Author: Supriya Jena

  • Megan Schutt’s Five-Wicket Haul Shatters India in First Women’s ODI!

    Megan Schutt’s Five-Wicket Haul Shatters India in First Women’s ODI!

    On Thursday, Australian bowler Megan Schutt had an incredible game, taking her first five-wicket haul as India Women were bowled out for just 100 runs in the first match of their three-game series. Schutt’s amazing bowling performance, with impressive figures of 5 wickets for just 19 runs, left the Indian batting lineup struggling.

    India decided to bat first but found it tough going, losing their openers early in the match. Priya Punia, who came back into the team in place of Shafali Verma, scored only 3 runs off 17 balls before being dismissed by Schutt. Smriti Mandhana managed just 8 runs off 9 balls before edging a wide ball to the wicketkeeper.

    Captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to hold the team together with 23 runs off 42 balls but was out lbw thanks to Annabel Sutherland. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was the top scorer with 23 runs off 42 balls, showed some talent but got bowled by Kim Garth while trying to play the ball to the other side.

    India fell apart quickly, going from 62 runs for 3 wickets to being all out for 100 runs in just over 34 overs, with their last three batters getting out in no time. Schutt finished her fantastic bowling by bowling Priya Mishra and completing her five wickets, leading Australia to a strong position.

    Overall, India’s batting performance was weak, with no player able to stand up against the strong Australian team.

    Brief Scores:
    India Women: 100 all out in 34.2 overs (Top scorer: Jemimah Rodrigues 23 runs; Megan Schutt 5 wickets for 19 runs).

    Teams:
    India Women: Priya Punia, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Titas Sadhu, Priya Mishra, Saima Thakor, Renuka Thakur Singh.

    Australia Women: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (w), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath (c), Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.

  • Today’s Sugar Stocks: Gains and Losses Explained Simply”

    Today’s Sugar Stocks: Gains and Losses Explained Simply”

    On Thursday morning, sugar company shares were mostly down when the stock market opened. However, some companies did see small increases. Here are a few details:

    – Top Gainers:
    – Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd.: up 4.74%
    – Avadh Sugar & Energy Ltd.: up 0.77%
    – Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd.: up 0.35%
    – Other winners included Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd, Ponni Sugars (Erode) Ltd, and Kothari Sugars & Chemicals Ltd., with small gains.

    – Top Losers:
    – EID Parry (India) Ltd.: down 1.15%
    – Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd.: down 1.14%
    – Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Ltd.: down 0.74%
    – Other companies like Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd and Ugar Sugar Works Ltd also fell a bit.

    Meanwhile, the overall stock market was not doing well. The NSE Nifty50 index dropped by 118.46 points, sitting at 24,349.0. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell by 315.33 points, now at 80,641.0.

    In other areas of the market, some big names like Bharti Airtel Ltd. (up 0.56%) and Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (up 0.32%) had small gains. But companies like Bajaj Auto Ltd. (down 2.1%) and SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd. (down 2.05%) were not doing so well.

    Overall, it’s a mixed day for stocks, especially in the sugar sector!

  • ICICI Securities: Buy Hatsun Agro Products with a Target of Rs 1,250

    ICICI Securities: Buy Hatsun Agro Products with a Target of Rs 1,250

    ICICI Securities is telling investors to buy shares of Hatsun Agro Products. They believe the price will reach Rs 1,250, while the current price is Rs 1,131.

    Hatsun Agro was started in 1986 and is a medium-sized company in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) sector, with a market value of Rs 25,147.17 crore. This company mainly sells milk and milk products.

    In the latest quarter ending September 30, 2024, Hatsun Agro made Rs 2,078.72 crore in total income, which is a decrease of 12.56% compared to the previous quarter but an increase of 8.29% from the same period last year, which was Rs 1,919.52 crore. They also made a net profit of Rs 64.32 crore during this quarter.

    Why Invest in Hatsun Agro?
    ICICI Securities thinks that Hatsun Agro’s ice cream business will make more profit over time. The reasons are:

    1. Better use of their Govindapur plant will help increase profits.
    2. They have lower selling costs than their competitors because they provide refrigeration and use their own delivery system called HAP Daily.
    3. They are launching new premium products.

    The brokerage predicts that Hatsun Agro will see a growth of 14.0% in revenue and 37.2% in profits each year until 2027. They calculated the target price to be Rs 1,250, which means a price-to-earnings ratio of 53 and 40 times their expected earnings in 2026 and 2027.

    Ownership
    As of September 30, 2024, promoters own 73.17% of Hatsun Agro, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) own 3.29%, and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) own 10.17%.

  • Swiggy’s Financial Outlook: Insights and Growth Projections

    Swiggy’s Financial Outlook: Insights and Growth Projections

    Motilal Oswal Financial Services recently shared their thoughts on Swiggy, giving it a “neutral” rating with a target price of Rs 475. Currently, Swiggy’s stock price stands at Rs 522.7.

    In the second quarter of FY25, Swiggy made Rs 36.1 billion, which is an 11.7% increase compared to the previous quarter and a whopping 30.4% compared to last year. In the food delivery section, Swiggy reported Rs 71.9 billion in goods ordered (GOV), marking an increase of 5.6% from the last quarter and 14.6% from a year ago. They expect food delivery to grow in the high teens for FY25.

    Swiggy’s grocery delivery service, Instamart, performed really well, racking up Rs 33.8 billion in GOV, which is a 75.5% increase from last year. To keep up with demand, Swiggy plans to double its dark stores (places where food is prepared and stored) by FY25 from 523 stores in FY24.

    In terms of earnings, Swiggy’s food delivery service had an adjusted EBITDA margin of 1.6%, which is an improvement, as well as a slightly better contribution margin of 6.6%. However, the overall adjusted EBITDA was a loss of Rs 3.41 billion. Instamart’s contribution margin is still negative at -1.9%, but it is improving.

    Swiggy reported a net loss of Rs 6.2 billion but noted a 4.7% decrease in losses compared to a year before. They believe they can reach breakeven in overall adjusted EBITDA by the third quarter of FY26.

    Swiggy has been a key player in food delivery and grocery delivery, but it’s losing ground to its main competitor, Blinkit. To grow, Swiggy needs to boost its sales and improve its business operations.

    According to Motilal Oswal, they expect food delivery orders to grow by 12.5% a year, along with a small growth in average order value (AOV). Quick commerce (Q-commerce) is expected to grow even faster at 23.6% a year.

    Swiggy is projected to have a profit margin of -16.1% in FY25, improving to -3.9% in FY26, and then turning positive at 1.8% in FY27.

    Despite some changes, Swiggy still faces challenges ahead. They maintain their DCF-based valuation at Rs 475, suggesting a 5% drop from the current price. Overall, the brokerage keeps a neutral rating on the stock.

  • Louisiana Welcomes Meta’s $10 Billion AI Data Center: Job Boost or Energy Woes?

    Louisiana Welcomes Meta’s $10 Billion AI Data Center: Job Boost or Energy Woes?

    Meta, the company behind Facebook, is building the largest artificial intelligence (AI) data center ever in northeast Louisiana. They announced this exciting news on Wednesday, saying it will cost about $10 billion. This new facility is expected to help the area, which has struggled economically for a long time.

    The governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, believes this project will create jobs and boost the tech industry in the state. However, some environmental groups are worried about how much energy the data center will use and if it will make electricity bills go up for people living nearby.

    At the same time, Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, is also working on expanding its supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee. Other companies like Nvidia and Dell will also set up shop there, but no more details were shared yet.

    Many states, including Louisiana, are trying to attract big tech companies that need a lot of power for their data centers by offering tax breaks and other benefits. A government report pointed out that there are not enough data centers in the U.S. to keep up with the growing demand for AI tech, which is expected to rise by 9% each year through 2030.

    Meta’s Louisiana data center is expected to create 500 permanent jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, according to Kevin Janda, the director of data center strategy at Meta. At a whopping 4 million square feet, it will be Meta’s biggest AI data center yet.

    Kevin Janda also said, “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level.” Local leaders from both parties welcomed the Meta facility, calling it a great opportunity for Richland Parish, which has a small population of about 20,000 people primarily reliant on farming. A quarter of its residents live in poverty, and fewer than half are employed according to census data.

    To help with the water use from the data center, Meta plans to invest $200 million in improving roads and water infrastructure in the parish, and they aim to finish building the center by 2030.

    Entergy, a major utility company, is rushing to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana to generate enough energy, about 2,262 megawatts, specifically for Meta’s data center over the next 15 years. This is almost 10% of Entergy’s total energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is currently reviewing Entergy’s proposal, but some environmental groups are against adding more fossil fuel plants.

    Meta has plans to contribute 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid in the future. But Jessica Hendricks, a policy director for an energy advocacy group, worries that local residents might face higher electricity bills to support the cost of these power plants when Meta’s deal with Entergy ends. “There’s no reason residents should pay for a power plant they won’t use,” she stated.

    Commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, has a different view. He does not believe the data center will raise electricity rates and sees it as important for the region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and in the whole country,” he said. “I’m 100% for it.”

    Meanwhile, environmental organizations are concerned about pollution from Musk’s AI project in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center warns that the supercomputer could put a strain on the power grid, which might catch the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency.

    Currently, 18 gas turbines at xAI’s facility contribute to air pollution in Memphis, creating ground-level ozone or smog. Attorney Patrick Anderson from the law center says xAI has not been transparent about its operations and that local residents, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods, deserve to know how this affects them. “Memphians should have a say in these decisions,” he said.

  • Indian Rupee Expected to Fall to 85 per Dollar: What You Need to Know

    Indian Rupee Expected to Fall to 85 per Dollar: What You Need to Know

    The Indian rupee is expected to drop to a new low, hitting around 85 rupees for every U.S. dollar in the next six months. This prediction comes from a recent survey of foreign exchange experts. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been trying to help the rupee by using its large savings, but even with those efforts, the currency reached a record low of 84.74 rupees on Tuesday.

    India’s economy, which is growing faster than any other major country right now, saw a surprising slowdown, growing only 5.4% in the last quarter. This news has led some people to think the RBI might lower interest rates soon. However, only a small number of economists believe a rate cut will happen this month; most think it will happen in the first part of 2025.

    Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs have made the U.S. dollar stronger, rising almost 6% since October. The RBI has used around $50 billion from its reserves to support the rupee, but foreign investors have pulled out over $13 billion from India during this time.

    Forecasts from the survey suggest the rupee will weaken further, trading at about 84.85 per dollar in three months and around 85.12 in six months. The rupee is also considered expensive compared to other Asian currencies, so it needs to drop more. Some experts believe that the government can still support the economy through increased spending, interest rate cuts, and keeping the rupee low.

  • Pushpa 2 Shatters Records with Over ₹16 Crore on Day 1!

    Pushpa 2 Shatters Records with Over ₹16 Crore on Day 1!

    Get ready for some exciting news! The much-awaited movie ‘Pushpa 2’, starring Allu Arjun, is off to an amazing start on its first day. According to reports from Niftystat, the movie has already earned over ₹16 crore from ticket sales, and that number is still climbing!

    Before the official release, ‘Pushpa 2’ made an impressive ₹8 crore from special advance showings at selected theaters across India. The early audience and critics loved it, which has everyone excited to see it.

    The film’s makers, Mythri Movie Makers, are celebrating because they sold around 4 lakh tickets in the popular theaters PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis, with PVR selling an impressive 3,25,000 tickets alone.

    On a global level, ‘Pushpa 2’ pulled in a record-breaking ₹125 crore in pre-sales, including those special advance tickets. In India alone, the advance bookings were a jaw-dropping ₹85 crore! Experts believe weekend ticket sales will continue to rise even more.

    About ‘Pushpa 2’

    Directed by Sukumar, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ is the follow-up to the popular 2021 movie ‘Pushpa: The Rise’. The film features catchy songs from music composer Devi Sri Prasad and background scores from Thaman and Sam CS.

    With a huge budget of ₹500 crores, fans are eagerly awaiting this cinematic experience. The talented cast includes Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, and Anasuya Bharadwaj, which adds depth to the story.

    After three years of hard work, the film finally made it to theaters. It was supposed to release on Independence Day but has been rescheduled to December 4, 2024.

    The story follows Pushpa’s journey as he climbs to the top of the red sandalwood smuggling world, facing new challenges and enemies. Rashmika Mandanna is back as Srivalli, who is now Pushpa’s wife, and Fahadh Faasil returns as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, Pushpa’s tough opponent.

    To reach a wider audience, ‘Pushpa 2’ will be available in several languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.

  • Powell’s View: Strong Economy & Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Cuts

    Powell’s View: Strong Economy & Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Cuts

    U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently shared that the economy is doing better than expected. When the Fed started lowering interest rates in September, they thought the economy was weaker. Now, Powell says the job market looks good, the economy is growing stronger, and inflation is a bit higher than they thought.

    Powell spoke at a New York Times event, and his comments came just before a big Fed meeting on December 17-18, where they are likely to make more decisions about interest rates. Some Fed officials, like Christopher Waller, have hinted they might cut rates again soon, unless new data suggests otherwise. Powell seems to agree with this cautious approach.

    He mentioned that the Fed’s previous rate cut was a signal to support jobs if the market was weak. But now, better data suggests the economy is stronger than they had anticipated.

    Federal officials will soon get new data on jobs and inflation that will help them decide what to do next. Powell emphasized that their decisions are based on the current situation, not on what might happen in the future.

    Other Fed officials like Alberto Musalem and Thomas Barkin are also being careful. They want to look at new information before making any promises about future rate cuts. The inflation rate remains above the Fed’s target of 2%, so they are keeping a close watch on it.

    With mixed signals from various reports—some showing stronger spending and others pointing to concerns about rising prices—Fed officials are staying on alert and cautious about their next moves.

  • Amnesty International Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza War

    Amnesty International Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza War

    THE HAGUE: Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians during the ongoing Gaza war, according to a report released on Thursday. This serious claim has been denied by Israeli leaders. Amnesty stated that after months of examining events and statements from Israeli officials, they believe the actions taken meet the requirements for genocide.

    The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as actions aimed at destroying, either fully or partly, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Israel has rejected these genocide claims, asserting it is acting within international law to defend itself following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel has launched a military campaign in Gaza resulting in the deaths of more than 44,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

    Amnesty argues that most people in Gaza, which has 2.3 million residents, are now displaced, many multiple times. At hearings earlier this year at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where South Africa accused Israel of genocide, Israeli lawyers denied any such intentions. They claim their goal is to eliminate Hamas, not to harm Palestinians as a group.

    Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, emphasized that their findings were not made lightly. After reviewing over 100 statements from Israeli officials, she strongly believes genocide is occurring. Callamard pointed out that Israel’s claim that its war only targets Hamas does not hold up under examination.

    Amnesty has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate these genocide claims. The ICC is already looking into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories

  • 2024 Honda Amaze Launch: Advanced Safety, Affordable Prices!

    2024 Honda Amaze Launch: Advanced Safety, Affordable Prices!

    Honda Cars India has just launched the 2024 Amaze, starting at Rs 8 lakh and going up to Rs 10.90 lakh for the top model. These prices are for the first 45 days after the launch and are for ex-showroom purchases, meaning they don’t include extra costs like taxes.

    What’s special about the new Amaze? It’s now the cheapest car in India that comes with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), called Honda Sensing. This means it has smart features to help keep you safe while driving. Excitingly, all Honda cars in India now have this technology, including popular models like the City sedan and Elevate SUV.

    The Amaze is in its third version since it first came out in 2013, and Honda has sold nearly 580,000 of these cars, making up 40% of its sales in India.

    The 2024 Amaze has some nice upgrades but still uses the same 1.2-liter petrol engine that gives 90PS power and 110Nm torque. You can choose between a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission. It’s also fuel-efficient, with 18.65 km on a liter for manual and 19.46 km for the CVT.

    There are three versions of the Amaze: V, VX, and ZX. The ZX trim has the ADAS features. Here are the prices for each version:

    – V MT: Rs 8 lakh
    – V CVT: Rs 9.20 lakh
    – VX MT: Rs 9.10 lakh
    – VX CVT: Rs 10 lakh
    – ZX MT: Rs 9.70 lakh
    – ZX CVT: Rs 10.90 lakh