Sustainability Financial News

Running a small business is an all-consuming task! It takes all your passion, drive, and financial wherewithal to start and grow your business. It is quite natural then that retirement planning might be your last priority. But that is a rookie mistake. As a business owner, you are susceptible to financial uncertainties and while you may have the flexibility to retire later than ordinary working professionals, retirement planning needs serious consideration.

Bharti Airtel for S$950 million (or $711 million) to United States-based investment firm GQG Partners, as per a Reuters report. This move is part of Southeast Asia's largest telecom operator's ongoing capital recycling efforts, marking a total of S$8 billion since its strategic reset in 2021. Airtel and GQG Partners did not respond to queries, the report added.

Sharekhan by BNP Paribas, tight liquidity conditions are creating a challenge for the banks to mobilise deposits. Additionally, a higher credit-deposit ratio is also creating a challenge to sustain loan growth at healthy levels. However, most negatives could be priced in for the banking stocks.

LANXESS has announced that it has completed the expansion of its Rhenodiv production line in Jhagadia, Gujarat. The company said that the increased capacity of Rhein Chemie business unit will meet the demand of the Indian Sub-continent and the Asian tire and rubber goods markets. Commenting on the development, Matthias Zachert, CEO & Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, said, “India is an important region for us and this strategic milestone reflects our commitment towards meeting the growing demands of our valued customers in the region. The new facility not only amplifies our production capacity but also showcases our faith in the immense potential of the Indian market.” Dr. Jens Hendrik Fischer, Global Head of Rhein Chemie business unit, said, “The expansion of our Rhenodiv production line at the Jhagadia site marks a significant milestone for LANXESS India. It reinforces our position as a reliable partner for the rubber industry and showcases our commitment to innovation and sustainability. I extend my best wishes to the team for their hard work and commitment.”

₹215.35 apiece on the BSE. UBS has maintained a ‘Buy’ rating on Bharat Electronics shares, raised the target price to ₹257 per share from ₹205 earlier, and assigned a 35x PE to March FY26E earnings versus 30x earlier, given better earnings and new orders momentum.

Investing.com-- China’s trade surplus grew more than expected in the first two months of 2024, boosted in part by some resilience in export demand, while imports were also buoyed by increased holiday spending. 

A significantly larger proportion of a global cross-section of society places higher trust in the private sector than other societal institutions, including the government, as per Edelman’s Trust Barometer Global Report of 2023. The private sector, seen to be more ethical and competent, is expected to engage more with societal challenges.

By Leika Kihara

India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 depends on the strategic implementation of enabling reforms. While innovative ideas have been proposed for a Viksit Bharat, the primary sector has largely been left out. Despite being home to 18% of the world population with a median age of 28.2 years, we tend to overlook our core strength—i.e., domestic private consumption, which constitutes nearly 61% of GDP—while focusing on export-led growth.

Quiver Quantitative — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, in his recent testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, conveyed a cautiously optimistic outlook for the U.S. economy, emphasizing that it's not on the brink of recession. However, he expressed uncertainty about the timeline for rate cuts, acknowledging the need for further progress on inflation. This stance comes as Powell and other Fed officials grapple with balancing the goals of sustaining economic growth and achieving the Fed's 2% inflation target. With the current unemployment rate at 3.7%, the central bank aims for a 'soft landing' where the economy continues to grow without spurring inflation.

ITC has premiumised the personal care business with the contribution of premium products to sales doubling in the last four years to 38% and accounting for about two-thirds of all the new products launched in the last two years, said the divisional chief executive for the business Sameer Satpathy. This focus on premium products has also helped ITC break even in the personal care business that is now generating profit consistently quarter on quarter, analysts said. While Satpathy refused to specifically comment on this, he said this focus on premiumisation has a positive impact on the bottom line by improving margins.

Many large public companies will eventually have to report climate-related risks under a final rule passed by the SEC today – but the requirements are significantly more limited than what the agency initially proposed and what climate groups wanted.

Investors are watching for any clarity about the timing of interest-rate cuts this year.

Chair Jerome Powell reinforced his belief Wednesday that the Federal Reserve will cut its key interest rate this year but that it first wants to see more evidence that inflation is falling sustainably back to the Fed’s 2% target

Previously, BI WORLDWIDE India has been lauded and recognised for innovative and results-driven loyalty and engagement programs for clients across industries. This year, the organisation proudly added the coveted Gold Dragon Award to its hall of fame, for the 'Shell Share Advantage Program' in partnership with Shell Lubricants India. BI WORLDWIDE India not only upheld its winning streak of 7 years at the DOA Awards this year but also reached new heights by clinching the Gold Dragon Award.BI WORLDWIDE India has been managing an app-based influencer loyalty program for Shell since a few years.

The commercial real estate market, particularly in Noida and its surrounding areas, has experienced a remarkable resurgence following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we stride confidently into 2024, the landscape presents an array of opportunities for investors seeking secure long-term returns. According to a recent research report by Knight Frank India, the commercial real estate sector is poised to witness substantial growth, projected at 7-8% this year.

India’s defence modernization journey reached a pivotal milestone with the commissioning of the MH-60R multi-role helicopters at INS Garuda, Kochi. The commissioning ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, and this signifies a significant step forward in enhancing India’s maritime prowess.

Investing.com -- The Federal Reserve's ongoing push to cool inflation is «not assured,» according to Chair Jerome Powell, bolstering the case for the U.S. central bank not to unveil imminent interest rate cuts.

Ever kicked yourself for missing out on a stock's wild surge? We've all been there. But with our AI buddy, ProPicks, missing out becomes a thing of the past.

Guna Airport in Madhya Pradesh. The incident occurred on Wednesday, and the pilot, who had taken off from Neemuch, about 300 km away, sustained severe injuries. Officials suspect that an engine problem may have caused the crash. The training aircraft had taken off from Sagar and was forced to seek permission for an emergency landing at Guna airport. However, while landing, the aircraft lost balance and veered off the runway towards Gopalpura. The crash resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft, with the landing wheels completely detached. Upon receiving the emergency call, the fire brigade and ambulance rushed to the scene. The injured pilot was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Ministry of Coal on Wednesday said it has sought feedback from interested government as well as private entities for establishment of coal gasification plants in the country. The ministry said it has issued three draft request for proposals (RFPs) for consultation on coal gasification scheme. «Issued three draft RFPs to solicit feedback from interested government PSUs and private investors for the establishment of coal gasification plants in India,» it said in a statement. The stakeholders can provide their feedback and suggestions until March 20, it said.