BUSINESS
Budget Snapshot | What tax incentives say about the odds of a personal income tax cut
Weak urban consumption is leading to calls for some relief on personal tax rates. Tax incentives provided to taxpayers provide some clues on whether it’s likely to happen
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Global steel output fell by 1.4 percent YoY in 2024 till November
Falling output should be good for steel prices but China’s slowing economy has led to surplus steel flooding other markets
BUSINESS
Is Quick Commerce’s threat to kiranawalas in the FMCG market overstated?
Kantar data shows that kiranawalas have lost share in Q3’24 but not to online commerce. Shopping trips and spend per trip show what may be bothering them more
BUSINESS
Why has Godrej Consumer's Q3 results warning spooked FMCG investors?
The entire FMCG pack has been stung by Godrej Consumer's update, on how rising palm oil prices and unseasonal weather could hurt its business in Q3, amid slow demand
BUSINESS
Premiumisation theme in consumption faces a few key risks
Even as consumption growth has slowed down, well-off consumers continue to shop till they drop. Companies and investors have noticed this trend but the possibility of higher tax rates on such goods is a risk to be watched out for
BUSINESS
HUL chooses investors’ favourite flavour for ice cream demerger
A separately-listed company post-demerger gives investors the options for staying invested in a business with high growth potential or divesting it if they don’t have the appetite for it
BUSINESS
Unilever is doubling down on India -- What that means for HUL’s investors
The parent company’s hunger for protecting market leadership, accelerating growth as India’s economy transforms and rolling out parts of a global strategy locally could lead to better growth outcomes
BUSINESS
Global food inflation’s upward march keeps key risk in play
Central banks that are eyeing data on inflation as they seek to ease monetary policy are not going to get the prints they seek if this trend continues
BUSINESS
Why India is becoming a hotspot for steel capacity addition
The country’s steady, healthy steel demand growth, preference for domestic capacity, states’ drive for value addition and a healthy balance sheet situation make it an attractive destination
BUSINESS
Upwardly mobile consumers are shaking up the FMCG market
Data from NielsenIQ on growing preference for premium brands across categories, driven by new channels such as Quick Commerce, poses tough questions for listed FMCG companies and their investors
BUSINESS
Is it time to press the panic button on urban FMCG demand stress?
Rural demand may be recovering but its bigger counterpart in cities appears to be under pressure. What are the likely reasons and should investors be worried?
BUSINESS
What Zomato’s $1 billion fundraising plan means for the consumer market
A funding frenzy has gripped the Quick Commerce market but Zomato’s September quarter results show that scaling up comes with benefits
BUSINESS
DMart’s value proposition is getting trumped by Quick Commerce's convenience
A slowdown in like-for-like sales growth partly due to growth of online commerce in metros is a sign that DMart’s business model is due for another rejig
BUSINESS
Warm outlook for FMCG companies has suddenly turned a tad cold
Weather-related demand disruptions, rising input costs that are not being passed on due to competition, a risk of sales growth and margins missing the target are some risks that have built up
BUSINESS
Has the outlook for steel companies turned brighter?
China’s steady drip of stimulus measures has led to iron ore prices rising by nearly 23 percent in a week. Why that may be good news
BUSINESS
Even before China’s stimulus, the steel market may have started healing itself
While China’s monetary measures are more substantial than earlier ones, falling steel output in the largest steel producer may have already begun trimming surplus output
BUSINESS
Strengthening of group audits should benefit investors
When consolidated financials are more material than standalone financials, the audit quality of group entities gains importance. The accounting regulator is seeking to reform how that’s done
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: Will higher duties curb edible oil imports?
Farmers and processors may be the intended beneficiaries of the duty hikes but it comes at a cost given there isn’t sufficient domestic output to support demand
BUSINESS
FMCG margins to gain from lower costs, but sales growth faces a big risk
Commodity prices remaining stable or soft is what FMCG majors would like, when material costs decline sharply there’s an acute risk of smaller players stealing a march over the bigger ones
BUSINESS
Mario Draghi’s recommendations to strengthen CBAM pose a risk to domestic metal producers
A part of his report on improving the EU’s economic competitiveness deals with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, identifying risks in the design for EU producers and then recommending changes that could hurt exporters such as India
BUSINESS
The policy twists that lie in wait for investors in sugar mills
A new sugar control order is in the making, even as the govt has removed caps on sugar diversion for ethanol in the new season but is it all hunky-dory?
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: Kirana’s FMCG channel share is steady in 2024, so where’s the threat?
Overall market share appears stable but the real story lies in other metrics such as growth within online shopping, and the number of shopping trips and spend per trip
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Imports playing bigger role in domestic aluminium consumption
Between FY19 and FY24, the share of imports in domestic aluminium consumption has stepped up and even within imports the share of non-scrap aluminium has risen
BUSINESS
Retrospective effect of SC mining judgement casts shadow over companies’ earnings
Affected metal and mining companies should come forward to report their estimated liability, so that investors get clarity on the expected hit, both from retrospective and prospective liabilities
