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India Set to Unveil New Foreign Trade Policy – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

India set to unveil new foreign trade policy 2023-28

The Indian government is set to unveil a new Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28 tomorrow to boost exports amid slowing global trade. Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will announce the policy, which is expected to outline the vision statement for taking India’s goods and services exports to $2 trillion by 2030. The country is likely to end this financial year with total exports of $760 billion, up from $676bn in 2021-22. The new policy is likely to incorporate WTO-compliant export promotion measures and is expected to boost India’s position in the global trade arena.

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Adani Group aims 20% earnings growth every year to repay $23 billion in debt

The Adani Group plans to achieve a 20% growth in earnings across its various businesses to repay its debt of about $23 billion over the next 3-4 years. The business group, which has been severely impacted by US short-seller Hindenburg Research’s report that wiped off $135 billion in market value of its listed companies, has been meeting with stakeholders to address their concerns. Adani’s businesses range from seaports to airports, edible oil and commodities, energy, cement, and data centres.

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Axis Bank, Shriram Housing Finance announce partnership for co-lending

Axis Bank and Shriram Housing Finance Ltd (SHFL) have partnered under the co-lending model through the Yubi Co.Lend platform to offer secured micro, small & medium enterprise (MSME) and home loans to middle and low-income borrowers in rural and semi-urban regions. The partnership will use the loan processing technology of SHFL and the financial expertise of Axis Bank to assess the credit profiles of borrowers and offer them loans at competitive interest rates.

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HDFC Bank opens 500th branch in Tamil Nadu

HDFC Bank has announced the launch of its 500th branch in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, with plans to expand further in semi-urban and rural areas of the state. The bank opened its first branch in Tamil Nadu in 1995 in Anna Salai, and it now has a nationwide distribution network of 7,183 branches and 19,007 ATMs/Cash Deposit & Withdrawal Machines (CDMs) across 3,552 cities/towns as of December 31, 2022. The new branch at Arasaradi was inaugurated by the state Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.

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Tata Power approves re-appointment of Praveer Sinha as CEO and MD

Tata Power has approved the reappointment of Praveer Sinha as CEO and MD for four years starting May 1, 2023. Sinha currently chairs the CII Western Region council and co-chairs the CII National Committee on Power. He has held several leadership positions across the power sector value chain and was instrumental in driving the turnaround of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited. He has also contributed towards promoting innovations in the clean energy space by setting up the first international incubator in India.

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HPCL, BPCL signs pact for Hydrogen Synergy

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) have signed an agreement to purchase and sell hydrogen at their refineries. The partnership aims to minimize valuable hydrogen flaring, improve environmental impact and promote cooperation and collaboration in hydrogen exchange between both refineries to sustain operations and ensure uninterrupted product availability.

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Indian pharma firm Granules opens packaging facility in US 

Granules India Ltd has opened a new packaging facility in Virginia, US, to expand its capacity for essential drugs and strengthen the biopharma supply chain. The pharma company has invested more than $100 million in the US and was one of the first Indian pharmaceutical firms to receive FDA authorisation to export to the US. The company employs nearly 200 people in Virginia, a majority of whom are first-generation Indians.

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Alembic Pharma gets USFDA nod for Glaucoma drug

Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution in the US. The solution is used to treat high fluid pressure in the eye. According to IQVIA data, Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution has an estimated market size of $97 million for twelve months ending December 2022.

Read more here.

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HDFC to Raise Rs 57,000 crore via NCDs – Top Indian Market Updates

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Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

HDFC to raise Rs 57,000 crore through non-convertible debentures

HDFC Ltd’s board has approved raising funds through non-convertible debentures (NCDs) in various rounds aggregating to Rs 57,000 crore. The decision was taken since the outstanding borrowings of HDFC are approx. Rs 5.70 lakh crore, and it would need to borrow further for its business purposes till the effective date of the merger. It is expected that HDFC Ltd would merge with its subsidiary HDFC Bank by the third quarter of the next financial year.

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IDFC First Bank partners with Crunchfish to demonstrate offline retail payments

IDFC First Bank has partnered with Sweden-based Crunchfish to pilot a project to demonstrate offline retail payments. The bank is set to be a part of RBI’s pilot project to enable offline payments. A unique digital payment solution was designed by Crunchfish for merchants and customers under the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Program.

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Sun Pharma eyes revenue hit due to ransomware attack

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is set to take a hit on its revenues due to containment measures taken by the company after a ransomware attack earlier this month affected its business operations. A ransomware group has claimed responsibility for an ‘IT security incident’ at Sun Pharma, whose effect included a breach of certain file systems and the theft of certain company data and personal data.

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CIRP initiated in cases of DHFL, ABG Shipyard, Bhushan Power & Steel

Corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) was initiated in the cases of DHFL, ABG Shipyard and Bhushan Power and Steel (BPSL) and resolution plans were approved in cases of DHFL and BPSL. The amount realisable to creditors for DHFL and BPSL is Rs 37,167 crore and Rs 19,895 crore, respectively. 

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L&T’s power transmission and distribution business wins large orders

Larsen & Toubro Ltd’s (L&T) power transmission and distribution (T&D) business has secured orders (in the range of Rs 2,500-5,000 crore) in India and overseas. One of the orders is related to establishing over 365 km of 765kV double circuit transmission lines to enable the transfer of power from Rajasthan to Gujarat. The company will also implement an Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) in the Greater Mumbai area.

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HDFC Mutual Fund files for India’s first Sovereign Green Bond MF

HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd., investment manager of HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF), has filed for India’s first target maturity funds tracking Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs). SGrBs are bonds issued by the Government of India (GoI) whose proceeds will be deployed in public sector projects that help reduce the carbon intensity of the economy.

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Indian Oil, BPCL exceed their capex targets this year

Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) have exceeded their capital expenditure targets for the current financial year. During April-February, IOCL spent Rs 31,800 crore against the full year’s capex target of Rs 28,550 crore, while BPCL spent Rs 10,280 crore, crossing its target of Rs 10,000 crore. IOCL has been spending heavily on refinery & petrochemical expansion, enhancing natural gas infrastructure, marketing, and establishing new pipelines.

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Lupin gets USFDA approval for Valbenazine Capsules

Lupin Ltd has received tentative approval from US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for Valbenazine Capsules. The drug is used to treat involuntary movements of the face, tongue or other body parts. As per IQVIA data, Valbenazine capsules had estimated annual sales of $1,235 million in the US for the 12 months ended Dec 2022.

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Nelco opposes telecom operators’ stance on spectrum sharing

Satellite communications service provider Nelco has opposed telecom operators’ stance on spectrum sharing and said that spectrum should be used only for the purposes it is assigned. Submitting counter comments to the telecom regulator’s consultation paper, the company and industry body SatCom Industry Association (SIA) India argued that the satcom spectrum is limited and hence sharing it with telcos would hamper the growth of the satcom sector.

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S&P keeps India’s economic growth forecast unchanged at 6% in FY24

S&P Global Ratings kept its forecast for India’s economic growth unchanged at 6% in the next financial year (FY24), before rising to 6.9% in the following year. It sees India’s gross domestic product (GDP) likely growing by 7% in the current financial year (FY23). S&P expected the Reserve Bank of India to raise its already high policy rate further following a recent upside surprise to inflation.

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NCLT Approves HDFC-HDFC Bank Merger – Top Indian Market Updates

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Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets on Monday:

HDFC-HDFC Bank merger gets NCLT approval

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has given its approval to the HDFC-HDFC Bank merger. In April 2022, HDFC Bank agreed to take over the biggest domestic mortgage lender in a deal valued at about $40 billion. The proposed entity will have a combined asset base of around Rs 18 lakh crore. The merger is expected to be completed by the second or third quarter of FY24.

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Tata ceases discussions with Bisleri to acquire the packaged water giant

Tata Consumer Products has ended discussions with Bisleri for the potential acquisition of the packaged water giant. In November 2022, owners of Bisleri International said they will divest the company to the Indian conglomerate for an estimated ₹6,000-7,000 crore. Bisleri’s owners were reportedly looking to raise about $1 billion from a deal.

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Bharti Airtel launches unlimited 5G data offer

Bharti Airtel has launched an unlimited 5G data offer to hold on to its higher-paying postpaid users and also push its 4G users to upgrade to its next-gen wireless broadband service. This move comes after Reliance Jio’s new postpaid plans were announced earlier this week. The unlimited 5G data offer will be available to all postpaid customers as well as prepaid ones with data plans of Rs 239 and above.

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Va Tech Wabag secures order worth Rs 800 crore in Bangladesh

VA Tech Wabag has secured a Rs 800 crore project funded by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Bangladesh. The company will design, build and operate a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 200 million litre per day (MLD) in Dhaka. This project has the potential to be expanded to 600 MLD in the future

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Havells commences commercial production of ACs at Sri City plant

Havells India Ltd has commenced commercial production of air conditioners (ACs) at its Sri City plant. The company manufactures home appliances, lighting for domestic, commercial, & industrial applications, LED lighting, fans, modular switches & wiring accessories, water heaters, etc.

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Zee Entertainment calls report of $10 million repayment ‘speculative’

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) called the report saying it will repay $10 million to IndusInd to wrap the Sony deal as “speculative”. The media company said it is exploring several strategies related to the ongoing dispute. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that ZEEL has agreed to repay its dues to the IndusInd Bank to resolve insolvency proceedings against it and get a step closer to completing its merger with the Sony Group.

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GAIL signs MoU with Shell Energy India for exploring ethane sourcing opportunities

GAIL (India) Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Energy India for exploring ethane sourcing and other energy value chain opportunities. Through this agreement, GAIL expects to dive into the prospects of importing and handling different hydrocarbons that serve as essential chemical and petrochemical precursors. The company said this is a step towards achieving improved sustenance in business operations.

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Unichem Labs gets USFDA approval for chronic angina treatment tablets

Unichem Laboratories Ltd has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Ranolazine Extended-Release tablet. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of chronic angina (a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart). The product will be commercialised from its manufacturing facility in Goa. 

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Maiden Forgings to launch IPO next week

Steel bars and wires manufacturer Maiden Forgings will launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to raise Rs 24 crore. The IPO will open on March 22 and close on March 24. Out of the total 37,84,000 equity shares on offer, not more than 17,97,000 equity shares have been reserved for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB). A total of 5,39,100 shares have been reserved for Non-Institutional Investors (NII) and the rest for retail individual investors.

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Adani Repays Rs 4,000Cr Bridge Loan – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Adani Group repays $500 million bridge loan

The Adani Group has repaid a $500 million bridge loan due on March 9, a portion of the loan from global banks amounting $4.5 billion, to finance the purchase of Holcim Ltd’s cement assets last year. The money was released to lenders on Tuesday. Some banks had hesitated to refinance the debt following the Hindenburg incident.

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Alembic Pharma gets final USFDA approval for hypertension drug

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application of Prazosin Hydrochloride Capsules. The drug is used for the treatment of hypertension (to lower blood pressure). According to IQVIA data, the product has an estimated market size of $50 million for the 12 months ending December 2022.

Read more here.

IOC to develop Haldia refinery into petrochemicals complex

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is set to develop its existing refinery in West Bengal’s Haldia into a petrochemicals complex for sustaining operations profitably. IOC has sought land from Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFC), whose factory is lying defunct, for developing the petrochemicals complex.

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Ashok Leyland rolls out Embrace Equity programme

Ashok Leyland has launched a new campaign called ‘Embrace Equity’ commemorating International Women’s Day being celebrated. The initiative is an attempt to provide women with equal opportunities. The automaker has invited 100 women to New Delhi to be trained on driving commercial vehicles at its training institute.

Read more here.

Adani Power amalgamates six subsidiary companies

Adani Power has amalgamated six of its subsidiaries with itself. An amalgamation of six wholly-owned subsidiary companies of Adani Power Ltd (APL)– Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd (APML), Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd (APRL), Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), Raipur Energen Ltd (REL), Raigarh Energy Generation Ltd (REGL), and Adani Power (Mundra) Ltd (APMuL)– with APL was sanctioned by the Ahmedabad-bench of National Company Law Tribunal.

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Jio extends 5G coverage to 27 more cities, now covers 331 cities across India

Reliance Jio has launched its 5G services in 27 more cities of 13 states and union territories to extend its network of ultra-high-speed telephony to 331 cities across India. Jio True 5G is now available in 27 additional cities in states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

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Jubilant Pharmova’s API facility in Karnataka gets VAI status from USFDA 

​​Jubilant Pharmova Ltd’s Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing facility at Nanjangud in Karnataka has been assigned a Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) status by the US Food & Drug Administration. The VAI classification is issued when ‘objectionable conditions or practices are found during the inspection but the agency is not prepared to take or recommend any administrative or regulatory action’. VAI is the second-best classification that a plant can get from the USFDA after ‘No Action Indicated’.

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India imposes money laundering provisions on crypto sector

The Finance Ministry has imposed anti-money laundering legislation to crypto trading, safekeeping, and related financial services in a move to tighten oversight of digital assets. The move by India aligns with a global trend of requiring digital-asset platforms to follow anti-money laundering standards similar to those followed by other regulated entities like banks or stock brokers.

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HDB Financial Services flags data breach at service provider

HDB Financial Services (a subsidiary of HDFC Bank) had a data breach at one of its service providers which processes customer information. HDB is working with a regulator and an office of the government to investigate the incident. HDFC Bank said it was not affected by the incident.

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Future Enterprises admitted for insolvency

Future Enterprise has been admitted to insolvency resolution requiring the firm to be auctioned to recover unpaid dues. In a regulatory filing, The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal has ordered the commencement of corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). The NCLT appointed a resolution professional to manage the affairs of the company till it is sold to a successful bidder.

Read more here.

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Viacom18 to Stream IPL for Free – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Viacom18 to stream IPL for free after paying $2.7 billion

Viacom18 will stream Indian Premier League cricket games for free using its exclusive rights to one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. Viacom18 Media Pvt., the joint venture between Paramount Global and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd., licensed the IPL streaming rights last year for $2.7 billion (~₹23,700 crore). The company’s executives have estimated that an audience of over 55 crore will watch the weeks-long IPL games.

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Biocon raises $129 million from Kotak to fund biosimilars deal

Kotak Mahindra Group’s asset management arm is set to invest $129 million (₹1,070 crore) in Biocon Ltd to help it fund its acquisition of Viatris Inc’s biosimilars business. Biocon Biologics completed the $3.34-billion acquisition of U.S.-based Viatris’s biosimilars business in late November. At the time, the company paid $2 billion in cash to Viatris and issued convertible preference shares worth $1 billion to fund the deal.

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Patel Engineering bags projects worth Rs 1,026 crore

Patel Engineering has bagged a water tunnel and an irrigation project totalling Rs 1,026 crore in Maharashtra and Karnataka. With the latest contract, the company’s total order book has increased to Rs 18,600 crore. The first project includes the design and construction of a long treated water tunnel in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

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Adani firm repays Rs 1,500 cr to SBI Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life

Adani Group paid Rs 1,000 crore to SBI Mutual Fund and Rs 500 crore to Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund on commercial papers that matured on Monday. SBI MF had an exposure of around Rs 1,000 crore to Adani Group, which has been repaid on maturity. With this payment, SBI MF has no further exposure to the Adani Group.

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HDFC Bank signs deal with Lulu Exchange to enhance cross-border payments

HDFC Bank and UAE-based Lulu Exchange have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cross-border payments between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. As Phase 1 of the partnership, it launched a digital inward remittance service called ‘RemitNow2India’. This will allow resident individuals of UAE to send money to any bank account in India via IMPS and NEFT through HDFC’s digital banking channels

Read more here.

Bankruptcy court admits Zee Entertainment under the insolvency resolution process

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) and Siti Network Ltd under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). The development is likely to cause issues with ZEEL’s merger with Culver Max Entertainment (Sony). IndusInd Bank had approached the tribunal against ZEEL seeking payment of default of over Rs 89 crore.

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Wipro freshers’ salary cut: IT union NITES files complaint with labour ministry

Pune-based labour union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has filed a complaint against Wipro Ltd with the central labour ministry alleging “unethical reduction” in salary offers of more than 4,000 candidates. The offer has been made to all ‘Velocity’ graduates of the 2022-23 batch. ‘Velocity’ is a skilling and training program undertaken by Wipro Elite candidates (₹3.5 LPA) to be eligible for the Turbo package (₹6.5 LPA) after they go through some skill upgradation courses.

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SBI allows BHIM-based real-time payment with Singapore

State Bank of India announced a partnership with PayNow, the online payment system of Singapore for cross-border payments. The facility is offered through SBI’s BHIM SBIPay mobile application and the linkage will allow fund transfers from India to Singapore through registered mobile numbers and from Singapore to India using the UPI ID. The inward bilateral remittance between the two countries was around $949 million in 2021.

Read more here.

FDI equity inflows decline 15% to $36.75 billion in Apr-Dec FY23

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into India declined by 15% YoY to $36.75 billion during the April-December of FY23, according to the latest Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade data. The computer software and hardware sector attracted the highest inflows of $8 billion during the same period. Singapore emerged as the top investor with a $13 billion FDI.

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Adani to Pay Extra ₹26Cr to NDTV Open Offer Sellers – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Adani Group to pay additional ₹48.65 per share to NDTV open offer sellers 

Adani Enterprises Ltd will pay an additional ₹48.56 per share for the NDTV shares it bought under its open offer. This is to match the price that was paid to NDTV founder-promoters (Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy) who sold most of their stake to the Adani Group last week. With the additional payment in place, NDTV investors who sold their shares in the open offer will receive ₹342.65 per share. Earlier, the offer price offered by Adani was ₹294 per share.  

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RIL, Adani Group, NTPC among 7 bidders for SKS Power

SKS Power Generation’s lenders have received seven bids to take over the distressed power producer. Reliance Industries, the Adani Group, NTPC, Torrent Power, Jindal Power, Sarda Energy & Minerals, and Singapore-based Vantage Point Asset Management have submitted final bids to take over the distressed company. SKS Power owes ₹1,890 crore to Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India. 

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EV industry seeks extension of subsidies under FAME-II in Budget

The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) has sought an extension of subsidies for EVs under the FAME-II scheme. The industry has also sought the inclusion of light to heavy commercial vehicles in it to promote electric mobility. In its pre-Budget recommendations, the industry body also called for a uniform 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST) on spare parts for electric vehicles.

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HDFC Bank partners with Microsoft for digital transformation journey

HDFC Bank is partnering with Microsoft in the next phase of its digital transformation. The private sector lender is developing in-house Internet Protocols (IPs) and collaborating with several fintech companies to co-create technology IPs. HDFC Bank will leverage Microsoft Azure to modernise its enterprise data landscape and scale its information management capabilities across enterprise reporting and advanced analytics using artificial intelligence.

Read more here.

India’s coal production rises 16% to 608 MT in April-Dec: Govt

India’s coal output rose by 16.39% year-on-year (YoY) to 607.97 million tonnes (MT) during the April-December period of the current financial year (FY23). Coal production by Coal India Ltd (which accounts for over 80% of the domestic output of coal) rose 15.82% YoY to 479.05 MT during the same period.

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L&T Construction wins orders from Madhya Pradesh

Larsen and Toubro Ltd’s water and effluent treatment business has secured repeat orders from the Government of Madhya Pradesh to execute two lift irrigation projects. The project will irrigate 2.05 lakh hectares of land that covers over 500 villages in the Dewas and Dhar districts in Madhya Pradesh. It will lift 60 cubic metre per second of water from the Narmada River to irrigate farmlands, benefitting 3,00,000 farmers in the process

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Granules to use Greenko’s clean energy for proposed ₹2,000 crore plant in Kakinada

Granules India has entered into a strategic partnership with Greenko Group to develop Integrated Green Pharmaceutical Zones (GPZ), starting with Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The company will use carbon-free energy and green hydrogen derivatives supplied by Greenko ZeroC, beginning with its proposed ₹2,000 crore greenfield plant in Kakinada spread across 100 acres. The investment will be spread across 5 years. 

Read more here.

ONGC’s ‘Sagar Samrat’ starts oil, gas output in Arabian Sea

ONGC’s vintage offshore drilling rig ‘Sagar Samrat’ has been commissioned as a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) in the Arabian Sea. It will handle up to 20,000 barrels per day of crude oil, with a maximum export gas capacity of 2.36 million cubic metres per day. The MOPU is expected to add 6,000 barrels per day of oil to ONGC’s production in the coming days.

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NTPC starts India’s first green hydrogen blending operation in PNG network

NTPC Ltd has started India’s first green hydrogen blending operation in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of its township in Kawas, Surat. The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Ltd (GGL). This set-up is geared up to supply H2-NG (natural gas) to households of Kawas township. 

Read more here.

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Adani Group Launches App for Airports Vertical – Top Indian Market Updates

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Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Adani Group launches consumer app for airports vertical

The Adani Group has rolled out Adani One, a consumer app for its airports vertical. Users will be able to book flights & cabs, shop for duty-free products, and check their flight status through the app. The app also has a loyalty program for users to earn and redeem reward points. The group currently operates seven airports in India — Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jaipur, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Read more here.

Reliance Jio gains 14 lakh subscribers in Oct, Bharti Airtel adds 8 lakh users: TRAI

Reliance Jio added 14.1 lakh wireless subscribers in October 2022, while Bharti Airtel gained 8 lakh subscribers. Vodafone Idea (Vi) continued to suffer heavy customer losses and is unable to compete effectively with its financially stronger rivals. Vi lost 35 lakh subscribers in Oct, further shrinking its total subscriber base to 24.56 crore. Data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) showed that Jio and Bharti Airtel’s total user bases stood at 42.13 crore and 36.5 crore, respectively.

Read more here.

Car sales in India set to hit record 38 lakh units in 2022: Report

According to an Economic Times report, India’s automakers are projected to end this calendar year with sales of ~38 lakh passenger vehicles (PVs), driven by sustained demand and improved component supplies that helped them increase production. This projection exceeds the previous record by more than 4 lakh vehicles. Sales in the first 11 months of 2022 have already crossed the previous annual record of 33.9 lakh units set in 2018.

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Yes Bank completes transfer of bad loans worth ₹48,000 crore to J.C. Flowers

Yes Bank completed the transfer of bad loans worth ₹48,000 crore ($5.81 billion) to private equity firm J.C. Flowers. This transaction would clean and strengthen Yes Bank’s balance sheet. The deal comes more than two years after the Reserve Bank of India stepped in to take control of the bank after a dramatic rise in bad loans alarmed investors and depositors.

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Dr. Reddy’s Labs completes Phase 1 study of proposed arthritis drug

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has successfully completed the Phase 1 study of its proposed biosimilar of Tocilizumab. The drug is to be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in adults. This study used a subcutaneous formulation to evaluate the pharmacokinetic equivalence, safety, and immunogenicity of the company’s Tocilizumab biosimilar candidate in comparison to reference products.

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KEC International secures new orders worth ₹1,313 crore

KEC International Ltd has secured new orders worth ₹1,313 crore across various business verticals. It has secured orders for transmission & distribution projects in India, East Asia Pacific, and SAARC. These include a 220 kV gas-insulated substation (GIS) for a refinery project in India, a 500 kV transmission line in Thailand, and another 132 kV transmission line and substations in Nepal.

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CDSL buys 46,000 sq. ft. office in Mumbai for ₹163 crore

Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) has acquired two floors of office space measuring over 46,000 sq ft carpet area in commercial tower Marathon Futurex in Mumbai’s Lower Parel for ₹163 crore. The depository services company paid stamp duty worth ₹9.79 crore for the registration of the deals that took place on December 14.

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Glenmark Pharma gets USFDA approval for high blood pressure drug 

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for Nicardipine Hydrochloride Capsules. The drug is used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain. The generic version of the drug achieved annual sales of ~$10.9 million for the 12 months ended Oct 2022, according to IQVIA sales data.

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HDFC Bank targets issuing 10 lakh credit cards a month

HDFC Bank Ltd is looking to issue 10 lakh credit cards a month, said Parag Rao, the bank’s country head for payments business, consumer finance, digital banking & marketing. The company will announce partnerships across a range of industries from online retail to food delivery in the coming weeks to increase spending on cards. They also plan to collaborate with two airlines and a large hotel chain.

In other news, HDFC Bank is reportedly seeking to raise nearly $1 billion via an offshore loan.

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HZL to spend over $1 billion on shift to battery-operated mining vehicles

Hindustan Zinc (HZL) is planning to invest over $1 billion (~₹8,270 crore) to convert its diesel-fired mining vehicles into battery-operated ones and also to fully turn a green energy user over the next five years. The company is already running four of its 900 mining vehicles on battery on a pilot basis.

Read more here.

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M&M to Invest ₹10,000Cr to Set Up EV Manufacturing Plant – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

M&M to invest ₹10,000 crore to set up EV manufacturing plant in Pune

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) will invest ₹10,000 crore to set up an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Pune, Maharashtra. The automaker has received approval to make the investment from Maharashtra Government’s industrial promotion scheme for EVs. The investment will be made over 7-8 years for setting up the manufacturing facility, development, and production of Mahindra’s upcoming Born Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

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HDFC Bank acquires 7.75% stake in Mintoak for ₹31.1 crore

HDFC Bank has acquired a minority stake (7.75%) in Mintoak Innovations Pvt. Ltd for ₹31.1 crore. Mintoak is a fintech start-up that provides a payments-led platform. It offers value-added services to merchants to engage with their customers and for acquirers to enhance their engagement with merchants. The deal is expected to be completed by January 31, 2023.

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Bank of Baroda proposes to sell its majority stake in Nainital Bank

Bank of Baroda (BoB) plans to sell its majority stake in Nainital Bank. The bank’s board of directors has approved the divestment of its majority shareholding in Nainital Bank Ltd (NBL) and authorised the issuance of an advertisement inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) through a Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) from interested parties. BoB currently holds a 98.57% equity share capital of NBL.

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NTPC crosses 1 GW annual capacity mark in renewable energy segment in FY23

NTPC Ltd has crossed 1 gigawatt (GW) annual capacity in the renewable energy (RE) segment by adding 1,075 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity in the current financial year (FY23). The company’s total non-fossil capacity has reached 9.41%. With this, NTPC’s standalone installed and commercial capacity has become 58,041.27 MW. The group installed and commercial capacity of NTPC has become 70,656.27 MW.

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IL&FS resolves debt of ₹56,943 crore; reduces number of entities to 101

IL&FS has resolved its debt of up to ₹56,943 crore by September 30, 2022, through monetization of various assets and reduced the number of entities to 101 from 302. The company, which defaulted on its loan repayment for the first time in September 2018, had to pay back its lenders over ₹90,000 crore at that time. The new board of IL&FS has initiated various measures to reduce debts, which included asset monetisation, debt restructuring, cost optimisation, and liquidity management.

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IRCTC’s revenue ‘reduced drastically’ in 2020-21 due to Covid-related restrictions: Govt

IRCTC’s revenue “reduced drastically” by almost 64% during 2020-21, compared to 2019-20 due to Covid-related travel restrictions, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He added that the revenue increased gradually after the situation normalised. IRCTC earned ₹2,342.41 crore, which went down to ₹861.64 crore during the Covid-affected 2020-21. In 2021-22, the company earned ₹1,952.30 crore.

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Torrent Pharma partners with Boehringer Ingelheim to co-market diabetes meds

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd has entered into an alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim to co-market medicines used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Both companies entered into a partnership for the sales and co-marketing of Empagliflozin and its combinations. This partnership aims to address the dual challenges of type-2 diabetes and heart failure in India.

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NTPC to sell stake in green energy business: Report 

According to reports, NTPC Ltd aims to sell a 20% stake in its green energy business this fiscal year, expecting to raise up to ₹3000 crores ($363.97 million). The deal marks the first green transaction by an Indian state company. It has drawn interest from investors, such as Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Malaysia’s Petronas, and Brookfield.

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JB Pharma acquires rosuvastatin brand from Glenmark for ₹314 crore

JB Pharma has acquired cardiac brand Razel (rosuvastatin) from Glenmark Pharma for the India and Nepal region for ₹314 crores. The acquisition will be funded through long-term debt and internal accruals. Razel ranks among the top 10 brands in India in the rosuvastatin molecule category, with combined sales of ₹66.1 crore as of the year-ended October 2022 as per IQVIA data.

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Adani Group’s ₹493Cr Open Offer for NDTV to Start Tomorrow – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Adani Group’s ₹493 crore open offer for NDTV to start tomorrow

Adani Group’s open offer to acquire an additional 26% shareholding in the media company New Delhi Television (NDTV) from the market will start tomorrow. The offer will close on December 5. If fully subscribed, the open offer will amount to ₹492.81 crore at ₹294 per share. To learn more about Adani’s takeover of NDTV, click here.

Read more here.

RBI allows HDFC Bank, Canara Bank to open Vostro account for INR trade with Russia

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed HDFC Bank and Canara Bank to open a special “vostro account” for trade in Indian Rupees with Russia. Vostro accounts are accounts held by a bank on behalf of another (often a foreign bank), and this forms a key part of correspondent banking. Payments can be settled in Rupee for India-Russia trade, enabling cross-border transactions in the Indian currency.

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Jindal Steel wins bid to build 300 MW coal power plant in Botswana

Botswana has selected Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) to build a coal-fired power plant. The contract is for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 300 megawatts  (MW) net greenfield coal-fired power plant. JSPL will finance the construction of the plant and recoup its investments from selling electricity to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) under terms to be negotiated between the two parties.

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Aurobindo Pharma aims to complete ₹2,000 crore plant in AP by March 2024

Aurobindo Pharma Ltd aims to complete its ₹2,000 crore Penicillin G (Pen G) plant in Andhra Pradesh by March 2024, even as the trial of the initial batches will take place starting October 2023 onwards. The production capacity of the plant will be around 15,000 tonnes annually. The plant has been approved under the government’s PLI scheme for Key Starting Materials/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

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NCLT clears Jio’s acquisition of Reliance Infratel

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved Reliance Property & Projects Management Services Ltd’s (RPPMSL) acquisition of Reliance Infratel Ltd (RITL). RPPMSL is a subsidiary of Reliance Jio that looks into the telco’s tower business. Jio has to deposit ₹3,500 crore in an SBI escrow account to complete the acquisition of RITL.

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Lighthouse India to sell Nykaa shares worth ₹335 crore

Investment firm Lighthouse India will sell shares worth ₹335 crore of Nykaa via a block deal tomorrow at a price band of ₹180-183.50 per share. After the lock-in period expired earlier this month, several pre-IPO investors have been liquidating shares held by them. Last week, investor Mala Gopal Gaonkar sold 5.75 crore shares of Nykaa at an average price of ₹175.48 in a deal worth ₹1,009 crore.

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Arvind forms joint venture with PurFi Global to reduce textile waste

Textiles manufacturer Arvind Ltd and US-based PurFi Global LLC will set up a joint venture (JV) to reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfills. The JV plans to set up its first fibre rejuvenation facility near one of Arvind’s manufacturing facilities in India. PurFi’s technology creates a solution that transforms textile waste into virgin-quality fibres.

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Ashok Leyland eyeing to launch Dost in Middle East, African markets

Ashok Leyland Ltd is testing its highly popular light commercial vehicle (LCV) ‘Dost’ with left-hand drive (LHD) option as it plans to serve the Middle East and African markets. The company currently sells a range of LCVs under the ‘Dost’ brand with right-hand drive option both in domestic and overseas. In October 2022, sales from the LCVs business grew by 18% YoY to 5,671 units.

Read more here.

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Manufacturing PMI at 56.2 in August – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Manufacturing PMI hits 8-month high in August

India’s manufacturing sector activity continued to grow at a robust pace in August, led by a pick-up in demand amid softening input cost inflation. The S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 56.2 in August, compared to 56.4 in July. Both output and new orders grew during the month.

PMI is a month-on-month calculation, and a value above 50 represents an expansion compared to the previous month.  

Read more here. 

Auto sales data for August 2022: Highlights  

Maruti Suzuki India posted a 26.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase in total sales to 1,65,173 units in August 2022. Sales of its compact vehicle segment rose 42% YoY to 93,719 units. Exports rose 4.2% YoY to 21,481 units.

Tata Motors Ltd registered a 41% YoY increase in total sales to 76,479 units in August. The automaker’s commercial vehicle sales rose 6% YoY to 31,492 units. Overall passenger vehicle sales rose 68% YoY to 47,166 units.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s passenger vehicle segment posted total sales of 29,852 units in August, an increase of 87% YoY. M&M’s commercial vehicle sales jumped 142% YoY to 21,492 units. 

Bajaj Auto posted an 8% YoY increase in total sales to 4,01,595 units. Meanwhile, TVS Motor Company’s total sales stood at 3,15,539 units in August, up 15% YoY.

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GMDC to study economic viability of rare earth elements processing unit in Gujarat

Gujarat Mineral Development Corp. Ltd. (GMDC) said it would conduct a study to determine the economic viability of setting up a rare earth elements (REE) processing unit in Gujarat. REE is crucial for developing green energy technologies like permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and LEDs. The company also plans to carry out a pre-economic assessment for the deposit at Ambadongar (Gujarat) and test for REE oxide production.

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CIL achieves 108% of its annual supply target to power sector during April-August

Coal India Ltd’s (CIL) supplies to the power sector rose to 243.3 million tonnes (MTs) in April-August against the annual action plan (AAP) target of 225.4 MTs. With improved coal supplies, coal stock at power plants rose to 30 MT in August. This is higher than 12.8 MTs of coal stocks at the end of August in FY22.

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NDTV says stake sale to Adani needs approval from tax authorities

New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) said a major stake sale by its founders to the Adani Group would require clearance from India’s tax authorities. In 2017, the Income Tax Dept. provisionally barred NDTV’s founders, Prannoy and Radhika Roy, from selling a part of their stake as part of a reassessment of their taxes. Last week, the Adani Group unveiled plans to control a majority stake in the news network.

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Lux Industries aims to double market share of its innerwear brand in India

Lux Industries Ltd is aiming to double the market share of its brand Lux Venus in the Indian innerwear segment. The company has repositioned Lux Venus and has rolled out a brand-new campaign, “Sabko Maangta Hai”, featuring actor Salman Khan. Currently, Lux Venus has a strong presence in the market due to its high brand recall and enjoys a market share of 15-16% in the men’s innerwear market. 

Read more here.

Zomato shares rise 8% on launching next-day intercity delivery service

Shares of Zomato Ltd were trading more than 8% higher today after the company launched ‘Intercity Legends’, its intercity delivery service for popular dishes. By leveraging Zomato’s vast network of restaurant partners and delivery partners and a deep understanding of food technology, dishes will be delivered from across India, the very next day of ordering. State-of-the-art mobile refrigeration technology preserves food without the need to freeze it or add any kind of preservatives.

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HDFC Bank to open 207 branches in Maharashtra

HDFC Bank announced plans to open 207 branches and 80 smart banking lobbies in Maharashtra this financial year (FY23). Of these, 90 branches will be opened in metro and urban areas, while 117 branches will be in semi-urban and rural areas. As part of the expansion plan, the bank said it plans to hire over 3,000 employees across the state. 

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BEL signs MoU with Smiths Detection to manufacture high-energy scanning systems in India

Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Smiths Detection to offer advanced, high-energy scanning systems to the Indian market. UK-based Smiths Detection is a threat detection and security inspection technologies company. The MoU will leverage the high-end technological capabilities of both firms to meet India’s domestic security needs.

Read more here.

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IOCL Eyes Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2046 – Top Indian Market Updates

A logo of Indian Oil is picture outside a fuel station in New Delhi, India August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/Files

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Indian Oil Corp eyes net zero carbon emissions by 2046

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2046. The company has prepared a roadmap to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions (relating to emissions from crude refining and energy consumption). IOCL is also targeting to replace at least a tenth of its current fossil-fuel-based hydrogen at its refineries with carbon-free green hydrogen.

Read more here.

HDFC Bank to acquire 9.94% stake in Go Digit Life Insurance

HDFC Bank plans to acquire a 9.94% stake in Go Digit Life Insurance Ltd, a company backed by Canada-based Fairfax Group. The bank has proposed an investment of Rs 49.9-69.9 crore (in two rounds) by subscribing to equity shares of the company. Go Digit Life Insurance is awaiting a certificate of registration by the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to begin operations.

Read more here.

PSP Projects secures new orders worth ₹247 crore

PSP Projects Ltd has secured contracts worth ₹247.35 crore from the Precast and Government segments. The total order inflow for the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) to date amounts to Rs 1,344.24 crore. PSP Projects is one of the prominent contractors offering a diversified range of construction and allied services. It focuses on industrial, institutional, government, and residential projects.

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Hero Electric, Jio-bp partner for two-wheeler EV adoption

Hero Electric has announced a partnership with Jio-bp to provide EV charging solutions. The electric scooter maker’s customers will get access to Jio-bp’s charging and battery swapping infrastructure. Both entities will bring the best of their global learnings in electrification and apply them to the Indian market to create a differentiated customer experience. Jio-bp is a joint venture between Reliance Industries Ltd and British oil giant BP 

Read more here.

REC’s subsidiary hands over project-specific SPV to PowerGrid

REC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd. (RECPDCL), has handed over the project-specific Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed for the construction of a transmission project (Neemuch Transmission Ltd) to Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. Power Grid emerged as the successful bidder of the Inter-State Transmission Project of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Nelco signs pact with Intelsat to offer in-flight connectivity in India’s airspace

US-based Intelsat has signed a commercial agreement with Nelco Ltd to offer inflight connectivity services in Indian skies. The agreement will benefit Intelsat’s airline partners and flyers as they will get end-to-end broadband coverage on domestic and international aircraft flying across the country. Intelsat joins companies such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vi that have received prior approvals from the Indian govt to offer internet services on-board flights.

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Indian Hotels looks at greenfield, brownfield opportunities in Gujarat

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) is looking at growth opportunities in greenfield and brownfield projects to strengthen its footprint in Gujarat. The company is also looking at new commercial hubs like Bharuch and Vapi, wildlife destinations, and pilgrimages in the state. IHCL, which recently opened 111-room Ginger and 175-key Vivanta in Ahmedabad, has 19 properties in Gujarat. 

Read more here.

Listed private non-finance companies report 41% sales growth in Q1 FY23: RBI

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report stated that listed private non-financial companies recorded a 41% sales growth during the first quarter of FY23. The manufacturing segment posted sales growth of 41.6%, driven by broad-based demand expansion across industries due to volume and price effects. Sales growth of information technology (IT) firms stood at 21.3% in Q1 FY23.

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Lupin, I’rom signs licensing pact for Denosumab biosimilar in Japan

Lupin Ltd has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Japan-based I’rom Group Co. Ltd. The two entities will conduct clinical trials, register, distribute and market biosimilar Denosumab in Japan. Denosumab is used for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (bones becoming fragile) at high risk of fracture. It is also used to prevent skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases.

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IGX to start LNG trade from October

The Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) is planning to start trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) from October to help last-mile areas unconnected with pipelines get access to natural gas. Liquid gas will now be arranged at terminals. Buyers can take in LNG tankers to far-away locations (200-300 km) that are not yet connected with pipelines.

Read more here.

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HDFC Bank to Move Payments Out of Core Banking – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

HDFC Bank to move payments out of core banking to ensure minimal downtime

HDFC Bank will soon move its payments platform out of its core banking module to enable minimal payments downtime, even if core banking is not available. The private lender is likely to launch additional products and services under Digital 2.0, including a new payments platform for its customers and merchants. The bank has partnered with a new-age startup to co-create new core banking modules.

Read more here.

Atul Auto’s arm partners with Honda, Valeo for electrification of three-wheelers

Atul Greentech (a subsidiary of Atul Auto Ltd), Honda Powerpack Energy, and France-based automotive supplier Valeo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the electrification of three-wheelers. Valeo will provide electric powertrains and powertrain control units for Atul’s electric three-wheelers to work with Honda’s swappable battery solution. The MoU brings domain expertise together to accelerate three-wheeler electrification in both passenger and cargo segments.

Read more here.

Adani Enterprises, 10 others keen on bidding for coal import tenders: CIL

Adani Enterprises Ltd and ten other companies (including offshore firms) have expressed interest in bidding for coal import tenders floated by Coal India Ltd (CIL). On June 9, CIL said it has floated its maiden tender to import 2.416 million tonnes (MT) of coal to ensure an adequate supply of the fuel to power plants in India. The company floated two more medium-term tenders for sourcing 6 MT of coal from overseas on June 10.

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Future Enterprises defaults on Rs 6.07 crore interest payment for NCDs

Future Enterprises Ltd has defaulted on the payment of interest of Rs 6.07 crore for its non-convertible debentures (NCDs). The due date for payment was June 20, 2022. The latest default is on the interest of securities issued for a sum of Rs 120 crore. The debentures are secured and have a coupon rate of 10.15% per annum.

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Yes Bank launches floating-rate fixed deposit for domestic customers

Yes Bank has announced the launch of Floating Rate Fixed Deposit, a new product offering for all domestic customers. The rate of interest on this fixed deposit (FD) will be linked to the prevailing repo rate, allowing customers to enjoy dynamic returns on their fixed deposits. The bank has also raised its interest rates on standard FDs up to 6.5% per annum for regular customers and up to 7.25% p.a. for senior citizens.

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ONGC seeks minimum $17 price for coal gas from Bokaro

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) is planning to auction gas from its coal bed methane (CBM) block in Bokaro, Jharkhand, at a crude-linked reserve price that is more than $17 per million metric British Thermal Units (mmBtu) at current oil rates. The company will conduct an e-auction for the sale of 0.20 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of CBM gas. ONGC and Indian Oil own 80% and 20% participating interest, respectively, in the CBM block.

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Hindustan Motors to sell ‘Contessa’ brand to SG Corporate Mobility

Hindustan Motors Ltd has agreed to sell its ‘Contessa’ brand to SG Corporate Mobility Pvt. Ltd (SGCMPL) for an undisclosed sum. The company has executed a brand transfer agreement with SGCMPL on June 16, 2022, for the transfer of the Contessa brand, including the trademarks. Contessa was a premium sedan sold in India by Hindustan Motors from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

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​​Oil prices rise $2 on strong demand, tight supply

Oil prices rose almost $2 on Tuesday amidst rising fuel demand while supplies remain tight due to sanctions on Russian oil after its invasion of Ukraine. Brent crude rose $1.80, or 1.6%, to $115.93 a barrel. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for July rose $2.26, or 2.1%, to $111.82.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders aim to maintain pressure on Russia at their summit this week by committing to further work on sanctions.

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