Oil prices fell about $1 on Monday, extending losses after the world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia slashed crude contract prices for Asia over the weekend. Private sector lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering.
Separately, Goldman Sachs will list asset management unit Petershill Partners on the London Stock Exchange for $750 million.
Chemspec Chemicals, Northern Arc Capital get Sebi's nod to float IPO
Chemspec Chemicals and Northern Arc Capital have received capital markets regulator Sebi's approval to raise funds through initial share sales.
The two companies had filed their preliminary IPO papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in July, according to a PTI report.
Chemspec Chemicals and Northern Arc Capital obtained the regulator's observations on August 30 and September 3, respectively, an update with Sebi showed on Monday.
Rupee drops 8 paise to close at 73.10 against U.S. dollar
The rupee on Monday declined by 8 paise to close at 73.10 (provisional) against the U.S. currency tracking the strengthening of the greenback in the overseas markets.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic currency opened flat at 73.02, then lost ground and settled for the day at 73.10, down 8 paise over its previous close.
During the trading session, the local unit witnessed an intra-day high of 73.02 and a low of 73.11 against the American currency, PTI reported.
Sensex, Nifty close at lifetime highs
Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 160 points to close at its fresh lifetime peak on Monday, driven by gains in index majors Reliance Industries and Infosys amid strong global cues and unabated foreign capital inflows.
The 30-share index settled 166.96 points or 0.29% higher at 58,296.91. It touched an intra-day record of 58,515.85, PTI reported.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty climbed 54.20 points or 0.31% to its new closing record of 17,377.80. During the session, it touched an all-time peak of 17,429.55.
HCL Tech was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising over 2%, followed by Infosys, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and M&M.
VIL's balancesheet woes may impact financial lenders, others; govt support critical: ICRA
Vodafone Idea's financial stress underlined by mounting losses and rising debt is likely to impact its financial lenders and have a bearing on employees and subscribers, ICRA said on Monday highlighting that government support is "critical" at this point.
The support can be by way of deferment of spectrum dues, cut in levies, reduction in interest rates, and a combination of relief measures could aid financial profile and the structure of the industry, PTI reported.
Sebi to auction 18 properties to recover investors' money
Market regulator Sebi has lined up 18 properties of three entities--Vibgyor Allied Infrastructure, MPS Group of companies, and Pailan Group of companies-- for an online auction next month at a total reserve price of over ₹62 crore.
The properties that have been put on sale include land parcels, office space, commercial space, and a flat located in West Bengal.
The move is part of Sebi's effort to recover investors' money.
Personal data storage practices reveal low risk awareness: Survey
About a third of Indians store sensitive personal information such as passwords of online bank accounts, credit or debit card PIN numbers and Aadhaar, PAN details on their digital devices including computers, according to the findings of a survey, with 11% saving such confidential data on phone contact lists, thus making themselves significantly more vulnerable to cybercriminals.
A total of more than 24,000 respondents from across 393 districts shared information on their personal password storage practices in a survey conducted by LocalCircles to assess consumers’ awareness of cybersecurity risks.
Reducing tax, doling subsidies to regulated recycling sector can help reduce lead pollution: Study
Reducing tax and providing subsidies to the regulated recycling sector can help reduce lead pollution from lead-acid battery recycling, a study by researchers from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) Madras and Kanpur has found, according to a PTI report.
Researchers from the two institutes have come together to look collectively at the problem of lead recycling in India as lead pollution can harm the mental and physical health of people and can contaminate the environment.
ADB clears $150 mn loan for urban poor housing project in Tamil Nadu
Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $150 million (about ₹1,095 crore) loan for a sustainable housing project for the urban poor in Tamil Nadu.
The loan to provide access to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable housing for the urban poor in Tamil Nadu was approved on September 3, 2021, ADB said in a release on Monday, according to a PTI report.
Supply chain startup Geniemode raises $2.25 million funding
B2B cross-border sourcing and supply chain technology company Geniemode on Monday said it has raised $2.25 million (about ₹16.4 crore) in funding led by Info Edge Ventures.
The seed round also saw participation from angel investors, including Deepinder Goyal (Zomato CEO), Kunal Shah (Cred founder), Prashant Malik, Pankaj Gupta and others, PTI reported citing a company statement.
Volkswagen CEO says 'we need a better software culture'
Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess on Monday said that Europe's largest carmaker still had its work cut out to become a maker of automotive software, a key aim of his strategy to transform the company.
Volkswagen has bundled all its software efforts into one unit, Cariad, hoping it can challenge Tesla and Alphabet in a field it has not traditionally been active in.
"We need still more software culture, we don't want to create another automotive entity," Diess said on Monday at the IAA Munich car show, Reuters reported.
Aluminium prices hit over decade high as Guinea unrest sparks supply fears
Aluminium prices hit their highest in more than 10 years on Monday after reports of political turmoil in bauxite mining hub Guinea triggered concerns over raw material shortages.
Guinea is the world's top supplier of bauxite - the ore used to produce aluminium - to China, the biggest producer and consumer of the metal used in construction, cars and aeroplanes, Reuters reported.
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank files IPO papers with Sebi
Private sector lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering.
The initial public offering (IPO) comprises fresh issue of 15,827,495 equity shares and an offer-for-sale of up to 12,505 equity shares by selling shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), PTI reported.
Shipping industry proposes levy to speed up zero carbon future
Leading shipping associations have proposed creating a global levy on carbon emissions from ships to help speed up the industry's efforts to go greener.
With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions and the sector is under growing pressure to get cleaner, Reuters reported.
Qualcomm says it will supply chip for new Renault electric vehicle
Qualcomm Inc said it will supply a key computing chip for the digital dashboard in a new Renault SA electric vehicle.
Qualcomm said Monday that Renault's Mégane E-TECH Electric will use its chips to power the vehicle's infotainment system using software from Alphabet Inc's Google, Qualcomm's longtime partner in the Android phone market, Reuters reported.
Piaggio, KTM, Honda and Yamaha set up swappable batteries consortium
Italian scooter maker Piaggio said on Monday it had set up a consortium with Honda Motor Co., KTM AG and Yamaha Motor Co. to encourage the use of swappable batteries for electric motorcycles and light electric vehicles.
The Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC) aims to broaden the use of light electric vehicles, such as scooters, mopeds and motorcycles, and support a more sustainable management of their batteries, PTI reported citing a joint statement.
India in talks to buy 9.9% stake in Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project
India is in talks with Russian energy producer Novatek to buy a 9.9% stake in the Novatek-led Arctic LNG-2 project, Reuters reported citing Interfax news agency.
Besides Novatak, Arctic LNG-2's stakeholders include CNPC, Total, CNOOC and a consortium of Mitsui and JOGMEC.
U.K. watchdog urges more powers over crypto promotions
Britain’s Financial watchdog said that creating a regulatory regime for the centralised world of crypto assets will take careful thought.
The country's Finance Ministry has already consulted publicly on whether some crypto asset promotions need regulating, Reuters reported.
"There are no assets or real world cashflows underpinning the price of speculative digital tokens, even the better known ones like Bitcoin, and many cannot even boast a scarcity value," Financial Conduct Authority Chair Charles Randell said in a speech.
Retail startup Dukaan raises $11 million funding
Retail startup Dukaan said it has raised $11 million (₹80.3 crore) in funding led by 640 Oxford Ventures.
The retail platform helps entrepreneurs set up online stores.
The pre-series A round also saw participation from existing investors including Snow Leopard Ventures, Lightspeed Partners and Matrix Partners India, PTI reported.
Indian benchmark indices resumed their upward trajectory today, opening at fresh record highs. Asian shares reached six-week peaks, while oil slid as the Saudis cut prices for Asian customers.
Maruti Suzuki India increased the prices of its entire product range with immediate effect, due to an increase in various input costs. The prices of Aluminium, which is used in construction, cars and aeroplanes, hit their highest in over 10 years.
Meanwhile, India’s August gold imports nearly doubled from a year ago to their highest level in five months on strong demand.
BMW orders up $24 billion of batteries as EV demand grows
BMW AG has boosted orders for battery cells to keep pace with accelerating demand for electric cars that made up for more than 11% of deliveries during the half of the year, Bloomberg reported.
The German carmaker now has contracts for more than 20 billion euros ($23.8 billion) of batteries, up from 12 billion euros previously, CEO Oliver Zipse said in an interview.
The cells are destined for i4 sedans, iX sport utility vehicles and other models BMW is producing through 2024, the report noted and added that the company plans to start switching to a new generation of batteries the following year.
Lupin, TB Alliance join hands for new therapy for drug-resistant Tuberculosis
Drugmaker Lupin on Monday said non-profit drug developer TB Alliance has granted it a non-exclusive licence to manufacture anti-TB drug pretomanid as part of the three-drug BPaL regimen.
The Mumbai-based company intends to commercialise the medicine in around 140 countries and territories, including many of the highest TB burden nations around the world, according to a PTI report.
The BPaL regimen offers the TB community the first all-oral, six-month treatment for highly resistant forms of drug resistant-TB.
Oil falls $1 after deep Saudi price cuts spur demand concerns
Oil prices fell about $1 on Monday, extending losses after the world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia slashed crude contract prices for Asia over the weekend, reflecting well-supplied global markets and concerns over the outlook for demand, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures for November fell 1.4%, to $71.63 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for October was down 95 cents, or 1.4%.
Goldman Sachs to list Petershill asset management unit for $750 million
Goldman Sachs will list asset management unit Petershill Partners on the London Stock Exchange for $750 million, it said on Monday.
Petershill, which takes minority stakes in private equity and hedge funds, will be a standalone company operated by the Goldman Sachs Asset Management team, according to a Reuters report.
The business takes advantage of its relationship with Goldman Sachs to source attractive acquisitions in alternative asset management, the firm said. Petershill itself has no fixed assets but holds positions in 19 alternative asset managers.
Aluminium prices hit over decade high as Guinea unrest sparks supply fears
Aluminium prices hit their highest in more than 10 years today after reports of political turmoil in bauxite mining hub Guinea triggered concerns over raw material shortages, Reuters reported.
The most-traded October aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange jumped as much as 3.2% to 21,980 yuan ($3,406.64) a tonne, a level unseen since July 2008, before easing to 21,640 yuan a tonne, still up 1.6%, the report noted.
Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange rose as much as 1.8% to $2,775.50 a tonne, highest since May 2011.
Oil giant ADNOC to sell minimum 7.5% stake in drilling unit’s IPO
ADNOC Drilling said on Monday it intended to list on the Abu Dhabi bourse, with its parent company Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) selling a minimum 7.5% stake in an initial public offering (IPO).
This is the second public flotation of a company owned by the Abu Dhabi oil giant after it listed ADNOC Distribution, the largest operator of petrol stations and convenience stores in the United Arab Emirates, in 2017, a Reuters report noted.
European banks still booking profits in tax havens, report says
Top banks in Europe continue to use tax havens to book chunks of profits, a trend that has changed little since 2014 despite country-by-country disclosures becoming mandatory, the EU Tax Observatory said in a report on Monday.
Disclosures from 36 major European banks showed they booked a total of 20 billion euros ($23.77 billion) or about 14% of total profits, in tax havens, even though few were employed there, Reuters reported.
Profits booked by banks in tax havens work out at around 238,000 per employee, compared with 65,000 euros in non-tax havens, the report said.
India’s August gold imports nearly double on price correction
India’s gold imports in August nearly doubled from a year ago to their highest level in five months on an improvement in demand and as a correction in prices prompted jewellers to ramp up purchases for the festive season, Reuters reported, citing a government source.
India imported 121 tonnes of gold in August, compared to 63 tonnes a year earlier, the report noted. In value terms, August imports surged to $6.7 billion from $3.7 billion a year ago.
Rupee falls 4 paise to 73.06 against U.S. dollar in early trade
The Indian rupee declined 4 paise to 73.06 against the U.S. dollar in opening trade today, tracking a firm American currency, PTI reported.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 73.02 against the dollar, then fell further to 73.06, registering a fall of 4 paise over its previous close.
Forex traders said a rally in domestic equities and sustained foreign fund inflows supported the rupee and contained the depreciation bias.
Maruti Suzuki hikes vehicle prices by up to 1.9%
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Monday said it has increased prices of its entire product range, except Celerio, by up to 1.9% with immediate effect, according to PTI .
In a regulatory filing, the company said that it has taken the decision to hike prices due to an increase in various input costs. This is MSI’s third price hike this year.
The auto major has already raised prices in January and April this year, with an overall hike of around 3.5%, the news agency noted.
Saudi Arabia slashes crude prices to Asia
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, slashed prices of all crude grades to Asian customers in October versus September, but left prices to north-western Europe and the United States steady, a Reuters report noted.
The deep price cuts come as lockdowns across Asia to combat the highly infectious delta variant of the coronavirus have capped fuel demand in the region. Global oil supplies are also increasing as the OPEC+ is raising output by 400,000 barrels per day a month between August and December.
Binance removes Singapore products on main platform after regulator’s warning
Embattled Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, said it will restrict its services in Singapore days after the city state’s central bank said it should stop offering payment services, according to a Reuters report.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore became the latest regulator to take aim at Binance, warning last week that its global platform, Binance.com, could be breaking the law by providing payment services to Singapore residents without an appropriate licence, the report noted.
Binance.com will stop offering Singapore dollar payment options and Singapore dollar trading pairs from Sept. 10 and the app will be removed from the Singapore iOs and Google Play stores, it said in a post on its website.
Atal Pension Yojana dominates social security scheme with 66% NPS subscriber base
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has emerged as the most popular social security scheme under the National Pension System (NPS), PTI reported.
Out of 4.2 crore NPS subscribers, over 66% or 2.8 crore opted for the APY at the end of 2020-21, mainly from the non-metro centres, according the annual report of the National Pension Systems Trust.
APY also dominated in terms of growth rate of the subscriber base, with a gain of 33% on-year in fiscal year ending March 2021, the report noted.
Govt’s excise collection jumps 48% in Apr-July
The government’s collections from levy of excise duty on petroleum products have jumped 48% in the first four months of the current fiscal year, with the incremental mop-up being 3-times of the repayment liability of legacy oil bonds in the full fiscal, official data showed.
Data available from the Controller General of Accounts in the Union Ministry of Finance showed excise duty collections during April-July 2021 surging to over ₹1 lakh crore, from ₹67,895 crore mop-up in the same period of the previous fiscal.
Indian benchmark indices open at fresh record high
Indian indices opened at fresh record high today. BSE Sensex opened at 58,411.62, up 281.67 points, while Nifty opened at 17,399.35, up 75.75 points.
On Friday, the BSE Sensex settled 277.41 points or 0.48% up at its lifetime closing high of 58,129.95, while Nifty advanced 89.45 points or 0.52% to its all-time closing peak of 17,323.60.
Global trends to guide markets in holiday-shortened week
The stock market is likely to continue with its positive momentum but may face bouts of profit-booking amid lofty valuations in this holiday-shortened week, PTI reported, citing analysts.
The trading sentiment will be guided mostly by global trends in absence of major domestic events, the report noted.
The BSE 30-share benchmark zoomed 2,005.23 points or 3.57% last week. The benchmark scaled the 58,000-mark for the first time on Friday.
Asia shares edge higher on hopes for more stimulus
Asian shares edged higher today as a disappointing U.S. payrolls report promised to keep policy there super-loose for longer, but also clouded the outlook for global growth and inflation, Reuters reported.
A holiday in the United States made for thin conditions and kept MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan to a small gain of 0.2%, though that was the highest since late July, the report noted.
Japan’s Nikkei added 1.7%, extending a rally on hopes a new prime minister there would bring added fiscal stimulus. Chinese blue chips gained 1.3% amid speculation Beijing would also be adding stimulus through fiscal and monetary policy.
