Sustainability Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.BENGALURU: Small Indian IT services firms are increasingly diverging in performance, as weak deal momentum and sharper competition reshape growth patterns across the sub-$1 billion revenue cohort.Within the segment, revenue growth slowed in fiscal year 2026 (FY26) compared with the previous year, underscoring a widening gap between outperformers and laggards even as one company entered the $100 million revenue club.Save for Sasken Technologies Ltd, which doubled its revenue last fiscal year on the back of its largest acquisition, Birlasoft Ltd and Cyient DET reported their second straight year of revenue decline. Mastek Ltd and Zensar Technologies Ltd grew at 3.1% each in FY26, slower than the 10.9% and 5.4% growth, respectively, in the previous year.The divergence reflects intensifying competition among smaller IT firms as they defend market share against larger peers, while also adjusting to rapid artificial intelligence (AI)-driven shifts in demand and client priorities.At the same time, the ranking within the segment is shifting.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Stock market recap: The benchmark Nifty 50 had a volatile and weak trading session on Friday, 8 May, opening with a sharp gap-down at 24,233.65 and closing 146.15 points lower, or 0.60%, at 24,180.50, slipping below the key 24,200 mark.Sentiment remained under pressure amid escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which heightened global risk aversion and pushed Brent crude oil prices higher. The surge in crude also weighed on the Indian rupee, which weakened to 94.48 against the dollar, stoking concerns over sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows.Heavy profit-booking in banking and oil heavyweights such as State Bank of India and HDFC Bank further dragged the index lower, while modest gains in defensives like IT were not enough to offset the broader market weakness.Buy: eClerx Services Ltd (current price: ₹1,668)Action Construction Equipment Ltd (current price: ₹947)Nifty 50 performance on 8 MayThe Nifty 50 witnessed a weak and volatile trading session, opening on a negative note at 24,233.65 amid cautious global cues.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Mumbai: Axis Bank is selectively chasing corporate loan growth in sectors with strong tailwinds, such as data centres, commercial real estate and renewables, while staying “watchful” in the weaker segments, said Vijay Mulbagal, group executive and head of wholesale bank coverage, corporate salary, sustainability and CSR.The private sector lender has also sidestepped the “bidding game” in some aggressively priced loans to state-run firms, as banks grapple with pressure on margins and companies remain cautious on large capital expenditure despite healthy profitability.India’s third-largest private lender reported a 38% growth in corporate loans during the March quarter of FY26, significantly outpacing its rivals. The growth of corporate lending—outstanding loans at ₹4.12 trillion as on 31 March—was also higher than the bank’s retail or small business segments.Mulbagal, who joined from HDFC Bank in 2024, took over the corporate vertical a year ago, told Mint in an interview that the bank has not been reckless and its underwriting standards have been strong, with corporate borrowers rated A- and above at 91% of the book.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories."Our first kartavya (duty) is to accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity and competitiveness.” This statement by India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this year’s budget speech set a clear imperative: that productivity and competitiveness are not incidental to India’s growth story, but necessary conditions for its long-term economic development. Its significance has grown clearer since.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Swarup Mohanty spent 15 years building what he thought was a solid retirement plan. Then he asked an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to stress-test it.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.BENGALURU: India’s quick commerce sector may be entering a new phase where blistering growth begins to cool even as the overall momentum remains intact.Eternal Ltd’s Q4 shareholder letter showed Blinkit’s net order value (NOV) grew 8% to ₹14,386 crore sequentially, compared to 13% growth QoQ in the previous quarter. On the other hand, Instamart’s gross order value (GOV) fell to ₹7,881 crore from ₹7,938 crore in the previous quarter.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: Private equity firm Everstone Capital has acquired Germany-based industrial equipment maker Qlar Group from Blackstone, the companies said in a statement on Thursday.While the companies did not disclose financial details, the transaction is estimated to be worth $150-200 million, including equity and debt, according to a person familiar with the matter.The acquisition underscores Singapore-based Everstone’s push to back global manufacturing and engineering businesses with significant operations in India and Asia. Qlar derives about 25% of its revenue from India, the person said.“Qlar is a differentiated industrial technology platform with a strong global footprint and deep engineering capabilities,” said Avnish Mehra, vice chairman, private equity at Everstone Capital, adding that the company’s operations in India and Asia position it to benefit from competitive manufacturing and proximity to high-growth markets.“We see a clear opportunity to build on these strengths, supported by our cross-border experience and network, to drive disciplined and sustainable growth,” he added.Everstone said it will partner with Qlar’s management team to strengthen market access and commercial capabilities while expanding the company’s portfolio of lower-carbon and circular material-processing solutions.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Shares of Polycab India jumped over 7% on Thursday, also hitting a 52-week high of ₹8,991.50 despite 160 basis points year-on-year drop in its March quarter (Q4FY26) Ebitda margin to 13.1%.While a sharp increase in input prices and higher logistics costs hurt margin, price hikes taken last quarter helped Polycab beat analysts’ estimates. Plus, the company’s market share improved by four percentage points in FY26 to about 30-31%, which should benefit Polycab as demand stabilizes.Despite the near-term disruption, the domestic demand outlook remains strong, primarily led by the power sector.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: Caution is returning to small-, and mid-cap stocks after last month’s sharp rally, with experts warning that stretched valuations could leave the segment vulnerable to even minor macroeconomic and earnings shocksThe BSE Smallcap index rose nearly 20% in April, while the BSE Midcap index gained almost 14%, their strongest monthly performances since May 2014. In comparison, the Sensex rose 7%.But the rebound has been uneven.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Mahindra & Mahindra’s March quarter (Q4FY26) shows why it’s one of the most consistent growth stories in India’s auto sector. It beat Street expectations on revenue and profit. Better-than-expected realizations in SUVs – its primary segment, and a sharp rise in other income were the key drivers.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Stock market recap: Indian equity markets ended Tuesday’s session on a cautious note, with the Nifty 50 declining 0.36% to settle at 24,032.80. The index saw volatile consolidation through the day, moving between an intraday low of 23,882.05 and a high of 24,081.70.Market breadth was mildly negative, with 1,604 stocks advancing against 1,680 declining, indicating a broadly balanced but slightly bearish undertone.Sectoral performance was mixed.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: Xiaomi once sold one in every four smartphones in India. By 2025, it had fallen out of the country’s top five brands.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The end of a 15-year political regime in West Bengal has rekindled investor interest in companies headquartered in the state, triggering a sharp rally in select stocks on expectations of a policy reset.On 4 May, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a watershed win in the 294-member assembly, unseating the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and ending its 15-year rule.On the back of expectations of improved industrial policy clarity and faster clearances, shares of RP Sanjiv Goenka Group companies, Bandhan Bank, Emami Limited and others saw a sharp move in prices.However, analysts caution that the rally reflects anticipatory positioning rather than earnings visibility.“The market is largely anticipatory positioning, not earnings-led yet,” said Ajay Bagga, a market expert. “Any regime shift that improves industrial policy clarity and capex visibility can expand earnings multiples but sustainability depends entirely on execution, not sentiment,” Bagga added.Shares of Kolkata-based Bandhan Bank touched an all-time high of ₹212.5 on Monday, emerging as the top gainer in the Nifty Private Bank pack that day.As of FY26, West Bengal accounted for 24% of Bandhan Bank’s total loans and advances—the highest among all states.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.As a non-resident Bengali of my generation, I have witnessed with deep anguish the steady decline of West Bengal from its once-prominent position in India’s economic and intellectual landscape. What has been even more disheartening is the repeated pattern of large electoral mandates being given to successive governments—first the Left Front, and then the Trinamool Congress—followed by a growing sense of unmet expectations and a sense of repeated betrayal of trust.When Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, she carried with her a powerful promise of change: an end to decades of Left Front rule, which many believe had pushed the state into fiscal stress, industrial stagnation, and governance fatigue.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Aster DM Healthcare is charting an aggressive expansion and growth roadmap, as it nears completion of its merger with Blackstone-backed Quality Care. With a strong financial and operational outlook for FY27, the combined entity targets over 4,400 additional beds in the next three to four years, managing director Alisha Moopen told Mint in an interview.The merger is expected to be complete in the current quarter ending June, well over a year after the deal was announced in November 2024.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Diagnostics major Dr. Lal Path Labs saw revenue improve 17% year-on-year to ₹703 crore in the March quarter (Q4FY26), beating consensus estimate by 5%. The jump was primarily led by higher sample volumes and better realizations.Revenue grew 12.2% to ₹2,763 crore in FY26.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Indian equity benchmarks rebounded on Wednesday, 29 April, with the Nifty 50 rising 181.95 points, or 0.76%, to close at 24,177.65, reclaiming the 24,000 mark. The Sensex advanced about 0.73% to end near 77,446.Sentiment was supported by optimism around fourth-quarter earnings, led by Maruti Suzuki and an improvement in global risk appetite, even as tensions in West Asia persisted.Gains were led by FMCG and auto stocks, with the Nifty FMCG index up 1.75% and the Nifty Auto index rising 1.15%.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Indian equity benchmarks rebounded on Wednesday, 29 April, with the Nifty 50 rising 181.95 points, or 0.76%, to close at 24,177.65, reclaiming the 24,000 mark. The Sensex advanced about 0.73% to end near 77,446.Sentiment was supported by optimism around fourth-quarter earnings, led by Maruti Suzuki and an improvement in global risk appetite, even as tensions in West Asia persisted.Gains were led by FMCG and auto stocks, with the Nifty FMCG index up 1.75% and the Nifty Auto index rising 1.15%.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.India’s music industry is finally witnessing a long-awaited shift from free to paid consumption, with revenues and subscriptions climbing steadily.Yet the transition remains fragile. Sustaining the move from free to paid listening is critical, especially at a time when AI-generated versions of songs threaten to divert streams from original works and pirated sources continue to undercut legitimate consumption.Speaking to Mint, Victoria Oakley, chief executive officer of IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry)—the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide—said the recent uptick in paid streaming marks a long-promised transition for India.However, she cautioned that the regulatory framework around AI remains unclear, even as governments, including India’s, grapple with how to balance technological innovation with rights protection and fair monetization for the creative community.According to a recent Ficci EY report, the Indian music segment, measured as revenues earned by music labels from licensing and other income, grew by 10% to reach ₹5900 crore in 2025.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Stock market recap: The market rally on Monday, 27 April, was driven by sectoral recoveries and easing geopolitical tensions. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries surged more than 7%, leading Nifty gainers after announcing an $11.75 billion acquisition of Organon.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The impossible trinity, or trilemma, holds that a country cannot simultaneously maintain a fixed exchange rate, free capital movement, and an independent monetary policy; policymakers must prioritise two at the expense of the third.A strikingly similar trilemma sits at the heart of health insurance: the insurer’s duty to settle claims sustainably, the hospital’s duty to deliver effective, patient-centred care while earning a fair return, and the customer’s demand for affordability. Like the economic trilemma, this cannot be resolved by decree.