Category: News

India’s hotel industry is on a roll, riding a wave of demand that’s outpacing supply—and by a comfortable margin, according to Axis Capital’s latest report. Demand is set to grow at a brisk 12% CAGR for FY24-27, outshining the modest 9% CAGR expected in supply. Structural drivers are paving the way for sustained growth. Leisure travel, buoyed by rising disposable incomes and wealthier households, has been a consistent star, accounting for nearly half of total hotel demand. Business travel, after years of decline, is primed for a rebound as corporate profits and travel budgets recover. Sure, the sector has its risks—seasonality, economic slowdowns, and new market entrants could shake things up. But for now, de-leveraged portfolios and better cash flows have set a solid foundation.

Speaking at the CII Global Economic Policy Forum 2024, Panagariya ( Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission) emphasized that India could take a page out of developed countries’ playbooks. Selectively embracing Chinese investments could bolster local manufacturing and position India better in the global supply chain. It’s a perspective backed by the Economic Survey 2023-24, which highlighted how increased FDI from China could enhance export potential and help India carve a bigger slice of the international trade pie. Panagariya underlined the importance of safeguarding against investments from “unfriendly countries” that might harm national interests. The approach isn’t about blind acceptance; it’s about striking the right balance.

BlueStone Jewellery, the Bengaluru-based e-commerce juggernaut for fine jewellery, is ready to dazzle the stock market. Filing its draft papers with SEBI on December 12, the company is planning a blockbuster IPO that promises to be as glittering as its diamond collections. Backed by heavyweights like Ratan Tata and Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath, BlueStone is raising funds to expand its horizons and solidify its status as a top lifestyle brand. Here’s the breakdown: the IPO includes a ₹1,000 crore fresh issue and an offer for sale (OFS) of 2.4 crore shares. Proceeds from the fresh issue—are earmarked for working capital and corporate expenses.

PropShare Platina REIT Crowned Most Expensive Stock PropShare Platina REIT has stormed in, claiming the title of the priciest stock with a jaw-dropping debut at ₹10.5 lakh per unit. PropShare Platina is the first to feature the sleek new SM REIT license, thanks to SEBI’s regulations introduced in March 2024. Focused on bite-sized, high-impact real estate plays, SM REITs are tailored for investors who want a piece of the action without diving into mammoth portfolios. Think ₹50-500 crore market caps and single-property specialization, not the sprawling diversification of traditional REITs. The buzz around PropShare Platina’s ₹353 crore issue was electric—it sold out fast, oversubscribed 1.19 times during its December 2-4 window.

The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) project in Sri Lanka, owned by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), did not receive the $553 million loan from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation due to the owner’s decision. Instead, the company will finance the project through its internal resources and capital management strategy. The decision was made public late on a Tuesday, with APSEZ stating that the project is progressing well and is expected to be commissioned by early next year.

Amid growing anticipation of a central government capital expenditure (capex) boost and a recovery in corporate earnings for FY25, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are reversing last month’s trend. Amid growing anticipation of a central government capital expenditure (capex) boost and a recovery in corporate earnings for FY25, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are reversing last month’s trend. After significant sell-off of $2.5 billion in November Foreign institutional investors have already acquired around $3 billion in Indian stocks.

LG Electronics India’s $1.8-billion IPO has drawn attention, particularly for its royalty payments to its South Korean parent company. For FY24, LG India paid about 2.3-2.4% of its sales as royalties, totaling ₹323 crore, as detailed in its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). It’s noteworthy that royalty payouts above 5% require shareholder approval, making them a key consideration for potential investors. As LG India gears up for its IPO, these financial dynamics should be closely watched, with potential investors evaluating the implications of royalty expenses on the company’s profitability and growth.

Travel Food Services Ltd (TFS), a leading name in India’s airport travel dining scene, is taking its next big leap by filing for an IPO worth up to Rs 2,000 crore. Heavyweights like Kotak Mahindra Capital and HSBC Securities are among the lead managers steering this move. As TFS prepares for its IPO, it looks set to solidify its leadership in travel-centric dining and luxury experiences. Numbers tell their own story: TFS saw its revenue soar to Rs 1,396.32 crore in fiscal 2024, marking impressive growth from the previous year’s Rs 1,067.15 crore. Net profits followed suit, climbing to Rs 298.02 crore.

Elon Musk’s Tesla appears to be rekindling its Indian dream, resuming its hunt for showroom space in New Delhi, insiders reveal. While discussions are in early stages, the electric vehicle giant is reportedly eyeing DLF properties like Avenue Mall in Delhi and Cyber Hub in Gurugram to set up a consumer experience center and a larger facility for delivery and service operations. Tesla’s ambitions, however, remain tentative. A deal with DLF isn’t guaranteed, and the company is keeping its options open.

As the world’s second-largest crude steel producer, India is setting ambitious goals—targeting a steelmaking capacity of 300 million metric tons by 2030, up from today’s 180 million metric tons. India’s push to expand coal-powered steelmaking might throw a wrench in its 2070 net-zero carbon emissions target, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM). New coal-based steel projects and an already young fleet of high-emission furnaces could lock India into emitting an additional 680 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent.