Business

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: After the recent acquisitions of Yoga Bar and 24 Mantra Organic, ITC Foods is sharpening its focus on strategic takeovers to accelerate growth, gain rapid entry into high-potential categories, and align with consumer preferences for health, indulgence, convenience, and premium offerings. This move aligns with the 'ITC Next' strategy, which prioritises value-accretive acquisitions as a core expansion driver, Hemant Malik, executive director, ITC, told TOI.The company plans to drive growth through a combination of brownfield and greenfield investments, navigating challenges of subdued urban consumption amid weak household incomes and spiralling inflation.During the year, there was severe inflationary pressure in edible oil, wheat, maida, cocoa, and packaging inputs, which, the company said, was partially mitigated through cost management initiatives, calibrated pricing actions, and a strategic push towards premiumisation.Malik expects the premium category to grow at least twice the […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Maharashtra and Karnataka accounted for 51 per cent of the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the country during the last financial year 2024-25, according to the latest data of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Maharashtra attracted maximum foreign inflows at USD 19.6 billion and accounted for 31 per cent of the country's total FDI during April-March 2024-25.Karnataka received USD 6.62 billion overseas investments during the last fiscal year, the data showed.The two states were followed by Delhi (USD 6 billion), Gujarat (USD 5.71 billion), Tamil Nadu (USD 3.68 billion), Haryana (USD 3.14 billion), and Telangana (USD 3 billion). According to experts, the main reason for the maximum inflows in Maharashtra and Karnataka is substantial improvement in infrastructure. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: After a sluggish start to 2025, the primary market is showing signs of revival with over a dozen companies having lined up their IPOs in the next three to six months buoyed by a stabilising secondary market and easing geopolitical tensions, merchant bankers said.Among the companies preparing to tap the capital markets are HDB Financial Services, a subsidiary of HDFC Bank, National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), Kalpataru, Rubicon Research, All Time Plastics, Regreen-Excel EPC India, and Paramesu Biotech, they added.Additionally, Credila, SK Finance, Veritas Finance, Paras Healthcare, CIEL HR Services, Avanse Financial Services, Drof-Ketal Chemicals India, Brigade Hotel Ventures and Shreeji Shipping are looking to launch their IPOs.All these companies have already received clearance from the markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).These companies are mobilising funds to support capital expenditure requirements especially for expansion […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: The automobile industry has sought govt support in expediting approvals from the Chinese govt for importing rare earth magnets used in various applications, including passenger cars. As per sources, various domestic suppliers have already sought approval from the Chinese govt through their local vendors in China.However, no approvals have been granted so far, sources said. China controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets, used across multiple sectors including automobiles, home appliances and clean energy.The Chinese govt has put restrictions, with effect from April 4, mandating special export licences for seven rare earth elements. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] British health insurance major Bupa is looking to enter the fast-growing private hospital and healthcare market in India, currently dominated by players like Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Narayana Health, and Medanta, as the company grows its engagement beyond the traditional insurance business (Niva Bupa), global CEO Inaki Ereno told TOI in an interview. Excerpts: How do you assess the Indian health insurance market in India?The Indian health insurance market is the most attractive and best in the world. It's still under-penetrated, and we believe there will be many more people requiring private medical insurance. We need more beds, more hospitals, more clinics, and more insurance here... In terms of our own growth, it's been 35% over the last three years. We're clearly seeing a massive opportunity.In markets like Europe, UK, Australia , Latin America, you have a Bupa […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Market sentiment this week will be shaped by global trends, key inflation data, and foreign investor activity. Investors will also keep a close watch on monsoon progress and updates on international trade talks, according to market experts."Going forward, market participants will focus on key macroeconomic data for further cues. High-frequency indicators such as CPI inflation will be closely tracked to gauge demand trends and the central bank's next steps,"Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd told news agency PTI."Additionally, the progress of monsoon and sowing patterns will be monitored due to their implications for rural consumption," Mishra noted.Global trade discussions and US bond yield fluctuations will remain significant factors influencing market sentiment, he added.The benchmark indices witnessed substantial gains on Friday, with rate-sensitive sectors leading the rally following RBI's substantial 50 basis points rate reduction.The BSE Sensex […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Indian startups are struggling to grow due to limited domestic investment and restrictive government regulations, warned industry veteran and Aarin Capital Chairman Mohandas Pai, calling for urgent policy reforms and increased R&D funding to boost the ecosystem.He cautioned that despite India's position as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, the nation could lose ground in global innovation if existing issues remain unresolved."We have 1,65,000 registered startups, 22,000 are funded. They created USD 600 billion in value. We got 121 unicorns, maybe 250-300 soonicorns," Pai said in an interview to PTI."The biggest issue for startups is the lack of adequate capital. For example, China invested USD 835 billion in startups and ventures between 2014 and 2024, US invested USD 2.32 trillion. We just put in USD 160 billion, out of which possibly 80 per cent came from overseas. So […]

[ad_1] The public feud between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has turned into both a political and a Wall Street drama, raising investor concerns and exposing the vulnerability of stock markets to sharp moves in major companies.The clash, which played out mostly on social media, triggered a 14% drop in Tesla shares on Thursday, after Trump threatened to cut off government contracts to Musk’s companies. Thursday's decline reduced Tesla's market value by approximately $150 billion, with its weight in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 at 1.6% and 2.6%, respectively.Tesla shares recovered partially on Friday, increasing about 5% by mid-day, reaching a market value of around $970 billion. Microsoft and Nvidia, both valued above $3 trillion, maintained weights of 6.9% and 6.8% in the S&P 500 as of Thursday.Despite a slight recovery on Friday, Thursday's sharp […]

[ad_1] Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday announced that the Centre had given a green signal to infrastructure projects worth Rs 24,000 crore, aimed at easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution in the capital and its surrounding areas. Among the key developments is a five-kilometre tunnel connecting Shiv Murti–Mahipalpur on the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj. The tunnel will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and is expected to cost around Rs 3,500 crore.The project was approved during a recent meeting with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, said Gupta, quoted by PTI.She added that the tunnel will comprise two underground tubes, each with three lanes, offering a seamless, signal-free route between South Delhi and Dwarka/Gurugram. It will also be equipped with modern facilities such as electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, fire safety […]

[ad_1] Tata Steel will be beginning the construction of its state-of-the-art electric arc furnace (EAF) facility at Port Talbot, Wales, in July 2025, with production expected to commence by 2027. The company confirmed in its FY24-25 annual report that all key approvals for the $1.5 billion project are now in place.Backed by 500 million pounds in funding from the UK government, the project marks a major step in Tata Steel’s journey towards low-carbon steel production. Once operational, the EAF is projected to produce 3.2 million tonnes of low-emission steel annually and cut over 50 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the next decade.“We are now transitioning to decarbonised and state-of-the-art EAF-based steelmaking by FY2027-28, supported by 500 million pounds in the UK Government funding,” Tata Steel CEO & MD T V Narendran and executive director & CFO Koushik Chatterjee said […]