Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The Indian market closed lower on November 11, as gains in IT and bank stocks were offset by losses in index heavyweights. Despite an early rebound, Nifty 50 ended the day in the red, with investors selling on any uptick due to concerns over weak Q2 earnings and domestic factors.

TOP STORIES

Indian Hotels Embraces the Uptrend

What happened?

Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL) reported impressive double-digit growth in Q2 FY25, fueled by strong demand and improved room rates, as well as better occupancies. 

• Revenue from core hotel operations hit ₹1,722 crore, up 16% year-over-year, while overall revenues jumped by 27%. 
  

The Domestic RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) rose 12%, driven by 9% higher room rates and a 200-basis-point rise in occupancy. International properties also saw a 10% RevPAR increase.

Why it matters

IHCL’s expansion couldn’t be better timed. With a rising demand in the hotel industry and an expected 9–11% CAGR until 2027, IHCL is well-positioned to ride the wave. 

• Its scaling businesses, such as Ginger and Ama Stays, show high double-digit growth and the company plans to add 17,354 rooms to its inventory. 
  
  

• October’s RevPAR growth of 16% suggests continued momentum, with foreign tourist arrivals and wedding season demand picking up in H2 FY25.
  
  

Plus, IHCL’s asset-light strategy, where 80% of new rooms will come from management contracts, could mean lower costs and higher returns.

Future Plans

IHCL is taking advantage of the industry’s upswing, expanding both its midscale and luxury offerings while leveraging its asset-light model. In addition to driving organic growth, the company has strengthened its boutique portfolio with the recent acquisition of a 55% stake in Rajscape Hotels.  

PAISON KA KHEL

Vedanta bets $500 million on display glass 

Vedanta Ltd. is putting $500 million into its display glass subsidiary, AvanStrate Inc., with a big vision for the future. This hefty investment will fuel research and development, boosting AvanStrate's manufacturing capabilities to meet global demand for high-tech display glass. But that’s not all – Vedanta’s also eyeing a semiconductor manufacturing plant in India, aiming to dive into the tech sector’s fast lane. 

Aditya Birla Group eyes bigger slice of the American pie

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, is keen on expanding investments in the U.S., highlighting Donald Trump's favourable outlook toward India and his pro-industry stance. 

Birla noted the group's solid U.S. footprint with ventures like Novelis and Aditya Birla Chemicals. This year, they pledged $50 million for a new manufacturing and R&D center in Texas, with an Alabama recycling plant set to roll out next fiscal.

TOP STORIES

P&G India Hits $2 Billion in Sales but Growth Dips

What Happened

Procter & Gamble (P&G) India has achieved a big milestone, surpassing $2 billion in sales for FY24, marking an 8% growth. This achievement comes more than three decades after the company entered the Indian market. 

• The consumer goods giant reported ₹17,429 crore in sales and ₹1,583 crore in net profit. 
  
  

Despite the impressive numbers, P&G’s growth rate has slowed considerably compared to the previous year, when sales grew by 15% and profits expanded by 26%. 

The cause

The slowdown is attributed to a dip in demand across the Indian consumer goods market post-pandemic. However, P&G’s performance is noteworthy for several reasons. Despite a challenging operating environment, the company maintained steady growth, largely driven by product innovation and operational efficiency.

• The Home Products division, which includes popular brands like Tide, Pantene and Pampers, saw profits soar by 37%.
  
  

With a dominant market share in key segments like sanitary napkins and shaving razors, P&G remains a market leader, even as competition from Hindustan Unilever (HUL) intensifies.

Final words

While P&G India’s growth has slowed in FY24, the company still has a hold in the market. With significant investments in technology and plans to expand operations, including a ₹2,000 crore investment in Gujarat, P&G is setting itself up for long-term success. 

Also, the company’s decision to streamline operations through management consultancy McKinsey & Co. reflects its commitment to maintaining growth in a volatile market.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Bitcoin soars past $82K in Trump-fueled crypto frenzy

Bitcoin hit a record high of $82,000 early Monday, riding a wave of “crypto euphoria” following Donald Trump’s unexpected presidential win. This massive rally comes after Bitcoin crossed $80,000 on Sunday for the first time, with other popular coins like Ether and Dogecoin joining the party. 

Analysts say Trump's promise to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” and his warm stance on digital currencies have investors betting big on a friendlier regulatory landscape.

Govt cracks down on Flipkart and Amazon 

The Indian government is stepping up its investigation into Flipkart and Amazon over alleged breaches of foreign investment laws. This follows recent raids on sellers linked to these e-commerce giants. 

More than 350 trade leaders have raised concerns about irregularities in their operations. The Enforcement Directorate is reviewing documents seized during the raids, which revealed violations of regulations that prohibit foreign e-commerce platforms from holding inventory. 

TOP STORIES

Tractor Sales Hit Historic Highs 

What Happened

October 2024 was a record-breaking month for domestic tractor sales in India, with units reaching an all-time high of 144,675—a 23% jump compared to the same month last year and a whopping 44% increase from September. 

Tractor giants like Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and International Tractors, which sells the Sonalika brand, hit milestone sales numbers, with M&M’s sales rising 30% year-on-year to 64,326 units and Sonalika achieving its best-ever monthly sales at 18,002 units.

Why It Matters

The surge in tractor sales was fueled by a combination of favourable conditions: a strong monsoon, high crop yields and the government’s boost to minimum support prices (MSP) for essential crops. This has led to a noticeable increase in rural purchasing power, reflecting the positive impact of both abundant rainfall and supportive government policies.

As a result, the outlook for the second half of the fiscal year looks bright, with industry leaders forecasting double-digit growth of 13-15% in tractor sales, driven by continued rural demand. 

Conclusion

India’s tractor market is racing ahead, with October setting new records. The demand shift reflects a strengthening rural economy, giving tractor manufacturers a good reason to celebrate and revise forecasts upward. But while domestic sales are high, global challenges keep exports relatively flat. All eyes now are on the upcoming Rabi season, where further favourable conditions could add more fuel to the tractor sales engine.

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