India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
Alber doubled Williams-Sonoma's business since 2010 and widened the margin; growth is expected to continue and support a healthy capital return. There are many reasons to own a stock, and the CEO is one of them. The right CEO can be the defining factor in a company's success, shaping operations, driving growth, and delivering substantial shareholder returns. Strong leadership often signals not just steady performance but transformative potential. Brian Niccol and Laura Alber are prime examples of how executive vision can create lasting value. Their track records at Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG) and Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) underscore why investing in companies led by exceptional leaders is a strategy for long-term success. These two CEOs have demonstrated their ability to innovate, expand, and enhance profitability, making the companies they lead highly attractive investments. Brian Niccol took over as CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill in 2018 and doubled the business during his tenure. Given the outlook for domestic and international expansion, the company is on track to double its operations again within the next five to ten years. It may even double a third time over the longer term. Niccol also widened the margin, growing profits nearly 7x as scale and efficiency combined to lever results. Niccol's leadership style emphasizes brand strength, quality, and operational flow-through. At Chipotle, he harnessed digital innovations, such as introducing Chipotlanes, which are app-only drive-thrus designed to enhance efficiency during peak times. These lanes improved customer flow, reduced strain on frontline staff, and increased margins by lowering costs. Additionally, Niccol championed the adoption of operational technologies, such as specialized kitchen tools, to save time and improve productivity. Now at Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), a much larger company than Chipotle, Niccol is expected to drive similar transformational changes. Starbucks aims to return to its coffeehouse roots by creating more comfortable spaces for customers to meet and enjoy their favorite brews. Niccol plans to address staffing and other ways to improve operational quality, especially during peak times. Niccol's proven ability to enhance financial performance is evident in Chipotle's success. His initiatives improved cash flow and profitability, enabling investments in growth, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and executing incremental share buybacks that boosted investor value. Starbucks is in good shape and expected to improve its financial condition over the years with Niccol in charge. Since taking control of Williams-Sonoma in 2010, Laura Alber has doubled the business, which includes brands like Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Mark and Graham, and Rejuvenation. Alber's efforts include improving brand recognition and loyalty and expanding into new markets and categories. Pottery Barn Kids is now a critical business segment underpinning results in 2024. The latest initiatives have expanded the system-wide margin despite a contraction in the core business due to post-pandemic market normalization and macroeconomic headwinds. The company is expected to revert to growth soon and sustain a growth trajectory over the long term. The margin improvement underscores why you should buy stock in whatever company Laura Alber is running. Williams-Sonoma's margin is trending at the high end of the long-term target in 2024, with no signs of contracting soon. The margin provides a robust cash flow that she and the board use to sustain growth investments, a healthy balance sheet, and capital returns, including dividends and buybacks. Share buybacks reduced the count by 2% year-over-year in Q3 and 1.2% year-to-date and are expected to continue at a robust pace in 2025.
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSE) is set to raise Rs 238 crore from four entities including Billionbrains Garage Ventures, Groww's parent, and Zerodha's Rainmatter Investments in a bid to stay afloat. Others who invested in MSEI are -- BSE-listed Share India Securities, and Securocorp Securities India. The exchange's board in its meeting on Tuesday approved the issuance of 1.19 billion equity shares at Rs 2 per share, comprising Rs 1 face value and Rs 1 premium to these four investors through a private placement, according to a disclosure on MSEI's websit ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) In its first results post listing, on-demand convenience platform, Swiggy on Tuesday announced a 30 percent growth in Gross Order Value at Rs 11,306 crore for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2024. Swiggy's overall Gross Order Value (GOV) grew 30 percent YoY to reach Rs 11306 crore, while the consolidated adjusted EBITDA loss of Rs 341 crore represented a reduction in the loss by 30 percent YoY. Platform Average Monthly Transacting Users (MTU) grew 19.2 percent YoY to 17.1M, the company said in a release. Sriharsha Majety, MD & Group CEO, Swiggy, said "The ...Read More >
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], January 21: SWITCH Mobility Ltd, a part of the Hinduja Group, has unveiled the SWITCH IeV8, a revolutionary electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) in the 7.2T category catering to mid-mile logistics. Designed with sustainability and operational efficiency at its core, the SWITCH IeV8 is set to transform the logistics sector in India. * H. D. Kumaraswamy, Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, unveils the SWITCH IeV8, an electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) designed for mid-mile logistics, at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025 The SWITCH IeV8, a robust additio ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...Read More >
New Delhi: FMCG major Procter & Gamble on Thursday announced it would reduce 7,000 jobs, or about 15 per cent of its current non-manufacturing positions, globally over the next two years. The company said employee separations will be managed with support and respect, and "in line with our principles and values and local laws". "Specific impacts by region or site are not available at this time. Plans will be implemented over the next two fiscal years, allowing us appropriately sequence the delivery of important innovation and operational projects," said the company in a statement. "We're con ...Read More >
New Delhi: India is set to overtake Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, but must not become complacent, as the country remains far behind Japan in GDP per capita terms, WEF's former MD Claude Smadja said. According to IMF data dated April 2025, India's GDP per capita of USD 2,878.4 is approximately 8.5 per cent of Japan's GDP per capita of USD 33,955.7, meaning Japan's per capita income is about 11.8 times higher than India's. "Yes, it (economy size) is a good indicator because it gives a notion of the economic weight of the country on the global balance. "No, it is not a go ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) JSW Paints, part of USD 23 billion JSW Group, on Friday said it will acquire majority controlling stake in Akzo Nobel India Ltd (ANIL), the maker of Dulux paints, for Rs 8,986 crore. It will acquire 74.76 per cent stake from its Dutch promoters/holding entities -- namely Imperial Chemical Industries and Akzo Nobel Coatings International BV -- for a consideration of Rs 8,986 crore, according to a statement from the JSW Group firm. "JSW Paints today (Friday) entered into definitive agreements to acquire up to 74.76 per cent stake in Akzo Nobel India from Akzo Nobel NV a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 2 (PTI) Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be becoming more integral in a company's decision-making and strategy development but employers still continue to turn to business school graduates for their versatility and strategic thinking, according to a new survey by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Employers might be reporting ongoing influence of inflation and recession fears on their hiring decisions but recent business school graduates can remain optimistic about their career prospects, buoyed by the accelerating integration of AI across the landscape, the survey ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 4: India's mining and construction equipment sector is poised for significant growth, projected to expand from $16 billion to $45 billion by 2030*. To support this surge, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, today launched the all-new BharatBenz Construction and Mining range comprising of their HX and Torqshift series models. This heavy-duty truck series directly addresses the critical need for reliable, high-performance vehicles as large contractors increasingly invest in owned assets and modernize their ag ...Read More >
Exagen Inc. (NASDAQ:XGN) CEO John Aballi Signals Confidence with Stock Purchase Amid Strong Q3 Performance John Aballi, CEO of Exagen Inc., recently purchased 24,305 shares at $2.81 each, raising his ownership to 689,799 shares. This move follows the company's strong Q3 results, with $12.5M in revenue and an 8% year-to-date growth driven by a 45% surge in selling prices. Exagen unveiled advanced biomarkers for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, enhancing its AVISE CTD test platform. With $22M in cash and a projected $55-$56M full-year revenue, Exagen aims for profitability by 2025. Boasting a ...Read More >
HELSINKI - Finnish financial company Sampo Oyj (HEX:SAMPO) has completed the acquisition of its own A shares on November 26, as part of its ongoing share buyback program. The company reported that a total of 93,734 shares were purchased across various marketplaces at a weighted average price of €40.16 per share. The buyback initiative, which was first announced on June 17, 2024, originally set out to purchase up to €400 million worth of its own shares. Following a decision by Sampo's Board of Directors on September 16, 2024, the program was expanded to €475 million. The buyback is conducted u ...Read More >
Mumbai: JSW Paints has agreed to acquire Akzo Nobel's India business, valuing the company at Rs 12,000 crore (approximately $1.1 billion). This will make the paint-maker the fourth-largest in the now highly competitive domestic paints market. Ending months of negotiations, JSW has agreed to pick up 74.76% stake in the Akzo Nobel India for Rs 8,986 crore, an over 17% discount to Thursday's price. ET in its May 26th edition was the first to report that JSW had agreed for the billion dollar acquisition - its largest so far and had entered in "exclusive negotiations." "Akzo Nobel India is home t ...Read More >
MUMBAI: JSW Paints, part of the diversified JSW Group, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire up to 74.76% stake in the larger rival and the Dulux-maker Akzo Nobel India for Rs 8,986 crore, marking one of the largest deals in the around Rs 90,000 crore domestic paints sector. The deal also involves an open offer and will pay the way the Dutch company to completely exit the country. The acquisition will make JSW Paints, which has not yet been able to make a clear mark in the paints segment even after six years, a major player in the decorative and industrial coatings space, subject to re ...Read More >
June 30 (Reuters) - Futures tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq touched record highs on Monday, as optimism over U.S. trade negotiations with its key partners helped support upward momentum in markets. Shares of technology heavyweights rose premarket after Canada scrapped its digital services tax targeting U.S. tech firms, just hours before it was due to take effect, in a bid to advance stalled trade negotiations with the United States. Shares of Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab, Meta Platforms (META ...Read More >
Jamshedpur, July 2: Tata Steel held its 118th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 2, where the company's Chairman addressed shareholders with a comprehensive overview of the company's performance, challenges, and strategic direction. The meeting opened on a solemn note, acknowledging recent losses within the Tata Group and paying tribute to significant figures whose contributions shaped the company. "There is a lot to talk about today," said the Chairman. "But I must begin by acknowledging the heavy loss we have felt in recent months. Across the entire Tata Group, we honour those who lost th ...Read More >
Hyderabad/Sangareddy, July 2: The death toll from the explosion at the Sigachi Industries' plant in Pashamylaram has risen to 38 on Wednesday even as the company announced a Rs 1 crore compensation amid allegation of usage of outdated machinery in the unit. State Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, who has been supervising rescue operations at the accident site, said that 11 people were still missing. Although most of the debris has been cleared, no human remains have been found, the minister further said. Sangareddy District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj told PTI that the tol ...Read More >
Akzo Nobel has revealed that its decision to partner with JSW Paints was based on a strategic vision to combine global expertise with strong local execution. The move positions JSW Paints to challenge India's top paint industry players. "We had options. It was really about finding not only the right home for our people but the right partner for our company, and we chose JSW," ET NOW quoted Akzo Nobel CEO Greg Poux-Guillaume as saying, explaining the rationale behind the decision. "It really is a ...Read More >
New Delhi: Indian Oil had declared a dividend in its Q4 results for the financial year 2024-25, which was announced earlier in April. Indian Oil, a Maharatna company and a key constituent of the BSE 100 index, holds a market capitalization of Rs 2,06,452.51 crore as of June 26, 2025, according to BSE data. In an exchange filing made earlier in April, Indian Oil's board of directors declared a final dividend of 30 percent for the year 2024-25, which translates to Rs 3 per equity share of Rs 10 face value. This means that shareholders will receive Rs 3 as dividend for each share they hold. The ...Read More >
Bengaluru - : Embassy Office Parks REIT (NSE: EMBASSY / BSE: 542602) ('Embassy REIT'), India's first listed REIT and the largest office REIT in Asia by area, announced today that it has successfully raised ₹1,550 crores through a combination of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) and term loan facilities. The proceeds will be used to refinance certain existing debt, resulting in annual interest savings of approximately 113 basis points (bps). The fund raise comprises ₹750 crores via Embassy REIT Series XIV NCDs, priced at a coupon of 6.97%, and a ₹800 crore term loan from a leading bank that is ...Read More >
BusinessWire India Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 1: TAFE, one of the world's largest manufacturers of tractors and farm equipment, announced today that a comprehensive settlement and resolution has been reached with AGCO on all matters relating to brand, commercial issues and shareholding. The settlement encompasses the following key features: * Ownership of Massey Ferguson brand will rest with TAFE as the sole and exclusive owner for India, Nepal and Bhutan including all rights, title and interest in "Massey Ferguson" and related trademarks and all goodwill associated therewith. * TA ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) on Thursday said it has inked an agreement with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) that will lay critical groundwork for launching India's first weather derivatives. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on June 26, lays the critical groundwork for the launch of India's first weather derivatives -- a long-anticipated market instrument designed to help farmers and allied sectors hedge against climate-related risks such as erratic rainfall, heatwaves, and unseasonal weather events, NCDEX said in a st ...Read More >
Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (NYSE American: CVR) has announced a reduced quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share, down from the previous $0.10 per share, payable on December 20, 2024, to shareholders of record as of December 5. The reduction reflects prudent financial management amidst challenging market conditions, including a decline in demand from automotive customers. While the company continues to implement performance-enhancing initiatives, macroeconomic headwinds are expected to persist into 2025. The Board of Directors will evaluate future dividends based on profitability, cash requireme ...Read More >
TIPS Music, one of India's leading music labels, has received a 'Buy' rating from YES Securities as it initiated coverage on the firm, with a target price of Rs 1,050, indicating a potential upside of 18% from the current market price of Rs 888.65. Shares of TIPS Music climbed as much as 1.7% on Tuesday to Rs 888.65 on BSE. Yes Securities has valued TIPS Music at a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 47 times based on projected earnings per share (EPS) for September 2026, reinforcing its bullish recommendation. The bullish stance comes as TIPS Music leverages industry tailwinds, such as the rapi ...Read More >
In a turbulent market environment, Leslie's Inc. (LESL) stock has tumbled to a 52-week low, reaching a price level of just $2.42. This significant downturn reflects a stark contrast from its performance over the past year, with the company's shares experiencing a precipitous decline of -54.12%. Investors are closely monitoring Leslie's financial health and market position, as the stock's current valuation marks a critical juncture for the company's future trajectory. The substantial year-over-year drop has raised concerns among shareholders and market analysts alike, as they seek to understand ...Read More >
Anuj Kumar, Director & CEO of CAMS, highlights that despite recent market corrections, the company expects FY25 to be one of its strongest years. CAMS continues to dominate by winning 70-80% of new bids, focusing on execution and margin expansion, and anticipates significant revenue and profit growth driven by mutual funds and associated business lines.Anuj Kumar, Director & CEO, CAMS, says there has been some market correction and some flattening of the mood in the last two months. But as things come back, we should be holding our projections and FY25 should be one of the strongest years in t ...Read More >
AHMEDABAD: Homegrown pharma major, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, on Tuesday reported a 17.3% rise in consolidated net profit for FY 2025 at Rs 4,525.5 crore, up from Rs 3,859.5 crore in the previous year, driven by strong US and India sales. The board recommended a final dividend of Rs 11 per equity share, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM on 12 August 2025.For the March quarter (Q4), net profit fell marginally by 1.0% to Rs 1,170.9 crore from Rs 1,182.3 crore a year earlier, impacted by a one-time loss of Rs 220 crore. Adjusted for this, net profit rose 18% year-on-year to Rs 1,390.5 c ...Read More >
The data compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) highlights that while AI adoption has become mainstream globally, real business impact is being seen only in those companies that are redesigning workflows and investing in training and leadership. In India, although usage is widespread, there is growing anxiety over the future. Nearly half (48 per cent) of Indian employees fear that their jobs could disappear within the next decade due to AI and automation. Nipun Kalra, Managing Director & Senior Partner at BCG India, noted that while Indian employees are among the most enthusiastic users o ...Read More >
MUMBAI: The market is warming to large private credit deals in India, where local borrowers are typically less levered than their peers in the rest of Asia, according to Indranil Ghosh, managing director and head of pan-Asia special situations at Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus, which has US$65bil under management globally, was among the anchor investors in Shapoorji Pallonji Group's US$3.4bil financing, the country's largest private credit deal to date. While deals of that scale are still a rarity, growing capital needs and relatively low leverage are building lenders' confidence in f ...Read More >