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Ravi Ananthanarayanan

Executive Editor - MC Pro

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Data Story | Coffee prices fall 25 percent from peak, bringing relief to marketers

BUSINESS

Data Story | Coffee prices fall 25 percent from peak, bringing relief to marketers

Companies such as Nestle India, HUL and Tata Consumer will get relief from soaring coffee prices in their branded business

Why Akzo Nobel India’s minority shareholders may have got a profitable exit

BUSINESS

Why Akzo Nobel India’s minority shareholders may have got a profitable exit

JSW Paints’ acquisition of the Dulux-maker has been designed as a win-win for all including shareholders, but much depends on what happens next

Data Story: As China’s steel output dips in May, are Indian producers in a sweet spot?

BUSINESS

Data Story: As China’s steel output dips in May, are Indian producers in a sweet spot?

China’s steel output has fallen sharply in May while India’s safeguard duty has helped crimp imports

Will Nippon Steel regret the many concessions it made to acquire US Steel?

BUSINESS

Will Nippon Steel regret the many concessions it made to acquire US Steel?

The Japanese steel major has agreed to onerous conditions imposed by the Trump administration that give the US government unusual oversight and powers over a private enterprise

Urban FMCG slowdown—How big of a problem is it?

BUSINESS

Urban FMCG slowdown—How big of a problem is it?

For consumers to discard brand loyalty altogether and shift to loose/unbranded goods is a sign of income distress. The key question is if listed companies are worried enough to do something about it 

Chart of the Day | Why Trump will continue to see red on steel imports

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | Why Trump will continue to see red on steel imports

An OECD report on the industry outlook points to further capacity additions in the next three years that can exacerbate the surplus situation

Is Trump’s doubling of steel and aluminium tariffs a death blow to the industry?

BUSINESS

Is Trump’s doubling of steel and aluminium tariffs a death blow to the industry?

While a 25 percent tariff on these key industrial metals was bad enough, a doubling to 50 percent is a punitive measure to discourage imports and revive lethargic domestic output

ITC’s shareholders face equity overhang risk

BUSINESS

ITC’s shareholders face equity overhang risk

BAT may have sold only a 2.5 percent stake in ITC but the fall in its stake below a crucial threshold raises the risk of more sales in coming years

Will steel makers get a reprieve from dumping of Chinese steel in 2025?

BUSINESS

Will steel makers get a reprieve from dumping of Chinese steel in 2025?

A slippage in China’s steel output in April raises the possibility of more cuts ahead, but it also raises a key risk. The answer lies in the balance

Data Story | Palm oil brings good tidings for FMCG companies

BUSINESS

Data Story | Palm oil brings good tidings for FMCG companies

The commodity, used in everything from household kitchens to processed foods to soaps, had seen prices hold firm even as others such as crude oil were falling sharply 

Are the steel dumping duties too little, too late?

BUSINESS

Are the steel dumping duties too little, too late?

While the main cause was excess steel because of China’s weak economy, the duties are landing at a time when the world economy is in a state of flux

Why investors should track UK’s British Steel rescue

BUSINESS

Why investors should track UK’s British Steel rescue

While the immediate problem has been addressed, a long-term solution is needed. How that scenario plays out can affect private steel players

Does Trump’s latest tariff U-turn diminish the opportunity for Indian businesses and investors?

BUSINESS

Does Trump’s latest tariff U-turn diminish the opportunity for Indian businesses and investors?

The exemption carved out for a range of electronics goods not just from the baseline 10% tariff but also the 125% tariff levied on Chinese imports is the latest twist in the tariff saga

Can FMCG stocks benefit from this aftereffect of Trump’s tariffs?

BUSINESS

Can FMCG stocks benefit from this aftereffect of Trump’s tariffs?

India’s FMCG sector continues to be under pressure, showed March quarter's early updates. The unsettling of global commodity markets by US tariff hikes may, however, bring some benefits

Why Indian metal stocks got scorched

BUSINESS

Why Indian metal stocks got scorched

The initial reaction of metal stocks to Trump's 26 percent tariff was one of relief but it soon turned to despair

Will ITC’s acquisition of a commodity business aid its valuation?

BUSINESS

Will ITC’s acquisition of a commodity business aid its valuation?

The acquired business saw its performance dip in FY25 due to difficult industry conditions, with soft demand, falling product prices and rising input costs hurting margins

Dr Copper's being served a bitter tariff pill

BUSINESS

Dr Copper's being served a bitter tariff pill

Copper prices have already zoomed in 2025, more so in the US. Will there be more pain in store?

Share of kiranas in FMCG is declining, which channel is gaining share?

BUSINESS

Share of kiranas in FMCG is declining, which channel is gaining share?

Kantar’s Asia Pulse Report for Q4 sheds light on the changing shares between kirana, online shopping and supermarkets, and whether rapid expansion of Quick Commerce is showing up in the data

Steel producers get relief from dumping, but tariff war uncertainty continues

BUSINESS

Steel producers get relief from dumping, but tariff war uncertainty continues

Steel prices had already increased in anticipation of a safeguard duty, which has now been proposed at 12 percent on imports. It throws a lifeline for integrated steel producers although Trump’s tariff wars remain a risk to watch out for

Unilever’s new CEO a man in a hurry, may nudge HUL to move faster

BUSINESS

Unilever’s new CEO a man in a hurry, may nudge HUL to move faster

Fernando Fernandez believes US and India are Unilever’s main anchor markets and ‘accelerating in India is very important’ to him. HUL’s Investors will agree

Unilever’s CEO change may do good for HUL’s shareholders

BUSINESS

Unilever’s CEO change may do good for HUL’s shareholders

Unilever board’s bid to accelerate the pace of change by appointing a new CEO is likely to have a knock-on effect in one of its key markets—India

Nestle’s price hike plan shows growing pressure from inflation on food companies

BUSINESS

Nestle’s price hike plan shows growing pressure from inflation on food companies

A sharp hike in prices of edible oil, cocoa and coffee is driving up costs while domestic inputs such as wheat too are showing inflationary trends

FMCG outlook remains tough although valuations have eased

BUSINESS

FMCG outlook remains tough although valuations have eased

The headwinds that have held the sector’s fortunes down are not showing signs of easing up as yet

US metal tariffs may be a negotiating tactic, but can still hurt metal producers

BUSINESS

US metal tariffs may be a negotiating tactic, but can still hurt metal producers

The tariff and removal of carve-outs implies a significant increase in costs for US consumers. That raises the possibility of negotiations but US will bargain from a position of strength especially after it imposes reciprocal tariffs

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