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.
Mumbai: Steelmakers who also mine their own iron ore, such as Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), are likely to see their margins dip more than their peers as prices of both steel and iron ore are on a downward trend, analysts said. This is because of the fixed costs associated with their mines -- in contrast to players like Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and JSW Steel Ltd -- who buy raw material from third party suppliers, thus exporting a part of the margin squeeze to these vendors. In essence, owning iron ore and coal mines, which helps these integrated companies earn better margins than their peers when the going is good, is becoming like a millstone around their necks in a slowdown. "The integrated steelmakers will see a higher fall in margins than the non-integrated steelmakers as non-integrated players will see some benefit of iron ore prices coming down," said Manav Gogia, analyst at Yes Securities. The drop in margins should be visible in the second quarter of this fiscal year, he said. Analysts at BigMint, a market intelligence firm, concurred. "As steel prices and raw materials continue to stay under pressure, JSW Steel's Ebitda will be better than Tata Steel's Ebitda," an executive at BigMint said. Ebitda stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities believe steel prices are likely to remain under pressure because global demand is weak and domestic steel is being sold at a premium to imports. Besides, there are seasonal slowdowns accompanying declining construction activity in the monsoon. "Non-integrated players are better placed amid the ongoing weakness in prices and costs," the Kotak analysts said in a report last week referring to Jindal Power and Steel and JSW Steel. However, they expect margins to sequentially improve in the April-June quarter. They did not comment on margins in the July-September quarter. In addition, raw materials like iron ore and coking coal are getting cheaper, and global supply is improving, which means prices could fall even more in the coming weeks. Integrated steelmakers control the entire value chain and mine their own raw materials, while non-integrated steelmakers source their raw materials from the market. Among domestic steel companies, Tata Steel had the highest Ebitda per tonne of the alloy produced last fiscal. The company had a per-tonne Ebida of ₹13,307 compared wth ₹12,004 for JSPL, ₹8,220 for JSW Steel and ₹5,877 for SAIL. In FY26, the brokerage expects Tata Steel to maintain its margin lead in the industry at ₹15,126 of EBITDA per tonne. However, JSW and JSPL are expected to narrow their margin deficit with the Asia's oldest steelmaker. The steel industry contributes nearly 2% of GDP, and is considered the backbone of India's industrial and economic growth. JSW Steel is the largest steelmaker by capacity, followed by Tata Steel, SAIL and JSPL. Tata Steel and SAIL have owned captive mines for decades. Tata Steel gets almost all of its iron ore and nearly 21% of coal requirements from its mines in Jharkhand Odissha for steel manufacturing, while the rest is imported. SAIL has 15 iron ore mines in Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, meeting all the requirements of SAIL steel plants. SAIL also has 4 coal mines. Other steelmakers such as JSW and JSPL are also keen on bidding for mines if they are available at a reasonable price. JSW joint managing director Jayant Acharya told analysts in January that it would be bidding for all new mines coming up for auction in Karnataka and Goa. JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL and JSPL did not respond to Mint's emails and calls seeking comment. The benchmark price for hot-rolled coils, which are used in automobile parts and consumer durables, fell to a four-month low to ₹50,700 per tonne in June, about 5% lower than its peak in April. The price of rebars, used in infrastructure and housing, has plunged 13% from its previous high in April to an eleven-month low to Rs.50,700 in June, reflecting a sharper correction in what is called the long products segment, as per Big Mint database. "Long product prices have seen a sharper correction compared to flat products, because the government imposed safeguard duties on imports in March, which predominantly affect flat steel products," said Dhruv Goel, chief executive officer of Big Mint. Flat products refer to sheets of steel available as coils or slabs. Long steel includes rods, wires and bars. To be sure, the steelmakers have been facing headwinds and clocked lower revenues since last year due to Chinese steel dumping in India. Chinese steel is available at a discount of about 5% or more, and sometimes as high as 10% compared with domestic prices. Government data shows India's steel imports in FY25 rose to 9.5 million tonnes, the highest since FY16, and exports crashed to a decade's low of 5 million tonnes. India became a net importer of the metal as last year the country's steel trade deficit hit a 10-year high of 4.5 million tonnes, Mint reported on 21 April. The government imposed a 12% safeguard duty on steel imports in a move to protect the domestic steel industry in May. Major steel-using sectors such as automotive and construction are expected to benefit from the price drop as they will have lower input costs. "They have slowed down on their purchases as they think that the steel prices will correct more," said Goel.
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], December 4: OPPO India's latest flagship smartphone series, the OPPO Find X8 Pro and OPPO Find X8, is on sale starting - 3rd December 2024 across the OPPO e-store, Flipkart, and mainline retail outlets. The Find X8 series is a blend of cutting-edge performance, premium design, and innovative camera technology, complemented by exciting launch offers. Pricing & Launch Offers * OPPO Find X8 Pro (16GB + 512GB) is priced at INR 99,999 and can be got for as low as INR 82,000* with offers. * OPPO Find X8 (12GB + 256GB), priced at INR 69,999, is available for as low as ...Read More >
India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a joint 11-month low, restricted by competitive conditions and inflationary pressures India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a joint 11-month low of 56.5 in November, restricted by competitive conditions and inflationary pressures amid a softer increase in factory orders, a monthly survey said on Monday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell from 57.5 in October to 56.5 in November, signalling a softer improvement in the health of the sector. However, the pace of growth remained above its long-r ...Read More >
Oppo recently announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Find X8 and Find X8 Pro, in India. Starting today, both handsets are available for purchase via online and offline platforms. In addition to this, Oppo is also offering additional bank discounts, easy no-cost EMI options and other benefits on the purchase. Oppo Find X8 and Find X8 Pro: Price and availability Oppo Find X8 is available in two variants. The 12GB + 256GB variant costs Rs 69,999, and the 16GB + 512GB variant costs Rs 79,999. The Oppo Find X8 Pro, on the other hand, is available in a single 16GB + 512GB variant and it ...Read More >
Mumbai : Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India today unveiled and launched its much-awaited all-new 3 Generation Honda Amaze. This marks the global debut of the new generation Amaze in India, a key market for Honda globally and the first country to launch the new model. The all-new Amaze will be available at an introductory price range of Rs 7,99,900 - Rs. 10,89,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi); valid till 45 days from launch. The stylish and premium compact sedan has been designed to offer an OUTCLASS and delightful sedan experience that meets the aspirations ...Read More >
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI -- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday slashed its economic growth forecast for the current financial year ending in March to 6.6% from the 7.2% projected in October after seeing "much lower than anticipated" gross domestic product expansion of 5.4% in July-September. "This decline in [the July-September quarter] growth was led mainly by a substantial deceleration in industrial growth from 7.4% in Q1 to 2.1% in Q2 due to subdued performance of manufacturing companies, contraction in mining activity and lower electricity demand," RBI Gov. Shaktikanta Das said in a televi ...Read More >
The Reserve Bank of India raised the interest rate caps on Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank (FCNR-B) deposits to attract more capital inflows, amid pressures on the rupee. Starting December 6, banks can offer higher rates -- up to 400 basis points for 1-3 year deposits and 500 basis points for 3-5 year deposits -- until March 31, 2025. This move comes as the rupee faces volatility.The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced a raise in the interest rate caps on the Indian diaspora's foreign cu ...Read More >
SOLAPUR, India (Reuters) - India is likely to produce a record amount of sugar in the next marketing year from October after millions of farmers expanded cane cultivation, encouraged by ample water supplies and declining prices of competing crops, farmers and industry officials told Reuters. The rebound in production would allow the world's second-largest sugar producer to resume exports in 2025/26, they said, after a lack of rain cut cane yields and led to two years of restrictions. Indian exports could cap global sugar prices, traders said, by increasing supplies in the world market at a t ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - London copper prices climbed to a nearly one-month high on Wednesday, as markets drew support from top consumer China's recent announcement that it will ease monetary policy and adopt a proactive fiscal policy to propel growth next year. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 0.8% at $9,290 per metric ton, as of 0353 GMT. The contract briefly touched $9,314 per metric ton, its highest level since Nov. 12. The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) rose 0.4% to 75,690 yuan ($10,443.31) a ton. China will ...Read More >
The BE 6e, just as its name sounds, stands out as a futuristic, power-packed, and sporty electric Mahindra SUV on Indian roads. The highly anticipated Mahindra BE 6e, an all-electric compact SUV, has been finally launched at an introductory price of Rs 18.9 lakh (ex-showroom). Globally revealed alongside its sibling, the XEV 9e, this born-electric offering from Mahindra seems to be good enough (on-paper) to position itself as India's answer to luxury compact SUVs from global brands. With its futuristic design, a wealth of modern features, and an impressive power output - the highest in its fa ...Read More >
Hit by economic slowdown and poor infrastructure, industrialists from Jharkhand's key industrial districts -- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan -- are looking to the newly formed state government for revival and support. The industrial zones of Adityapur, Gamharia, Kandra, and Chandil have been grappling with inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, lack of bridges, erratic water supply, and unreliable power. Entrepreneurs in these regions hope the new administration will address these issues and work toward improving the state's industrial ecosystem ...Read More >
Hardik Pandya played an excellent knock of 69 runs in 30 balls to lead Baroda to a three-wicket win over Tamil Nadu in a high-scoring Group B match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday. Hardik's innings included four 4s and seven 6s. Out of those seven sixes, four came in the 17th over bowled by left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh. Chasing a stiff total of 222, Baroda was at 121 for 4 when Hardik came out to bat after the dismissal of his elder brother Krunal. The equation came down to 66 needed off 24 balls when Gurjapneet, a 6'3" seamer bought for Rs 2.2 crore by five-time Indian Prem ...Read More >
The financial repercussions of Parliament disruptions are considerable, impacting both public resources and the productivity of the nation's legislative process. However, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have cumulatively functioned for merely 2 hours, with daily disruptions and sloganeering resulting in adjournments. The Rajya Sabha faced disruptions today (December 2) as Vice Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed discontent over sloganeering by Opposition MPs. The protests, which centered around demands for discussions on key issues, forced the Vice Chairman to adjourn the session until 12 ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs Tuesday staged a walkout from the Odisha assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control prices of essential commodities and resolve the potato crisis in the state. The issues were debated in the House over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on price rise of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fuel. The opposition members took exception to comments made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra that adverse climate conditions, rates in international and domestic markets, and less production by ...Read More >
India's growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.4% in the three months ended 30 September, or the second quarter of 2024-25, was a shocker. It undershot even the most pessimistic forecasts. It's the lowest level seen since the third quarter of 2022-23 and a sharp drop from 8.1% growth in the same period last year and also from 6.7% in the first quarter of 2024-25. The consensus expectation stood at about 6.5% and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expecting around 7% growth till its October policy, only to pare it to 6.8%. Growth in gross value added (GVA), which is the preferred measure ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 10 (VOICE) The Indian stock market closed on a muted note on Tuesday after range-bound trading during the session. At closing, Sensex was up 1.59 points at 81,510.05, and Nifty was down 8.95 points at 24,610.05. Meanwhile, the broader market closed on a positive note. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 2,025 stocks closed in the green, 1,938 stocks settled in the red, and 130 without change. During the session, midcap and smallcap stocks outperformed largecap. Nifty midcap 100 index was up 136.65 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 59,135, and Nifty smallcap 100 index was up 54.60 poin ...Read More >
Leading investment and trading platform Kotak Securities is cautious in its market outlook for 2025, balancing India's fundamentals with concerns over valuation and global uncertainties, but has not ruled out a level of 29,000 on the Nifty 50 index. While the country's growth trajectory remains robust, recent economic data and corporate results indicate a slowdown in some areas, prompting a more tempered outlook, said the note. Kotak Securities has highlighted the slowdown in rural demand during ...Read More >
As per Moneycontrol's calculations, a 7 per cent growth in the remaining two quarters will put India's GDP at 6.5 per cent. The Indian economy would find it challenging to achieve over 7 per cent growth for the fourth consecutive year, economists said. They pointed out that the second-quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, which was announced on November 29, has made the task even more daunting for the government. "A sharper than expected growth slowdown in Q2 has tilted risks to our outlook of 6.8 per cent for the current fiscal downwards," said DK Joshi, chief economist, Crisil. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will commence customary pre-Budget consultations with various stakeholders beginning Friday. As part of the process, she will meet eminent economists on December 6 to seek their inputs regarding upcoming Budget amid seven-quarter low GDP print of 5.4 per cent recorded in the second quarter of the current financial year. It will be followed by a meeting with farmer associations and agriculture economists and stakeholders in MSME sector scheduled for December 7, sources said. Union Budget 2025-26 is likely to be tabled in Parliament o ...Read More >
Infosys has announced an average 85% performance bonus for eligible employees in Q2 FY25, reflecting its strong financial performance. The bonus, paid to mid- and junior-level staff, will be credited with the November salaries, with individual payouts varying based on performance. This follows Infosys' impressive 4.7% rise in Q2 net profit and a revenue increase of 5.1%, leading to an upward revision of its FY25 revenue guidance. The bonus payout surpasses the previous quarter's 80%, with Infosys outpacing rivals like TCS. Employees are also awaiting salary hikes, with revisions expected from ...Read More >
As a part of the new agreement between Mazagon Dock and BEML, Mazagon Docks will make facilities available to BEML's research team in exchange for their technical support to design and manufacture strategic equipment, reported PTI. The government-owned BEML Ltd. (formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) announced on Wednesday, November 27, that it has signed an agreement with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to develop technologies for the marine industry, news agency PTI reported. According to the company statement cited by the agency, the company aims to leverage the opportunity to expand its e ...Read More >
Trump warns BRICS nations against replacing US dollar Dec 2 (Reuters) - A gauge of emerging market stocks rose on Monday, driven by positive manufacturing data from China and expectations of continued policy support from Beijing, while India's rupee hit a record low because of weaker-than-expected economic data. As of 0932 GMT, the MSCI's index for emerging market stocks had risen by 0.7%, on track for its biggest percentage gain in over three weeks. China's blue-chip CSI 300 climbed 0.8%, and the Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.1% after a private survey indicated that Chinese factory act ...Read More >
Heavy rains across Tamil Nadu have led to school closures in several districts, including Chennai, on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, predicting moderate rains and light thunderstorms in parts of the state. Rainfall figures show significant precipitation in multiple areas. Meanwhile, Northern India braces for a cold wave beginning December 9, with the IMD forecasting plunging temperatures in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.Schools acros ...Read More >
Mumbai, November 29: The Indian stock market opened in green on Friday as buying was seen in the Media and Pharma sector in early trade. At around 09.44 a.m., the Sensex was trading at 79,369.57 after gaining 325.83 points or 0.41 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 24,019 after rising 104.85 points or 0.44 per cent. The market trend remained positive. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1345 stocks were trading in the green, while 876 stocks were in the red. Nifty Bank was up 224.45 points or 0.43 per cent at 52,131.30. Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 56,397.95 after gaining 97. ...Read More >
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for the third straight session on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) amid buying in blue-chip stocks like HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and firm trends in global markets. The BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 597.67 points or 0.74% to settle at 80,845.75. During the day, it surged 701.02 points or 0.87% to 80,949.10. The NSE Nifty went up by 181.10 points or 0.75% to 24,457.15. From the 30-share Sensex pack, Adani Ports surged nearly 6%. NTPC, Axis Bank, State Bank of India, Larsen & Toubro, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries were ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
Markets opened on a cautiously optimistic note on Wednesday, with the Sensex and Nifty showing marginal gains, while investors closely monitored global economic indicators and upcoming domestic policy decisions. The Sensex opened higher at 81,036.22 from its previous close of 80,845.75 and is currently trading at 81,168.92 as of 9.45 am, up by 323.17 points or 0.40 per cent. Similarly, the Nifty opened at 24,488.75 compared to its previous close of 24,457.15 and is now at 24,558.20, rising by 101 ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR : Unable to regulate retail price of the potato even after normal flow of the tuber from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to provide the kitchen essential to consumers at a subsidised rate through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED). In the first phase of its market intervention initiative, the state government has procured 60 tonnes of potato from Uttar Pradesh through NAFED and the same will be available ...Read More >
Despite its vast potential, the full capabilities of GST data remain largely unrealised. While aggregate data provides a broad overview of tax performance and health of the Indian economy, disaggregated sector-wise information is crucial for evidence-based policymaking. A closer look at the performance of GST revenue collection raises several questions. First, though the growth of GST revenue collection improved in the last seven years (13 per cent) compared to the pre-GST period 2012-17 (11.8 per cent), there has been hardly an increase in the tax base of GST in the last seven years compared ...Read More >
The Indian government has announced a 375km rail network expansion, aimed at enhancing economic growth and connectivity in North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. With a total cost of approximately Rs79.27bn ($1.05bn), these projects are aimed to be completed within four years. Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, detailed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval of three railway infrastructure projects. The projects include the Jalgaon-Manmad fourth line (160 km), Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines (131km), and the Prayagraj (Iradatganj)-Manikpur thir ...Read More >
While India's growth story remains intact, market returns may moderate in the near term after two years of outperformance. After a sharp correction from the record highs of September, the equity market is widely anticipated to swing within a range as it wavers through moderating earnings growth, consumption slowdown, lofty valuations, and other global macroeconomic headwinds. Even though a persistent sideways movement of the market is likely to drag overall returns, traders are shifting towards pair trading to beat the market. Pair trading is a market-neutral strategy that allows investors t ...Read More >