Author: Supriya Jena

  • SBI’s New MD Appointed: What It Means for Investors”

    SBI’s New MD Appointed: What It Means for Investors”

    Today, State Bank of India (SBI) is in the spotlight because they just announced their new Managing Director (MD), Rama Mohan Rao Amara. According to an official notice from the Indian government, he will take over this important role. Rama Mohan Rao Amara previously held the position of Deputy Managing Director and was also in charge of managing risks at the bank.

    His appointment as MD is for three years and will begin once he officially starts the job. Meanwhile, Kshitij Mohan, who was also a Deputy Managing Director, will now take over as the Deputy Managing Director & Group Chief Risk Officer.

    SBI’s shares have been doing well over the past year, increasing by 29.3%. Since the beginning of this year, they are up by 30.7%. However, in the last six months, the stock has dipped slightly by 0.66%, though it has risen by 5.9% over the last three months. On Wednesday, SBI shares closed at Rs 839.05, down by 1.3%.

    Disclaimer: This news is based on reports and opinions of experts and does not reflect the views of Niftystat.

  • Bank of Baroda to Raise ₹10,000 Crore for Infrastructure Projects

    Bank of Baroda to Raise ₹10,000 Crore for Infrastructure Projects

    Bank of Baroda (BoB), a state-owned bank, is making headlines as its board has decided to raise ₹10,000 crore to support infrastructure and affordable housing projects. This is exciting news for the bank and could improve many lives!

    During a meeting on December 18, 2024, the board approved the plan to gather funds through long-term bonds. They may raise this money in one go or in smaller parts during the financial year 2024-25, depending on what the market looks like and whether it’s a good time to do so.

    In the second quarter of the financial year 2024 (Q2 FY24), Bank of Baroda reported a net profit of ₹5,238 crore, which is a 23.2% increase from ₹4,253 crore in the same time last year. The bank’s income from loans also grew by 7.3% to ₹11,622 crore in Q2 FY25.

    The bank has been performing really well, with a return on assets (ROA) of 1.30% for Q2 FY25, and return on equity (ROE) reaching 19.22%. Its overall income grew by 12% from last year, helped by a strong 24.2% increase in income from services beyond just loans.

    Furthermore, Bank of Baroda’s bad loans have decreased! The gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio improved to 2.50% in Q2 FY25, down from 3.32% a year earlier. The net NPA ratio also improved, standing at 0.60%.

    On Wednesday, Bank of Baroda’s shares closed at ₹250.60, dropping by 2.1%. In 2024, the stock has gained 7%, and over the past two years, it has increased by 38%. The bank’s market cap is now ₹43,011 crore.

    (Disclaimer: The views and opinions stated are those of the experts and do not reflect the views of NiftyStat.)

  • Register Now for ICSI CSEET May 2025 – Important Dates & Details

    Register Now for ICSI CSEET May 2025 – Important Dates & Details

    The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has opened registration for the CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) for May 2025. If you want to apply, you can do so on their official website at icsi.edu. Remember, the last date to register is April 15, 2025. This exam is for students who have completed or are currently in Class 12.

    The CSEET will take place on May 3, 2025, and it will be online with supervision. The test will last for 120 minutes and include questions worth a total of 200 marks. Good news—there’s no penalty for incorrect answers!

    The exam covers four subjects, each worth 50 marks:
    – Business Communication
    – Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning
    – Economic and Business Environment
    – Current Affairs and Quantitative Aptitude

    How to Register for ICSI CSEET May 2025:
    1. Visit the ICSI website at icsi.edu.
    2. Click on the latest updates link on the home page.
    3. A new page will open with the registration link for CSEET May 2025.
    4. Click the link and fill in your details.
    5. Log in and complete the application form.
    6. Pay the application fee of ₹2000 online.
    7. Click submit, download the page, and keep a printed copy for your records.

    Also, please note that the ICSI CS executive and professional exams will happen from December 21 to December 30, 2024. You can find your admit card on the ICSI website. For more information, check the official ICSI website.

    Official Notice Here

  • Federal Reserve Cuts Rates: Future Cuts Uncertain Amid Inflation Risks

    Federal Reserve Cuts Rates: Future Cuts Uncertain Amid Inflation Risks

    On Wednesday, the U.S. central bank, known as the Federal Reserve, decided to lower interest rates as expected. However, its leader, Jerome Powell, warned that any future cuts would depend on further improvements in stubborn inflation. This news surprised Wall Street, causing stocks to drop and bond yields to rise.

    During a press conference, Powell explained that while inflation has started to get better since it peaked in 2022, it hasn’t improved as quickly as they hoped, especially in housing costs. He mentioned that the Fed is now considering how changes in government policies under President-elect Donald Trump might affect the economy. Additions like higher tariffs, tax cuts, and stricter immigration laws could create more inflation, which could impact how often the Fed lowers interest rates.

    The Fed had already cut rates once in September and again this week, lowering the benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point. However, many experts thought there would be more cuts, but Powell’s comments suggested that might not happen. He noted that while the economy is doing well with low unemployment and growth, the path ahead is uncertain. This means the Fed will take a careful approach before making further cuts.

    Now, officials expect interest rates to decrease slowly, projecting just two small cuts by the end of 2025. Despite the new lower rates, the path to reaching the Fed’s goal of 2% inflation could take until 2027. Powell emphasized that it is too early to predict how Trump’s upcoming policies will play out, and the Fed is discussing how tariffs might impact prices.

  • Hong Kong’s First Drone Show: Celebrate Pandas with Fireworks!”

    Hong Kong’s First Drone Show: Celebrate Pandas with Fireworks!”

    On December 28, Hong Kong will host its very first drone show featuring fireworks! This exciting event will happen at 8:15 p.m. in the West Kowloon Cultural District. The show is part of the fun “Panda Go! Fest HK” exhibition, which has displayed 2,500 panda sculptures in popular tourist spots all month, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

    Organized by AllRightsReserved, the 10-minute show will use 1,000 drones that will create amazing panda images and special designs representing Hong Kong. It will be different from normal drone shows because it will include fireworks shooting up from the drones!

    The show will have seven parts, and three of those will feature exciting fireworks effects like waterfall lights and blinking colors. Each part will last between 20 and 50 seconds. One special highlight will be a 3D panda along with characters from “Panda Friends and Family Hong Kong,” featuring the six pandas in the park.

    Everyone is invited to come and watch the show, and more details about where to see it will be shared later.

    The Panda Go! Fest Adventure

    This panda exhibition started earlier in December and has shown 2,500 panda sculptures at four major tourist locations. It kicked off at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui on December 7 and 8, then moved to Ngong Ping 360, and will be at Ocean Park this weekend. The final stop will be Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park on December 25 and 26.

    As part of the event, 1,000 panda sculptures and 10 special figures were auctioned off, raising HK$923,700 (about US$118,800) to help support panda conservation at Ocean Park. Winners will receive their sculptures after the exhibition ends in Sai Ying Pun.

    The “panda economy” got a boost when twin panda cubs were born at the park in August. Plus, a pair of pandas, An An and Ke Ke, came to Hong Kong as a special gift from Beijing in September.

    This new drone show is highly anticipated, especially after a previous National Day event on October 1 was partially canceled due to weather interference. People are excited to see this unique combination of entertainment and conservation!

  • Feel free to make any adjustments as needed

    Feel free to make any adjustments as needed

    Umar Khalid, a former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has been given a temporary release from jail. A court in Karkardooma allowed him to attend his cousin’s wedding. Khalid can spend seven days outside of prison for this special family occasion. More updates will follow soon!

  • Sunil Gavaskar Questions R Ashwin’s Mid-Series Retirement Decision

    Sunil Gavaskar Questions R Ashwin’s Mid-Series Retirement Decision

    Brisbane – Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar is not happy with R Ashwin’s decision to retire right now. He thinks Ashwin should have waited until the Test series against Australia was over. This is important because India is now one player short for the remaining two matches in the series, which is currently tied at 1-1.

    R Ashwin shocked everyone when he announced he was retiring immediately after the third Test ended in a draw. Gavaskar, speaking to the broadcasters, said, “He could have waited until the series was over and then said he wouldn’t be available anymore. This leaves the team short just like when MS Dhoni retired during the third Test in 2014–15.”

    Gavaskar explained that the selection committee picks players with a plan. If anyone gets injured, they need extra players from the reserves to step in. He believes Ashwin could have helped in the final Test in Sydney, where spinners often perform really well. “You never know, he might have been really useful there,” Gavaskar said. He also mentioned that it’s unusual for a player to retire in the middle of a series.

    In the series, India first chose to play Washington Sundar instead of Ashwin. Although Ashwin played the second Test in Adelaide, he did not do well. When asked if Washington is being prepared to take Ashwin’s place, Gavaskar replied, “Maybe Washington Sundar is ahead of him.”

    Rohit Sharma mentioned Ashwin would be leaving soon, marking the end of a fantastic career for Ashwin. Gavaskar said, “He has been an incredible cricketer.”

    This article comes from an automated news agency feed with no changes to the text.

  • Gold Prices Soar in 2024: What You Need to Know

    Gold Prices Soar in 2024: What You Need to Know

    Gold prices have jumped over 20% this year, outdoing popular stock market indices like Nifty and BSE Sensex, which only grew by about 12%. This rise is due to problems around the world, people buying gold as a safe investment, and central banks adding gold to their reserves. Still, gold also faces tough challenges ahead, including a stronger US dollar and the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in 2025.

    Gold has been steadily rising for the last seven quarters. According to ICRA, the average price of gold has gone up by 25% this fiscal year compared to last year, even though there were some small drops in price. Over the past five years, gold delivered nearly 15% returns in 2023 and 14.38% in 2022. In 2019 and 2020, gold prices shot up by about 24.59% and 28.24%, but fell slightly in 2021.

    Recently, two big events affected gold’s popularity. First, the government cut customs duty on gold and silver to 6%, causing gold to drop by 6% in price. Second, results from the US elections strengthened the dollar, which can make gold less appealing to investors. The dollar has increased in value by 6.3% against other important currencies in the past month.

    Despite these challenges, demand for gold remains strong. In November, gold imports soared to $14.86 billion, up from $7 billion in October, showing a huge increase of 112%. ICRA predicts domestic gold jewelry consumption will continue to grow by about 14-18% this financial year.

    Looking ahead to 2025, gold will have to tackle three main events early in the year. First, Donald Trump will return as US President. His policies may add some uncertainty, which usually makes gold more appealing. Next, the Union Budget 2025 will be released, and third, the Reserve Bank of India will have new leadership.

    Investment trends are also shifting as cryptocurrencies gain popularity. Bitcoin has recently surged by 140% this year and may even reach the $120,000 mark, drawing attention away from gold. An expert at HDFC Securities, Anuj Gupta, predicts that gold will face competition but still has chances for good returns. He estimates gold could hit Rs 82,000 in 2025, with strong resistance around Rs 84,500. Gupta believes gold is still a safe bet for the future.

    (Note: The opinions in this article are those of the experts and do not reflect the views of Niftystat.)

  • Pushpa 2: The Action Hit That Defied Expectations!

    Pushpa 2: The Action Hit That Defied Expectations!

    In Pushpa 2: The Rule, there’s a super cool scene where Allu Arjun’s character, Pushpa Raj, fights many bad guys with his hands tied behind his back! This epic fight is similar to what legendary stars like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Salman Khan, and Vijay have done for years. Even Shah Rukh Khan got in on the action last year!

    Pushpa 2 has taken this style to the next level, and the money it’s making shows just how popular it is. Even though some parts of the film don’t always make sense, it perfectly fits the classic action movie formula designed to entertain everyone.

    How Pushpa 2 Became So Successful
    Just like earlier hits like Baahubali and KGF, the first film sets things up for the big success in the second part. While the first Pushpa was a hit in some places but not great in its home, the Hindi version turned out to be a big success. So, the second film’s success relied a lot on how well the Hindi version did.

    As I write this, Pushpa 2: The Rule has already made ₹953 crores in India, with ₹591 crores coming just from the Hindi version! It has even beaten big films like Baahubali 2 and Pathaan at the box office. Truly impressive!

    Sukumar’s Smart Direction
    Allu Arjun is a huge reason why the film is doing well, but director Sukumar also deserves a lot of credit. Many filmmakers try to create a hit, but many fail, like the movies Adipurush and Kanguva. What makes Pushpa 2 different is its story, fun characters, and a hero that people can relate to. While other characters like Rocky Bhai or Baahubali are more of an icon, Pushpa is just like everyone else—and that worked!

    The movie was advertised cleverly, including a trailer launch in Bihar, focusing on making it popular in Hindi-speaking regions. So far, it has earned more money in places like UP and Bihar than in its home state, Andhra Pradesh. This shows how smart the marketing strategy has been.

    A Calculated Choice
    The only downside for Pushpa 2 is its lower earnings in Kerala, where it made just ₹14 crores, while the Tamil version made about ₹50 crores. The presence of big star Fahadh Faasil as a weak villain may have affected its performance there. But featuring him that way might have been a strategic choice. The film is called Pushpa 2, not Pushpa vs Shekhawat, and the focus has to be on Pushpa being strong.

    This smart decision seems to pay off as ticket sales keep ringing up! It’s one thing to plan for a big hit but quite another to succeed, and Sukumar has pulled it off in style. As the movie enters its second week, it could reach ₹1500 crores soon. People are even wondering if it can beat Baahubali 2 and Dangal. Whether it can or not, just the thought shows how big of an impact Pushpa 2 has made!

  • s India’s Flight Prices Getting Out of Control?

    s India’s Flight Prices Getting Out of Control?

    Many people are talking about an issue with flight prices in India. A user on social media pointed out that a ticket on Indigo Airlines from Delhi to Kannur in Kerala costs about ₹22,000. Dr. Shama Mohamed, who is part of the Congress party, shared a photo showing this expensive ticket on X, saying that it’s cheaper to fly from India to Dubai than to travel within India.

    Dr. Mohamed criticized the rising cost of tickets, mentioning that flying within the country is getting too expensive. She wrote, “Ticket pricing of Indigo from Delhi to Kannur on the 22nd is ₹22,000! It’s cheaper to go to Dubai! This is the problem with having only a few companies managing flights.”

    Her post got a lot of attention. Some people agreed, saying that flights are now more costly than ever and hard to afford for most people. Others argued that flying to a less popular place like Kannur right before Christmas would naturally be more expensive because many people want to travel during that time.

    One user named Swathi said, “When you book a flight last minute to a small place like Kannur during the Christmas holidays, the price will be high.” Another user pointed out that when Air India was run by the government, flights were cheaper and allowed for more luggage.

    Many people feel that since the COVID-19 pandemic, flying has become much more expensive. The high demand for flights, along with fewer available seats, has caused ticket prices to increase sharply. Some users mentioned that ticket prices in India change a lot, especially during holidays, long weekends, and busy travel times.