Category: News

Shares of life insurance players took a nosedive as the GST Council pumped the brakes on a potential rate cut for insurance premiums.  New India Assurance slid 6.8% to ₹199.60, and Star Health stumbled by 2.7%. The crux of the market unease? The council, under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s watch, decided more time was needed to untangle the tax complexities. Initially, the GoM dangled a promising proposal in November—GST exemptions for term life insurance and reduced rates for health policies catering to senior citizens and those with coverage up to ₹5 lakh. But for now, the standard 18% GST remains on high-ticket health policies exceeding ₹5 lakh, leaving middle-class policyholders and insurers in a limbo. With affordability and accessibility on the line, the eventual outcome of these debates could reshape how millions approach insurance. But as it stands, the market isn’t impressed by the pause.

Hyderabad-based Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited, a key player in specialized engineering equipment for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, just secured ₹40 crore in pre-IPO funding from Singapore-based Amansa Investments. The deal was finalized through a private placement of 28,57,142 equity shares at ₹140 per share, marking a premium of ₹130. The IPO, priced at a face value of ₹10 per equity share, is projected to raise ₹250 crore through new issuance, along with an offer for sale of 18,444,000 equity shares by promoters and other stakeholders. With SEBI’s final observation in October 2024, Standard Glass is ready to enter the public markets.Known for its turnkey solutions, the company’s product portfolio spans services essential for pharmaceutical and chemical production. By June 30, 2024, its client list included 30 of the approximately 80 pharma and chemical companies in the NSE 500.

Piramal Enterprises is set to raise ₹2,000 crore through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs). The Piramal Group, a global conglomerate with operations in pharmaceuticals, financial services, and real estate, spans over 30 countries and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. The board of Piramal Enterprises has approved a plan to issue NCDs with a face value of ₹1,000 each, in one or more phases, to raise up to ₹2,000 crore. Piramal Enterprises’ shares closed at ₹1,090.25 on the NSE. Over the past year, the stock has delivered a 23% return, while its 2024 performance stands at 17%, outperforming the Nifty, which has gained 11% over the last 12 months. Year-to-date, the Nifty has risen by 8%. For Q2FY25, Piramal Enterprises reported consolidated revenue of ₹2,302.9 crore, an increase from ₹1,960.6 crore during the same period last year. The company posted a net profit of ₹22.6 crore, significantly higher than the ₹5 crore reported in Q2FY24.

After grappling with a 15% drop in aggregate net profit in FY23, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) turned the tide in FY24, posting a remarkable 47% growth in net profit, driven primarily by the petroleum sector’s stellar performance. The 272 operating CPSEs reported a combined net profit of ₹3.22 lakh crore in FY24, a sharp rise from ₹2.18 lakh crore in FY23. Dividend payouts by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) increased by 16.3% to ₹1.23 lakh crore in FY24, highlighting their stronger financial performance. However, gross revenue fell by 4.7% to ₹36.08 lakh crore, signaling mixed results in operational performance. The Centre’s capital management approach led to a 121% jump in the market capitalisation of listed CPSEs, which reached ₹37.23 lakh crore by March 31, 2024, up from ₹16.85 lakh crore the previous year. Salary and wages grew by 4% to ₹1.72 lakh crore, the workforce structure underwent a shift. Regular employee numbers dropped by 3.1% to 0.81 million, while contractual workers increased by 8.8% to 0.7 million. Research and Development (R&D) expenditure witnessed a 50% jump to ₹10,813 crore.

Shares of aviation companies, including InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) and SpiceJet, could see action as the government’s 55th GST Council meeting considers a landmark move: bringing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the GST framework. The potential inclusion of ATF in GST has long been a key demand from the aviation industry, offering the promise of reduced operational costs and improved efficiency. Currently, ATF—a clear and highly flammable petroleum distillate used for aircraft refueling—is subject to varied state-level taxes, often at prohibitive rates. If ATF is brought under GST, it could streamline tax rates across the country, providing relief to airlines and boosting their financial performance. The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and attended by state representatives, will deliberate on this issue in Jaisalmer on December 21. With jet fuel prices already pressuring margins, a uniform GST rate could be a game-changer for the sector.

Reliance Industries is in the spotlight following the revival of its oil swap arrangement with Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, a deal that had previously been suspended due to U.S. sanctions. This renewal was made possible by a U.S. license granted in July. Earlier this month, a supertanker carrying 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey heavy crude departed for India’s Sikka port, with Reliance supplying 500,000 barrels of heavy naphtha to PDVSA in exchange. Despite this development, 2024 has been a disappointing year for Reliance Industries, with its shares poised to close the year with negative returns for the first time in nearly a decade. From its July peak, the stock has fallen about 21%, erasing over ₹4.4 lakh crore in market capitalization. After robust performances in earlier years, with a 70.55% return in 2017 and consistent growth through 2020, Reliance’s growth trajectory has slowed, culminating in a likely decline this year.

Siemens India faced a rough trading day on December 20, as its stock tumbled 10%, hitting a one-month low of ₹6,868 per share. This marks the company’s sharpest intraday fall since June, following a lackluster September quarter earnings call. For the September quarter, Siemens reported a revenue of ₹5,894 crore, an 11% increase from ₹5,297 crore a year ago. Despite strong fundamentals and growth in new orders, Siemens faces short-term challenges, including private capex unevenness, supply chain constraints, and margin pressures in certain segments. The Digital Industries division is grappling with a global semiconductor shortage and customer destocking, which have pressured margins and created an unfavorable product mix. The management anticipates a recovery in this segment as destocking trends subside. The management highlighted that private capital expenditure (capex) remains uneven, with robust investments in emerging areas like semiconductors and batteries but sluggish activity in traditional technologies. Siemens announced an additional ₹100 crore capex to expand its power transformer factory in Kalwa, bringing the total investment to ₹460 crore.

Shares of Himadri Speciality Chemical have hit a speed bump, sliding 20.5% from their all-time high of ₹688 in September to ₹547 today.  Despite this correction, it’s still up an impressive 77% in 2024. ICICI Securities recently initiated coverage with an ‘ADD’ rating and a target price of ₹600, citing the company’s dominance in India’s coal-tar value chain. Himadri commands a 60–70% market share in Coal Tar Pitch (CTP) and other derivatives, bolstered by its forward integration into high-margin carbon black production. What’s driving long-term optimism? For one, Himadri’s strategy moves into lithium-ion battery materials. The company’s expansion in export markets commands a premium pricing advantage of 10–15%, enhancing profitability. On top of that, Himadri’s planned boost to coal tar distillation capacity targets growing demand for aluminum production. With stable demand and expanding markets, the company’s fundamentals remain robust, making this dip an opportunity for long-term investors rather than a cause for concern.

BASF India shares lit up the trading floor on Friday, climbing almost 9% after the company unveiled its plans to demerge its agricultural solutions business into a standalone entity. The stock kicked off the day at ₹5,780.05, quickly rallying to ₹5,944.30 on the BSE, marking an impressive 8.9% jump. By mid-morning, it settled slightly, trading 5.67% higher at ₹5,769.55. The excitement stemmed from an announcement late Thursday, where BASF India’s board gave its nod for the spin-off. This move aligns with BASF SE’s global strategy to separate its agricultural solutions business by 2027, both legally and through enterprise resource planning (ERP). BASF India has been prepping for this shift, first hinting at the changes in December last year and providing updates along the way, including a September 2024 assessment of how the global strategy affects its Indian operations. BASF India’s agricultural solutions unit, now poised for greater autonomy, could emerge as a significant player in its own right.

International Gemological Institute shares had a glittering market debut on Friday, listing at ₹510 on the NSE—a solid 22.3% premium over its ₹417 IPO price. On the BSE, it wasn’t far behind, opening at ₹504.85, marking a 21.07% jump. The ₹4,225 crore IPO had already turned heads during its subscription period from December 13 to 17, with bids pouring in at 35.48 times the shares on offer.  The structure of IPO was a mix of a fresh issue of 3.54 crore shares (₹1,475 crore) and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 6.59 crore shares (₹2,750 crore). With this, the promoter’s stake drops from a full 100% to 76.55%, signaling a step toward broader market participation. Retail investors can participate with a minimum lot of 35 shares, which amounts to an initial investment of ₹14,595. What’s the money for? Primarily, it’s earmarked to acquire IGI Belgium Group and IGI Netherlands Group—strategic moves to bolster their global presence.