CATEGORIES

Walmart has a tough battle ahead in India

E-COMMERCE IN INDIA is a political and regulatory minefield. US consumer giant Walmart Inc. — which has been waiting to launch the much-anticipated initial public offering of the online marketplace it acquired for $16 billion six years ago — has had its patience tested.

Acting with restraint

Overall, regulators have done a competent job, but they need to work on lack of transparency and overreach

Placing Indian agriculture on the global map

Farmer producer organisations should be supported per their requirements, which currently are know-how about international standards and scaling

Board observers in the spotlight

AT PRESENT, RBI DOES NOT SEE ANY MIDDLE GROUND FOR NBFC INVESTORS ACTING AS OBSERVERS

Biden admin to investigate Chinese semiconductors

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S administration is set to initiate a trade investigation into Chinese semiconductors in the coming days, as part of a push to reduce reliance on a technology that US officials believe poses national security risks.

Musk, SpaceX face federal reviews over security issues

ELON MUSK AND SPACEX face at least three federal reviews over whether they have complied with federal reporting rules aimed at protecting national security, the NYT reported on Tuesday.

UK inflation hits 8-month high in Nov

BRITISH INFLATION HIT an eight-month high in November, but the rise in services prices - watched closely by the Bank of England (BoE) as an underlying measure of inflationary pressures - held steady, offering the central bank a little bit of relief.

Guardian's Observer, oldest Sunday paper, sold to Tortoise Media

THE OWNER OF Britain's Guardian newspaper confirmed on Wednesday that it has sold The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media for an undisclosed fee.

Honda, Nissan explore merger amid Tesla, China challenges

IF MERGED, $54-BN COMPANY TO BE WORLD'S THIRD-LARGEST AUTO FIRM

Shriram Group arm raises $1.28-bn loan

SHRIRAM FINANCE (SFL), the flagship company of the Shriram Group, raised $1.277 billion in multiple currencies, including dollar, euro and dirham (AED), through an external commercial borrowing (ECB) loan transaction.

Rupee moves closer to 85/$

ON A SLIPPERY TRACK

Indices extend losing streak for third consecutive session

BENCHMARK INDICES FELL up to 0.62%, continuing their losing streak for the third straight session, as investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve meeting outcome.

Offshore instruments rule adds to compliance burden for FPIs: Experts

● Negligible trades with derivatives as underlying assets in last three years

Mobikwik debuts at 58% premium; ends opening day with 90% gains

● Vishal Mega Mart sees over 40% gains in opening trade

Sembcorp bags 150 MW solar project from SECI

SEMBCORP INDUSTRIES, THROUGH its wholly-owned renewables subsidiary Sembcorp Green Infra, has secured a 150 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic project coupled with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of 300 MWh from Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Amazon sells Shoppers Stop stake for ₹276 cr

GLOBAL E-COMMERCE GIANT

Tourism & hospitality sector may add 6.1 mn jobs by 2037

India's tourism and hospitality sector is all set to create over 6.1 million additional jobs by 2036-37, as per a new report released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and EY.

Institutional investments in realty at record high: Report

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT IN Indian real estate rose 51% to a record $8.87 billion during 2024 as investors look to encash strong demand for housing, office and warehousing properties, according to JLL.

GenAI leading to surge in cyber threats

THE RAPID RISE of generative AI (GenAI) has led to a sharp increase in cyber threats, said Palo Alto Networks.

ITC consolidates shareholding in Oberoi, Leela hotel chains

After acquisition, ITC's shareholding in EIH and HLV aggregates to 16.13% and 8.11% of their paid-up share capital, respectively

Good Capital plans to focus on AI-driven investments in 2025

GOOD CAPITAL, an early-stage venture capital (VC) firm, plans to make 6-7 investments in 2025, focusing on startups that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into existing business models, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities.

Chinese auto parts import sees flat growth in H1FY25

IMPORTS OF CHINESE auto components, which used to be quite high a few years ago, are now seeing their growth rate plateauing.

New chapter: LEAD Group eyes premium schools

WESTBRIDGE CAPITAL-BACKED edtech unicorn LEAD Group has unveiled Pinnacle, a digital curriculum solution targeting high-fee schools, marking its shift from affordable institutions.

Country Delight starts 10-15 minute delivery

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER dairy and daily essentials brand Country Delight has become the latest entrant to the 10-15 minute delivery space.

Subsea cables: Big Tech may get govt support

● Focus now on establishing repair & maintenance infra

Infosys inaugurates ₹426-cr development centre in Bengal

INFOSYS, THE COUNTRY'S second-largest IT services firm, on Wednesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art development centre in New Town, Kolkata, marking a major milestone in West Bengal's IT growth story.

BSNL asked to bridge tech gap

A PARLIAMENTARY PANEL on Wednesday recommended that state-owned BSNL should explore partnerships with foreign technology firms to address issues in the deployment of indigenous technology. BSNL had told the committee that the major hurdle it is facing in the 4G expansion lies in the fact that the technology being deployed may still take time to be tested and proven.

Red flags as SECI says Azure capacity given to Adani in 'public interest'

IN WHAT HAS raised red flags in the new Andhra Pradesh government led by TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu is a submission by the central government-undertaking Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to the apex electricity regulator that the transfer of 2,300 megawatt solar capacity from Azure Power to Adani Green Energy was made in \"public interest\".

'Unusual' surge in November gold imports under govt lens

'SHINING' NUMBERS MAY BE REVISED

Rental housing norms for factory workers this week

● Developers may get 40% viability gap funding