Sundar Sethuraman

Stories by Sundar Sethuraman

Investment bankers' fees to manage IPOs jump as issue size shrink in 2023

Investment bankers' fees to manage IPOs jump as issue size shrink in 2023

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2023

The fees charged by investment banks to manage initial public offerings (IPOs) have increased to an average 3.23 per cent of the issue size this calendar year, the highest since 2020. The average fee is up 8 per cent compared to last year, when it stood at 2.99 per cent. The investment banking fees have increased as the average IPO size has shrunk this year.

60% of top 500 stocks achieved their 12-month price target set by analysts

60% of top 500 stocks achieved their 12-month price target set by analysts

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2023

As many as 267 of 453 companies from the BSE500 index are trading above their consensus price targets, according to the data compiled by Bloomberg. Not all companies in the BSE500 index are tracked by analysts.

Over Rs 7,000 crore IPOs on launchpad as Nifty50 crosses 20,000 mark

Over Rs 7,000 crore IPOs on launchpad as Nifty50 crosses 20,000 mark

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2023

With the Nifty50 surging past the 20,000 mark, the markets are experiencing a spate of initial public offerings (IPOs) with four issues set to raise over Rs 4,673 crore this week. Another quartet, cumulatively worth Rs 3,000 crore, is expected to launch next week. Companies like RR Kabel, SAMHI Hotels, Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services, and Yatra Online are set to hit the primary market this week, while Signature Global, Updater Services, Sai Silks (Kalamandir), and Vaibhav Jewellers are slated for next week. This flurry of activity is driven by multiple factors including buoyant market conditions, increased demand for IPOs, and specific rule on the disclosure of quarterly financials.

IPO investors ride the bull run to strike gold in 2023

IPO investors ride the bull run to strike gold in 2023

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

Water projects firm Vishnu Prakash R Punglia, the 20th company to launch its IPO in the current year, saw its shares closing at a 47 per cent gain over its issue price on Tuesday. Such a huge one-day pop is considered rare; however, it has become the norm this year. The average listing-day gain for these 20 IPOs in 2023 is 34 per cent, and their average gain to date stands at 46 per cent.

6 firms raise Rs 4,269 crore through IPOs in August alone

6 firms raise Rs 4,269 crore through IPOs in August alone

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

Notwithstanding the ongoing decline in equity markets week after week, August has proven to be the most successful since December for initial public offerings (IPOs). In August of this year, six companies have collectively raised approximately Rs 4,269 crore through IPOs.

Indices pull back but market holds breadth

Indices pull back but market holds breadth

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2023

The benchmark indices are set to end their five-month gaining streak, but the market breadth continues to hold strong So far this month, stocks gaining have outnumbered those declining, a sign that the bulls still have the upper hand, even as the pullback in the S&P BSE Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty indicates otherwise. On the BSE, 2,126 stocks have advanced and 1,955 have declined in August, translating into an advance/decline ratio (ADR) of 1.1.

French banking major BNP Paribas looks to sell retail broking arm Sharekhan

French banking major BNP Paribas looks to sell retail broking arm Sharekhan

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2023

French banking major BNP Paribas is planning to sell its domestic retail broking unit, Sharekhan, according to news reports on Tuesday. The reports even named leading financial institutions as possible suitors. "We would not be able to comment on the mentioned queries at this time," said a company spokesperson in response to a query from Business Standard seeking clarification on the news item.

Foreign portfolio investors: The back-seat driver in market dashboard

Foreign portfolio investors: The back-seat driver in market dashboard

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2023

After pumping in close to $20 billion in the preceding five months, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have yanked out $220 million from domestic stocks this month. The selling by overseas funds has led to turbulence in the domestic markets, with benchmark indices swinging wildly recently.

'Markets expect current government will return'

'Markets expect current government will return'

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2023

'India has always been a bottom-up stock-picking market, and as growth recovers with higher liquidity, mid and small-caps always tend to outperform.'

Why Kalyan is being seen as a gold mine

Why Kalyan is being seen as a gold mine

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2023

The sharp jump in shares of Kalyan Jewellers (Kalyan) has surprised many on the Street; however, analysts believe more steam could be left in the stock as the Thrissur-based gold retailer pivots to a new asset-light network expansion model. Kalyan's stock has surged 62 per cent in the past month, even as the S&P BSE SmallCap Index has gained just 5 per cent. In its latest business update, the company said its consolidated sales grew more than consensus expectations at 31 per cent year-on-year, led by strong domestic sales regardless of the volatility in gold prices.

China's loss is India's gain

China's loss is India's gain

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2023

'As China's reopening euphoria fizzled out on the back of some disappointing economic data, we saw inflows coming back to India with full force in the past 3-4 months.'

M-cap of all BSE-listed cos has jumped to Rs 39 trillion

M-cap of all BSE-listed cos has jumped to Rs 39 trillion

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2023

The sharp rally in the broader markets has propelled India's market capitalisation (m-cap) to a new high. The combined m-cap of all BSE-listed firms rose to Rs 291.9 trillion in intraday trade on Thursday before settling lower at Rs 290.9 trillion. The previous record was on December 14, 2022, at Rs 291.3 trillion.

India Inc's profit-to-GDP ratio dips slightly in FY23; financial pie up

India Inc's profit-to-GDP ratio dips slightly in FY23; financial pie up

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2023

Corporate India's net profit as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) dipped in the 2022-23 financial year (FY23) -- after rebounding sharply in FY22 -- amid a decline in global commodity prices. Top 500 companies' combined net profit stood at 4.1 per cent of the GDP for FY23, down from 4.3 per cent in the previous financial year when it had gone up from just 3.5 per cent in FY21. "The year-on-year (YoY) decline was led by global commodities, which contributed adversely to the ratio, while the financial sector contributed positively.

Half of India's top-10 highest denominations stocks outperform indices

Half of India's top-10 highest denominations stocks outperform indices

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2023

Half of India's top-priced stocks have outperformed the benchmark indices this year. On a year-to-date basis (YTD), the Sensex has gained 3.8 per cent and the Nifty50 3.4 per cent. The stocks which have outperformed the indices include 3M India, Nestle India, MRF, Shree Cement and Bosch while those who have underperformed the benchmarks include Page Industries (-10.4 per cent), Procter & Gamble (-4 per cent), Honeywell Automation (-0.9) and Lakshmi Machine Works, which gained 1.3 per cent.

Fear of failure? Firms let IPO nods lapse on pricing mismatch, volatility

Fear of failure? Firms let IPO nods lapse on pricing mismatch, volatility

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2023

The initial public offering (IPO) market has seen some momentum of late with robust responses to recent issues. However, only some have been able to ride the wave. So far in 2023, 23 companies have let their approval granted by the markets regulator - the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) - lapse.

FPI flows turn positive on trailing one-year basis after 16 months

FPI flows turn positive on trailing one-year basis after 16 months

Rediff.com   30 May 2023

Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) flows have turned positive on a trailing 12-month (TTM) basis for the first time since December 2021. Thanks to robust inflows over the past three months, the TTM overseas flows into domestic equities stand at over $7.3 billion-the most since November 2021. This has helped propel one-year Nifty returns to 12 per cent.

Brokers body seeks three-month extension from Sebi for KYC validation

Brokers body seeks three-month extension from Sebi for KYC validation

Rediff.com   17 May 2023

Brokers have requested for a three-month extension from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for the validation of Know Your Client (KYC) records. In a letter to Sebi, industry body -- Association of National Exchanges Members of India (Anmi) -- has cited various issues and concerns raised by its members that have hampered the smooth completion of the validation process within the stipulated timeline. The Sebi circular had given KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs) a timeline of 180 days, ending on April 30, 2023, to validate client KYCs.

Growing dominance: Domestic investors now own a quarter of markets

Growing dominance: Domestic investors now own a quarter of markets

Rediff.com   12 May 2023

The ownership by domestic investors, individual as well as institutional, in companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has breached the 25 per cent mark for the first time. The share stood at 25.72 per cent at the end of the March 2023 quarter, up from 24.44 per cent in the previous quarter, according to data from Prime Database. The share of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), meanwhile, rose slightly to 20.56 per cent from 20.24 per cent as on December 31, 2022.

Narrowest since July 2021: Sensex closes in on trading gap in April

Narrowest since July 2021: Sensex closes in on trading gap in April

Rediff.com   11 May 2023

The gap between the highs and the lows in April for the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was just 4.1 per cent - the narrowest since July 2021 and nearly half its three-year average. The absence of major positive triggers, sectoral rotation, and cautiousness due to earnings and economic uncertainty have kept a tight leash on the markets, observe experts. Remarkably enough, during the 17 trading sessions in April, the Sensex didn't even log an advance or a decline of more than 1 per cent.

Active clients at NSE reduce for a ninth straight month

Active clients at NSE reduce for a ninth straight month

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2023

About 5.3 million fewer investors were active in March than they were nine months ago as sustained volatility weighed on sentiment. The number of active clients on the NSE, the country's largest bourse, stood at 32.7 million, down 5.3 million. This was 14 per cent lower than 38 million in July 2022.