Indian Stock News by Experts

Kingfisher Airlines goes global in September

Kingfisher Airlines goes global in September

Kingfisher Airlines on Friday announced that it would launch international service from India with the debut of daily non-stop...

iPhone launched in India sans mass hysteria

Apple's iconic 3G iPhone made its debut in India, sans the public frenzy that greeted its worldwide debut last month, as a steep price ...

Consumer sentiment in India continues to decline: survey

<DIV>Customized knowledge services company Boston Analytics released the Boston  Analytics Consumer Sentiment Index (BACSI) for India results for the month of  July. The past month registered a marginal 3.8% decrease in the BACSI, a monthly  barometer of Indian consumer opinion regarding the current state and future  expectations of the macro economy, household financial conditions and  consumption.<BR><BR>The index is based on a monthly survey targeting a diverse  set of demographics representative of Indian consumers. In an effort to capture  the country's heterogeneity, the BACSI's July survey has been extended in terms  of both geographic coverage and sample size with the inclusion of  Hyderabad.<BR><BR>The survey is now conducted across five cities—Delhi, Mumbai,  Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad—targeting a diverse set of demographics  representative of Indian consumers. It addresses macro-level variables  reflecting the nation's economic conditions, including indicators such as  employment, inflation, interest rates and real estate.<BR><BR>The BACSI also  studies micro-level variables such as household income, commitment towards  expenditure on basic necessities (durables, automobile, and house), savings and  other elements.<BR><BR>The BACSI for the month of June stood at 93.2, down 3.8%  from the previous month's reading of 96.9. Disaggregation of the data reveals  that the primary drivers of the decline in consumer sentiment were decreases in  respondents' confidence in the economy and in employment conditions. Sentiment  related to inflation remained pessimistic but improved relative to the June  reading, most likely due to the government's highly visible campaign to combat  inflation. Despite the overall composite sentiment index trending down, the  consumer spending component remained strong in July.<BR><BR>"It appears that  overall consumer sentiment in India is trending lower in a gradual manner,  unlike the dramatic declines in consumer sentiment being reported in the United  States and Europe," said Sam Thomas, Ph.D., Boston Analytics' director of  research and development. "It is also notable that despite a worldwide slowdown  in consumer spending, and continued concerns about inflation, Indian consumer  attitudes toward spending remain optimistic, reflecting an upward trend in the  BACSI since May."</DIV>

Consumer sentiment in India continues to decline: survey

Customized knowledge services company Boston Analytics released the Boston Analytics Consumer Sentiment Index (BACSI) for India results for...

Gas talk.Mama's boys really

<DIV>After several months of war of words and legal wrangling over the  contentious issue of gas supply, the warring Ambani brothers could be headed for  an out of court settlement, provided their mother plays the role of the mediator  once again. Anil Ambani's lawyers told the Bombay High Court on Aug. 21 that the  younger of the Ambani siblings was ready to meet his elder brother Mukesh  "anywhere, anytime" to resolve the long-standing dispute between the two  groups.<BR><BR>The suggestion was made by Ram Jethmalani, the lawyer for RNRL  during the course of arguments before the court over the controversial issue of  gas supply from Reliance Industries' Krishna Godavari basin to the Dadri power  project in Uttar Pradesh. However, he added that Anil wants Kokilaben to  intervene in the matter. It may be recalled that she had played a crucial role  in dividing the Reliance group's assets between the two estranged brothers in  June 2005.<BR><BR>"We are prepared to have this particular issue decided by  Kokilaben. They may meet with their mother without the lawyers," Jethmalani  said. " The court can call both Mukesh and Anil to explore the possibility of an  out-of-court settlement and Anil is willing to attend at a time convenient to  the judges." Some weeks ago, Harish Salve, RIL's counsel had said the company is  not the family property of the Ambani family and the court has no jurisdiction  in altering the demerger.<BR><BR>"If you go by MoU approach, you will take RIL  as the family property of the Ambanis. The demerger scheme was agreed upon by  both the parties with open eyes. Any directions by the court in this regard will  mean corporate democracy going to the dogs. The suitable arrangement must be  found within the scheme and not outside it," Salve had said.</DIV>

Gas talk.Mama's boys really

After several months of war of words and legal wrangling over the contentious issue of gas supply, the warring Ambani brothers could be hea...

Tata Motors may move out of Singur

<DIV>Tata Motors threatened to move the Nano car plant from West Bengal amid  continued protests against the one-lakh-rupee car project. The investment of  Rs15bn that Tata Motors has so far made in the Singur plant would not deter the  company from relocating the plant to protect its employees from any violence,  Chairman Ratan Tata told reporters in Kolkata. Maharashtra, Punjab and Orissa  invited Tata Motors to set up the Nano plant in their states if the company  decides to move out of West Bengal.<BR><BR>"If anybody is under the impression  that because we have made this large investment of about Rs15bn, we will not  move, then they are wrong. We would move whatever is the cost, to protect our  people," Tata told reporters in the Oberoi Grand in Kolkata on Friday. "I've  made a major investment here... to move will be at a great cost to Tata Motors  and to shareholders. But, there is a concern about our people, a definite  concern about not being wanted," he said.<BR><BR>"We don't want anybody to leave  West Bengal. But we aren't really bothered whether the Tatas quit Singur,"  Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said. Chief minister Buddhadeb  Bhattacharjee requested all political parties to maintain harmony and allow the  project to be set up in the interest of the state. "I am optimistic that the  project will come up," he said. But, Banerjee is sticking to its plans for an  indefinite siege at Singur from Sunday.<BR><BR>Her principal demand is the  return of the 400 acres within the Nano complex. Local farmers, led by Trinamool  Congress, allege that the state government evicted them forcibly and transferred  what was fertile multi-crop land to the project for a song. The protests turned  ugly as local Left supporters and farmers in favour of the project clashed with  the protesters. Some 12,000 families have been affected by the  project.<BR><BR>Tata Motors started to build its factory in Singur in January  2007 to make the world's cheapest car. The much awaited one-lakh-rupee car was  unveiled in New Delhi in January this year and it was likely to hit roads by  October. However, if Tata Motors does pull out of Singur, the launch could be  delayed. What's worse, Tata Motors could lose around Rs5bn in the event of a  relocation. Industry experts say a third of the investment in a car project is  irrecoverable.</DIV>

Tata Motors may move out of Singur

Tata Motors threatened to move the Nano car plant from West Bengal amid continued protests against the one-lakh-rupee car project. The inve...