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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?
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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.
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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 unreported due to embarrassment and indifference from local police. Victims range widely across different demographics, including younger people that might be more savvy, but still got duped.
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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. They are developing a preference for eating out and trying international cuisines. Priyamvada C writes that the absence of extensive community spaces has made dining out an important social activity in smaller cities. With the Indian food services market expected to nearly double to ₹9 trillion by the end of the decade, investors see significant opportunities.
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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 writes that this will increase the prices of EV three wheelers by 15 to 18%. Major manufacturers including Mahindra Last Mile Mobility and Bajaj Auto have expressed concerns about the impact on demand. They told Alisha that a temporary sales slump would be dangerous for the adoption of EV three wheelers in India. They are also lobbying the government to create a more flexible incentive structure to accommodate the growth in demand.
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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 to be actually influenced and inspired to recreate the aesthetics of their favorite influencers in their own homes, irrespective of the high costs involved in such a practice.
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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 opportunities for Indians.
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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 can afford in terms of bonuses this year.
India's mattress market has long had stalwarts like Kurlon and Sleepwell. A few years ago, some startups came and disrupted this space. One of them was Wakefit. Fuelled by a steady stream of venture capital funding, Wakefit has increased its revenue by 12x over the last five years. This revenue in excess of ₹1,000 crore has already exceeded that of Kurlon. Samiksha Goel writes about Wakefit's journey and strategy to set itself apart in India's mattress market by using cheaper pricing and strategies such as a 100 day trial period.That’s all for today.
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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 Gupta writes that this is because patients are typically seeking higher standards of service, and such specialised hospitals are started by well-regarded doctors. Since 2022, private investors have increasingly favored single-speciality hospitals, leading to significant funding and acquisitions. Last year, 20% of the $5.5 billion in hospital funding in India went to such facilities. As for investors, these smaller hospitals offer more scalable options compared to larger counterparts.
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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 now controls significant ongoing projects and is prepping for a massive expansion with a land bank ready to support around 140 million sq. ft of development. This could potentially generate ₹2 trillion in revenue, indicating a major growth trajectory for the firm. Madhurima Nandy takes a deep dive into the group’s real estate plans in today’s Long Story.
Content creators are now pitching fully packaged projects to streaming platforms, securing key talents and finalizing production details upfront to expedite the greenlighting process. Lata Jha spoke to industry insiders who told her that this strategy strengthens pitches by attaching reputable industry names early, boosting platforms' confidence in the projects. This shift helps streamline approval processes, clarifying the project's vision and speeding up budget and timeline decisions. Fully packaged pitches with attached talent and detailed budgets are now essential, not just beneficial, explained another studio executive. They expedite platform decisions on budgeting and scheduling, enhancing a project's marketability and profitability.
Show notes:
PB Balaji could unify Tata’s new auto businesses under Tata Sons
Sebi's framework raises compliance concerns for smaller digital platforms
Wedding industry looks at rebound from dull H1 this season
OTT platforms favour pre-packaged projects to cut risks in content selection
Real estate: Deconstructing Shapoorji Pallonji Group’s housing ambitions
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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 post-pandemic revival, with India's spending on luxury travel hitting $10 billion in 2022. High-end properties are driving this growth, with 39% of the country’s branded hotel rooms classified as upscale or luxury, reports Varuni Khosla.
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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 recently announced a reduction of 16% in its growth fund. It also reduced its management fees, reflecting a diminished brand prestige. Its leaders assert that such a move is necessary to remain competitive, and maintain that the firm's image and economics are still unparalleled.
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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 Digital Commerce is launching an initiative to deliver groceries and other items within 30 minutes to two hours. The government-backed e-commerce network is looking to tap into the growing popularity of quick commerce in India, Sowmya Ramasubramanian reports. This move will involve collaborations with ElasticRun, Ola, and PhonePe’s buyer app Pincode, utilizing their dark stores and delivery networks to enable rapid delivery services.
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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 Mistry and the choice of West Bengal for the Nano plant, it remains unendorsed by Tata’s family, Varun Sood and Satish John report.
Delhi, once celebrated for its distinct winter charm, now grapples with toxic air quality that overshadows its historical and seasonal allure. Now that winters are at the doorstep, Delhi and its toxic air is likely to dominate news cycles till at least January. Despite long-standing efforts to improve air quality, including vehicle and industrial emission controls and reduced stubble burning, Delhi remains the world's most polluted city, according to the 2023 World Air Quality report. This persistent issue is compounded by seasonal activities like stubble burning and the use of biomass for heating, exacerbated by geographical and meteorological conditions that trap pollutants. Sayantan Bera examines the factors behind Delhi’s poisonous winter air.
Show notes:
Why Ratan Tata’s biography didn’t have his final sanction
Mint Primer: Why top tech executives are heading for India
Adani plans greenfield Odisha cement factory
FMCG firms embrace quick commerce amid shift in urban consumer preferences
‘Severe’ air is coming. Here’s the X-factor behind Delhi’s winter poison
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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 shaking up the logistics market. Mint’s startups editor Ranjani Raghavan tackles the question of whether Ecom Express’s IPO can succeed when Delhivery’s stock has failed to deliver.
SUBJECT/Title:
Why finance pros at PE, VC funds are flunking Sebi exam
Pre-head: IRDA approves Burmans’ Religare takeover; CCPA issues notice to quick commerce startups
Qatar's Nebras deal with Aditya Birla Group's green arm on hold
Why are e-tailers on notice for legal metrology?
IRDA gives Burman family green signal for Religaree takeover
Can Ecom Express’s IPO succeed when Delhivery’s stock has failed to deliver?
Why finance pros at PE, VC funds are flunking Sebi exam
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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 margins and the loan-to-deposit ratio on such a large balance sheet. Abhishek Mukherjee writes on how the bank’s investors can learn a lesson or two on persistence from none other than the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar himself.
Yann LeCun, Meta Platforms Inc.'s chief AI scientist, decided to visit India for a third time after an encounter with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Inspired by Nilekani's introduction to India's vibrant tech ecosystem, LeCun attended Meta's first 'Build with AI Summit' in Bengaluru, he told Leslie D’Monte. LeCun talked about witnessing the impressive adoption of Meta AI tools across major platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger, noting that India has the largest user community globally.
FIIs pulling out of India is not a surprise. But where is their money going?
What the border pact means for India and China
Centre shifts to short-term goals to build highways
Patience vs Payoff: What HDFC Bank’s investors can learn from Sachin Tendulkar
‘Godfather of AI’ is impressed by India’s AI prowess but found something lacking
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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 Noida. This new city, planned over 15 years in the Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad region, will unfold in four phases, with the first set to be ready in four years. It's expected to accommodate 600,000 residents and include a mix of industrial hubs, residential areas, commercial spaces and healthcare facilities. Notably, the city plans also feature specialised industrial hubs such as a 'Korean City', a 'Japanese City', and an ‘Olympic City’. Madhurima Nandy explains more in today’s Primer.
IMF keeps India’s FY25 growth forecast unchanged at 7%
Kerala’s 500 days challenge: Can ‘God’s own country’ become a Gujarat?
No startup’s too small to IPO in a bull market
Ambuja's Orient buy steps up cement war
New Noida city: Will it spur NCR realty market?
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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 spike in demand. However, global uncertainties have driven prices back up. Soumya Gupta explains that despite this volatility, Indian consumers aren't necessarily reducing their gold purchases. Sales of lighter and more affordable jewellery pieces have increased during the festive season, with jewellers responding quickly to cater to this demand.
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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 professional designers.
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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.
Byju Raveendran, founder of Byju’s, addressed the challenges facing his company during a candid virtual press conference on Thursday. Amid investor backlash and a bankruptcy filing, Raveendran dismissed rumours of fleeing India, clarifying that his move to Dubai was for his father’s medical treatment and reaffirming his commitment to return and steer the edtech company forward. He defended his leadership, pointing out that the very investors who once backed Byju’s rapid expansion are now retreating as the company grapples with financial troubles. Raveendran also recounted that top investors, including Sofina and Prosus, had sought his ouster, holding him accountable for mismanagement. Despite the setbacks, he emphasized that subsidiaries like Aakash Educational Services remain profitable, contributing to ₹5,500 crore in annual recurring revenue. However, he acknowledged that Byju’s core business has stalled, no longer generating revenue—a stark decline from its peak in 2021.
Govt mulls banning hoax threat culprits from flights, examines global practices
India-Canada row: It’s failing Indian students
Bajaj Auto investors get a demand reality check
Ethanol blending: The good, the bad and the googlies
Raveendran blames investors, eyes new edtech avatar, says $533 mn used u
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