r

BJP, MVA manifestoes and the woman vote: More needs to be imagined and offered to her




r

It’s 2024 — we need more women in politics




r

Yogendra Yadav writes: Democracy after Trump




r

Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: D Y Chandrachud, a Chief Justice of his time




r

With Indonesia, India’s opportunity and Beijing’s eye




r

Chess battles: How India-China face-off in 2024 is like the US-USSR Cold War face-off




r

‘What’s patriarchy, ya?’ The answer is all around us




r

99 Grammy nominations for Queen Bey: How has Beyonce been a force for over 25 years?




r

The Third Edit: Turkey or Germany: Who owns the döner kebab?




r

November 13, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s first AIR and Doordarshan address




r

C Raja Mohan writes: India, Trump, and the crisis in multilateralism




r

Maharashtra elections: Maha Yuti is ahead in part because of Uddhav Thackery’s and MVA’s failures




r

It’s not social constraints or access anymore — women are held back by lack of employment opportunities




r

Art, not obscenity: In Bombay High Court’s judgment on nudity in art, a reminder




r

Rising food prices are likely to push back beginning of rate cutting cycle





r

SAP to step up hiring in India: CEO

German technology major SAP views India as the fastest growing market, where it plans to embark on an aggressive hiring spree, a top company executive said on Wednesday. "India is among the top 10 markets for SAP and growing fastest. We will continue to invest in India. "We are expanding our campus to accommodate 15,000 more people.




r

'No Rush To Say Economy Is Slowing Down'

'Whether I am optimistic or pessimistic is not the issue; I am just going by the evidence available.' 'The Indian economy and financial sector are now well-placed and very resilient in dealing with any kind of spillover coming from the external world.'




r

Lulu becomes largest IPO in UAE this year

Lulu Retail announced on Wednesday that its initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed 25 times across all tranches, excluding cornerstone investors, generating demand exceeding $37 billion-a record for a private sector IPO in the United Arab Emirates. The company is controlled by Kerala-based business tycoon MA Yusuff Ali. The final offer price for Lulu shares was set at AED 2.04 per share, raising a total of $1.72 billion (AED 6.32 billion), making it the largest IPO in the UAE in 2024 to date.




r

SC orders liquidation of Jet Airways' assets

The Supreme Court on Thursday exercised its extraordinary constitutional powers and ordered the liquidation of grounded air carrier Jet Airways' assets. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra set aside the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision upholding the resolution plan of Jet Airways and approved the transfer of its ownership to Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC).




r

Ministry of Environment issues new rules post SC order

In response to the Supreme Court's (SC's) strong stance on unchecked environmental violations, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced new rules for conducting inquiries and imposing penalties on polluters. The updated rules outline key factors to consider when determining the penalties' scale. Adjudicating officers are instructed to assess elements such as the project's location and size, the industry type, and the specific nature of the violation.




r

Are You Ready for Kia's New SUV?

Kia India Unveils Sketches of Its Revolutionary new SUV




r

Sunset for once-storied Jet Airways

More than five years ago on an April evening, cash-starved Jet Airways announced temporary grounding of operations after flying as a full service airline for 25 years. Since then, more than 20,000 jobs and money worth thousands of crores owed to lenders, vendors and passengers evaporated while awaiting an insolvency resolution. And today, the Supreme Court ordered the airline's liquidation, marking the formal completion of a turbulent journey into the sunset and shattering lean revival hopes.




r

Retail space leasing in malls, main high streets falls

Leasing of retail space in shopping malls and prominent high streets dropped 1 per cent to 1.63 million square feet during July-September across top eight cities, according to Cushman and Wakefield. The leasing stood at 1.63 million square feet in the year-ago period. Real estate consultant Cushman and Wakefield on Thursday released its Q3-2024 'Retail MarketBeat' report, which highlighted a sustained momentum across India's main streets, leading retail growth across the top 8 cities.




r

Maruti Suzuki to up exports with new Dzire sedan

Maruti Suzuki India is targeting markets like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Mexico and other Latin American countries with its upcoming new version of compact sedan Dzire to accelerate exports as it eyes over 3 lakh units of overseas shipments this fiscal, a senior company official said on Wednesday. In the domestic market, the company hopes to enhance its share in the sedan market amid the passenger vehicles market shifting towards SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), with the new Dzire which is slated for launch next week. "We have been growing (exports) at a rate of about 11.9 per cent in the first seven months of the financial year and we hope to continue on that momentum.




r

Trump 2.0: Govt In Wait-And-Watch Mood

'We may see even more restrictive policies during 2.0.'




r

Rural demand lifts FMCG sector to 5.7% growth in Q2

India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector grew 5.7 per cent by value and 4.1 per cent by volume in the July-September quarter driven by rural demand, consumer intelligence firm NielsenIQ said in its quarterly update on Thursday. Price-led growth stood at 1.5 per cent. According to NielsenIQ data, rural volume growth outpaced urban markets for the third straight quarter despite consumption softening in both regions.




r

'Focus Is To Maintain The Casa Ratio'

'It has remained around 38 per cent over the past four to five quarters.'




r

Govt changes release time of GDP data to 4 pm

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Friday said it has advanced the release of macroeconomic data Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates by about 90 mins to 4 pm. As per the current practice, the press releases of GDP are scheduled at 5.30 pm on the specified release dates, a MoSPI statement said.




r

FMCG major Marico may buck the industry trend

Marico may buck the industry trend with the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major reporting strong growth and favourable commentary in a weak quarter for the industry. The company reported consolidated revenue growth of 8 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in Q2FY25. Domestic revenue growth was 8 per cent Y-o-Y with 5 per cent volume growth (4 per cent in Q1FY25).




r

At Rs 1.2 trn, IPO mopup set to hit new high in 2024

The calendar year 2024 is set to go down as the best year for initial public offerings (IPOs) in terms of funds raised. Following the IPOs of food delivery major Swiggy and two other companies slated for next week, this year's total will reach nearly Rs 1.2 trillion, going past 2021's record tally of Rs 1.19 trillion. Swiggy's Rs 11,327 crore IPO, the sixth-largest in India, and solar energy firm Acme Solar Holdings' Rs 2,900 crore IPO opened on Wednesday (Nov 6), while health-tech firm Sagility India's Rs 2,106 crore IPO opened a day earlier.




r

Trump 2.0: Will Bulls Run Amok?

'Investors looking at the next 6-12 months can be certain that the Fed will maintain its easing cycle, and we expect the overall environment to be conducive for fixed income investments for portfolio diversification.'




r

SBI Q2 net profit jumps 23% to Rs 19,782 cr

SBI on Friday reported a 23 per cent on-year jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 19,782 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The consolidated net profit for the corresponding period last year stood at Rs 16,099 crore.




r

Tatas may choose Singapore as partner for chip plan

Tata Sons will likely choose Singapore as a "key partner" for its semiconductor plans, a senior minister from the city-state said on Friday. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier in the day, Singapore's minister for home affairs and law K Shanmugam said semiconductors was a "big discussion" point during the meeting. "If they (Tatas) want to, they can do business with anybody in the world.




r

Losses in blue-chip stocks drag markets down

Stock markets closed lower for the second straight day on Friday amid relentless foreign fund outflows and losses in blue-chip stocks Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and State Bank of India. Benchmark BSE Sensex declined by 55.47 points or 0.07 per cent to settle at 79,486.32. During the day, it tanked 424.42 points or 0.53 per cent to 79,117.37.




r

Forex kitty drops by $2.67 bn to $682.13 bn

India's forex reserves declined by $2.67 billion to $682.13 billion for the week ended November 1, the RBI said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the overall reserves had dropped by $3.46 billion to $684.805 billion.




r

Execution key for further gains in Tata Power

Tata Power's Q2FY25 reported results were above consensus despite challenges like low plant availability at Mundra and Odisha discom operations affected by rain. A positive development for the power major included module manufacturing hitting nearly 100 per cent capacity utilisation. The Board has approved an investment proposal for a 1GW pumped storage project (PSP).




r

Probe finds Zomato, Swiggy violating competition norms

A Competition Commission probe has found that food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy indulged in unfair business practices, including alleged preferential treatment to some restaurant partners, according to sources. The detailed investigation was ordered by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in April 2022 and the probe report was submitted to the regulator earlier this year. Under the norms, CCI director general's report has been shared with the parties concerned and later, they will be called for hearings by the watchdog.




r

Factors that will guide the markets this week

A host of macroeconomic data announcements, the last batch of September quarter earnings, global trends, and trading activity of foreign investors will be the major driving factors for the equity market this week, according to analysts. Equity markets would remain closed on Friday for Guru Nanak Jayanti. "India is set to release CPI and IIP data on November 12, with WPI data expected on November 14.




r

India is now the biggest exporter of fuel to EU

India's export of fuels like diesel to the European Union jumped 58 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, with a bulk of them likely coming from refining discounted Russian oil, according to a monthly tracker report. The EU/G7 countries in December 2022 introduced a price cap and an embargo on the imports of Russian crude oil in a bid to cripple Kremlin's revenue and create a vacuum in its funding for the invasion of Ukraine.




r

FPIs withdraw nearly Rs 20,000 cr from equities

The exodus of foreign investments from Indian equity markets continued unabated, with FPIs pulling out nearly Rs 20,000 crore in the last five trading sessions on higher valuations of domestic stocks and shifting their allocation to China. As a result, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have turned net sellers in the equity market, with total outflows reaching Rs 13,401 crore for 2024 so far. Going ahead, the FPI selling trend is likely to continue in the near term till data indicate the piossibility of a trend reversal.




r

SIA to invest Rs 3,195 cr in A-I post Vistara merger

Singapore Airlines will make an additional investment of Rs 3,194.5 crore in Tata Group-owned Air India post-merger of Vistara in November. The merger, announced on November 29, 2022, and set to be completed on November 11, 2024, will result in Singapore Airlines having a 25.1 per cent stake in the enlarged Air India. Full-service carrier Vistara, which started flying on January 9, 2015, is a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, where the latter holds a 49 per cent shareholding.




r

Are The Markets Headed For A Bubble?

'The problem is that the bubble may not only be in valuations, but also in investors' minds.'




r

Tata Steel to file curative petition

Tata Steel is in the process of filing a curative petition in the Supreme Court in connection with the apex court ruling which said that states have the power to levy cess on mining and mineral-use activities. The petition by the steel manufacturing firm is aimed at seeking remedy to the order, passed by a 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on July 25. However, Tata Steel's managing director and chief executive officer T V Narendran told Business Standard that there was no demand note on the firm.




r

New biz premium of life insurers rises 13% in October

Life insurance companies reported a 13.16 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in new business premium (NBP), totting up Rs 30,347 crore in October, even as the number of policies sold saw a sharp decline. The growth was largely driven by strong performance from private sector life insurers.




r

MFs cast their lines for record Oct catch

Mutual funds (MFs) reinforced their record monthly inflows in October with an investment of Rs 87,000 crore (up to October 29), softening the downside pressure on domestic markets. Their prior record for monthly inflows was Rs 48,139 crore in May. This unprecedented monthly buying partially countered record monthly sales by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) of Rs 1.1 trillion last month.




r

Reliance Consumer takes trade margin fight to snacks

After trying to make a dent in the cola market with Campa by offering higher trade margins to the supply chain, Reliance Consumer Products is betting on the same strategy to capture the chips, namkeen, and biscuits market in the country's booming snacks sector.




r

RBI's framework for reclassification of FPI to FDI

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday issued an operational framework for reclassification of investment made by a foreign portfolio investor to foreign direct investment (FDI) if the entity breaches the prescribed limit. Markets regulator Sebi too has issued a circular on procedure for reclassification of FPI investment to FDI.




r

RPL stock case: Relief to Ambani as SC junks Sebi plea

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by Sebi against a Securities Appellate Tribunal order which set aside the penalty imposed by the market regulator on RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani and two other entities in a case related to alleged manipulative trading in shares of the erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) in November 2007. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said it was not inclined to interfere with the order passed by SAT.




r

Merged Air India-Vistara's 1st flight on Tue

Vistara will be merged with Air India on Monday night, and from Tuesday onward, the Vistara flight code will change from 'UK' to 'AI2XXX'.