COMPETITIVE MARKET

Enter the dragon: Under pressure from Chinese EV makers Volkswagen may close plants in Germany for the first time in history

Volkswagen is currently in a crisis situation, being under high pressure from Chinese electric vehicle makers, forcing it to close plants in Germany, which is for the first time in history. This has turned out to be a majorly demanding and dangerous situation, as per reports.

04 Sep, 2024, 04:16 AM IST

Aarti Industries bets big on large deals, capacity expansion amid bleak short term prospects

Aarti Industries, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, has declined nearly 16% since its June quarter results. Despite revenue and profit growth, concerns over Chinese excess supply have led analysts to cut earnings estimates. The company continues to push forward with capex plans and long-term deals to drive future growth.

02 Sep, 2024, 04:37 PM IST

How accelerating retail expansion with process excellence and technology can offer a competitive edge

The ability to streamline and automate the retail expansion process can offer brands a decisive advantage.

31 Aug, 2024, 10:01 AM IST

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney merger approved by Competition Commission of India

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger between Reliance Industries-promoted Viacom18 and Walt Disney-owned Star India. This merger is set to create India's largest media and entertainment firm. Integration will start soon, with Reliance holding a 56% stake, while Disney and Bodhi Tree Systems will own 37% and 7%, respectively.

29 Aug, 2024, 11:17 AM IST

Hyundai plots India SUV rollout as domestic competition mounts ahead of IPO

Hyundai Motor aims to reclaim market share in India by launching new SUVs and its first locally-made electric vehicle in 2025. With a $3 billion public listing on the horizon, Hyundai plans to introduce hybrid cars and increase focus on premium vehicles to boost margins in the world's third-largest car market.

29 Aug, 2024, 10:52 AM IST

What were CCI's concerns over Disney-Reliance deal

Walt Disney Co and Reliance Industries have received approval from the Competition Commission of India for their $8.5 billion merger of Indian media assets. The approval came after concessions related to their control of cricket broadcasting rights, amid concerns of reduced competition in the sports TV and advertising markets.

29 Aug, 2024, 10:24 AM IST

ETtech Exclusive: Amazon India set to launch quick commerce as competition swells

Amazon has put together a plan to take on the quick commerce challenge in India, with its own offering which is slated to launch by early next year. The India unit of the etailer has handed over the responsibility of building its quick commerce strategy to senior executive Nishant Sardana as part of a rejig of the top leadership. 28 Aug, 2024, 11:16 AM IST

Exclusive: BigBasket set to fully pivot to quick commerce amid rising competition

Once the largest online grocery player in the country, Tata-owned BigBasket fell behind the young quick commerce upstarts as the new model of rapid deliveries caught customer fancy. The 13-year-old firm is now charting a comeback in this space. As much as $1 billion of BigBasket’s target of $1.5 billion in sales for this financial year will come from quick commerce through BB Now 27 Aug, 2024, 08:16 AM IST

Quick-commerce vs e-commerce: Ready for the new pricefight in town?

Quick-Comm operators like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto matched prices with major ecommerce platforms Amazon and Flipkart, aiming to attract consumers. This strategy marked a shift from their previous 10-15% premium charges for instant deliveries. The move has triggered a price war and increased competition for faster services in the home delivery market. 24 Aug, 2024, 09:26 AM IST

Disney-Reliance offer concessions for $8.5 billion India merger, but no cricket rights sale

Disney and Reliance have proposed concessions to India's antitrust authority to gain approval for their $8.5 billion media merger but refuse to sell any cricket broadcast rights, the deal's most valuable asset. In response to the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) concerns about market dominance, the companies agreed not to unreasonably increase ad rates for cricket matches. The CCI is now reviewing the concessions, with a broader investigation possible if concerns persist. 22 Aug, 2024, 05:51 PM IST

CV Venkataraman on Titan's strategy for luxury jewellery segment

​This understanding has been developed over the last many years and we know where such people live in the country and so we go typically where they live and put up the stores in those cities, broadly in the localities where they live or convenient to where they live, so that is the broad approach. 22 Aug, 2024, 12:36 PM IST

UK watchdog shuts down probes into Apple and Google app stores

The tech giants have faced scrutiny around the world over the dominance of their respective App Store and Google Play store platforms, which critics say impose unfair charges on app developers and limit competition. 22 Aug, 2024, 09:07 AM IST

One year in, EU turning up heat in big tech fight

Since August 2023, the world's biggest digital platforms have faced the toughest ever tech regulations in the European Union -- which shows no sign of slowing down in enforcing them. Brussels scored its first major victory after forcing TikTok to permanently remove an "addictive" feature from a spinoff app in Europe in August, a year after content moderation rules under the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA) started to apply. 20 Aug, 2024, 01:21 PM IST

Waning demand set to hit breakneck rally in auto stocks

India's auto sector experienced a decline in August driven by a buildup of unsold inventory and increased competition among carmakers resulting in higher discounts. The NSE Nifty Auto Index fell by 4.1%. With the festival season approaching, expectations remain low, particularly for entry-level cars, as dealers anticipate flat or lower sales compared to last year. 19 Aug, 2024, 08:45 AM IST

Carmakers revving up style quotient: SUVs get a coupé makeover to woo a competitive market

Tata Motors is entering the mid-SUV segment, where it has not been present so far, with the coupé styled Curvv, offering buyers an option to choose from electric, petrol or diesel drivetrains. The mid-SUV segment is the fastest growing passenger vehicle segment and had a 16% share of total industry volumes last fiscal year. The introductory price of Rs 17.49 lakh for the electric variant. 18 Aug, 2024, 09:31 AM IST

Nike shares jump as Ackman's return sparks turnaround hopes

Nike shares increased by nearly 4% with investor optimism over billionaire William Ackman's renewed stake of 0.19%. Ackman, who has a history of successful turnarounds, hasn't disclosed his plans yet. The sportswear giant faces strategy errors and competition, with some analysts speculating Ackman might seek deeper involvement in management changes. 16 Aug, 2024, 07:54 AM IST

Leading out in style, Gravita India shares may go up to Rs 2,350: Motilal Oswal

Motilal Oswal recommended buying Gravita India shares with a target price of Rs 2,350, driven by industry tailwinds and favorable policies. Gravita’s core lead recycling business is set to grow, along with its Aluminum and Plastic segments. Risks include supply chain issues and regulatory changes. 14 Aug, 2024, 03:40 PM IST

Cabinet approves Rs 1,766-cr Clean Plant Programme to boost horticulture exports

The government approved a Rs 1,766 crore Clean Plant Programme aimed at improving the quality of planting material for horticultural crops. This initiative, overseen by the Union Agriculture Ministry, will address virus infections affecting crop productivity and quality. Nine institutions and 75 nurseries will implement the programme, aiming to enhance exports and farmers' income. 09 Aug, 2024, 11:13 PM IST

How the Google antitrust ruling may influence tech competition

A federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by hindering competition in internet search, which could have significant implications for similar tech industry cases. The ruling draws on the Microsoft case from 2000. Judge Amit P. Mehta will decide on remedies to promote competition and innovation in the tech sector. 08 Aug, 2024, 12:37 PM IST

RBI acts to make the rupee lose its mojo, but gain export competitiveness

The rupee's recent decline against the US dollar might be due to strategic moves by the Reserve Bank of India to boost export competitiveness. The RBI is believed to have intervened to address the rupee's overvaluation, reflected in a high REER. The interventions appear to have reduced the REER, making Indian exports more competitive. 07 Aug, 2024, 07:20 AM IST

CCI seeks Apple's reply on investigation report alleging antitrust practices

The supplementary investigation report by the regulator's Director General (DG) has concluded that Apple allegedly abused its market dominance in the relevant market, violating various provisions of Section 4 of the competition law. 06 Aug, 2024, 05:39 PM IST

How the Google antitrust ruling may influence tech competition

Google's loss could have major ripple effects for competition today. U.S. regulators have also accused Apple, Amazon and Meta of violating antitrust laws by advantaging their own products on the platforms they run and acquiring smaller rivals. 06 Aug, 2024, 05:34 PM IST

India needs more than just two major airlines: IndiGo's Rahul Bhatia

IndiGo's Rahul Bhatia addressed the airline's dominant market share, attributing it to the exit of competitors like Kingfisher and Jet Airways. He assured that IndiGo remains committed to fair pricing and operational efficiency, while exploring long-haul international routes, an area largely controlled by foreign airlines. 06 Aug, 2024, 12:53 AM IST

US launches Nvidia antitrust probe after rivals' complaints: report

The U.S. Department of Justice initiated an investigation into Nvidia after competitors alleged it used its dominance in AI chip sales to pressure cloud providers and charge higher prices for rival networking gear. Nvidia maintained it competes fairly based on innovation and following laws, while the DOJ gathered more information from rivals. 02 Aug, 2024, 09:38 AM IST

Challenge is to provide more clarity to our relationships with China: NITI Aayog vice chairman Suman Bery

India's NITI Aayog vice chairman Suman Bery discussed the complexities of reducing economic ties with China, job creation, fiscal consolidation, and the importance of state reforms. He emphasized the critical role of Chinese trade in India's competitiveness, particularly in green technology. Bery elaborated on the budget's cash-linked employment incentives aimed at improving youth employability and matching skills with opportunities. He also defended the sharp fiscal consolidation, citing its potential long-term benefits like improved sovereign credit ratings. On capital gains tax, he noted its role in balancing revenue distribution, and discussed the nuanced impact of inflation on monetary policy. 25 Jul, 2024, 07:09 AM IST

Budget measures to enhance competitiveness in domestic, export markets: Consumer electronics players

CEAMA praises the union budget for customs duties removal on critical materials. FM Sitharaman's tariff cuts on minerals bolster initiatives like PM Awas Yojana and rental housing. Major firms like Voltas, Panasonic, Kent RO Systems, and MSMEs anticipate growth. SPPL and Amber Enterprises benefit from BCD increase, propelling India's manufacturing sector forward. 23 Jul, 2024, 10:11 PM IST

Zydus inks licensing pact with Takeda to sell GERD drug

"With a rich legacy in marketing gastrointestinal therapies in India, we have been offering different breakthrough clinical options across the spectrum," Zydus Lifesciences MD Sharvil Patel said. 17 Jul, 2024, 10:05 PM IST

IT stocks: A comeback which just needs a bit more confirmation; 7 stocks with an upside potential of up to 23%

Just before the expiry of the June series contract, bulls were seen in a segment of the market which has been long ignored by them — IT stocks. Because the upward movement was taking place at the end of expiry, one could not rule out the element of short covering. If one looks a bit deeper in the trend in IT stocks, two things have become clear. That while the news and opinion has been negative, the price action has not been so bad as has been painted. Now let's look at what happened in the IT sector and why there could be a case for contrarian buying. Yes, the sector has some headwinds which not many had thought would appear two years back. But the bigger question is whether this phase of underperformance is about to get over or not. It might be time to shed the bias of negativity around large IT players. 01 Jul, 2024, 02:56 PM IST

Competitive intensity in used vehicle market to be on the rise: India Ratings

India Ratings and Research predicts that vehicle financiers will increase the share of used vehicles in their AUM due to rising new vehicle prices, food inflation, heat wave, moderation in capacity utilization due to elections, and slowing rural economy. The agency also expects a decrease in FY25 growth rates from FY24 levels. The agency expects non-bank finance companies to focus on used vehicles as assets class, presenting a favorable risk-return in terms of asset quality and pricing power. 26 Jun, 2024, 05:03 PM IST