bank for this sudden devaluation, and explain the reasons for why Axis has taken this step. The rescue of struggling businesses through the insolvency and bankruptcy code or IBC is poised for a big jump this year. The expectation for this year is set around a 50 per cent increase to about 275 cases. Mint’s senior editor Gireesh Chandra Prasad spoke to insiders who credited a more efficient process at the tribunal benches for this boost. The need for quick turnarounds under the IBC is clear - it's about cleaning up the financial mess in companies and banks, paving the way for fresh investments. Since the IBC kicked off in 2016, it's chalked up approvals for 891 companies, with creditors cashing in 3.2 trillion rupees. After a period o
Mon, March 25, 2024
An unlikely star in the insurance industry
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. This is Nelson John, wishing all our listeners a safe, colourful and happy Holi. It's Monday, March 25, 2024. Let's get started: What really makes us happy, and how do we measure it? While happiness can feel like a deeply personal experience, varying greatly from one person to the next, there's an attempt to quantify it on a global scale every year. And in this pursuit of measuring happiness, it turns out India hasn't scored too well. India ranked 126 out of 143 nations surveyed in the World Happiness Report 2024. A partnership between consulting and research firm Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report looks at six variables, including per capita gross domestic product (GDP), social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption. Mint’s national editor N Madhavan breaks down the report which deemed Finland as the happiest country in the world. India fared poorly on most parameters. The rankings are also being questioned by many for having countries stuck in deep economic crises and geopolitical conflicts getting a higher rank than India. What do you think when you think of India’s postal services? Is it just letters and parcels? Think again. India Post is making waves in an unexpected area: life insurance. The 140-year-old Postal Life Insurance scheme has seen a growth spurt of 14.5% this financial year, outperforming the entire insurance industry for the first time since FY21. Apart from the trust in a state-run insurance plan, there are other factors driving the growth in life insurance for postal services. Mint’s Dhirendra Kumar writes about how the growth is also being driven by a digital overhaul, making premium payments and claim settlements a breeze online. While the private sector and the Life Insurance Corporation are facing their own challenges, the postal department's life and rural insurance schemes are thriving, with nearly 16% growth. This growth comes in a market that's still ripe for the picking, given India's low insurance penetration compared to global averages. Starting up a business may be a dream for many, including celebrities and those in showbiz. But scaling it up and making it big - that’s where the plot thickens! Many movie stars and sports icons ventured into launching their own brands. But a few years into the business, the hand over the reins to bigger companies. Mint’s startups reporter Priyamvada C spoke to industry insiders, who see more celebrity-led brands being acquired by bigger, professionally run businesses. Big names like Alia Bhatt, Masaba Gupta, and Hrithik Roshan have already seen their brands acquired by retail giants. While celebrity involvement can add credibility and market pull, the success of these brands hinges on more than just a big name. Ris
Fri, March 22, 2024
What’s a plutocracy and is India becoming one?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, March 22, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices surged on Thursday, riding the wave of optimism from global markets. This uptick came after the Federal Reserve maintained its outlook for three rate cuts within the year, sparking a rally. Both Nifty and Sensex rose more than 0.75 per cent by the end of the day’s trading on Thursday. Money x Power = ? Have you ever heard of a plutocracy? It's a scenario where the wealthiest individuals not only hold the purse strings but also the reins of governance, turning financial might into political power. A similar trend is unfolding in India. As per the World Inequality Lab's latest study, income and wealth inequality are breaking records, even outpacing countries like China and Brazil. The elite one percent in India aren't just wealthy; they're earning 23 times more than the average Indian. If left unchecked, this imbalance could lead to India's future being shaped by a plutocracy.Mint’s national writer Sayantan Bera takes a closer look at this pressing issue in today's Mint Primer. Ola Electric, steered by Bhavish Aggarwal, is on the brink of a significant move in India's electric vehicle landscape with its initial public offering drawing near. The electric scooter-maker known for its S1 series is drawing investor interest. People close to the matter told Mint’s autocorrespondent Alisha Sachdev that Singapore’s Eastspring and UK-based Pictet are lining up as anchor investors, signalling favourable market sentiment. Dominating over 40 per cent of India's electric two-wheeler market, Ola Electric's battery division, Ola Cell Technologies, is set to boost efficiency and profitability. Ola's ambitions are clear: expanding its cell factory capacity and venturing into advanced battery technologies, including bidding for lithium resources. The Indian Premier League, Indian cricket’s biggest spectacle, begins today, kicking off a summer of high octane action in the game’s shortest format. Cricket fans are excited, but the advertising scene this year tells a different story. Star Sports and Jio, the custodians of broadcast and digital rights, have seen ad rates stagnate. Major sectors like automotive, e-commerce, telecom, and fintech are yet to jump into the advertising fray. Mint’s assistant editor Varuni Khosla reports on the mood of the advertisers around this year's biggest television event. Varuni also spoke to advertising experts who noted a peculiar reluctance towards the IPL among clients this season, pointing to a broader market slowdown rather than the tournament's appeal. Seems like restaurants are in a bit of a soup. The stock market isn't serving up good news for restaurants lately. Case in point: Devyani International Limited, the company operating your local KFC and Pizza Hut outlets. Over the
Thu, March 21, 2024
Why Zomato's pure veg fleet is a bad idea
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, March 21, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Markets stayed largely flat on Wednesday. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty increased marginally by around 0.1 percent each. 2024 hasn't been very kind: Sensex and Nifty have both been flat since the start of the year. Compare that to Nvidia, the US-based tech company. Nvidia is up more than 80 percent since the turn of the calendar. Nvidia is one of the few companies that can mass-produce the hardware needed to make artificial intelligence work on computers. Shouvik Das, Mint's tech correspondent, writes from San Jose in California about a speech given by Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang. Huang said he was bullish on India, and said that India developing AI is crucial for the global markets. The government recently approved a billion-dollar fund for this very purpose, so Huang's bullishness is understandable. Despite the generall market lull, one stock that has done well on the Indian markets has been Zomato. It's up 33% on the year, and hit its upper circuit of 5 percent yesterday. That surge could be attributed to its plan to introduce a vegetarian-only fleet. But, as Mint's startup and new economy reporter Priyamvada C explains, this could turn out to be a bad idea. She writes that while restaurants have always handled this segregation of food, Zomato wants to change that. There's also been concerns around discrimination about this decision, including a wanting to distinguish its vegetarian-only delivery personnel through green clothes. This plan was later rolled back, with Zomato's CEO Deepinder Goyal attributing it to the public backlash. Sajjan Jindal, the industrialist and conglomerate, has long wanted to enter India's robust auto sector. The increase in adoption of electric vehicles provided a quick opening for JSW to enter auto making. It has decided to do this by manufacturing electric buses and trucks. Mint's auto correspondent Alisha Sachdev reports that JSW is looking for a partner to set up a manufacturing unit in Odisha. This unit will be set up at a cost of 40,000 crore rupees. It's an interesting move by the steel and energy conglomerate to enter the commercial vehicle section as well. It was earlier reported that JSW will tie-up with MG Motors to enter the passenger vehicles segment in India. JSW isn't the only one bullish on the EV segment: the central government wants conventional automakers to transition to electric vehicles as well. To that end, the government is creating a long-term playbook to develop India as a hub for automobile manufacturing. Mint's special correspondent Rituraj Baruah reports that the Centre is working to set up this automotive mission plan that is intended for EVs only, but might include traditional petrol and diesel vehicles too. This will be aligned with the BJP government's 'V
Wed, March 20, 2024
How much for a Tesla in India? Answer: ~ 40 lakhs
Mint Primer | Tesla at ₹40 lakh: Will EVs now come roaring in? Modi govt’s mixed record on corporate reforms Two Raza paintings emerge from the shadows to fetch an eye popping ₹86 crore How pig butchering scam is taking a toll on investors Alakh sir, can PhysicsWallah ace the profit test? Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, March 20, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Tuesday saw the Indian benchmark indices take a downturn, ahead of a key interest rate announcement by the US Federal Reserve. Both Sensex and Nifty shed more than one per cent to end the trading session deep in the red on Tuesday. Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank were among the only few stocks to end the day in green. Are you an electric car enthusiast? Ever dreamt of driving a Tesla on Indian roads? In a surprise move Friday, a day before the model code of conduct came into force, the Indian government revised its EV policy. The new policy slashed import duty on electric cars in India to 15 per cent from the current 70-110 per cent, a massive reduction! But it comes with conditions. The reduced tariff is valid only for 8,000 cars per annum and can be availed only if companies make an investment of 4,150 crore rupees or 500 million dollars towards setting up a factory within 3 years. There is also a clause on domestic value addition. So the policy requires electric car makers like Tesla to commit to significant domestic investments. Tesla plans to develop an affordable model for emerging markets like India. And we finally may have a price point for a Tesla model. It sits somewhere close to 40 lakhs. Mint’s auto correspondent Sumant Banerji explains what the policy change could mean for global EV companies. When the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, one of the core ideas it championed was the ease of doing business in India. The previous regime’s ‘policy paralysis’ emerged as a strong pitch for the BJP. Now, after a decade in power, has the Modi-led government made any significant corporate reforms? Mint’s senior assistant editor Niti Kiran takes a look, using data as her tool. Niti examines the highs and lows of corporate pol
Tue, March 19, 2024
Electoral bonds: There is more to unpack
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, March 19, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: On a day marked by wild gyrations of the Sensex and Nifty, the benchmark indices managed to end Tuesday on a positive note. Both Sensex and Nifty ended the trading session about 0.15 per cent above their previous close. Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW Steel and Tata Motors emerged as the top gainers on Tuesday. Have you invested in a small cap fund? Or looking at the high rate of return, have you been tempted to? Market regulator Sebi put small and mid cap funds under a stress test to check if they can handle a large sum of money, especially in a space which tends to have less liquidity. But what was the need for this test? Mint Money’s Neil Borate and Jash Kriplani explain the move. Over the last two years, assets under management for small-cap mutual funds have more than doubled! This coupled with an average return value of more than 45 per cent, raised concerns with the regulator. Sebi asked small cap funds to rank companies under their management in descending order of liquidity. Days to liquidation vary from 12 days for 50 per cent liquidation for smaller funds, to 60 days for larger ones. Neil and Jash also tackle questions around the methodology of the stress test and whether you as a small-cap investor should be worried. Tata Sons, the parent entity of India's premier software services company Tata Consultancy Services, is reportedly planning to offload 23.4 million shares through block deals. The shares are to be sold at a price of 4,001 rupees each, totalling an estimated 9,300 crore rupees or about 1.1 billion dollars, as per a Bloomberg report. Tata Sons owns more than 72 per cent of TCS, which has seen its share value increase by 30 per cent over the last year. This strategic sale is speculated to be a manoeuver by the Tata Group to bypass the need for a public market listing for Tata Sons. Such a listing is a requirement set by the Reserve Bank of India for 'upper layer' non-banking financial companies to be listed on stock exchanges. The issue of electoral bonds is more layered than was initially understood. Days into SBI releasing details of donations made by corporations to political parties, the data keeps on throwing up surprises. Mint’s Varun Sood unpacks more of it in this next story. Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd , a prominent player in India's infrastructure sector, finds itself at the centre of a puzzling discrepancy about its political donations made through electoral bonds. According to Megha Engineering’s last annual report, the company purchased electoral bonds worth 280 crore rupees. However, the Election Commission's data tells a different story. The commission’s data shows Megha and its subsidiary, EveyTrans, together only bought bonds totaling 199 crore rupees in FY23. This d
Mon, March 18, 2024
Who funded which party? An analysis of Electoral Bonds donors
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, March 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Late on Thursday, the State Bank of India released the list of donors from the Electoral Bonds list. Electoral bonds were an anonymous way to donate to political parties, which India’s Supreme Court declared unconstitutional last month. The court also ordered the previously anonymous data to be made public, which means the public can understand which party has been funded by whom since 2017. The data provided enough material for our Plain Facts team to pore over and investigate. Our partners at How India Lives . com dive deeper into the donations made by Madanlal Limited — a Kolkata-based company that bought bonds worth 186 crore rupees. Its website showed that Madanlal is part of two other companies: MKJ group and Keventers Group, both of whom also bought the same bonds. But How India Lives is investigating Madanlal because its total declared income in financial year 2022 was just 3 crore rupees. Does this seem odd? Read this story to dive deeper into how the purchase of electoral bonds worked. Over the weekend, the election commission of India also announced the dates for the upcoming general elections in India. The 2024 elections will be held in seven phases across the country. Shuja Asrar and Tanay Sukumar of our Plain Facts team bring you a retrospective view on the history of Lok Sabha elections in the country. How do women vote? Is there a divide in the number of voters between north and south India? What are the battlegrounds for the major states? Shuja and Tanay answer these crucial questions with granular data, put together using visualisations to help see India’s electoral behaviour in a new light. An average investor places their money in a mutual fund when they trust that the fund manager can make more sound decisions on their behalf. But what happens when mutual funds make seemingly unsound investing choices? Mint's corporates reporter Nehal Chaliawala and markets correspondent Ram Sahgal write about the curious trend in ICICI Securities stock. ICICI is mulling if its securities arm should de-list — a process that usually reduces the share price of a company. Despite this move, mutual funds have continued to buy the stock. What's behind this move? Nehal and Ram speak to analysts, who expect this move to fall through, which would justify their bullish position on the stock. If not, these funds are in for a heavy loss — a prospect that might not be treated kindly by investors. It's rare to find women in the mutual fund ecosystem — and even rarer to find them at the head of the table. But Radhika Gupta has defied all such boundaries. She is the CEO of Edelweiss mutual funds. Mint Money's Jash Kriplani speaks to Gupta on her current allocation mix. Here is her portfolio, in her own words: Everyone wants
Fri, March 15, 2024
Why RBI barred Paytm Payments Bank
Show notes: India's crypto woes persist despite Bitcoin surge Paytm’s bank is in a state of suspended animation. So, what’s next? Foodhall is shut, but Biyani sisters are not done with gourmet food yet Why ‘regular pay’ is better for life insurance premiums Is the ice melting? Some startups defy funding slump with successive rounds Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, March 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: After a disastrous Wednesday, the Indian stock market recovered on Thursday. Both Nifty and Sensex increased by just about half a percent, making some progress to undo the damage done by the mass selling in smallcap stocks. Real estate companies HUDCO and IRB both hit upper circuit, while Adani Green Energy and Ease My Trip were the other big gainers of the day. On the other hand, Tata Investment and Prestige Estates lost nearly 5 percent each. Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency, hit another record high — a single bitcoin now costs ₹60 lakh, or more than $73,000. But Indians aren't profiting along with the rest of the world. Scepticism remains high among Indian investors, while those in the West are cashing in on this bull run. Shouvik Das, Mint's tech correspondent, takes a deep dive into this fascinating world of cryptocurrency, and why the craze isn't rampant in India. Paytm has had a rough few months. After a sudden decision by the Reserve Bank of India, its payments arm was effectively dead. As a result, the company's stock price has also fallen by more than 45% so far this year. But outside of vague statements on the lack of regulatory compliances, we don't really know why this happened. That is, until now. Mint's banking editor Shayan Ghosh writes a detailed and incisive story on Paytm and its battle with the RBI, which had begun even before the bank officially opened in 2016. If you want to know the inside story of this eight-year long tussle, read this story. You may not have heard of the Future Group, but you're surely familiar with its logo: an orange bird fluttering in the corner of some stores. You definitely would have seen this logo,
Thu, March 14, 2024
Bloodbath on D-street
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, March 14, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Wednesday witnessed a crash at Dalal Street. Facing headwinds from cautious sentiment in international markets and influenced by expectation of a delayed interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, Indian benchmark indices followed the lead of other Asian markets, ending the day with notable losses. Sensex fell more than 900 points to close 1.23 per cent in the red. Nifty was no better, the NSE index saw a fall of more than 1.5 per cent on Wednesday. The fall in Nifty and Sensex was the biggest single day fall since January this year. The broader market wasn't spared either, as both the Nifty Small Cap 250 and Nifty Mid-Cap 150 indices underwent their steepest one-day drops in over two years. The small cap index was dragged down by more than 5 per cent, while the mid cap index plummeted by 4.2 per cent. This market correction follows a rally in midcap and smallcap stocks. The small and mid cap wave has now been tempered by a regulatory crackdown from Sebi and RBI, raising investor concerns. Mint’s senior correspondent Dipti Sharma spoke to market experts and analysts to make sense of the bloodbath Dalal Street saw on Wednesday. Experts pointed to comments from regulators about overvaluation in the market, upcoming stress-test disclosures for small and midcap funds, and lower market liquidity as factors that contributed to the crash. Smallcaps had a bad day at the bourses. It might get worse: the enforcement directorate seized the assets of several companies after it ascertained that they were party to a scam. Varun Sood and Ram Sahgal team up to investigate this scam, wherein trading entities were found to hold sizeable positions in smallcap stocks. ED has said that some of these players were involved in stock manipulation, and will charge them accordingly. Don't miss out on this fascinating story of the Mahadev betting scam. In 2011, a powerful earthquake and Tsunami struck the coast of Japan and changed the course of nuclear energy. The tsunami’s impact resulted in electric grid failure and damaged nearly all the backup energy sources of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Though no fatalities were reported, more than 160 thousand residents were evacuated. A tragedy of this scale, second only to the Chernobyl leak, raised doubts about the safety of nuclear energy. The demand for nuclear energy went down, dragging uranium demand with it. However, uranium seems to be back in demand, and so is nuclear energy. The prices for uranium have been above 90 dollars a pound for over a few months now. So, what’s driving the sudden increase in uranium demand? Rise in energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and nations commiting to move away from fossil fuels are some of the reasons. Mint’s Tina Edwin explains what’s behin
Wed, March 13, 2024
Ever heard of a part time CEO?
At long last, Jet Airways revival in sight Tweaked stock options, coming soon to a job contract near you Petrol pumps cap inventory amid hopes of fuel price cut Startups, SMEs increasingly covet so-called fractional CXOs Netflix needs another midstream change in India. Here’s why Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, March 13, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty trimmed some of their gains, yet managed to end Tuesday in the green. Largely the indices remained flat with NSE’s Nifty 50 gaining a miniscule 0.01 per cent. BSE’s 30-company index Sensex too rose only 0.22 per cent. HDFC Bank, TCS, Maruti Suzuki India, Infosys, and Reliance Industries emerged as the top gainers on Tuesday. Finally, there’s been some progress in the possible revival of Jet Airways. The grounded airline got a second wind on Tuesday, after a decision by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. N-C-L-A-T has asked the bankrupt airline’s lender’s to handover the carrier to the Jalan-Karlock Consortium within 90 days. The National Company Law Tribunal — a lower body than the N-C-L-A-T, had approved the consortium’s resolution plan for Jet Airways back in June 2021. It had even allowed the handover in January last year. However, Jet’s lenders challenged this decision in the higher tribunal over alleging the consortium to be non-compliant with the resolution plan. Mint’s legal correspondent Krishna Yadav reports on the development, crucial for not just Jet but also the Indian aviation industry. In a bid to retain top talent amid rising attrition, companies are juggling with different kinds of stock options for employees. India Inc is experimenting with hybrid forms of stock options, as opposed to the regular ones. Some of them include stricter forms of performance based stock options, analysts told Mint’s HR and workplace correspondent Devina Sengupta. These restricted stock units or RSUs, are shares given to an employee as a reward upon fulfilling a predetermined period of service. On the other hand, performance stocks are granted only when an employee achieves particular objectives, rem
Tue, March 12, 2024
SBI to make Electoral Bonds data public rules Apex Court
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, March 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The Indian stock market slid on Monday, with benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex falling by about 0.8 percent. Smallcap stocks like JM Financial, which faced disciplinary action by Sebi, and IIFL Finance were the worst losers of the day. However, if you owned shares of Godfrey Phillips — maker of Marlboro cigarettes, you had reason to cheer: the stock surged by more than 9 percent. ITC, another cigarette stock, might have an interesting week ahead: Mint's Mark to Market reporter Dipti Sharma reports that one of its biggest stakeholders might liquidate their position. British American Tobacco, which holds 29 percent of ITC, might look to sell 4 percent of its stake. Dipti writes that ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund and O3 securities are in line to buy this stake. This sale might yield the company more than 20,000 crore rupees, which would be one of the biggest block deals in the Indian stock market in the last few years. Speaking of public markets, there might be a new entity IPO-ing soon. On Monday, Aditya Birla decided to merge two of its subsidiaries. Aditya Birla Capital and Finance will now work as a single company, which allows the non-banking financial company, or NBFC, to list on the public markets. Mint's banking correspondent Shayan Ghosh writes that this move will consolidate Aditya Birla's financial arms, and lead to fewer complications when the newly-minted company decides to IPO. Lloyds, the electronic consumer goods company, claims to be the third-largest AC maker in India. But you wouldn't know it if you walked into any store: Lloyds air conditioners are rare to find in any brick-and-mortar shops. A struggling Lloyds was bought by Havells in 2017, but the investment hasn't paid off yet: while Lloyds' goods contribute 20% of the revenue posted by Havells, it dragged its profits down by 14%. Mint's national editor Sumant Banerji writes about the company and its journey so far, and why analysts feel Lloyds is harming the potential of Havells. The State Bank of India is almost synonymous with its infamous lunch breaks. But when the Supreme Court is in line, you better hurry up. On Monday, the apex court directed SBI to share the names of donors who purchased electoral bonds. SBI had argued that it needed time to collate all the data till at least June 30 — well after the general elections had concluded. The Supreme Court, led by chief justice Chandrachud, squashed this plea. Mint's legal reporter Krishan Yadav writes about this verdict that orders the names of donors to be submitted to the court by today evening, which will also be publicly disclosed by March 15. If you were to make a big purchase, you might consider pulling money from your provident fund. EPFO, or the employees' provident fund organisatio
Mon, March 11, 2024
What’s with the Academy’s beef with popular movies?
Who will win Barbenheimer clash at Oscars? Here’s what history shows. India's chip ambitions are about to get larger Disney merger in sight, Viacom18 rejigs top roles Spotify bets on independent music to bolster presence in India NexCAR 19 cancer therapy: Conceived at IIT Bombay, delivered in Tata Memorial Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, March 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: The big day for cinephiles is finally here. As you are listening to this podcast, The 96th Academy Awards are being announced at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The apex awards for the global movie industry have for long raised eyebrows with their nomination choices. Often the Academy’s picks go against the popular box office trends of the year. Take 2023’s highest grossing film Barbie for example: it received 9 nominations, but missed out on some key categories. The Greta Gerwig directorial venture was snubbed in major categories including direction and leading actress. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, on the other hand, which clashed with Barbie in an epic showdown at the box office, received 13 nominations. Mint’s Shuja Asrar breaks down the data on the Academy’s past picks and how they performed in the theatres. For the Oscars, popular doesn't always equate to being the best. This year doesn’t seem like it’ll be any different. It’s the era of semiconductors. It is difficult to imagine the world without these tiny silicon chips, and India is bullish on its prospects. In an interview with Mint’s senior assistant editor Gulveen Aulakh, union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke about the government’s plan to boost chip sector incentives. Currently, these incentives add up to about 76,000 crore rupees. Thanks to a n increase in incentives, we can expect a boom in the number of chip fabs and testing units across the country. This interview comes as just last week the union government approved three chip sector projects with expected investments of 1.26 trillion rupees, with two of them being won by Tata. The minister expects dozens of such units to be up and running in the next five years. As the mega-merger between media giants Reliance and Disney is inching close
Fri, March 08, 2024
The laws every Indian woman should know of
Don't be startled — you're still listening to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. I'm Devina Sengupta, deputy editor at Mint. I write about careers, workplaces, and higher education. I am your host for this special episode and will be substituting for Nelson John. It's Friday, March 8, 2024. Let's get started: Markets ended flat on Thursday, as Sensex maintained its position above the 74,000 mark. The benchmark indices showed marginal gains across the board, although oil companies in particular performed poorly. Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil, and Reliance Industries fell by more than a percentage point each. The market has maintained its bull run for a few weeks now. Retail investors have reason to be delighted, but so do multinational companies. Startups and new economy reporter Priyamvada C writes that multinational companies have been selling their stakes in Indian companies. Companies like America's Conagra Brands, British American Tobacco, and Japan's Sumitomo Wiring offloaded their holdings in Indian companies to take advantage of high share prices and pay off debt in high interest markets.. The multinationals will use these proceeds for a host of purposes, using this moment to effectively manage their treasury and investments, notes Priyamvada. One such deal took place just yesterday evening: Singapore's telecom giant Singtel sold 0.8 percent of its stake in Airtel to investment firm GQG Partners. The value of the transaction was just above 700 million us dollars, or 4,888 crore rupees. Even after this deal, Singtel remains the largest stakeholder in Airtel — even more than Airtel's promoters, the Bharti Group. Mint's telecom correspondent Gulveen Aulakh reports that Singtel hopes to equalise its stake with Bharti over time through such deals. GQG Partners, an investment firm based in the US, has steadily increased its bets in India. It bought large chunks of Adani Group companies last year. It also invested in GMR Infrastructure, IDFC First, and JSW Energy. The markets regulator Sebi barred financial services company JM Financial from acting as a lead manager for any public issue of debt securities. The order came after Sebi found some serious lapses in a case where JM Financial acted as a lead manager for a public issue.. During a routine examination, Sebi found some inconsistencies with this debt offering. Mint's legal correspondent Priyanka Gawande explains Sebi's 22-page order, which is likely to have consequences for JM Financial's share price when markets open tomorrow. If you're a woman, today is as good a day as any to learn about your rights. Mint Money's Aprajita Sharma writes about some key financial laws every woman should be aware of. Aprajita speaks to legal experts about Indian laws surrounding inheritance, insurance, and loans. They are structured differently for men and women, and differ across religions.
Thu, March 07, 2024
Hey McDonald's! Who moved my cheese?
It's Thursday, March 7, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: A new day, a new record high for the Indian stock market. Nifty and Sensex both surged by around half a percent each. Sensex crossed the 74,000 mark for the first time. Stocks such as ICICI Bank, SBI, and NTPC also hit lifetime highs. However, as markets correspondent Ram Sahgal notes, trading remained uneven. Midcap and smallcap stocks plunged, as investors took note of regulatory action by the markets regulator. Ram spoke to analysts to make sense of the day's trading, and whether this bull run will continue across large, mid, and small caps. After decades of fast-paced growth, China's economy looks to have run into some roadblocks. Its economy is likely to grow at 5% this year — it grew at 5.3% in 2023. But even this modest target looks difficult, given the tough position the country is in right now. The country is too debt-ridden, and demand has fallen. The markets have been ailing for a few months now. Mint's senior editor N. Madhavan explains the current predicament that China finds itself in. When you're looking for a credit card, you can choose which bank, which tier, and what the annual fees could be. But what you can't choose is the card network — either Visa or Mastercard. That comes baked into any credit card. That will change soon: the Reserve Bank of India banned exclusive tie-ups between card issuers and networks. This ruling will apply from September this year. While applying for a new card, or renewing an existing one, you can now choose between the two options. Mint's banking correspondent Shayan Ghosh writes on this decision taken by the RBI, and explains its implications for the banking framework in the country. Speaking of credit cards: have you swiped your plastic to make a big purchase? I suppose we all have. But to buy a car? That seems a little... strange? As Mint Money's Shipra Singh writes, most car dealers will let you pay by credit card — either just the down payment, or the entire value in full. You can use the points and rewards for a variety of future expenses. Shipra writes that adopting this strategy can help you save a fair bit of money, which wouldn't be possible if you paid in cash or using other forms. However, Shipra writes that some dealers might charge you an extra 2 percent for processing the payments, negating some of your benefits. Lastly, such a transaction could also lower your credit score. But there's a way to steer clear of that too, while lapping up the points! Read this story before you pay for your new wheels using a credit card. Fast-food and cheese pretty much go hand in hand. If you were to walk into a McDonalds, chances are most items might contain some element of cheese in them. Except... it's not real cheese! The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration recently looked into claims that McDonald's doesn't serve real cheese, but rather cheese substitutes in its products. While it
Wed, March 06, 2024
Frozen hellscape or green shoots at the height of startup winter?
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, March 6, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Breaking a four day winning streak, Indian markets closed in the red on Tuesday. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty both suffered some losses during the day but closed slightly above their intraday lows. Sensex was down 0.26 per cent at the end of Tuesday’s trading. Nifty, at the closing bell, was down 0.22 per cent. Make hay while the sun shines? Sure! But 2023 seems like a poor year for India's solar projects. We only installed 7.5 gigawatts of solar capacity last year. Compare this to 13.4 gigawatts in 2022, and 10 gigawatts in 21. Why is our capacity addition going down? High taxes to forbid the entry of Chinese solar panels is one reason for this drop. Mint's national editor Sumant Banerji explains this anomaly in India's solar story — and what the outlook is for the next few years. While we are on the topic of solar power, have you ever heard of agrivoltaics ? Let’s dive in. Agrivoltaics is a unique way of melding solar power generation with agriculture. The use of solar panels on agricultural land is what makes the method unique. The integrated system aims at maximising land productivity, by harnessing solar power while simultaneously growing crops under photovoltaic solar panels. The concept, conceived in the 1980s, solves multiple problems at the same time. It’s not only a step toward renewable energy, but also tackles the problem of land scarcity. But why isn’t it more prevalent in India? And what are the challenges this system faces? P Anima, who writes on climate change, environment and agriculture, tries to get beneath these questions in today’s Long Story. Some of the challenges include the lack of a uniform model for the method in India, and an unequal power dynamic between the main stakeholders, which includes farmers and solar developers. This next story is for those following India’s debt securities market. India is set to receive inflows of 3 to 4 billion dollars from next year. The reason? Financial data provider Bloomberg announced its decision to include Indian government bonds to its emerging markets index. India’s domestic debt securities, which are accessible through the Fully Accessible Route or FAR , will now feature in Bloomberg’s Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index. The FAR is a framework introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 2020, aimed at encouraging foreign investment in the Indian securities market by removing some of the regulatory barriers. Under the framework, non resident Indians can invest in government securities without facing any investment ceilings or restrictions that typically apply to foreign ownership. Mint’s banking correspondent Shayan Ghosh reports that global investors with passive investment strategies are likely to be candidates to put their money
Tue, March 05, 2024
The uphill battle for Indian GPTs
Small investors are savvier; look what they did with small-cap stocks International airlines vie for the Indian globetrotter Tata Motors business divisions come to a fork in the road Should Nvidia employees with stock options sell or stay put? Ask me anything: Inside the race to build desi GPTs Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, March 5, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Concluding the day marked by range-bound trading, Indian benchmark indices ended Monday with marginal gains. The Nifty 50 reached a new all-time high of 22,440 in early trading but subsequently pared some of those gains. At the end of the session, Nifty was up 0.12 per cent while Sensex closed marginally up by 0.09 per cent. Retail investors are getting smarter day by day. With a rally in small and midcap stocks over the last three quarters of 2024, these investors who trade directly on the exchanges, had a gala time. Companies such as BSE, Birlasoft, Zensar Tech, Sonata Software, and RBL Bank saw their stock prices jump anywhere between 23 per cent to 415 per cent in the nine months through December. At the same time, retail investors cut their stake in these companies by 4 to 11 per cent. This means, these investors who typically invest only up to 2 lakh rupees, are getting in at low points and selling at mega profits. Mint’s market correspondents Ram Sahgal and Mayur Bhalerao examine how retail players are riding the small cap wave. Global airlines are looking at India with hopeful eyes. After witnessing a surge in the domestic market last year, airlines are upbeat on foreign fliers from India. The upcoming summer season is adding to the momentum. International carriers like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and Etihad, among others, are expecting a significant increase in demand from India. They are adjusting their networks to accommodate this anticipated growth. According to the ratings agency ICRA, international passenger traffic for domestic airlines is projected to exceed the peak levels recorded in the fiscal year 2024. January 2024 itself saw 6.52 million passengers flying abroad, 17 per cent more than last
Mon, March 04, 2024
What happened at the TCS retreat in Abu Dhabi
What a scorcher: Can India sustain this torrid pace of growth? What the TCS bosses have in mind: A growth spurt in the year ahead 2024 is the year to scale up beyond pilots, advance GenAI projects: IBM's Candy Mint Explainer: Who’s winning the app war – Google or Indian startups? Struck by Byju’s, General Atlantic’s India ship is in distress. Will it survive? Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, March 4, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: In some surprising news, India’s GDP grew at a staggering 8.4% in the third quarter of the financial year in 2024. Mining and agriculture had tepid production, so estimates were moderate. The revised estimate for GDP growth for the entire year is now at 7.6 percent. This means that India will continue to be the fastest growing large economy in the world. Mint's senior editor N. Madhavan explains these numbers. He outlines that while this is good news for our economy, these numbers are unlikely to sustain for the next quarter. IT giant TCS wants rapid growth — and it wants it soon. At a strategic retreat in Abu Dhabi, its CEO K. Krithivasan said he wanted at least double-digit growth in revenue in FY25. This would be double of its last year growth, which came in at 5.3 percent. Speaking at the same event, Tata Sons chair N. Chandrasekaran said he wanted the company to record at least 10 billion dollars worth of business from India alone. Mint's IT and corporates correspondent Varun Sood reports on the inside details from this event, including the incoming business for TCS worth billions. From one MNC to another: let's talk about IBM. Its consulting arm employs some 1.6 lakh people. Out of these, more than 20,000 employees now work solely on artificial intelligence. Mint's executive editor Leslie D'monte speaks to Matthew Candy, IBM consulting's global managing partner. Candy spoke about IBM's AI strategy, including how they are devoting their resources towards two big areas: customer care, and HR. Candy also gave advice to Indian founders who are foraying into Generative AI, and doing so responsibly. Some Indian startups received a
Fri, March 01, 2024
What’s pushing Punjab farmers to protest?
It’s Friday, March 1, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex and Nifty remained flat on Thursday. Both market indices marginally increased by around 0.2 percent. Ever had a single malt named Rampur? Or a gin named Ranthambore? They're all made by a distiller named Radico Khaitan. And with a topline of close to 12 thousand crores, it's doing quite well. Radico Khaitan caters to the higher end of the alcohol market, which has found many suitors. Mint's luxury and lifestyle correspondent Varuni Khosla speaks to its managing director Abhishek Khaitan to find out about the distiller's present and future plans. Placements at IIMs usually consisted of consultancies or large corporates. But a surge in mergers and acquisitions has changed that. Investment banks and private equity firms are now lining up at IIMs to hire aggressively. Mint's startups reporter Sneha Shah and workplaces and HR correspondent Devina Sengupta team up to bring you this news from our nation's top institutions. These firms are estimating that the India growth story will need more analysts and bankers. This is good news for IIM graduates, who were anticipating a muted placement season. However, companies across consulting, FMCG or banking still prefer applicants with prior work experience. What would you prefer - an electric vehicle which runs purely on electricity or a hybrid which has both an electric motor and a conventional engine? Data suggests that Indians are leaning hard towards a car that can do it both, also called the hybrid. This is despite hybrids getting no incentives or tax concessions from the government, as opposed to EVs. Hybrid cars attract 43 per cent GST, compared to a mere 5 per cent on EVs. In 2023, more than 82 thousand hybrids were sold in India. This marked a four-fold increase in hybrid sales compared to 2022. The growth in EV sales was subdued compared to hybrids. However, the number of EVs sold in 2023 was close to that of hybrids. So what’s fuelling the growth in hybrids? It is a slew of new models. The expansion in this segment is being led by Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Invicto, along with Toyota Hyryder and Innova Hycross. But what does a growth in the hybrid sector mean for EVs? EVs continue to be in demand but with a lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety is still a deciding factor behind an EV purchase. Mint’s autos correspondent Sumant Banerji takes a look at India’s changing automotive landscape. He also takes on the hotly debated question - should hybrids be incentivized? Punjab - the land of five rivers, has historically been an area prone to conflicts. C Subramaniam, the agriculture minister behind India’s green revolution, wrote in his memoir that the area’s proximity to foreign invasions has made the people enterprising. Farming has been the main occupation for people here since centuries. And the area is yet again at the epicentre of the ongoing farmers’ protests. The state has
Thu, February 29, 2024
A profitable edtech unicorn goes shopping
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, February 29, 2024. Happy Leap day to all our listeners. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Bears went loose on the D-street on Wednesday with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty seeing a crash. Dragged down by the Midcap and Smallcap indices, both Sensex and Nifty were down more than one per cent at close, falling below the psychological levels of 73 thousand and 22 thousand respectively. As the February derivatives approached their expiry, the border markets corrected themselves on Wednesday amid stretched valuations. small and midcap companies bore the brunt of the crash. This is after Sebi asked mutual funds investing in these companies to disclose more information about the risks involved. A senior mutual fund executive confirmed to Mint’s market correspondent Ram Sahgal, that the fund had shared information about handling a stress situation with Sebi. The market regulator had been in discussions with mutual funds about excessive inflow of cash into smaller companies. Coinciding with this, Kotak Mutual fund has capped the lump sum inflows to its small cap fund at 2 lakh rupees per PAN per month and SIP inflows to 25,000 rupees per PAN per month. https://blankpaper.htdigital.in/dash/story/11709128654894 “If you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline,” if this quote by Virgin Atlantic airline’s founder Richard Branson does not tell you enough about the risks of airline business, today’s Mint Primer, definitely will. For an airline business to be revived, a lot of factors need to align, it is no easy feat. Profitable carriers rely on a mix of factors: from favourable fuel prices and suitable aircraft, to reliable maintenance contracts, extensive networks, prime airport slots, and a skilled workforce. In India especially, the action plan to get the planes back on the tarmac, requires a hawk-eye over costs and proactive management. What’s also crucial is support from vendors, engine lessors and maintenance companies. With SpiceJet’s boss Ajay Singh making a bid,, Mint’s aviation reporter Anu Sharma explains the future prospects of Go First, the bankrupt airline that was launched by the Wadias.. Interestingly, the only revival story in the aviation industry over the last three decades is that of SpiceJet, which got a second lease of life in December 2014. https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/reviving-go-first-won-t-be-easy-here-s-why-11709133529363.html News from the edtech sector has been very bad lately.. But PhysicsWallah stands as an exception. The unicorn startup, which raised 100 million dollars at a valuation of mor
Wed, February 28, 2024
Airtel to focus on payments bank, Africa and satellite broadband says Sunil Mittal
Hostile investors likely to skip Byju’s $200-mn rights issue Why women, once ignored, are being treasured in Krishnagiri Airtel to exit non-core biz for digital growth: Sunil Mittal GCCs face talent exodus amid rising competition Why Chaayos is adding a stronger dash of premium to its cafes
Tue, February 27, 2024
Banks invoke God to avoid capital calls from PE and VC firms
The crackdown on AIF abuse comes with some collateral damage Mint Primer: Could Indian identifier Svc kill Sweden’s Truecaller? Yulu to re-focus on people mobility after $80 mn expected funding push Sebi wants to nurture Indian real estate’s ₹4,000 crore baby. But why? Indian politics is becoming increasingly partisan. We have the data to prove it.
Mon, February 26, 2024
Life’s harsh for gig workers at Urban Company
SBI breathing down ICICI Bank's neck in market-cap race After spurning Zee, Sony sets sights on aha FMCG companies in choppy waters, and there doesn't seem to be any respite soon The two faces of India Inc.'s Q3 growth story Urban Company is eyeing profits and an IPO. But gigsters are angry
Fri, February 23, 2024
Unacademy’s unenviable position
Japan’s Nikkei, after 34 years, finally tops its all-time high ‘You don't need to destroy Google. All you need to destroy is their monopoly.' Why there is no end in sight to the Red Sea crisis New space FDI policy to boost private startups amid flat patch Unacademy moved fast to break things. It ended up with a fracture
Thu, February 22, 2024
Digital dissent of Indian bank employees
Mint Primer: Is the market’s PSU narrative overstretched? Fast-food chains push more value meals as in-store footfall remains weak Salary hikes to be lowest in three years. But it's not all bad #5DaysBanking #SavePSB: Young bank activists are fighting a quiet battle Political leaders reach out to digital content creators, podcasters in run-up to elections
Wed, February 21, 2024
The govt's history in dealing with farmer protests
A decade of flip-flops on farmers’ issues despite full-majority government What you can do to get your employer to deposit PF, TDS Where to, Dara? Uber faces an off-road adventure Scrapping your old car may fetch more soon The onion peel that promises a sugar high
Tue, February 20, 2024
India’s push for organic produce
Tested organic food coming on your plate, courtesy govt Why the Ratan Tata biography is not in print yet Mint Primer: Why commercial card spending has been paused Can PPFAS lure investors with its tax-efficient ‘debt’ fund? Beating GDP growth no longer enough for Indian firms: McKinsey
Mon, February 19, 2024
How the wealthy are fuelling the bull run
Affluent India is fuelling the equities surge. But that story has gaps Should you invest in Mirae’s latest multi-factor small-cap fund? The news sources that Indians will trust and distrust this poll season How to develop bike-taxis (beyond issuing clarifications) Airfares have soared, but summer travellers don't care
Fri, February 16, 2024
Trouble in Paradise for the King of Spices
Supreme Court strikes down electoral bonds scheme, associated amendments as unconstitutional Large private lenders join hands informally to stem attrition tide BSNL pan-India 4G launch pushed to Dec, employees’ union seeks Vi network usage From DLF to Lodha and Godrej, builders are testing new cities Why Kashmir’s saffron growers are feeling blue
Thu, February 15, 2024
Isn’t a top MBA good enough to land a job?
Centre plans skills for loans in financial inclusion schemes What fund managers think of the current PSU rally Who profiteered the most from GST tweaks? CCI has clues Work experience more crucial than ever for new MBA graduates, India’s top B-schools say RBI swipes left on commercial credit cards
Wed, February 14, 2024
Urban India's problems with BJP
ED begins preliminary enquiry into Paytm Payment Bank Go Digit IPO gets Irdai go-ahead The political hot potatoes on which urban India disagrees with the BJP Myntra is selling lipstick and blush. Should Nykaa be worried? Tesla seeks Indian partner for rooftop solar panel venture
Tue, February 13, 2024
Desi ghee vs blue cheese: who will win?
Decent Q3, but bumps ahead for Hero Will Tata’s Curvv ball strike out Hyundai? Should investors lap up or ignore SBI Energy Opportunities Fund? Mint Primer: From Europe to India, why are farmers angry? India eyes a ghee-for-cheese deal with UK
Mon, February 12, 2024
Behind the mass exodus of nurses
Small investors raised stakes sharply in Paytm in Q3. Then came RBI’s curbs Infosys back on campuses to hire for niche job profiles Mint Primer: Are you middle class? A housing scheme may hold clues As nurses leave in droves, Indian hospitals get a backache How AA framework is changing your financial life for the better Listen to ‘India’s Reform Story’, a Mint special podcast series. Click here to listen
Fri, February 09, 2024
Paytm's China ties concern govt
Paytm's China link that made authorities sit up No Java, Oracle or AWS? Sorry, next student please Mint Explainer: What’s at stake in Pakistan’s general election? Mint Primer: Why rents will spiral again this year How to access assets when breadwinner is incapacitated
Thu, February 08, 2024
Who is India's middle class, exactly?
India on par with the world in AI adoption: Satya Nadella The long wait for India’s first agritech unicorn Mint Explainer: Why small vendors are wary of the law on prompt payments Middle-class housing scheme: Govt to issue specifications to determine beneficiaries Mint Primer: Why passenger cars may move into the slow lane soon
Wed, February 07, 2024
Retail investors are getting smarter
The small investor learns the art of booking profits FMCG firms had two good years. This one may be different Placement blues fade at IIMs as recruiters troop in Health plans: Is it wise to opt for monthly payments? Cred acquires Kuvera, enters wealth-management space
Tue, February 06, 2024
Why are Indians not going to the movies?
Govt's ₹1-trillion deep tech fund: why we need it, and is it enough? Gold loans without gold? Bizarre but true at BoB The return of the NRI homebuyer Box office popcorn for cinemas; but where are the viewers? Are branded apartments worth the premium that you pay?
Mon, February 05, 2024
FM talks on economy, GDP, and rural India
Conventional paradigms being challenged: FM Nirmala Sitharaman RBI to keep repo rate unchanged, focus on liquidity: Mint poll Spooked Paytm Payments Bank executives rush to recruiters for jobs Reliance-Disney dalliance to stir up streaming scene Telepathy: Would you put a chip in your brain?
Fri, February 02, 2024
A special Budget edition
A smart chess move for the long game Lower fiscal deficit to drive bank rally Intent vs Delivery: What this govt promised, what it delivered Budget 2024: Auto PLI gets a boost, FAME scheme a cut RIL may pay $2.3 bn for 60% stake in Disney India assets
Thu, February 01, 2024
What's the Budget got in store for you?
Top things to expect from today’s interim budget L&T: Margin woes overshadow Q3 positives Crushing curbs on Paytm Payments Bank Wipro lost its CFO to Cognizant. Then it lost a big client For Flipkart’s top execs, one more year without pay hikes
Wed, January 31, 2024
How to explain the Budget to an engineer?
India's finance ministry believes that the nation's economy will be worth 7 trillion dollars by 2030. After a lull during the pandemic, commercial real estate prices have shot up How to explain the budget to an engineer Tipplers who like scotch may have a reason to rejoice
Tue, January 30, 2024
Bulls march back to Dalal Street
After Monday's steep climb, prepare for more volatility Can AI ring in a change for smartphones? What Bibek Debroy thinks of jobs, taxes, and the economy Municipal corporations and the tyranny of backdoor governance Why airlines may not offer you free accommodation for delayed flights
Mon, January 29, 2024
What's next in the Sony-Zee saga?
Adani puts Hindenburg behind with a $3 billion fundraising plan Zee-Sony: What next after the merger collapse? Health insurance may be about to get a new regulator Blast from the past: Can these mega funds regain their mojo? Firms look for older CXOs as covid-led startup wave ebbs
Fri, January 26, 2024
Who stole snow from the Himalayas?
Can India's capex frenzy continue unabated? Six business jets on way to Adani Group Germany, Japan, or Korea? Indian students look beyond Canada Himalayas: Laid low by a winter drought Why senior citizens require deductibles in health plans
Thu, January 25, 2024
Relief for foreign investors
BlinkIt's attempts to deliver everything, the implications of the coaching institute directive https://www.livemint.com/market/stock-market-news/relief-finally-sebi-lifts-the-fpi-disclosure-overhang-on-market-11706105484691.html https://www.livemint.com/industry/gift-city-may-witness-a-jobs-boom-hint-gccs-11706105589985.html https://www.livemint.com/education/news/mint-primer-why-indias-runaway-coaching-centres-need-regulating-11706105546807.html https://www.livemint.com/money/decoding-the-rationale-of-equal-weight-investing-11706105642374.html https://www.livemint.com/companies/from-cabbage-to-caps-inside-blinkit-s-game-plan-to-deliver-anything-11706097770489.html
Wed, January 24, 2024
Byju’s undergoing an existential crisis
Can ChatGPT help you make a bomb? How GIFT city is luring in foreign investors
Tue, January 23, 2024
RIP, Sony-Zee's $10 billion merger
Coaching classes to pursue legal action, understanding fintech regulation. https://www.livemint.com/education/news/coaching-centres-may-challenge-new-guidelines-11705943434367.html https://www.livemint.com/news/why-do-we-need-regulation-for-fintech-firms-11705934023343.html https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/sony-demands-90-million-in-termination-penalty-zee-to-seek-legal-options-11705911463157.html https://www.livemint.com/industry/agriculture/the-disquiet-around-iffco-s-magic-fertilizer-11705927306350.html https://www.livemint.com/money/are-ultra-premium-credit-cards-worth-their-hefty-annual-fees-11705940833292.html
Mon, January 22, 2024
Starlink in India soon?
Understanding the Iran-Pakistan tiff, Budget's nominal GDP growth
Fri, January 19, 2024
Rising tension in the neighbourhood?
Foreign investors pull back from Indian markets; How smart homes might become more mainstream in the years ahead
Thu, January 18, 2024
Where are the eligible board members for Corporate India?
HDFC leads midweek market crash, and can an interim Budget actually have a long term plan?
Wed, January 17, 2024
Why is everyone’s flight delayed?
The scale of India's wedding industry, HDFC's surprising results
Wed, January 17, 2024
IT stocks propel markets to new heights
How Goa is more expensive than Thailand, analysing the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank Scam
Tue, January 16, 2024
What to expect from World Economic Forum 2024?
TV channels count on Ayodhya to revive fortunes, why home loan taxation needs a tweak
Mon, October 23, 2023
Kotak Mahindra Bank gets a new CEO
In this episode, find out about government's plans to revive privatization of state owned banks, also find out about ICICI bank reporting 35% growth in Q2 Business Term of the Day: Unsecured loan.
Wed, October 18, 2023
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio may face tax demands worth over ₹14000 cr: Kotak
In this episode, find out about Chinese solar firms under tax scrutiny, also find out about government amending pension scheme Business Term of the Day: Proxy firms
Tue, October 17, 2023
HDFC bank posts 51% jump in profit in Q2
In this episode, find out about Grasim Industries raising funds upto Rs 4000 cr via rights issue, also find out about Jio Financial doubling its profit in Q2. Business Term of the Day: Liquidation
Mon, October 16, 2023
TCS sacks 16 staffers, former head of RMG
In this episode, find out about Ranjan Pai extending Rs 300 crore loan to Byju's parent, also find out about Tata Motors selling 9.9% stake in Tata Tech for Rs 1613 crore. Business Term of the Day: Business Cycle
Thu, October 12, 2023
TCS profit rises 9% yoy to Rs 11,342 cr
In this episode, find out about SBI mutual fund picking up 9.99% stake in Indusind Bank, also find out about Go Air receiving expression of interest from Jindal Power. Business Term of the Day: Unified Payments Interface
Wed, October 11, 2023
RBI bans BoB from onboarding new customers on to mobile banking app
In this episode, find out why there are differences within Hamied family over Cipla sale plan, also find out why Religare Enterprises' has called for an independent valuation. Business Term of the Day: Inter-bank call money market
Tue, October 10, 2023
Maruti Suzuki eyes Rs 1.25 tn capex to boost EV, SUV play
In this episode, find out about tax authorities imposing penalty of Rs 1.8 cr on Hindustan Zinc, also find out about Glenmark announcing interim dividend of Rs 22.50 share Business Term of the Day: Guarantee
Mon, October 09, 2023
ADIA to invest Rs 4966 cr in Reliance Retail Ventures
In this episode, find out about TCS' share buyback proposal, also find out about MCX receiving SEBI approval for commodity derivatives platform. Business Term of the Day: Open market operations
Thu, October 05, 2023
Slice merges with North East Small Finance Bank
In this episode, find out about show cause notice to Maruti Suzuki, also find out about Government's decision to raise cooking gas subsidy. Business Term of the Day: Small Finance Bank
Wed, October 04, 2023
HDFC bank revamping its top management
In this episode, find out about IDFC First Bank's QIP, also find out about GST demand notice to Bajaj Allianz for Rs 1010 cr Business Term of the Day: Sunk cost
Wed, September 27, 2023
Byju's laying off 4000 employees
In this episode, find out about Dilip Sanghvi terminating pact with Suzlon Energy, also find out about Shree Renuka's acquisition plans. Business Term of the Day: Co-lending
Tue, September 26, 2023
Samsung joins India laptop making push
In this episode, find out about Sheela Foam's IPO, also find out about Mangalore Chemicals shutting down its Ammonia & Urea plants for maintenance. Business Term of the Day: Public bond issuance
Mon, September 25, 2023
Burman family announces Rs 2116 cr open offer to take control of Religare Enterprises.
In this episode, find out about Reliance Retail getting full subscription amount of Rs 2069 crore from KKR, also find out about Adani's plans to refinance $3.5 bn in debt. Business Term of the Day: Private credit fund
Fri, September 22, 2023
JP Morgan to add India to its EM Bond index in June 2024
In this episode, find out about key management changes at Wipro & ICICI Lombard General Insurance, also find out about IndiGo's code-sharing partnership with British Airways. Business Term of the Day: Global bond indices
Thu, September 21, 2023
Adani Green Energy to raise $1.5 bn
In this episode, find out about Infosys' tie up with NVIDIA, also find out about M&M market capitalization crossing Rs 2 trillion mark. Business Term of the Day: AAA rating
Wed, September 20, 2023
RBI approves re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as HDFC Bank MD & CEO
In this episode, find out about RR Kabel listed at 14% premium, also find out about Tata Motors raising price of CV by upto 3% Business Term of the Day: Net-worth.
Mon, September 18, 2023
L&T's share buyback opens today
In this episode, find out about Jupiter Life Line Hospitals' listing today, also find out about BHEL's Rs 2110 cr order from Cochin Shipyard. Business Term of the Day: Penny stocks
Fri, September 15, 2023
Govt moves HC against order in RIL gas dispute
In this episode, find out about Cipla stake sale being in jeopardy, also find out about Tata Motors' plans to set up a separate sales network for EV biz. Business Term of the Day: Small cap companies
Thu, September 14, 2023
Reliance Retail in talks with sovereign wealth funds for $1.5 bn
In this episode, find out about Adani group in talks with global banks to refinance $3.5 bn debt taken to buy Ambuja Cements, also find out about Paytm appoints new statutory auditor. Business Term of the Day: Mid cap
Wed, September 13, 2023
SpiceJet completes Rs 100 cr payment to Kalanithi Maran
In this episode, find out why OMC's saw a downgrade in ratings in Q2, also find out about Bain Capital selling stake in L&T Finance. Business Term of the Day: Corporate Social Responsibility
Tue, September 12, 2023
Jio Financial Services to be excluded from NSE from Sept 7
In this episode, find out about IDBI Bank challenging NCLT order on Zee-Sony merger, also find out about SEBI's plan to introduce 1 hour trade settlement by 2024. Business Term of the Day: Currency appreciation
Mon, September 11, 2023
Adani Group increases stake in two group companies
In this episode, find out about listing of Rishabh Instruments and Ratnaveer Precision, also find out about market expecting Nifty to cross 20,000 mark this week. Business Term of the Day: Series A, B, C funding
Fri, September 08, 2023
Viacom18 picks up media rights for ISL
In this episode, find out about SBI MF's Rs 400 cr investment in Nazara Tech, also find out about why SEBI disposed of order against LIC for violation of mutual fund norms Business Term of the Day: Unit economics
Wed, September 06, 2023
Jio Financial Services to be excluded from NSE from Sept 7
In this episode, find out about IDBI Bank challenging NCLT order on Zee-Sony merger, also find out about SEBI's plan to introduce 1 hour trade settlement by 2024 Business Term of the Day: Open ended scheme
Tue, September 05, 2023
JSW-MG Motor deal likely in two months
In this episode, find out about government inviting bids for asset valuer for IDBI bank disinvestment, also find out about Cipla's acquisition of South Africa's Actor Pharma for $48.6 m Business Term of the Day: Sum assured.
Mon, September 04, 2023
Reliance Retail in talks with investors to raise another $2.5 bn
In this episode, find out about Uday Kotak's sudden resignation, also find out about Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance receiving RBI approval to start business. Business Term of the Day: Liquidity
Fri, September 01, 2023
Viacom18 wins BCCI media rights for Rs 5963 cr
In this episode, find out about fresh allegations against Adani Group on its offshore funding, also find out about Jalan Kalrock infusing Rs 100 cr in Jet Airways Business Term of the Day: Square off
Thu, August 31, 2023
Q1 India GDP growth likely at 7.7%
In this episode, find out about Verlinvest Asia's plan to sell 12.56% stake in Sula Vineyards, also find out about Aeroflex Industries' listing. Business Term of the Day: FinFluencer
Mon, August 28, 2023
Reliance AGM today
In this episode, find out about IDFC First bank winning sponsorship rights of all BCCI matches, also find out about Tata Motors' to be net zero carbon emission site by 2045. Business Term of the Day: Bharat NCAP
Fri, August 25, 2023
BPEA sells coforge stake for Rs 7684 cr
In this episode, find out about One97 Communication's promoter Antfin stake sale in Paytm via block deal today, also find out about Infosys' tie-up with Rafael Nadal. Business Term of the Day: Arbitrage
Thu, August 24, 2023
QIA to invest ₹8,278 crore in RIL’s retail arm for 0.99%
In this episode, find out about Gail plans capex of Rs 30,000 cr over 3 years, also find out about India's plan to ban mills from exporting sugar. Business Term of the Day: Friendshoring
Tue, August 22, 2023
Union bank to raise upto Rs 5000 cr via QIP
In this episode, find out about Wochkhardt's shareholders rejecting proposal to raise Rs 1600 CR from promoter entity, also find out why Care Ratings downgraded Poonawalla Housing finance. Business Term of the Day: Price Band
Mon, August 21, 2023
Bank of Baroda recalls auction notice on Sunny Deol's Juhu Bungalow
In this episode, find out about IDBI bank divestment being pushed to next fiscal year, also find out about Jio Financial Services' listing. Business Term of the Day: Pre-call auction
Fri, August 18, 2023
Adani family sells $1.1 bn power arm stake to GQG
In this episode, find out about GQG Partners buying JSW Energy shares, also find out about Nazara Tech's investment in Israeli gaming start-up Snax Games Business Term of the Day: Intra-day trading
Thu, August 17, 2023
Adani family sells $1.1 bn power arm stake to GQG
In this episode, find out about GQG Partners buying JSW Energy shares, also find out about Nazara Tech's investment in Israeli gaming start up Snax Games. Business Term of the Day: Private credit
Wed, August 16, 2023
Gangwal Family to sell 4% stake in Indigo
In this episode, find out why markets opened lower, also find out about Mahindra Rise' new platform Oja Business Term of the Day: Broadband
Mon, August 14, 2023
HDFC Bank chief flags funding risk in first post merger AGM
In this episode, find out about Adani Ports' new auditor, also find out about TVS Supply chain Solution IPO closing. Business Term of the Day: Value of New Business (VNB)
Thu, August 10, 2023
RBI to announce bi-monthly monetary policy today
In this episode, find out about Suzlon's QIP plans, also find out about Air India's rebranding exercise. Business Term of the Day: Credit Rating Agency
Wed, August 09, 2023
Ananya Birla founded Svatantra Microfin to acquire Sachin Bansal's Chaitanya India Fin for Rs 1479 cr
In this episode, find out about Adani's plans to divest stake in Adani Wilmer, also about Zee Learn's decision to sign a settlement pact with JC Flowers ARC. Business Term of the Day: Bonus shares
Tue, August 08, 2023
Ant transfers 10.3% in Paytm to Sharma
In this episode, find out about Paytm's new auditors, also about promoter' stake sale in Inox Wind Business Term of the Day: Churn rate
Mon, August 07, 2023
RIL seeks shareholders' nod to reappoint Mukesh Ambani as MD for 5 years
In this episode, find out about RBI's approval to ICICI bank to increase stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co Ltd, also about the big news announcements that market is watching this week. Business Term of the Day: Burn rate.
Fri, August 04, 2023
Adani Group plans $4-5 bn cement bet after Sanghi acquisition
In this episode, find out about Blackstone looking to submit non-binding bid for 33% promoter stake in Cipla, also about Zomato turning profitable. Business Term of the Day: Currency in circulation
Thu, August 03, 2023
Twin Star to sell $500 m Vedanta shares for debt repayment
In this episode, find out about Bain Capital selling stake in L&T Finance, also about Rites eying international contracts. Business Term of the Day: Treasury Bills
Wed, August 02, 2023
RBI fines 4 PSUs for late reporting
In this episode, find out about Maruti Suzuki's Q1 sales figure, also about ED raid on Hero Motocorp chairperson Pawan Munjal. Business Term of the Day: Remittance
Tue, August 01, 2023
Bharti Airtel prepays Rs 8024 cr to clear liabilities for spectrum
In this episode, find out about SBI's fund raising via infrastructure bonds, also about promoter Padmaja Reddy selling stake in Spandana Sphoorty. Business Term of the Day: Alternate Investment Fund (AIF)
Mon, July 31, 2023
Vedanta to invest $5 billion in fab project
In this episode, find out why TCS announces change in senior management, also about Power Grid fund raising plan of upto Rs 5700 Cr via private placement of bonds. Business Term of the Day: Angel investor
Fri, July 28, 2023
Cipla promoters in talks to sell stake in co.
In this episode, find out why ITC Ltd chose to retain 40% in de-merged ITC hotels, also about US court denying Go First emergency arbitration. Business Term of the Day: Arbitration
Thu, July 27, 2023
Jio Financial joins BlackRock to launch asset management firm
In this episode, find out why Tata Motors is looking to convert its DVR shares into ordinary shares, also about Marico's deal with Satiya Nutraceuticals. Business Term of the Day: Differential Voting Rights
Wed, July 26, 2023
L&T announces first Rs 10,000 Cr buyback
In this episode, find out why institutional investors voted against ACC, Ambuja resolutions, also about the fraud at Can Fin Homes. Business Term of the Day: Green finance
Tue, July 25, 2023
RIL teams up with Brookfield, Digital for data centres.
Description – In this episode, find out about ITC's de-merger plans also about Samvardhana Motherson's new global acquisition. Business Term of the Day: ChatGPT
Mon, July 24, 2023
Bain Capital to buy 90% of Adani Capital
In this episode, find out why Reliance Industries reported decline in Q1 profit, also about HDFC Bank's growth target for this fiscal year. Business Term of the Day: Non-banking finance company
Fri, July 21, 2023
Chandra moves to raise Dish TV stake
In this episode, find out why Arbitrator has rejected Max healthcare's claim on Care Hospital, also about L&T's first share buyback plan. Business Term of the Day: Share buyback
Wed, July 19, 2023
Infosys bags a $2bn AI deal
In this episode, find out about BL Kashyap's contract from DLF, also about Piramal Pharma's capital raising plan. Business Term of the Day: Trust company
Tue, July 18, 2023
HDFC Bank reports 30% rise in PAT
In this episode, find out about NSE's pre-open session for Reliance, also about Sheela Foam's acquisitions. Business Term of the Day: Pre-open market session
Mon, July 17, 2023
HDFC Bank to announce its Q1 results today
In this episode, find out about Suzlon's new order from Everrenew Energy, also why Indian markets are expected to open flat in today's trade. Business Term of the Day: Long position
Fri, July 14, 2023
Wipro's revenue declines 2.8% in constant currency
In this episode, find out about HCL Tech's acquisition of a German firm, also why Delta Corp shares plunged 27% in trade. Business Term of the Day: Bootstrapping
Thu, July 13, 2023
TCS report 16.8% increase in PAT
In this episode, find out about Patanjali's offer for sale, also about what to expect from Wipro's Q1 results. Business Term of the Day: Structured finance
Wed, July 12, 2023
MCA begins inspection into Byju's financials
In this episode, find out about 28% GST on online gaming, casinos, also about Happiest Minds Technologies' Rs 400 crore QIP Business Term of the Day: Pledging of shares.
Tue, July 11, 2023
Foxconn withdraws from $19.5 bn Vedanta chip plant in India
In this episode, find out about NCLT's order on Zee Ent, also about L&T's joint venture partnership for submarine worth Rs 43,500 crore Business Term of the Day: Production Linked Scheme (PLI)
Mon, July 10, 2023
Cyient DLM to list today
In this episode, find out about Bajaj Auto seeking RBI nod for new NBFC, also about IOC's Rs 22,000 crore fund raise. Business Term of the Day: Refinance
Fri, July 07, 2023
Mumbai NCLT approves demerger of financial services unit of Reliance
In this episode, find out about IdeaForge Technology's stellar listing on the bourses, also about TCS training its employees on generative AI. Business Term of the Day: Currency internationalisation
Thu, July 06, 2023
JSW Steel to repalce HDFC in S&P BSE Sensex
In this episode, find out about LIC offloading 2% stake in India Cement, also about Tata AMC on increasing stake to 7% in DCB Bank. Business Term of the Day: Aircraft lease
Fri, June 30, 2023
Byju's expose gap in NFRA mandate
In this episode, find out about CreditAccess selling 5.8% stake in CreditAccess Grameen, PowerGrid's idea to aggregate investment of Rs 388.94 crore, Natarajan Chandrasekaran's deep concern over the TCS controversy, MCX services deal with software vendor 63 Moons Technologies and also about BPCL's plan to raise Rs 18,000 crore via rights issue. Business Term of the Day: Account Aggregator
Wed, June 28, 2023
HDFC-HDFC bank merger to be effective from July 1
In this episode, find out about Vedanta Foxconn's plans to resubmit application to set up an electronic chip manufacturing plant, also about SBI's picking up SBI Capital's 20% stake in SBI Pension Fund Business Term of the Day: Refinance.
Tue, June 27, 2023
TCS names new head of hiring amid probe
In this episode, find out about Federal Bank appointing AP Hota as the part-time chairman, also about SAT's hearing on the Zee-Sebi case Business Term of the Day: Expense of Management.
Mon, June 26, 2023
RIL tests water in consumer finance
In this episode, find out about Hinduja Group’s plan to invest Rs 10,000 crore in Indusind Bank, also about Asian Paints’ acquisition of stake in White Teak Business Term of the Day: Financial influencer
Fri, June 23, 2023
Blow to Byju’s as auditor Deloitte, 3 directors resign
In this episode, find out about SEBI's ban on Eros International & its promoters, also about RBI asking the PTC India Financial Services’ CEO to step down Business Term of the Day: EdTech
Thu, June 22, 2023
Zee settles case with SEBI
In this episode, find out about Carlyle offloading a 2.5% stake in Delhivery via a block deal, and also about TCS’s $1.1 bn deal from UK’ Nest. Business Term of the Day: Insurance Broker
Tue, June 20, 2023
IndiGo orders 500 jets in historic deal
In this episode, find out about Baring PE, ChrysCapital’s acquisition of HDFC Credila for ₹9,060 crore,, also about SEBI’s ban on IIFL Securities Business Term of the Day: First Loan Default Guarantee
Mon, June 19, 2023
Go Air may face forensic scrutiny
In this episode, find out about Asia’s largest train wheel manufacturing plant in India, also about Adani Enterprises’ foray into train ticketing Business Term of the Day: Burn Rate
Wed, June 14, 2023
Chandra, Goenka to contest SEBI order
In this episode, find out about Maruti Suzuki’s new multi-purpose vehicle, also about TRAI’s new directive to telecoms to deploy AI/ML to detect spam calls Business Term of the Day: Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT)
Tue, June 13, 2023
Retail inflation dips to 25-month low of 4.25% in May
We dive into the significant developments shaping the Indian economy. We discuss the recent drop in retail inflation, which hit a 25-month low in May. With easing food prices as the main driver, this development offers relief to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and raises the possibility of the central bank maintaining interest rates in the upcoming meeting. Business Term of the Day: Warrants
Mon, June 12, 2023
SBI proposes to raise upto Rs 50,000 cr this fiscal via bonds
In this episode, find out about fundraising of TV Motors’ finance arm from Premji Invest, also about Sequoia Capital’s stake sale in Go Fashion Business Term of the Day: Takeout financing
Fri, June 09, 2023
Canada’ CPPI to sell 1.66% stake in Kotak Mah Bank
In this episode, find out about HDFC bank’s new home loan business head, also why Delhivery moved NCLT against Go First. Business Term of the Day: Call money rate
Thu, June 08, 2023
BSNL to get Rs 89 k cr, this time for 4G/5G
In this episode, find out about LIC raising stake in Tech Mahindra to 8.88%, also about Hero MotoCorp’s plan to expand its electric range Business Term of the Day: Tender offer
Wed, June 07, 2023
Adani revives investment plan for Mundra Petrochem
In this episode, find out about the legal notice issued by Reliance Home Finance debenture holders against Bank of Baroda, also Byju’s default on its loan Business Term of the Day: Term loan
Tue, June 06, 2023
Adani group plans to repay loans worth $2.65 bn
In this episode, find out about Bank of Baroda’s plan to auction a part stake in NSE, also find about shareholders' rejection of Baba Kalyani’s reappointment for CEO Business Term of the Day: Board resolution
Mon, June 05, 2023
Wipro to buyback Rs 12,000 crore of shares on June 16
In this episode, find out about Bajaj Finserv’s Rs 5000 cr investment in Pune, also find out why Her0 Motocorp has increased price of its EV Business Term of the Day: Corporate Governance
Fri, June 02, 2023
Coal India’s OFS subscribed 3.46 times
In this episode, find out about Aditay Birla Capital’s plans to raise Rs 1250 crore through preferential issue of shares, also find out Dish TV board’s decision to reject minority shareholders’ plea to reconstitute the board Business Term of the Day: Annuity
Thu, June 01, 2023
Government proposes to sell 3% stake in Coal India
In this episode, find out about the new CEO of TCS taking charge, also find out Adani group’s plans to raise $3.5 bn through share sale to institutional investors Business Term of the Day: Covenant
Tue, May 30, 2023
Reliance JioCinema signs content streaming deal with NBC Universal
In this episode, find out about slowdown in unemployment rate in urban areas, also find out about HCL Tech suing Atos. Business Term of the Day: Vande Bharat Express
Mon, May 29, 2023
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) on Friday, announced its entry into the western snacking category
In this episode, find out about Reliance Consumer Products’ entry into snacking business and Maruti Suzuki India expects production loss to continue in the first quarter.. Business Term of the Day: Subsidy
Fri, May 26, 2023
Vi’s losses narrows to Rs 6418 cr
In this episode, find out about Oil India’s talks to acquire a stake in Tullow Oil’s Kenya block, also find out about Vikram Bakshi’s new investment Business Term of the Day: Dry powder
Thu, May 25, 2023
RIL softens hiring in retail, telecom
In this episode, find out about who are the finalists for Capital Foods, also find out why CEA Anantha Nageswaran is confident of 6.5% growth Business Term of the Day: Surety bond.
Tue, May 23, 2023
Coal India concludes wage revision pact with non-executive workers
In this episode, find out about Private equity players eye Glenmark Life Sciences, also find out HUL-Genpact deal to help scale small businesses Business Term of the Day: Debt ceiling
Mon, May 22, 2023
SBI says no slip or ID proof to exchange notes
In this episode, find out about NCLT’s rejection of IDBI bank’s insolvency plea against Zee, also find out DOT’s worry over Vi’s fund delay Business Term of the Day: Demonetisation
Fri, May 19, 2023
SBI Q4 FY23 Profit Soars 83% to Rs 16,695 Cr
State Bank of India (SBI) reports record standalone profit in Q4 FY23, driven by strong net interest income (NII) and lower provisions, surpassing the previous best. Business Term of the Day - Tax collected at source.
Thu, May 18, 2023
RBI allows SBI Funds management to buy 9.99% stake in HDFC Bank
In this episode, find out about Goldman Sachs slashing Adani Group stake in ESG funds, also find out Manyavar promoters’ OFS launch Business Term of the Day: Liberalised Remittance Scheme
Wed, May 17, 2023
Vodafone group values Vodafone Idea investment at zero
In this episode, find out about BPCL’s new ethylene project at Bina refinery, also find out why Fame 2 subsidy on EVs could be slashed Business Term of the Day: Structured credit
Tue, May 16, 2023
HDFC to raise Rs 8000 cr through bonds on private placement
In this episode, find out why SEBI has sought a 6 month extension to complete probe no Adani Group, also find out about the new Vedanta CFO. Business Term of the Day: Alternative Investment Fund.
Mon, May 15, 2023
Adani group companies plan fund raising of upto Rs 21,000 cr
In this episode, find out about Godrej promoters’ new family office, also find out why markets are up in trade today. Business Term of the Day: Family office.
Tue, May 02, 2023
Axis’ original promoter SUUTI exits after 30 years
In this episode, find out how Vedanta is looking to become a net zero debt company, also find out about India’s manufacturing PMI hitting 4 months high in April Business Term of the Day: CCIL
Mon, May 01, 2023
Reliance Consumer Products join hands with Ceylon Beverage For Campa Cola
In this episode, find out about revision in LPF cylinder prices, also find out why SEBI’s investigation into Hindenburg’s allegations is delayed. Business Term of the Day: SaaS
Thu, April 27, 2023
Finance Ministry gives nod to upgrade Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to Navratna status
In this episode, find out about Abbott India’s recall of thyroid drug, also find out about Hinduja’s winning bid for Reliance Capital Business Term of the Day: Capital gains
Wed, April 26, 2023
RBI may be examining Uday Kotak’s board term
In this episode, find out about Serum arm’s plan to double investment in the Biocon unit, also find out about IndiGo’s plan to buy 20 wide-body planes for international operations.
Tue, April 25, 2023
HDFC Bank to buy 20% stake in Griha Pte
In this episode, find out about Vedanta’s repayment of all maturing loans and bonds due in April, also find out about Future Retail’s resolution applicants Business Term of the Day: Volatility
Mon, April 24, 2023
Wipro to consider buyback of shares this week
In this episode, find out about Q4 earnings of RIL & ICICI bank, also find out about HDFC’s plan to move RBI on Credila’s future.
Fri, April 21, 2023
Kumar Mangalam Birls returns to Vodafone Idea board
In this episode, find out about Anil Agarwal pledged stake in Hindustan Zinc, also find out about Cholamandalam Investment and Finance co announces maiden debt issue of Rs 5000 cr.
Thu, April 20, 2023
Apple Inc may triple investments in India
In this episode, find out about Jaguar Land Rover's investment in EVs, and also find out about Bank of Maharashtra's capital raising plans.
Wed, April 19, 2023
SBI board approved raising $2 bn in debt
In this episode, find out about NTPC's plan to set up 3.5 GW of capacity by 2030, also find out about World Steel Association's 2023 forecast.
Tue, April 18, 2023
Avalon Tech makes muted debut at Rs 431
In this episode, find out about Adani's decision to pre-pay $3 bn in the March quarter, and also find out about Vedanta's MoU with 20 Korean companies.
Mon, April 17, 2023
Infosys shares hit lower circuit, fall 12% in today's trade
In this episode, find out about Murdoch's Bodhi Tree's decision to cut investment in RIL group firm Viacom18, also find out about Invesco Developing Markets Fund's decision to exit from ZEE.
Thu, April 13, 2023
TCS Q4 Profit below estimates
In this episode, find out about RIL’s InvIT plans, also find out about RBI’s approval to reappoint Sanjay Agarwal as AU Small Finance Bank CEO.
Wed, April 12, 2023
HDFC bank to raise Rs 50,000 cr via bonds on private placement basis
In this episode, find out about ONGC’s new gas collecting station in Bokaro, also find out about Sula Vineyards’ Q4 sales figures.
Tue, April 11, 2023
SBI to raise $2 bn in FY24
In this episode, find out about Vedanta Resources’ plan to raise NCDs, also find out about Bajaj Finserv’s plan to launch 7 mutua fund schemes.
Mon, April 10, 2023
L&T wins order for renovation of New Delhi railway station
In this episode, find out about Tata Motors’ performance in the global wholesale business, also find out about Nazara Tech subsidiary’s acquisition in Pro Football Network.
Thu, April 06, 2023
RBI’s monetary policy committee pauses after 6 rate hikes
In this episode, find out about Adani Group’s plans to cut debt, also find out about Cyient DLM’s IPO plans.
Wed, April 05, 2023
RIL raises $2 bn additional loan days after $3 bn financing
In this episode, find out why World Bank has cut India’s FY24 growth forecast, also find out about Maruti Suzuki’s SUV strategy for FY24 Business Term of the Day: Credit quality
Tue, April 04, 2023
Byju’s appoints Vedanta Group’s Ajay Goel as CFO
In this episode, find out why lenders have postponed Reliance Capital’s auction, also find out about HDFC Bank’s strong business growth in FY23.
Mon, April 03, 2023
Uday Shiva Kumar Infra lists at a discount
In this episode, find out about SEBI’s investigation into Adani Group’s links with 3 offshore entities, and also find out why Indian markets fell in early trade today.
Fri, March 31, 2023
RIL calls for shareholder meeting on May 2 to approve demerger of financial services biz
In this episode, find out about Adani’s private placement of bonds, also find out about JSW’s acquisition of Mytrah Energy.
Thu, March 30, 2023
Private Equity funds to be promoter of mutual funds
In this episode, find out about Air India’s fund raising from SBI, Bank of Baroda, also find out about PhonePe calling off deal with Zest Money
Wed, March 29, 2023
RIL, ReNew, 9 others secure solar PLI sops
In this episode, find out about Vedanta’s interim dividend for FY23, also find out about Jindal Stainless’ nickel supply pact with New Yaking.
Tue, March 28, 2023
AMG Media Networks acquires 49% stake in Quintillion Business Media for Rs 48 crore
In this episode, find out about HDFC approving the issuance of NCDs worth Rs 57,000 cr, also find out about Aditya Birla Capital’s stake sale in Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers.
Mon, March 27, 2023
Reliance enters personal & home care segment
In this episode, find out about the latest resignations at Nyka, also find out about Sun Pharma’s acquisition of Vivaldis Health & Food.
Wed, March 22, 2023
M&M to raise up to $1-1.3 bn for EV unit
In this episode, find out about Hindustan Zinc’s 1300% dividend payout, also find out about IOC’s plan to set up petrochem plant in Odisha
Tue, March 21, 2023
India may hit back at EU’s carbon tax
In this episode, find out about IOC & NTPC’s decision to run refinery on green power, also find out about GMR’s plan to merge GMR Airports Infra with itself.
Mon, March 20, 2023
Shapoorji Pallonji nears major revmap
In this episode, find out about Amazon’s plan to acquire MX Player, also find out about Reliance’ plan to relaunch auction for natural gas.
Fri, March 17, 2023
TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan resigns, K Krithivasan appointed as CEO
In this episode, find out about government’s plans to defer IDBI privatisation plan, also find out about Malaysia’s Petronas offer to buy 20% stake in NTPC’s green arm
Thu, March 16, 2023
Credit Suisse to borrow up to $54 bn from Swiss National Bank
In this episode, find out about SJVN’s pact with Indian Oil Corp, also find out about GAIL’s bid to acquire JBF Petrochemicals Business Term of the Day: Gratuity
Tue, March 14, 2023
PNB Housing receives approval to raise Rs 2500 cr via rights issue
In this episode, find out about about Embassy Office Parks green initiatives, also find out about Shriram Finance’s plan to raise $2.4 bn to fund growth n FY24
Mon, March 13, 2023
Blackstone to sell 20.5% stake in Sona BLW via block deal today
In this episode, find out about Tech Mahindra’s new CEO Mohit Joshi, also find out about Rakesh Jhunjhunwala backed Nazara Tech’s subsidiaries’ exposures to SVB Business Term of the Day: Held to Maturity
Fri, March 10, 2023
Tata Motors unit Tata Technologies files for IPO
In this episode, find out about Bank of Baroda’s decision to divest 49% stake in BoB Financial Solutions, also find out about Maharashtra government has reduced VAT on aviation fuel to 18%
Thu, March 09, 2023
Jio owned Radisys Corp to buy Mimosa Networks for $60 m
In this episode, find out about Ramakrishna Forging’s new subsidiary company and SBI’s third AT1 bond issuance.
Fri, March 03, 2023
SC sets up 6 member panel to investigate Adani allegations
In this episode, find out about Adani family’s sale of Rs 15,446 crore worth of stake in group cos, also find out about Greenko Energy’s fundraising plan Business Term of the Day: Corporate governance
Thu, March 02, 2023
Axis bank completes acquisition of Citibank India’s consumer banking business for a lower price
In this episode, find out about Dish TV minority investors’ concerns about the company, also find out about Bajaj Finserv’s foray into the mutual fund business Business Term of the Day: Transfer pricing
Wed, March 01, 2023
RBI reviews local bank loans to Adani firms
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel's plans to hike mobile phone rates and Axis Bank completing the acquisition of Citibank’s consumer business
Tue, February 28, 2023
Carlyle Aviation Partners to pick up 7.5% stake in SpiceJet
In this episode, find out about about Dalmia Cement’s mine acquisition in Madhya Pradesh, also find out about Mahindra Logistics’ new CFO.
Fri, February 24, 2023
ZEEL MD & CEO Puneet Goenka challenges NCLT’s insolvency order
In this episode, find out about Axis Bank’s plan to complete the acquisition of Citibank’s consumer biz by March 2023, also find out about Tech Mahindra’s tie-up with Comviva to expand the deal with Vodafone Germany Business Term of the Day: Dollar bond
Thu, February 23, 2023
Orient Cement says MoU with Adani Power stands cancelled
In this episode, find out about about Biocon’s $129 m fund raising from Kotak, also find out about Titagarh-BHEL’s bid for Vande Bharat contract.
Wed, February 22, 2023
M&M and British International Investment agreed to invest up to ₹1900cr in Mahindra Electric Automobiles.
In this episode, find about the department of pharmaceuticals releasing the first tranche of incentives, also know about HDFC bank planning to sell Dollar bonds to support its plans to expand lending outside India.
Tue, February 21, 2023
Gautam Adani group decides against bidding for stake in PTC India
In this episode, find out about Wipro’s plan to cut freshers’ salaries, also find out about Tata Motors’ MoU with Uber Business Term of the Day: Business model
Mon, February 20, 2023
HUL signs agreement to sell atta, salt businesses for Rs 60.4 cr
In this episode, find out about SC’s stay over Rs 800 cr penalty on beer cos for cartelisation, also find out about NSE’s rearrangement of stocks Business Term of the Day: Company guidance
Fri, February 17, 2023
HDFC completes Rs 25,000 cr bond issuanc
In this episode, find out about Hindustan Zinc’s plans to talk to the mines ministry to acquire Vedanta assets, also find out about Indian Oil’s clarification on the Adani Gas deal Business Term of the Day: Big bath
Thu, February 16, 2023
MSCI delays index weighting changes of select Adani group companies to May
In this episode, find out about the block deal in IndiGo, also find out about Vodafone Idea’s 5G rollout plans Business Term of the Day: Additional Surveillance Measure (ASM)
Wed, February 15, 2023
Air India buys 540 planes in biggest deal ever
In this episode, find out about Phone Pe’s latest fund raising, also find out about wholesale price inflation easing to 4.7% in January Business Term of the Day: Disinflation
Tue, February 14, 2023
Retail inflation zooms past 6.5%; increases rate hike fears
In this episode, find out about Kotak Mahindra Bank’s move to sell stake in the general insurance business, also find out about Nissan’s plans to invest Rs 5000 cr in India Business Term of the Day: Commercial Real Estate
Mon, February 13, 2023
Moody’s downgrade rating outlook of 4 Adani Group firms
In this episode, find out about Kotak Mahindra Bank’s acquisition of Sonata Finance, also find out M&M’s plan to roll out its first EV from Telangana Business Term of the Day: Rating outlook
Thu, February 09, 2023
MSCI to announce changes to free float status of some Adani stocks
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel’s partnership with Vultr, also find out about Aditya Birla Group’s foray into premium dining Business Term of the Day: Free float
Wed, February 08, 2023
RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps, maintains policy stance
In this episode, find out about ONGC’s talks with energy giants for deep water exploration tech, also find out why Bharti Airtel’s Q3 earnings missed estimates Business Term of the Day: Standing Deposit Facility
Tue, February 07, 2023
Adani prepays $1.1 bn loans
In this episode, find out about RIL-Ashok Leyland’s move to launch India’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine powered heavy-duty truck, also find out why the government is opposing Hindustan Zinc’s plan to purchase Vedanta Resources’ global zinc assets Business Term of the Day: Credit Deposit Ratio
Fri, February 03, 2023
Adani Ent removed frm Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
In this episode, find out about NSE’s decision to place Adani group companies under ASM framework, also find out why the government is not looking to sell additional shares in LIC Business Term of the Day: Budget Estimate
Thu, February 02, 2023
Adani Ent withdraws Rs 20,000 cr FPO
In this episode, find out about why Citigroup’s weath arm has stopped accepting Adani Group securities, also find out why the budget announcement can hit life insurance business Business Term of the Day: Artificial Intelligence
Wed, February 01, 2023
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to table Budget 2023 today
In this episode, find out about Adani’s acquisition of Israel’s Haifa Port, also find out why economic survey has pegged growth lower at 6.5% in FY24 Business Term of the Day: Economic survey
Tue, January 31, 2023
Adani Enterprises’ FPO faces critical final day
In this episode, find out about Welspun International’s brand licensing agreement with Walt Disney, also find out why Sephora and Reliance Retail deal fell through Business Term of the Day: Short squeeze
Mon, January 30, 2023
Adani issues 413 page response, calls Hindenburg allegations attack on India
In this episode, find out about Hinduja Global Solutions buyback programme, also find out why Coal India is looking to invest Rs 42,600 cr in fossil fuel missing & green energy Business Term of the Day: Short selling
Thu, January 26, 2023
BCCI nets Rs 4670 cr from auction of five women’s IPL teams
In this episode, find out who are the anchor investors for Adani Enterprises’ FPO, also find out why PhonePe’s investors have to take a hit of Rs 8000 cr capital gains tax Business Term of the Day: Public Accounts
Wed, January 25, 2023
SEBI slaps Rs 26 cr penalty on Coffee Day Enterprises
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel’s new entry-level tariff plans, also find out why Tata Motors to post profit after 7 qtrs Business Term of the Day: Accounting fraud
Tue, January 24, 2023
Co-location order set aside in relief to NSE, Tribunal directs exchange to pay Rs 100 cr
In this episode, find out why RBI has extended the deadline for renewal of the bank locker agreement, also find out about why Zomato has scrapped the 10-minute delivery Business Term of the Day: Tax credit
Mon, January 23, 2023
Adani Group to spin off hydgrogen, airport, data centre businesses by 2028
In this episode, find out about the resignation of Spencer retail’s MD & CEO, also find out about ICICI Bank’s Q3 results Business Term of the Day: Capital Budget
Thu, January 19, 2023
Vedanta declared successful bidder for Meenakshi Energy
In this episode, find out about the changes made to the IBC by Ministry of Corporate Affair’, also find out about Adani Enterprises’ Follow on public offer Business Term of the Day: Public private partnership
Wed, January 18, 2023
Govt may widen scope of PM-JAY in budget
In this episode, find out about ITC’s plans to buy Yoga Bar to boost health foods play Business Term of the Day: solvency ratio
Mon, January 16, 2023
Business confidence rises to 2 year high in December quarter
In this episode, find out about Rattan India Enterprises’ plan for its EV venture Revolt Motors, also find out why the US FDA pull up Sun Pharma Business Term of the Day: e-gaming policy
Fri, January 13, 2023
Retail inflation cools to 1 year low in December
In this episode, find out why Infosys reported a 13.4% YoY rise in profit in Q3, also find out about Alibaba selling a stake in One97 Communication Business Term of the Day: Telecom spectrum
Thu, January 12, 2023
Sah Polymers get listed at 30% premium
In this episode, find out about HUL’s 51% acquisition of Zywie Ventures, also find out about Wipro’s leadership changes Business Term of the Day: Financial inclusion
Wed, January 11, 2023
Reliance Capital Lenders vote for second round of auction
In this episode, find out about APSEZ’s acquisition of Haifa Port Company, also find out about Axis Bank’s revised agreement with Max Financial for the insurance venture Business Term of the Day: Spinoff
Tue, January 10, 2023
Early backers in talks to sell stakes in Byju’s
In this episode, find out about the progress of IDBI bank privatisation, also find out why TCS reported lower expected earnings Business Term of the Day: ChatGPT
Fri, January 06, 2023
Manchester City signs up Jio Platforms as mobile communications network partner
In this episode, find out about SEBI’s decision to allow govt holding in IDBI Bank to be reclassified as public after divestment, also find out about L&T Realty Developers’ plan to sell a stake in Think Tower Developers Business Term of the Day: Plant Load Factor
Thu, January 05, 2023
RBI lifts restrictions on M&M Finance
In this episode, find out about Biju’s founder’s fundraising plan to buyback as much as 15% of the firm, also find out about NARCL’s bid for Srei cos Business Term of the Day: Encumbrance
Wed, January 04, 2023
NCLT stays Rcap debt resolution process
In this episode, find out about Amazon’s plans to enter electricity trading, also find out about Reliance Retail FCMG arm’s move to acquire a stake in Sosyo Hajoori Beverages Business Term of the Day: Loan To Value Ratio
Tue, January 03, 2023
Suhail Sameer to step down as CEO at BharatPe
In this episode of Mint Business News, fint out about BharatPe's founder stepping down as CEO and Jet Airways' Revival Plan. Business Term of the day - Credit Spread
Mon, January 02, 2023
Iob Appoints Ajay Srivastava As Md And Ceo
In this episode of Mint Business News, find out about Tata Motors's acquisition plan of Ford India’s manufacturing plant at Sanand in Gujarat and also find out about Religare Enterprises' settlement issue.
Fri, December 23, 2022
Aban Holdings, Landmark Cars made a disappointing debut on the bourses
In this episode, find out about JK Cement’s foray into the paint’s business, also find out about Yes Bank’s decision to transfer Dish TV shares to JC Flowers ARC Business Term of the Day: Asset Reconstruction Company
Thu, December 22, 2022
RIL buys Metro AG’s wholesale ops in India for Rs 2850 cr
In this episode, find out about the listing of Sula Vineyard on the exchanges, also find out about Zee’s re-entry into the sports broadcasting business Business Term of the Day: Buyback
Wed, December 21, 2022
SEBI board rejgs rule on buyback
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel’s acquisition of stake in a Bengaluru start-up, also find out about Jubilant Foodworks’ 20-minute delivery plan for Domino’s Pizza Business Term of the Day: Foreign exchange market
Tue, December 20, 2022
Reliance Retail Ventures to sell 2% stake in Just Dial
In this episode, find out about the block deal by promoters of Dabur India, also find out why markets have hit day’s low in trade today Business Term of the Day: Anchor Investors
Mon, December 19, 2022
Ola Electric set to enter commercial vehicle space
In this episode, find out about KFin Tech’s IPO, also find out about Adani Group’s plan to invest Rs 10,700 cr for the expansion of Lucknow Airport Business Term of the Day: Share purchase agreement
Fri, December 16, 2022
Walt Disney to sell entire stake in Tata Play
In this episode, find out about Reliance group’s new packaged goods brand, also find out about HPCL’s debt-raising plan Business Term of the Day: Capital
Thu, December 15, 2022
Government to sell 5% stake in IRCTC through open offer
In this episode, find out about Poonawalla Fincorp’s plan to sell the housing subsidiary to the TPG subsidiary, also find out about Arham Tech to list today Business Term of the Day: 5G
Tue, December 06, 2022
Azim Premji Foundation to focus on healthcare
In this episode, find out about Manappuram Finance’s succession plan, also find out about Bharti Airtel’s plan to tie-up with Meta to invest in telecom infrastructure Business Term of the Day: Liquidation
Mon, December 05, 2022
Adani Group’s open offer for NDTV shares end today
In this episode, find out about NTPC’s hunt for investors for its subsidiary NTPC Green Energy, also find out why Maruti Suzuki’s production will fall short of the target Business Term of the Day: Succession planning
Fri, December 02, 2022
Softbank sells 5% stake in PB Fintech
In this episode, find out about Tata Play’s IPO plans, also find out about RBI’s nod to Carylyle, Advent for 9.9% stake in Yes Bank Business Term of the Day: Additional Tier 1 bonds
Thu, December 01, 2022
India Q2 GDP growth comes in at 6.3%
In this episode, find out about TCS’ contract to build UK Government’s Rail Data marketplace, also find out why Indian markets have hit fresh record highs today Business Term of the Day: Liquidity
Wed, November 30, 2022
NDTV founders Radhika & Prannoy Roy resign as RRPR directors
In this episode, find out about SBI’s decision to raise Rs 10,000 crore via infrastructure bonds, also find out about Alibaba Group Holding’s plan to sell a 3% stake in Zomato Business Term of the Day: Digital Wallets
Fri, November 25, 2022
SBI to raise Rs 10,000 cr via infra bonds
In this episode, find out about PNB’s plans to divest stake in UTI Asset Management, also find out about ZIM Labortories’ plan to get listed on NSE Business Term of the Day: Disinvestment
Thu, November 24, 2022
Tatas to acquire Bisleri for up to ₹7,000 crore: Report
In this episode, find out why Tata Consumer stock rises 3% suddenly and how did Keystone Realtors debut in the stock market.
Mon, November 21, 2022
Five Star Business sees muted listing, Archean Chemical lists at a premium
In this episode, find out about Jet Airwarys’ employees being asked to go on leave without pay, also find out about the government’s decision to roll back export duty on iron ore lumps Business Term of the Day: Tariff
Fri, November 18, 2022
TPG Capital to sell Nyka shares worth Rs 1000 cr via block deal today
In this episode, find out about Tata Motors’ new order from Haryana Roadways, also find out why DSP Investment Managers is picking up 10% stake in Equitas Small Finance Bank Business Term of the Day: Commercial paper
Thu, November 17, 2022
Paytm shares tumble 10% as Softbank seeks to cut stake
In this episode, find out about TRAI’s new plan to roll out mobile phone caller identity system, also find out about Bajaj Auto’s plans to sell EV scooters in SE markets Business Term of the Day: Certificate of Deposits
Wed, November 16, 2022
October Exports fall 16.5%, deficit widens
In this episode, find out about the listing of Bikaji Foods and Global Health, also find out about ONGC Videsh’s plan to retake its Sakhalin-1 stake Business Term of the Day: Monetary transmission
Fri, November 11, 2022
Adani, Reliance Retail in race to bid for Future Retail
In this episode, find out about DCX System’ strong listing, also find out why Indian markets have surged in trade today Business Term of the Day: Custodian bank
Thu, November 10, 2022
Sembcorp to buy Vector Green Energy
In this episode, find out about SUUTi’s decision to sell 1.55% stake in Axis Bank, also find out Adani Ports move to buy 49.38% stake in Indian Oiltanking Business Term of the Day: Clearing House
Wed, November 09, 2022
Aditya Birla, Nippon Life in talks to merge life insurance JVs
In this episode, find out about Paytm’s second-quarter earnings, also find out Macrotech’s plans to launch 16 new projects Business Term of the Day: Earnings guidance
Tue, November 08, 2022
Windfall levy fails to recoup lost revenue
In this episode, find out about TPG’s plan to sell stake in Fourth Partner Energy, also find out why Uncademy fired 350 employees Business Term of the Day: Windfall tax
Mon, November 07, 2022
RIL set to buy Metro AG’s India biz for 500 m euro
In this episode, find out about Maruti Suzuki’s plans to expand the Manesar plant capacity by 1lkh units, also find out about Tata Motors’ plan to hike prices of passenger vehicles Business Term of the Day: Capex
Fri, November 04, 2022
Blackstone, Advent in talks to buy stake in Suven Pharma
In this episode, find out about Indorama’ move to join race for PET filmmaker Polyplex, also find out about former Capgemini executive Amit Choudhary’s appointment as Wipro’s new Chief Operating Officer Business Term of the Day: Terminal Rate
Thu, November 03, 2022
Centre asks Voda Idea promoters to put in more equity
In this episode, find out about KKR, Temasek’s plans to buy stakes in Manipal Health, also find out Fed’s decision to hike rates by 75 bps Business Term of the Day: Ex-dividend
Tue, November 01, 2022
Bain Capital to sell part stake in Axis Bank
In this episode, find out about the extension of the timeline for Adani Power’s acquisition of DB Power, also find out LIC’s decision to raise a stake in Capri Global Business Term of the Day: Leveraged Buyout
Mon, October 31, 2022
Mehli Mistry joins 3 Tata Trusts’ boards
In this episode, find out about the government extending restrictions for sugar exports to October 23, also find out Maruti Suzuki recalling over 9000 units of Wagon R, Celerio, Ignis Business Term of the Day: Liquidity
Fri, October 28, 2022
Cairn Oil& Gas gets extension for Rajasthan block till May 2030
In this episode, find out about DGCA’s nod for Spicejet for wet leasing five planes, also find out Jubilant Bhartia Group’s minority stake purchase in Keventers owner Business Term of the Day: Refinance
Thu, October 27, 2022
Sony India – Zee agree to sell 3 Hindi channels
In this episode, find out about Tata Steels’ pact with Ford to supply green steel, also find out about Hero MotoCorp’s agreement with Terrafirma Motors Corporation to enter Philippines. Business Term of the Day: Working Capital
Wed, October 26, 2022
Walmart to raise up to $3 bn for Flipkart
In this episode, find out about government’s plan of PLI scheme for power transmission sector, also find out CCI’s penalty on Google Business Term of the Day: Stock options
Tue, October 25, 2022
Indian markets volataile in trade today
In this episode, find out about Borosil’s stake buy in Europe’s largest solar glass manufacturers, and also find out why RIL reported lower net profit. Business Term of the Day: Cash flow
Fri, October 21, 2022
RIL to announce Q2 earnings today
In this episode, find out about Dhanlakaxmi Bank’s shareholder's move to curb the powers of the CEO, also find out about the appointment of new MD of PNB Housing Business Term of the Day: Interest Rate differential
Thu, October 20, 2022
Tracxn Tech makes a lacklustre debut
In this episode, find out about Adani Group’s commitment to completing the open offer for NDTV, also find out Vodafone Idea’s plan to raise debt funds via convertible debentures Business Term of the Day: Exchange rate
Wed, October 19, 2022
Adani Group to acquire Air Works
In this episode, find out about Sojitz Corp’s stake sale in Samvardhan Motherson Intl, also find out Tata Motors’ order to supply 300 electric buses to Jammu and Srinagar Business Term of the Day: Market capitalisation
Tue, October 18, 2022
KKR in talks to invest in Razorpay
In this episode, find out about Byju’s $250 m rights issue, also find out Invesco’s decision to sell 5.5% stake in Zee Business Term of the Day: G-20
Mon, October 17, 2022
Electronics Mart lists at Rs 89.40 per share on the bourses
In this episode, find out about Tata Steel’s plans to divest steel business in UK, also find out HDFC Bank’s aim to close the merger ahead of the deadline Business Term of the Day: Amortization
Fri, October 14, 2022
SIA, Tatas in talks over Vistara-Air India merger
In this episode, find out about Reliance Industries’ plan to acquire Metro AG, also find out MTNL’s Rs 17,571 crore fundraising plan Business Term of the Day: RBI Retail Direct Scheme
Thu, October 13, 2022
Retail inflation rises to 7.4% in September
In this episode, find out about Byju’s decision to lay off 2500 employees, also find out Government’s decision to scrap SAIL’s Bhadravathi steel plant privatisation Business Term of the Day: Asset Reconstruction Company
Wed, October 12, 2022
IMF Cuts India’s GDP Forecast to 6.8%
In this episode, find out about TCS’ plan to help central banks roll out digital currency, also find out why large corporates will not bid for IDBI Bank Business Term of the Day: Suptech
Tue, October 11, 2022
TCS’ net profit up 8% in Q2FY23
In this episode, find out about NCLT admitting GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) for insolvency, also find out about Panacea Biotech baging global vaccine order Business Term of the Day: Net Asset Value
Fri, October 07, 2022
SEBI cancels license of Brickwork Ratings
In this episode, find out about RBI approves the appointment of Prashant Kumar as MD & CEO of Yes bank, also find out about World Bank cuts India’s FY23 GDP forecast to 6.5% Business Term of the Day: Rebalancing
Thu, October 06, 2022
WTO slashes 2023 global trade growth forecast to 1%
In this episode, find out about CCI grants approval to the Zee-Sony deal, and also find out about JSW Energy to set up a 960 MW hydro pump storage project in Maharashtra Business Term of the Day: Just in Time
Tue, October 04, 2022
Bulls take over Dalal Street in trade today
In this episode, find out about Rs 500 crore IPO of Electronics Mart India, also find out about TCS’ $ 2 bn deal from BSNL Business Term of the Day: Contract manufacturing.
Mon, October 03, 2022
Reliance Jio to launch 4G enabled low cost laptop at Rs 15,000
In this episode, find out about Zee to shut channel to allay CCI concerns over the Sony deal, and also find out about CCI clears Bank of Baroda’s additional stake buy in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Business Term of the Day: Inflation targeting
Fri, September 30, 2022
RBI hikes policy rates by 50 basis points to 5.9%
In this episode, find out about Hero MotoCorp’s plan to invest $60 m in Zero Motorcyles, also find out about IOC’s plans to float a new subsidiary to do financing activities in Gift City Business Term of the Day: Government borrowing
Thu, September 29, 2022
Indus Towers asks Vodafone Idea to clear dues for business continuity post Nov
In this episode, find out about the government’s 2 stage plan to privatize IDBI Bank and also find out about Airtel Payment bank’s plans to set up 1.5 lk micro ATMs Business Term of the Day: Gig economy
Wed, September 28, 2022
Reliance Retail announced the launch of its fashion and lifestyle departmental store format
In this episode, find out about BHEL getting an order from NTPC and how much film exhibition company PVR Cinemas will invest to open 100 new screens in FY23.
Fri, September 23, 2022
Reliance New Energy to acquire 20% stake in US-based Caelux
In this episode, find out about the Shares of Tata Steel had a rise of 1.21% (Rs. 104.9) at 12:33 hours at BSE. So far today 52.6 Lac shares of the company were traded at the BSE. Business term of the day: PLI Scheme
Tue, September 20, 2022
Bombay High Court to hear petition today on whether Dish TV to hold EGM
In this episode, find out about CCI’s approval for the merger of Jio Cinema OTT with Viacom 18 Media, and also find out why the Future unit has canceled plans to sell assets Business Term of the Day: First Loan Default Guarantee (FLDG)
Mon, September 19, 2022
Adani completes acquisition of Ambuja Cements, ACC
In this episode, find out about NCLT’s approval for the merger of Exide Life with HDFC Life, and also find out about the government’s plan to grant DFI status to REC to boost climate funding Business Term of the Day: Development Finance Institution
Fri, September 16, 2022
Divestment of BPCL not on the table, says oil minister Hardeep Puri
In this episode, find out about Reliance Retail’s plan to double its borrowing limit to ₹1 lakh crore, and also find out about Fairfax’s move to sell a majority stake in Fairchem Organics Business Term of the Day: Mark to Market.
Thu, September 15, 2022
Fitch lowers India’s Fy23 GDP to 7% from 7.8%
In this episode, find out about the muted listing of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank on the bourses and about Byju’s Rs 4500 crore loss in FY21. Business Term of the Day: Benchmark Prime Lending Rate
Wed, September 14, 2022
SBI hits market capitalisation of Rs 5 trillion mark
In this episode, find out about Infosys’ collaboration with Bpost, also find out about JSW Steel entering into a pact with SMS Group Business Term of the Day: Know your Customer
Tue, September 13, 2022
Abrdn. to sell 2% stake in HDFC Life
In this episode, find out about TCS’ tie-up with US-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, also find out about Ujjivan Small Finance Bank’s QIP Business Term of the Day: Intra-day
Mon, September 12, 2022
August CPI inflation, July IIP numbers to be out today
In this episode, find out about Adani’s plan to overhaul the board of ACC, Ambuja Cements and also find out about Reliance Petroleum Retail’s plan to acquire Shubhalakshmi Polyesters Business Term of the Day: Personal Guarantee
Fri, September 09, 2022
Govt to acquire VIL stake after share price stabilises at Rs 10
In this episode, find out why Reliance Jio going is close to finalizing its contract with telecom gear maker Ericsson and what are government's plans for Vodafone Idea.
Tue, September 06, 2022
RIL to aquire 79.4% stake in US-based SenseHawk for $32 m
In this episode, find out about Sembcorp Ind’s plan to sell entire stake in Sembcorp Energy, also find out about DreamFolks’ IPO plans Business Term of the Day: Multibagger
Mon, September 05, 2022
Cyrus Mistry, Tata Sons ex chairman, dies in accident
In this episode, find out about Tamilnad Mercantile Bank’s IPO opens today, also find out about Mahindra Lifespace is targeting a 2.5 fold jump in annual sales bookings over next 3 years Business Term of the Day: NRE Deposit
Fri, September 02, 2022
SAT to decide on the fate of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank’s IPO
In this episode, find out about Aurobindo Pharma’s arm’s plans to invest Rs 300 cr for capacity expansion, also find out about Adani Enterprise’ entry into NSE Nifty50 index Business Term of the Day: F&O expiry
Thu, September 01, 2022
India’s GDP grows at 13.5% in Q1
In this episode, find out about Indiabulls Housing Finance’ plan to issue NCDs and also find out about Dish TV Chair Jawahar Goel’s decision to step down Business Term of the Day: Forward Premium
Wed, August 31, 2022
Disney Start sublicenses ICC TV rights to Zee
In this episode, find out about TMB’s IPO set to open on September 5 and also find out about India’s Q1 GDP to be released today Business Term of the Day: Business Cycle
Tue, August 30, 2022
Ambani charts plans to double RIL’s value
In this episode, find out about BPCL’s plan to scale up its renewable energy portfolio to 10 GW by 2040, and also find out about Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited (MEML)’s all-new cargo electric three-wheeler – Zor Grand. Business Term of the Day: Jackson Hole Economic Symposium
Mon, August 29, 2022
RIL’s 45th AGM today
In this episode, find out about NDTV’s letter to SEBI seeking clarification on regulator’s 2020 order, IP rights of GTID solutions development, also find out about Sensex down 1200 pts, rupee below 80/dollar Business Term of the Day: 5G
Tue, August 23, 2022
Infosys cuts avg variable pay to 70% for June
In this episode, find out about TVS Electronics’ plan to acquire business, IP rights of GTID solutions development, also find out about SEBI disposing off adjudicating proceedings against Sobha Ltd Business Term of the Day: Net debt to EBITDA
Mon, August 22, 2022
Vijay Shekhar Sharma to continue as Paytm MD & CEO for 5 years
In this episode, find out about Adani Group’s plan to launch an open offer for ACC, and Ambuja Cements this week, and also find out why TCS has delayed variable compensation payment to a few employees Business Term of the Day: Moonlighting
Fri, August 19, 2022
Government hikes windfall profit tax on diesel, ATF exports
In this episode, find out about how SpiceJet settled dispute with Credit Suisse, also find out about ITC’s plans to develop The Ashok Hotel Business Term of the Day: Bank guarantee
Thu, August 18, 2022
M&M in talks with state governments for setting up EV production sites
In this episode, find out about Gail’s $3.125 bn fund raising plan via ECBs, also find out why RBL bank has offloaded 12% stake in Kilburn Engineering. Business Term of the Day: Merchant Discount Rate
Wed, August 17, 2022
Bharti Airtel to raise Rs 3000 crore via CPs to fund 5G spectrum purchase
In this episode, find out about Mahanagar Gas cutting prices of PNG &, CNG, also find out about NTPC’s plan to raise Rs 5000 crore loan for refinance Business Term of the Day: Solvency Ratio
Tue, August 16, 2022
CCI approves merger proposal of of HDFC and HDFC bank
In this episode, find out why Suzlon believes that its financial difficulties are behind it, and also find out about BPCL’s Rs 1.4 lakh crore investment plan for the next 5 years Business Term of the Day: Competition Commission of India (CCI)
Fri, August 12, 2022
ADIA infuses Rs 665 cr in Aditya Birla Health Insurance
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel’s new web platform Wynk Studio, also find out about Balaji Speciality Chemical’s plan to launch an IPO. Business Term of the Day: First Loan Default Guarantee (FLDG)
Wed, August 10, 2022
Bharti Airtel to launch 5G services this month
In this episode, find out about the IPO of Syrma SGS to hit the market on 12 August, and also find out about the JSW Energy arm’s acquisition of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy for Rs 10,531 crore. Business Term of the Day: Credit score
Tue, August 09, 2022
Green Energy to be RIL’s crown jewel in 7 years: Mukesh Ambani
In this episode, find out why PFC, REC are looking to lend Rs 1.2 trillion to discoms and also find out about Government’s plant to reduce export duty on steel products Business Term of the Day: Letter of credit
Fri, August 05, 2022
RBI to hike policy rates today
In this episode, find out why PFC, REC are looking to lend Rs 1.2 trillion to discoms, also find out about Government’s plant to reduce export duty on steel products Business Term of the Day: Export duty
Thu, August 04, 2022
Government withdraws data bill to make way for a wider law
In this episode, find out about Bharti Airtel signing 5G network agreements with Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung, and also find out about ARCIL’s challenger bid for Yes Bank’s NPA portfolio. Business Term of the Day: Unemployment Rate
Wed, August 03, 2022
Government increases windfall tax on domestic crude oil
In this episode, find out about Zomato shareholder looking to raise $420 m via block deal, also find out about ITC exiting lifestyle retailing business Business Term of the Day: Windfall Tax
Tue, August 02, 2022
Telecom spectrum auction ends with record bids worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore
In this episode, find out about Zomato halving loss of Rs 186 crore, also find out about GST collections rising to Rs 1.49 trillion in July Business Term of the Day: Credit rating
Mon, August 01, 2022
Dr Reddy’s Labs enters into pact with US based Slayback Pharma
In this episode, find out HDFC raising lending rate by 25 bps, and also find out why Ashok Leyland expects the CV industry to grow at a fast pace in the coming quarters Business Term of the Day: Statutory Liquidity Ratio
Fri, July 29, 2022
5 G Auction to continue today; Rs 1.49 lk crore bids received so far
In this episode, find out why PNB has reported a 70% drop in net profit in Q1FY23, and also find out about IOC’s plan to invest around Rs 564 cr in various projects in West Bengal Business Term of the Day: Call Money
Thu, July 28, 2022
Fed Reserve ups interest rates by 75 bps
In this episode, find out about Tata Steel’s pact with a drone-based start-up for mining solutions, and also find out about Government’s revival package for BSNL Business Term of the Day: Profit Margin
Wed, July 27, 2022
Government receives Rs 1.45 lakh crore on Day 1 of 5G Auction
In this episode, find out about ONGC signing MoU with Greenko, and also find out about Wipro’s partnership with Nokia Business Term of the Day: Balance of payment
Tue, July 26, 2022
5G Spectrum Auction Begins Today
5G Spectrum auction begins today Description – In this episode, find out about Bajaj Finerv’s proposal for a stock split, also find out about market action ahead of US Federal Reserve meet Business Term of the Day: Recession
Mon, July 25, 2022
RIL Q1 net profit up 46.3%
RIL Q1 net profit up 46.3% Description – In this episode, find out about Infosys raising revenue guidance for FY23, also find out Vodaafone Idea’s CFO Akshay Moondra to take charge as new CEO Business Term of the Day: Gross refining margin
Fri, July 22, 2022
Tube Investments buys 76% in Moshinde Electronics
In this episode, find out about ITC’s new super app for farmers, and also find out about Reliance Brands’ partners with Maison Valentino. Business Term of the Day: European Central Bank
Thu, July 21, 2022
Future Retail to enter insolvency
In this episode, find out about SBI’s plans to raise Rs 11,000 crore via bonds in FY23 and also find out why Wipro reported a fall in net profit. Business Term of the Day: Parity price
Wed, July 20, 2022
Government Cuts Windfall Tax On Fuel Exports
Government cuts windfall tax on fuel exports In this episode, find out about RBI’s proposal for a four-tiered structure for Uran Cooperative banks, and also find out PNB Hsg Finance’s decision to settle the case with SEBI. Business Term of the Day: Swiss Challenge Business Term of the Day: Swiss Challenge
Tue, July 19, 2022
Reliance Jio puts in Rs 14,000 crore in 5G Auction deposit
In this episode, find out about Yes bank’s plans to invest Rs 350 crore in JC Flowers ARC and also find out about M&M hiking stake in subsidiary Sampo Rosenlew Business Term of the Day: Earnest Money Deposit
Mon, July 18, 2022
Sanjay Nayyar’s new tech fund raises $100 m
In this episode, find out about HDFC bank’s plans for its HDB Financial Services & HDFC Securities, also find out about Crude oil prices trading below $100 bbl. Business Term of the Day: non-deliverable forward (NDF)
Thu, July 07, 2022
RBI eases forex rules to defend rupee
In this episode, find out why DGCA issued show-cause notice against SpiceJet, and also find out about Reliance Retail’s partnership with US apparel major Gap Inc Business Term of the Day: FCNR Deposits
Tue, July 05, 2022
HDFC Bank receives RBI approval for merger with HDFC
In this episode, find out about Byju’s fund raising plan for acquisition of 2U, also find out about CCPA’s decision to bar hotels from levying service charge Business Term of the Day: Call money
Mon, July 04, 2022
5% of IndiGo’s flights delayed as cabin crew members called in sick
In this episode, find out why NTPC signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government for the development of 10 GW Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park in Rajasthan, also find out about Coal India’s record production in June Business Term of the Day: Shrinkflation
Fri, July 01, 2022
Bad loans fall to 6-year low in March 2022: RBI report
In this episode, find out about Maruti Suzuki’s plans to increase its share in the SUV segment, also find out about rupee hitting 79/$ for the first time ever Business Term of the Day: Big tech
Thu, June 30, 2022
GST’s 2-day meeting concluded without any decisions on extending compensation to states
In this episode, find out about TVS Motor’s plans to raise funds from PE for its EV biz, also find out about Bijy’s deal to buy 2U. Business Term of the Day: Interest rate differential
Wed, June 29, 2022
RIL chairman Mukhesh steps down as Reliance Jio director, son Akash takes over
In this episode, find out about Tata Motors’ decision to hike the price of commercial vehicles, also find out about Novartis AG’s plan to cut 8000 jobs to save at least $1 billion by 2024. Business Term of the Day: Real Effective Exchange Rate
Tue, June 28, 2022
47th GT council meet begins today
In this episode, find out about Bajaj Auto’s share buyback program, also find out about credit card spends touching all-time high Business Term of the Day: Input tax credit
Mon, June 27, 2022
RIL in talks to raise $8 bn for Boots deal
In this episode, find out about Adani group’s entry into copper manufacturing, and also find out about Dish TV shareholders’ decision to vote out promoter Jawahar Goel as MD Business Term of the Day: Capital gain
Fri, June 24, 2022
Hero Moto Corp increases prices of motorcycles, scooters
In this episode, find out about realty major Macrotech Developers’ entry in Bengaluru market, also find out about HUL’s concerns on inflation. Business Term of the Day: Recession
Thu, June 23, 2022
MPC hints at more rate hikes, economic slowdown
In this episode, find out about Spandana Sphoorty’s decision to resolve differences with founder Padmaja Reddy, also find out about SBI’s plan to take on competition from the HDFC-HDFC bank merger. Business Term of the Day: Prepaid Payment instruments
Tue, June 21, 2022
Life insurers may get to sell health covers
In this episode, find out about SEBI’s penalty on RIL over Facebook deal news, also find out about Bank of India’s plan to raise capital of Rs 2500 cr. Business Term of the Day: Google Tax
Mon, June 20, 2022
FM meets PSU banks today to discuss credit growth, asset quality
In this episode, find out about Coal India’s plan to decarbonise operations, and also find out about the government’s plan to relaunch Banks Board Bureau Business Term of the Day: Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
Fri, June 17, 2022
Tata Power plans to buy coal worth ₹12,000 crore
In this episode, find out about what restrictions RBI has lifted on global card network Mastercard, also find out about the government’s decision to auction 5G airwaves Business Term of the day: Tokenisation
Thu, June 16, 2022
Asians markets rise after largest Feb rate hike of 75 bps
In this episode, find out about Bharat Pe co-founder Ashneer Grover’s new start up plans, also find out about the government’s decision to auction 5G airwaves Business Term of the Day: Rating agency
Wed, June 15, 2022
Investors Keep A Close Watch On US Fed Rate Decision
In this episode, find out about SBI, IDBI bank hiking deposit rates, also find out about Bharti Airtel’s launch of Xstream multiplex. Business Term of the Day: WTO
Tue, June 14, 2022
Viacom18 bags media rights for 2023-27
In this episode, find out about Sequioa’s new Asian fund worth $850 m, also find out about Zydus Lifesciences’ Rs 750 crore share buyback Business Term of the Day: Stock split
Fri, June 10, 2022
Bajaj Auto announce share buyback, the first time since 2000
In this episode, find out about RIL-Apollo’s race for Boots pharma chain, also find out about ADIA’s Rs 2200 crore investment in IIFL Home Finance Business Term of the Day: Repo linked lending rate
Thu, June 09, 2022
European Central Bank To Announce Its Policy Rate Action Today
In this episode, find out about RBI’s decision to hike the repo rate by 50 bps and the government’s decision to hike MSP for Kharif crops. Business Term of the Day: Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
Wed, June 08, 2022
Monetary Policy Committee to announce rate action today
In this episode, find out PNB to invest Rs 500 crore in PNB Housing Finance, and also find out about HDFC Bank hiking the MCLR rate Business Term of the Day: Yield curve
Tue, June 07, 2022
Adani, Apollo Hospital Eye Stake In Metropolis Healthcare
In this episode, find out Tata Power’s plans to partner with Kolte Patil Developers for EV stations, also find out about NCLT’s decision to hear Amazon’s petition against insolvency of Future Retail on June 10 Business Term of the Day: Treasury Bill
Mon, June 06, 2022
RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee Meeting Starts Today
In this episode, find out Vodafone Idea plans to grow its post paid user base, also find out about TVS Motor’s plans to raise Rs 5000 crore in EV push Business Term of the Day: ONDC
Fri, June 03, 2022
UltraTech Cement To Double Down On Capex Plans
UltraTech Cement to double down on CAPEX plans Description – In this episode, find out Coal India’s plan to list 25% shares of Bharat Coking Coal, also find out about Aesther Industries listing today Business Term of the Day: price band
Thu, June 02, 2022
NHPC aims to securitise Rs 2000 cr revenue in FY23
In this episode, find out Reliance Brands’ plan to acquire 40% stake in Legno SPA, also find out about Hero MotoCorp’s plan to postpone its EV launch Business Term of the Day: Mutual Fund
Wed, June 01, 2022
Future dials RIL for logistics; Premji & others for fashion biz
In this episode, find out Nxtdigital’s plan to enter broadband over-satellite market, also find out about eMudhra’s tepid listing today. Business Term of the Day: Red Herring Prospectus
Tue, May 31, 2022
LIC posts 17% drop in net profit in Q4FY22
In this episode, find out why small online sellers may have to register for GST, also find out about PayMate’s plans to raise Rs 1500 crore via IPO Business Term of the Day: Opportunity cost
Mon, May 30, 2022
LIC To Announce Its Q4 Results Today
In this episode, find out about United Spirits plans to focus on its premium brands, also find out why crude oil stocks will be in focus today. Business Term of the Day: Throughput
Thu, May 26, 2022
Government To Sell Residual Stake In Hindustan Zinc Ltd
Government to sell residual stake in Hindustan Zinc Ltd Description – In this episode, find out about Standard Chartered Bank's move to settle the case with SEBI, and also find out why RBI canceled NBFC licenses linked to app-based lenders. Business Term of the Day: Value Added Tax (VAT)
Wed, May 25, 2022
NTPC to increase coal supplies to its thermal plants
In this episode, find out about the government’s move to impose restrictions on sugar exports from 1 June, also find out about Indian Hotels Company’s decision to reappoint Puneet Chhatwal. Business Term of the Day: Accommodative monetary policy
Tue, May 24, 2022
Delhivery to get listed today
In this episode, find out about Marco’s move to acquire 54% stake in True Elements, also find out about NHP’s plan to float largest solar power project in Odisha Business Term of the Day: Tight monetary policy
Mon, May 23, 2022
Government may cut revenue expenditure, borrow extra
In this episode, find out about NHPC’s Rs 62.4 k crore storage plants push, and also find out Zomato will announce its Q4 nos Business Term of the Day: Excise Tax
Fri, May 20, 2022
RBI Allows Settlement Of Trade Transactions With Sri Lanka In Indian Rupee
In this episode, find out why Equitas founder PN Vasudevan resigned, also find out about Indonesia’s decision to lift ban on edible oil exports Business Term of the Day: GST
Thu, May 19, 2022
JSW Group Signs Exclusive Deal To Buy Mytrah
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Wed, May 18, 2022
Minutes of RBI’s monetary policy committee meeting to be released today
In this episode, find out about the government’s plans to reduce the quantum of stake sale in BPCL, and also find out about RBI’s decision to reject 6 applications for banking licences Business Term of the Day: Open offer
Tue, May 17, 2022
LIC to list its shares today
In this episode, find out about Jack Ma exiting Paytm E-commerce, also find out about Byju’s looking at US acquisition for $2 bn Business Term of the Day: Growth stocks
Mon, May 16, 2022
Adani group acquires Holcim AG’s cement businesses for $10.5 billion
In this episode, find out why Tech Mahindra thinks positive momentum will continue in FY23, also find out about Maruti Suzuki’s plan to invest Rs 11,000 crore in a new plant in Haryana. Business Term of the Day: Bear market
Fri, May 13, 2022
Indian Markets Are Likely To Open Higher Today
In this episode, find out about PNB’s decision to subscribe to rights issue of PNB Housing, also find out about Reliance Industries and BP’s plan to draw up a compensation plan for dealers Business Term of the Day: Nominal GDP
Fri, May 06, 2022
Reliance Industries to announce its Q4 results today
In this episode, find out about banks hiking lending rates post RBI rate hike, also find out why Bitcoin dropped the most in a month. Business Term of the Day: FOMC
Thu, May 05, 2022
Fed raises rates by 50 bps, the biggest hike in 2 decades
In this episode, find out about SBI’s plans to raise $2bn from global markets, also find out why Indian markets are likely to open higher Business Term of the Day: Stagflation
Wed, May 04, 2022
Rs 21,000 crore LIC IPO opens for subscription today
In this episode, find out why Amazon has written to Sebi against Future Retail, also find out about Adani Wilmar’s acquisition of Kohinoor brand from McCormick Switzerland GMBH Business Term of the Day: Grey Market Premium
Fri, April 29, 2022
Government to launch open network for digital commerce
In this episode, find out why Axis bank reported a 54% rise in net profit in Q4FY23, also find out about Tata Power looking to install 5000 EV charging points Business Term of the Day: Hostile takeover
Thu, April 28, 2022
James Murdoch firm leads $2 bn funding in Ambani media arm
April 25 Title – James Murdoch firm leads $2 bn funding in Ambani media arm Description – In this episode, find out about HUL becoming Rs 50,000 crore turnover company, also find why Bajaj Auto saw a drop in Q4 results Business Term of the Day: Poison Pill
Tue, April 26, 2022
Elon Musks acquires Twitter for $44 bn
In this episode, find out about Bank of India’s plans to raise Rs 2500 crore by issuing fresh equity shares, also find why Yes bank has initiated insolvency proceedings against Zee Learn. Business Term of the Day: Short selling
Mon, April 25, 2022
Aditya Birla Capital Appoints Vishakha Mulye As Its New CEO
In this episode, find out about HDFC bank’s dividend to its shareholders for FY22, also find out why Indian markets will have a negative opening. Business Term of the Day: Index
Fri, April 22, 2022
Major Lenders To Future Group Reject Deal With RIL
In this episode, find out about MuSigma Dhiraj Rajaram’s plans to raise debt to buy out Sequioa, also find out why Indian markets are likely to remain weak on global cues. Business Term of the Day: Net interest margins (NIM)
Thu, April 21, 2022
HCL Tech, Nestle to announce Q4 results today
In this episode, find out about Future group shareholders' vote on the deal with RIL, also find out about Tata Steel's plans to exit Russia. Business Term of the Day: ESOPs
Wed, April 20, 2022
IMF slashes India's growth forecast to 8.2% for FY23
In this episode, find out about Punjab and Sind Bank classifies SREI group of cos as fraud, also find out about VRL Logistics to sell wind power undertaking to Ratna Cement Business Term of the Day: Slump Sale
Tue, April 19, 2022
Q4 results of ACC, L&T Infotech, Tata Steel Long and Mastek slated to be announced today
In this episode, find out about L&T's plans to merge Mindtree and L&T Toubro Infotech, also find out about SBI’s move to hike the lending rate after 3 years Business Term of the Day: Marginal Cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR)
Mon, April 18, 2022
Maruti Suzuki’s new chief feels affordable EV not possible by 2025
In this episode, find out about Mahindra Holidays & Resorts’ plans to increase stake in Rocksport Pvt Ltd, also find out Ultra Tech’s plans to invest in UAE based RAK Cement Business Term of the Day: Restricted Stock Units
Thu, April 14, 2022
Anchor Investors Commit Rs 18,000 Crore To LIC IPO
In this episode, find out about Holcim Group’s plans to exit the India cement business, also find out why auto output fell to levels seen 5 years ago Business Term of the Day: Downtrading
Wed, April 13, 2022
Infosys to announce Q4 numbers today
In this episode, find out about Fino Payments Bank’s move to buy minority stake in PaySprint, also find out why Indian markets will open on a flat note Business Term of the Day: Valuation
Tue, April 12, 2022
TCS announces 7.4% yoy rise in net profit in Q4
In this episode, find out about TRAI’s decision to cut base price by 36%, also find out Zee Entertainment’s plans for its movie production business this year Business Term of the Day: Infrastructure Investment Trust
Mon, April 11, 2022
Q4 earnings season begins today, with TCS earnings
In this episode, find out about Godrej Group’s plan to launch its NBFC business, also find out about Vodafone Idea’s fund raising talk with Apollo Global For $1 bn Business Term of the Day: Fixed income
Fri, April 08, 2022
RBI to announce monetary policy statement at 10 am today
In this episode, find out why M&M has terminated its decision to sell Ssang Yong Motor, also find out why Flipkart has raised its internal IPO valuation to $60-70 bn. Business Term of the Day: Government borrowing
Thu, April 07, 2022
Invesco to sell 7.8% stake via block deal today
In this episode, find out about Bandhan bank’s bid for IDFC AMC, also find out why Indian markets are likely to trade lower Business Term of the Day: Revenue
Tue, April 05, 2022
HDFC merges with HDFC bank in $40 bn deal
In this episode, find out why CCI has ordered a probe into Zomato & Swiggy, also find out about Carlyle group selling stake in SBI Cards Business Term of the Day: Merger
Mon, April 04, 2022
Sembcorp, Enfinity Global, JSW shortlisted for Mytrah Energy
In this episode, find out why lenders of Future Group are looking to auction assets of the retail venture, also find out about HDFC bank’s Q4 business numbers Business Term of the Day: Real interest rate
Fri, April 01, 2022
Current account deficit touches 9 year high
In this episode, find out about Shapoorji pallonji’s exit from debt restructuring, also find out about income tax raids at Hero Motocorp. Business Term of the Day: Debt restructuring
Thu, March 31, 2022
Axis Bank acquires Citi India’s retail assets for Rs 12,325 crore
In this episode, find out about the drop in telecom subscriber base, also find out about Bain Capital picking up 25% stake in IIFL Wealth Business Term of the Day: Revolver
Wed, March 30, 2022
Government will sell upto 1.5% stake in ONGC this week
In this episode, find out about the Hero MotoCorp’s hike in prices of motorcycles, scooters, also find out about Future Enterprises’ payment default Business Term of the Day: Fiscal Policy
Tue, March 29, 2022
BlackRock, Mubadala to invest in Tata Power’s green energy venture
In this episode, find out about Aurobindo Pharma’s acquisition of Veritaz’ formulation biz, also find out the latest about Ruchi Soya FPO after SEBI rap Business Term of the Day: Super app
Mon, March 28, 2022
PVR, INOX merge to form multiplex giant
In this episode, find out about Adani Gas’ foray into electric mobility infrastructure, also find out about Emami’s acquisition of Dermicool Business Term of the Day: Employee Stock Option Plan
Fri, March 25, 2022
SEBI fines Axis bank for violation of debt issuance norms
In this episode, find out why oil marketing companies have raised petrol prices for the third time in a row, also find out about Reliance Industries’ bid for Sintex Industries Business Term of the Day: Gross Merchandise Value
Thu, March 24, 2022
Invesco withdraws case against Zee to pursue EGM
In this episode, find out about income tax searches at Hero MotoCorp, also find out about HDFC bank’s acquisition of 7.8% stake in ONDC Business Term of the Day: Share buyback
Wed, March 23, 2022
Adani Ports & SEZ crosses 300 million metric tons in cargo handling
In this episode, find out about Infosys’ deal to acquire Germany-based Oddity, also find out about Indiabulls Housing Finance debt raising plans Business Term of the Day: Loan against Securities
Mon, March 21, 2022
Banks to take Future Retail to debt recovery tribunal
In this episode, find out about Wockhardt’s plans to deliver a global vaccine programme, also find out about Suzuki’s plans in Gujarat for manufacturing electric vehicles. Business Term of the Day: NFT
Thu, March 17, 2022
US Fed announces 25 bps hike, hints at 6 more hikes this year
In this episode, find out about the new chiefs at Public Sector banks, also find out about NXT Digital’s merger with Hinduja Leyland Finance Business Term of the Day: Hedge Fund
Wed, March 16, 2022
Markets await outcome of Fed meeting
In this episode, find out about Zomato’s merger with Blinkt, also find out about Tata Motor’s investment plans in EV Business Term of the Day: Know Your Customer
Tue, March 15, 2022
RBI removes pricing cap on microfinance loans
In this episode, find out why Indian markets are likely to open lower in trade today, also find out about Reliance New Energy’s plan to acquire Lithium Werks Business Term of the Day: Wholesale inflation
Mon, March 14, 2022
India & Russia explore using Yuan as reference currency
In this episode, find out why LIC is looking at IPO in April, also find out about Brookfield’s plans to buy a substantial stake in Mahindra Susten Business Term of the Day: Reference exchange rate
Fri, March 11, 2022
BJP retains 4 states, AAP sweeps Punjab
In this episode, find out about SEBI’s search operations in social media stock tips scam, also find out why US markets fell during trade Business Term of the Day: Tax planning
Thu, March 10, 2022
Counting of votes for UP Assembly elections begins
In this episode, find out about SEBI’s decision to clear the LIC IPO, also find out about RIL’s decision to terminate lease for 835 Future Retail stores Business Term of the Day: Supply shock
Wed, March 09, 2022
SAT to hear Dish TV matter today
In this episode, find out about NSE CEO Vikram Limaye’s plan to step down after his tenure ends in July, also find out why oil companies will be in focus in trade today Business Term of the Day: Unified Payment Interface
Tue, March 08, 2022
SEBI has asked Dish TV to disclose AGM results within 24 hours
In this episode, find out about TCS’ Rs 18,000 crore share buyback plan, also find out ICICI bank’s plans to raise infrastructure bonds. Business Term of the Day: Generic drugs
Mon, March 07, 2022
CBI arrests ex CEO of NSE Chitra Ramakrishnan
In this episode, find out why Indian markets are set to open lower today, also find out about PNB Housing Finance’s equity raising plan after a failed attempt last time Business Term of the Day: Limited Partners
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