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Vatsala Kamat

Senior Associate Editor

Moneycontrol

Rising home sales bring cheer, but risks to demand still loom

BUSINESS

Rising home sales bring cheer, but risks to demand still loom

In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, October property registrations were at an eight-year high

Conviction rises on recovery in commercial vehicle segment, but will it sustain?

BUSINESS

Conviction rises on recovery in commercial vehicle segment, but will it sustain?

According to the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training, truck rentals and fleet utilisation in October 2020 rose in double-digits 

Gadkari’s caustic remarks alone won’t fast-track road projects, consistent policy will

BUSINESS

Gadkari’s caustic remarks alone won’t fast-track road projects, consistent policy will

A key issue that plagues the road sector is the lack of consistency in the approach to road construction

LafargeHolcim’s conviction on India’s cement sector augurs well for ACC-Ambuja combine

BUSINESS

LafargeHolcim’s conviction on India’s cement sector augurs well for ACC-Ambuja combine

The recent reshuffle in the top echelons of both companies signals that the parent is serious about sharpening its India focus and reining in costs

Macroeconomic gloom apart, a host of factors weigh down L&T

BUSINESS

Macroeconomic gloom apart, a host of factors weigh down L&T

Clogged government finances are a risk to L&T's timely project payments and cash flows

Hero MotoCorp needs to look beyond rural markets to sustain leadership

BUSINESS

Hero MotoCorp needs to look beyond rural markets to sustain leadership

Analysts reiterate the need to push through the three-pronged approach spelt out by Hero, which includes strengthening presence in motorcycles through higher penetration in the premium segment, improving presence in scooters and revving up exports

Will subscription upend the traditional car ownership model?

TRENDS

Will subscription upend the traditional car ownership model?

Owning a car like owning a house was considered aspirational. If renting homes is becoming an acceptable option, could the same apply to cars, too?

Ashok Leyland: Playing the CV cycle right

BUSINESS

Ashok Leyland: Playing the CV cycle right

An interesting phenomenon is the spurt in demand for ICVs through the months of the pandemic and lockdown

BOT road projects in the new avatar may see few takers

BUSINESS

BOT road projects in the new avatar may see few takers

The push for BOT projects comes at a time when companies’ cash flows are choked by the pandemic

This is how India can become a global player in auto parts

BUSINESS

This is how India can become a global player in auto parts

India must attempt import substitution as a starting point to boost exports of auto parts

Make-in-India and the cost conundrum for domestic AC makers

BUSINESS

Make-in-India and the cost conundrum for domestic AC makers

India’s AC market size at present is just six or seven million units, which is also not a patch on China’s market size of 90-100 million units

Tata Motors’ zero debt target a positive step, but risks aplenty

BUSINESS

Tata Motors’ zero debt target a positive step, but risks aplenty

Reducing costs, improving business efficiencies to increase profits and improve free cash flows, and selling a stake in non-core businesses could help achieve the objective

GST rate cut for two-wheelers: Time for action, not mere announcements

BUSINESS

GST rate cut for two-wheelers: Time for action, not mere announcements

Those in favour of a tax cut point to the strong backward linkages of the auto sector that would help in accelerating economic growth

Indian manufacturing’s last chance

BUSINESS

Indian manufacturing’s last chance

India must seize the opportunity that the pandemic and the new Cold War have provided to lure manufacturing multinationals away from China

Capital goods stocks rally, but haze over sector remains

BUSINESS

Capital goods stocks rally, but haze over sector remains

Short-cycle order inflows are likely to remain under pressure in the near term

Things should be back to normal by September, says MD of Shriram Transport Finance

BUSINESS

Things should be back to normal by September, says MD of Shriram Transport Finance

Although interest rates have come down now, the moratorium has made the outlook for the NBFC sector uncertain, says Umesh Revankar

Demand recovery elusive as auto retails in low gear

BUSINESS

Demand recovery elusive as auto retails in low gear

Pent-up demand in urban areas too led to the initial off-take in demand post-lockdown. But that this cannot sustain an uptrend is now becoming clear

Crack in cement prices amid shaky demand poses risks to profitability

BUSINESS

Crack in cement prices amid shaky demand poses risks to profitability

Was it only pent-up demand and supply disruptions that sustained high cement prices in the past two months?

Interview | Central banks, more than fundamentals, driving market rally, says CIO of ICICI Prudential AMC

BUSINESS

Interview | Central banks, more than fundamentals, driving market rally, says CIO of ICICI Prudential AMC

We are at the worst point possibly in the economic cycle but not the market cycle, says S Naren

WFH puts office property market at a crossroads

TRENDS

WFH puts office property market at a crossroads

Is there a change in sentiment that might reverse the WFH model and draw employees back to their office in India? Will companies adopt WFH as a new normal to save costs? The jury is still out, says a report from Kotak Institutional Equities Research

Will new chief Thierry Bollore be able to steer JLR out of its existential crisis?

BUSINESS

Will new chief Thierry Bollore be able to steer JLR out of its existential crisis?

JLR’s fundamentals show a battered auto company facing stiff competition amid rapidly changing technological and market dynamics, apart from the pandemic

Interview | Automakers are looking to increase volumes first and foremost at present: R C Bhargava

BUSINESS

Interview | Automakers are looking to increase volumes first and foremost at present: R C Bhargava

Will REITs bring back investor confidence in realty?

BUSINESS

Will REITs bring back investor confidence in realty?

Fueling the optimism is the 20 percent plus return given by the Embassy IPO since its listing compared to a negative return by the BSE Realty index during the period

The need of the hour in infrastructure is to think beyond boycotting China and build expertise 

BUSINESS

The need of the hour in infrastructure is to think beyond boycotting China and build expertise 

Will cancellations of contracts given to Chinese companies and re-tendering processes cause delays in infrastructure development? Or will pushing back Chinese investments benefit infrastructure companies at home?

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