Samie Modak

Stories by Samie Modak

All You Wanted to Know About Gift Nifty Index

All You Wanted to Know About Gift Nifty Index

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2023

Gift Nifty will provide Indian investors cues on how domestic markets could react to global events.

More than skin-deep: Nifty Next 50 complexion to get a shade of difference

More than skin-deep: Nifty Next 50 complexion to get a shade of difference

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2023

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty Next 50 Index could undergo large-scale changes if the proposed tweaks to its computation methodology get implemented. In a discussion paper floated recently, NSE Indices, which owns and manages a portfolio of over 350 indices under the Nifty brand, proposed that only stocks that are traded in the futures and options (F&O) segment can be part of the index. Currently, as many as 11 non-F&O stocks are part of the Nifty Next 50 Index, which, as the name suggests, represents the next rung of large and liquid securities after the Nifty50.

US recession 'imminent', time to book profits, says BofA Securities

US recession 'imminent', time to book profits, says BofA Securities

Rediff.com   29 May 2023

Boom, bust or a bit of both: as the jury bides time before ruling on the US 'recession', the economy's vital signs at a perplexing time of high-interest rates, still-punishing inflation, and surprisingly strong economic gains are a study of a growing debate over whether the world's largest economy is barrelling into a new downturn. With the US Federal Reserve's (Fed's) inflation fighters attempting the risky pursuit of 'pillow-soft landings' and its economy sending out mixed signals, if there is indeed a recession, it could spell trouble for domestic equities and corporate earnings growth.

Colocation case: NSE receives Rs 300 crore from Sebi

Colocation case: NSE receives Rs 300 crore from Sebi

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has received Rs 300 crore from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) following relief from the Supreme Court (SC), which is hearing an appeal by the market regulator in the colocation case. The court on March 20 asked Sebi to return Rs 300 crore to the NSE from the Rs 1,107 crore the exchange had deposited as part of the disgorgement in the case. The NSE had given an undertaking that it will return the entire amount to Sebi if the latter wins its appeal before the SC.

A year after listing, LIC scorecard lacks lustre

A year after listing, LIC scorecard lacks lustre

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which completes one year of its listing on Tuesday, presents a sorry scorecard as far as its stock market performance goes. Shares of the insurance behemoth are down 40 per cent over their issue price of Rs 949 to Rs 567 apiece. The Sensex, on the other hand, has risen 14 per cent in the past one year.

Warring sibling promoters put Hikal's future at stake, says InGovern

Warring sibling promoters put Hikal's future at stake, says InGovern

Rediff.com   15 May 2023

The infighting between the two promoters of Hikal-Baba Kalyani and sister Sugandha Hiremath-has put the company's growth at stake, InGovern has said in a note. The corporate governance firm has called for a change in the management and an overhaul of its board to protect the interest of minority shareholders, who own almost a third of the specialty chemicals company. The Kalyani and Hiremath families are mired in a legal dispute, with the latter seeking transfer of ownership of shares held by the Kalyani group, citing nearly three-decade old family arrangement.

Small- and mid-cap shares raced ahead of large caps in April

Small- and mid-cap shares raced ahead of large caps in April

Rediff.com   8 May 2023

With markets getting back their mojo after four months, small- and mid-cap shares raced ahead of large caps in April. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index surged 7.5 per cent - its biggest monthly advance in 10 months - and outperformed the benchmark Nifty 50 index by 350 basis points. The Nifty Midcap 100 index soared 5.9 per cent, most since August.

NSE Indices tweaks methodology before RIL-Jio financial demerger

NSE Indices tweaks methodology before RIL-Jio financial demerger

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2023

NSE Indices on Wednesday changed the methodology for handling schemes of demerger involving index constituents. The index provider said a company undergoing demerger would now be retained in its indices. The move comes ahead of the proposed demerger of Reliance Industries' (RIL's) financial services arm. Under the rules prevailing thus far, RIL -- which has the highest weighting among the 50 Nifty components -- would have been required to be removed from the index, resulting in a churn by funds tracking the Nifty index.

Hikal ownership dispute puts Kalyani firms at odds

Hikal ownership dispute puts Kalyani firms at odds

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Two listed firms belonging to the Baba Kalyani Group (BNK Group) have contested their inclusion as parties in a suit pertaining to family dispute over ownership of chemical firm Hikal. The co-promoters of the company - Kalyani and Hiremath families - are mired in a legal dispute, with the latter seeking transfer of ownership of shares held by the BNK Group, citing nearly three-decade old family arrangement. An affidavit filed in reply to Hiremath's suit petition in the Bombay high court, BF Investment (BFIL) and Kalyani Investment Company (KICL) have stated that they are separate and distinct legal entities and were not even incorporated and party to the 'family arrangement'.

NSE's strict-governance platform in limbo after tepid corporate response

NSE's strict-governance platform in limbo after tepid corporate response

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2023

The country's largest bourse National Stock Exchange (NSE) has put the NSE Prime initiative in cold storage following lukewarm response from India Inc, said people aware of the development. Inspired by Brazil's Novo Mercado, NSE had announced a separate platform which any listed company could be part of by voluntarily adopting a stricter corporate governance code. Launched in December 2021, NSE Prime was to formally take off within a year after empanelling companies.

US banking turmoil: ADRs of Domestic Banks Impacted

US banking turmoil: ADRs of Domestic Banks Impacted

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

Analysts say domestic banks' dependence on local depositors insulates them from the crisis.

UBS buy gives Credit Suisse India employees a glimmer of hope

UBS buy gives Credit Suisse India employees a glimmer of hope

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

UBS stepping in to save Credit Suisse with a $3.2-billion acquisition has provided the beleaguered Swiss bank's India employees a glimmer of hope. The surprise deal - engineered by the Swiss government - has triggered optimism of fewer job losses at Credit Suisse's India unit and better synergies at key verticals, such as wealth management and investment banking. "UBS is a much stronger hand. Coming within its fold will give Credit Suisse's wealth management and investment banking divisions a good home.

Equities outpace bonds in ultra-long marathon

Equities outpace bonds in ultra-long marathon

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2023

Equities are the go-to asset class as far as ultra-long-term returns are concerned. Over the past 123 years, global equities have provided an annualised real return of 5 per cent in US dollar terms, while bonds have delivered 1.7 per cent and short-term bills just 0.4 per cent, according to Credit Suisse's Global Investment Returns Yearbook 2023. In collaboration with the London Business School, Credit Suisse has analysed over 100 years of returns for key asset classes in 35 countries.

In a month, LIC stock down 15%, out of top 10 in market capitalisation

In a month, LIC stock down 15%, out of top 10 in market capitalisation

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

Shares of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India hit fresh record lows amid sustained decline in Adani Group stocks. Its stock finished at Rs 567.8, down 2.9 per cent over its previous close. The state-owned insurer's market value is now down Rs 2.4 trillion, or 40 per cent, compared to initial public offering levels.

Practice of permanent board seats at listed companies likely to end

Practice of permanent board seats at listed companies likely to end

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed to put a stop to the practice of certain directors occupying permanent board seats at listed companies. The regulator has suggested that the directorship of any individual serving on the board should be subject to periodic approval from shareholders, at least once in five years. In a discussion paper issued on Tuesday, Sebi said a few promoters enjoyed permanency on the board, giving them an undue advantage, prejudicial to the interests of public shareholders.

India moves to T+1 settlement from Friday: Here's what experts say

India moves to T+1 settlement from Friday: Here's what experts say

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2023

Friday will be a landmark day for domestic markets, with all the listed stocks entering the professed T+1 (trading plus one day) settlement cycle. About 200 stocks, which account for more than 80 per cent of India's market capitalisation, will be settled on a next-day basis, with effect from January 27. This will evidently complete the transition to the T+1 cycle that started in February 2022 with the bottom 500 stocks in terms of market value.

Why Adani group's Sensex dream may have to wait

Why Adani group's Sensex dream may have to wait

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2022

Two firms belonging to the Adani group - India's most valued conglomerate - are part of the Nifty 50 index. The group, however, has no representation in the Sensex. And it could stay this way if a proposed index qualification rule change gets approved. Recently, Asia Index, a joint venture between S&P Dow Jones Indices and BSE responsible for index composition, floated a consultation paper where it proposed that a stock must have a derivative contract to be eligible for inclusion in the flagship 30-share Sensex index.

With one launch per day, NFOs are back with all guns blazing

With one launch per day, NFOs are back with all guns blazing

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2022

The Rs 38-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry is going through a new fund offer (NFO) rush. Since July 1, the industry has launched close to 70 NFOs. This follows the completion of a near three-month embargo period when the industry had vowed to not launch any new offerings till the time it implemented norms around pooling of investor accounts. As a result, between April and June 2022, the industry was able to launch just three NFOs.

'Markets may remain sideways'

'Markets may remain sideways'

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2022

'The idea is to invest where there is opportunity.'

Bourses step up scrutiny of investors from Sikkim

Bourses step up scrutiny of investors from Sikkim

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2022

Stock exchanges have increased scrutiny of investors domiciled in Sikkim, following reports of illegal routing of investments through the Northeast state to evade taxes. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has directed its trading members (brokers) to re-verify and certify investors who have declared their permanent address as Sikkim. Further, brokers have been told to maintain a vigil on the location of devices used by Sikkim-based clients for trading to ensure these are genuine investors from the region.