Moneylife News Bites: Recent Episodes
None
Moneylife News Bites is a weekly podcast hosted by veteran journalists and founders of Moneylife, Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu. Each week a new episode analyses an important news topic, based completely on unbiased and ethically researched information that is not available anywhere else. A video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel - @MoneylifeNewsBites
Interested listeners and readers can follow Moneylife News on our website - https://www.moneylife.in/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this insightful audio, Sucheta Dalal delves into the ongoing debate surrounding Tata Sons Pvt Ltd's potential public listing. As India's stock market remains buoyant, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has ordered Tata Sons, the cornerstone of the Tata empire, to list by September 2025. However, Tata Sons is exploring ways to circumvent this mandate.
Sucheta Dalal examines the implications of listing Tata Sons, considering both investor interests and regulatory governance. The video explores the reasons behind RBI's push for listing, rooted in the aftermath of the IL&FS collapse and the introduction of a revised scale-based regulation framework.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Listen to this week's episode, Debashis Basu delves into the contrasting personas of Narendra Modi: the administrator and the perpetual political campaigner. He reflects on Modi's decade-long strategy, which has combined Hindutva, nationalism. and welfarism to secure electoral victories while maintaining economic stability. However, the recent election results signal a return to coalition politics, challenging Modi’s autocratic leadership style and raising questions about the sustainability of his economic policies. Debashis Basu explores the electorate's growing dissatisfaction with slogans and memes, highlighting the pressing need for real economic reforms, job creation, and empowerment of the private sector. Watch as Debashis Basu examines whether Modi’s approach can adapt to these new political dynamics and deliver on the promises made to India's diverse population.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Sucheta Dalal as she delves into the dynamic shift from Modi 3.0 to NDA 3.0, marking a significant era of course correction and conflict balancing. In this insightful analysis, she explores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initial decisions in his third term, highlighting his commitment to housing for the poor and farmers' welfare. She also examines the critical stance of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on BJP's recent performance, reflecting on the party's need for inclusive growth.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sucheta Dalal delves into the aftermath of recent elections in India, showcasing how market expectations clashed with the voters' verdict. The video exposes pitfalls of relying on exit polls and media narratives, leading to market turmoil. The narrative of development touted by the ruling party is scrutinised against the backdrop of ground realities, revealing a disconnect between economic indicators and public sentiment. Ultimately, the video underscores the importance of prioritising genuine progress over mere market performance, focusing on improving the lives of everyday citizens for a truly prosperous India.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Debashis Basu explores the hopes pinned on India's future under Narendra Modi's leadership, aiming for a developed nation. He questions the effectiveness of traditional progress indicators, highlighting slow per capita income growth and ongoing rural challenges. Despite government spending, job growth remains insufficient and benefits aren't reaching the grassroots level. The video emphasises the need to address unemployment, income inequality and corruption to prevent social unrest. He concludes by questioning the feasibility of relying solely on trickle-down economics for India's development.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The upcoming Indian election results are creating a calm in the stock market, but past events caution against overconfidence. With a surge in new investors, many inexperienced in market downturns, the potential impact of political statements on the market's $5 trillion value is significant. The rise of online trading has led to a surge in investors, with many having only experienced a bullish market. Mutual funds play a major role in sustaining the bull run, but there's concern about what could happen if investors suddenly pull out. Speculative trading in derivatives is rampant, despite high losses among active traders. The market is vulnerable to sudden crashes triggered by political events or concerted selling by foreign entities.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sucheta Dalal explores the recent resurgence of class action lawsuits in India after 11 years of dormancy. While there's progress, challenges persist due to limited inclusivity and practicality in the legal framework. Recent cases like Jindal Poly Films and ICICI Securities highlight these hurdles. The need for broader inclusion, as seen in alternative routes taken by stakeholders, and the ongoing struggles of bondholders and NCD holders, underscores the necessity for significant legal reforms to ensure true collective action for all affected investors.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In anticipation of the 2024 general elections, expectations are high for Modi 3.0, but the current state of affairs is more accurately termed Modi 1.5. The first seven years of Modi's rule were marked by ineffective policies and economic struggles, exacerbated by decisions like demonetisation and rushed GST implementation. Despite recent government spending to boost growth, doubts persist about its sustainability given high debt levels. Structural reforms are needed to address issues like business friction, infrastructure, and corruption, which continue to plague the economy. Without tackling these underlying problems, the notion of Modi 3.0 remains uncertain. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dinesh Dalmia, known for past frauds, is accused of duping banks again, this time allegedly swindling Rs200 crore. He denies involvement, claiming victimhood. The plot involves a complex web of companies and individuals, including Dalmia's associates and former schoolmates. Vivriti Capital filed an FIR, alleging breach of trust, naming Dalmia and others. Forensic audits reveal convoluted transactions and offshore transfers. Gopal Padia, linked to Dalmia, denies involvement, citing victimisation. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal reveals the shocking fraud.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Discover the turbulent journey of Lavasa, the picturesque hill station, as it becomes ensnared in the financial troubles of the Darwin Platform group. Raids by enforcement agencies, frozen bank operations and unresolved commitments paint a grim picture. Join Sucheta Dalal as she unravels the mysteries behind Darwin's financial struggles and the uncertain fate of Lavasa.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Foreign banks once thrived in India's financial sector, but now they're retreating. Citibank, a retail finance pioneer, recently sold its Indian business to Axis Bank, echoing a broader trend. Standard Chartered and HSBC have minimal presence compared to local giants like HDFC Bank. Similarly, foreign mutual funds struggle, with many, including Morgan Stanley and Fidelity, leaving. This shift marks a departure from optimistic projections of the 1990s. Mismanagement and global crises favoured Indian firms, which capitalised on trends like digital banking. Foreign companies' short-term perspectives led to their exit, while Indian firms thrived. Listen to this week's episod as Debashis Basu explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Discover how Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das is revolutionising the banking sector's supervision. From stringent actions against major banks like HDFC and Kotak Mahindra to addressing systemic failures and embracing technological advancements, Shaktikanta Das is reshaping RBI's approach. Dive into the intricacies of RBI's regulatory evolution, the impact of social media on financial stability and the challenges faced in the digital era. Explore how Governor Das's tenure marks a significant shift towards effective governance amidst global crises.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This video looks at a leaked investigation into the Adani Group by SEBI, India's market watchdog. Offshore investors in Adani might have broken disclosure rules. SEBI's investigating, but it's unclear how serious it is. This is linked to accusations of stock manipulation against Adani. Leaks raise questions about SEBI's speed and transparency.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Explore SEBI's recent measures aimed at regulating small-cap funds amidst market concerns. Learn about stress tests focusing on liquidity, volatility, and valuation, and their potential implications. Discover criticisms surrounding the tests' effectiveness and SEBI's classification of small-cap stocks. Gain insights into the debate on the practicality and efficacy of these regulatory efforts in the investment landscape, as Debashis Basu explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court of India overturned a Rs8,000-crore arbitration order favoring the Anil Ambani group, impacting Reliance Infrastructure Ltd and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. This ruling, with significant financial and legal implications, highlights complexities in commercial disputes and questions of corporate governance. Learn more about this landmark case and its repercussions as Sucheta Dalal explains in this episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Explore the complexities of job creation in India with Debashis Basu. Delve into the insights from chief economic advisor V Anantha Nageswaran and former CEA Shankar Acharya as they explain why high economic growth hasn't translated into significant employment opportunities. Discover the impact of government policies, past and present, on job creation and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by job seekers and businesses alike.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Discover the mystery behind Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar's disappearing wealth. Join Sucheta Dalal as she investigates the discrepancies in his asset declarations, tax implications and the broader impact on India's tax system and public trust.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Patanjali's dominance may be ending! The Supreme Court is taking on their misleading ads that bash competitors and make false claims. Listen to this week's episode exposes Patanjali's history and the ongoing court case. Sucheta Dalal discuses, misleading claims used to sell Patanjali products, past controversies with regulators and other companies, and the Supreme Court case's impact on consumers & advertising.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Indian healthcare startup vs US firm in legal battle. Glocal says UpHealth cheated them, UpHealth says Glocal broke the deal. Millions at stake, but the real cost could be access to healthcare for remote areas of India. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explores in detail.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Debashis Basu exposes the lack of transparency in corporate donations to Indian political parties. He argues companies are pressured to donat and, not doing so willingly. Big companies are missing from the donor list, while some under-scrutiny pharma firms donated heavily. Listen to this week's episode for a detailed analysis.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Sucheta Dalal looks at the Supreme Court's decision on Electoral Bonds in India. These bonds allowed anonymous donations to political parties, raising concerns about transparency. The Court struck down the scheme, demanding to know who donated to whom. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal argues that the same stringent rules transparency applied to NGOs should also be applicable to political parties.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Sucheta Dalal talks about fake financial gurus and the risks they pose to investors. She highlights how these unregistered advisors can mislead investors and make unrealistic promises. She also discusses how current regulations make it difficult for qualified advisors to compete and leaves space for scammers to operate. Finally, suggesting ways for investors to protect themselves and also proposing that regulators publish data on financial advisors' performance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Indian financial regulators are taking action to prevent a potential financial crisis. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has penalised several financial institutions for violating regulations and curbed risky lending practices. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is asking mutual funds to be cautious about investing in small-cap stocks. These actions have been criticised by some who argue they stifle growth, but regulators are taking a proactive approach to prevent a future disaster. Listen to this week's episode to learn what Debashis Basu has to say about the regulator’s actions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal, explores the life and achievements of RC Sinha, a remarkable Indian bureaucrat whose innovative approach revolutionised infrastructure development in the 1990s. The video contrasts Mr. Sinha's successful projects, like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and numerous flyovers built ahead of schedule and under budget, with the current state of infrastructure development in Maharashtra.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recent cases reveal corruption and collusion within the bankruptcy process, prompting calls for reform. Allegations against NCLT officials and collusion between a resolution professional and a corporate debtor highlight unchecked power within the system. Despite sporadic actions, corruption persists, necessitating comprehensive reform for accountability and justice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Byju’s, once India’s most valuable decacorn, is now teetering on the brink of collapse. Despite lofty valuations and high-profile endorsements, the company faces deep-rooted issues. Aggressive sales tactics, questionable ethics, and a lack of genuine value proposition have led to mounting losses and legal troubles. Investor activism and regulatory scrutiny have further compounded its woes. With layoffs, employee grievances, and a leadership crisis, Byju’s appears headed for a downward spiral reminiscent of other failed unicorns. As the company grapples with financial irregularities and operational challenges, its future looks increasingly bleak.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has a meeting planned with fin-tech leaders to discuss concerns regarding strict supervision by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This week Sucheta Dalal questions the appropriateness of RBI's recent intervention with Paytm Bank and highlights past regulatory failures. Tags emphasises the importance of balanced regulation in the fintech sector, considering both consumer protection and industry innovation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Sucheta Dalal discusses a White Paper on the Indian Economy presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, examining governance issues and policy paralysis during 2004-2014. The white paper highlights 15 major scandals that impacted public opinion against the UPA government, including the Coal Block Allocation and Commonwealth Games scandals. However, here the selection of scandals has been criticised for its perceived bias and failure to establish widespread corruption.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Debashis Basu discusses a recent White Paper that critiques the economic policies of a past government. He highlights the economic mismanagement during a specific period and questions the timing and intent behind the document. Debashis Basu suggests focusing on future plans rather than dwelling on past issues and compares this approach to China’s strategic planning model.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In India, the complex process of inheriting assets without a will adds to the pain of losing a loved one. Despite technological advancements, challenges persist in transmitting assets, as highlighted by instances of probate requirements and bureaucratic hurdles. Financial regulators have taken steps to streamline processes, but issues remain, including frozen accounts and unclaimed deposits. Moneylife Foundation's survey reveals widespread difficulties faced by heirs, urging for systemic improvements and public engagement in policy-making. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sony Pictures Networks India (now Culver Max Entertainment) recently terminated its merger proposal with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, causing a 43.8% stock crash within 11 trading days. Zee's real ownership lies with foreign and domestic institutional investors, holding 71.61%, while the promoter group has only a 3.99% stake. Despite alleged governance issues and controversies surrounding Zee, institutional investors, particularly domestic ones, have remained largely silent. The joint parliamentary committee and SEBI have investigated Zee's involvement in controversial market deals and fund diversions. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu questions why domestic institutional investors continue to hold a significant stake in Zee despite these issues.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There is a legal dispute involving Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) and New Tirupur Area Development Corporation Ltd (NTADCL), a water management company in Tamil Nadu. NTADCL, initially a promising project, faced mismanagement and a 2012 debt restructuring. IL&FS, controlling NTADCL indirectly, has taken legal action due to halted loan repayments. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains IL&FS management's failure to address internal issues and emphasises the need for resolution in the water-starved state of Tamil Nadu.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sony Pictures' turbulent merger with Zee Entertainment ends, with Indian mutual funds holding 43.42% after foreign investors exit. ZEE's stock drops 33% post-termination. Despite financial challenges and SEBI investigations, ZEE seeks a new white knight for acquisition. The role of Indian mutual funds in betting on a company with a troubled history remains uncertain. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal, explores the transformative impact of Atal Setu, India's longest sea bridge, drawing parallels with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Despite challenges, the bridge holds economic potential, but concerns about road planning and high tolls linger. The key lies in completing connectors for economic momentum, reminiscent of the positive changes spurred by the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, emphasising the need for strategic infrastructure development to unlock coastal Maharashtra's economic potential. Leaders must prioritise citizens' needs over vested interests for meaningful change.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The week Debashis Basu highlights a recent 25% drop in Polycab's market capitalization due to income tax searches and allegations of tax evasion. This incident is part of a broader trend, where several large companies, including LIC, Hindustan Lever, and LTIMindtree, are receiving notices for tax violations. The rush is attributed to the GST deadline, causing concerns about the impact on ease of doing business and investor confidence.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Explore the growing threat of cybercrime in India, where criminals employ sophisticated tactics beyond monetary theft. The rise in such crimes targets even tech-savvy individuals, revealing criminals' adeptness at mimicking official procedures and using psychological tactics. The article highlights examples of victims falling for scams and emphasises the need for public awareness, law enforcement crackdowns and urgent statutory changes to protect the digital landscape and prevent setbacks to the vision of a digitally advanced India. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lavasa City, India's first planned private hill station, faces challenges after bankruptcy in 2018, marked by controversy, legal issues, and debt. Despite approval of a Rs1,814 crore bid by Darwin group in 2021, legal challenges persist, with home-buyers dissatisfied and banks opposing the resolution plan. The city's infrastructure is deteriorating, leading to irregular services. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu questions the reliability of economic and financial forecasts, citing examples of inaccurate predictions in the US for 2023. It contrasts the unpredictability of markets with India's potential for more accurate long-term forecasts, given recent policy changes. Also discussed in the video are initiatives like the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, massive capital spending, and the potential reduction in imports. Despite optimism about sustained growth, Debashis Basu advises caution, emphasising the importance of considering whether positive expectations are already reflected in current stock prices
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The finance ministry informed Parliament of a surprising 28% increase in unclaimed deposits to Rs42,270 crore on 31 March 2023 (against Rs32,934 crore during FY21-22). Get ready for an even more staggering truth: this figure of unclaimed deposits represents a mere quarter of the money that is locked away in ‘inoperative’ bank accounts. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains how inoperative bank accounts are a bigger mess than unclaimed deposits.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Sucheta Dalal talks about the bankruptcy proceedings of ABG Shipyard. Many companies are liquidated because there are no bidders and the recovery is in single digits. Large defaulters, like Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital and the Videocon group, have received bids below the liquidation value and many defaulters have been liquidated with pathetic recovery because there were no takers under the resolution process. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal exposes the flaws of the bankruptcy law.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here are two sets of bare facts. One, private mutual funds were permitted to be set up in 1993 and, in the past 21 years, until the end of 2014, their equity investment had gradually touched Rs200,000 crore spread across pure equity schemes, balanced schemes and equity-linked savings schemes. At the current rate of growth, by March 2024, equity assets held by mutual funds are expected to touch an astounding Rs24 lakh crore. This implies a stunning 12 times growth in the past decade, a compound annual growth rate of 28.2%. This is the story of institutionalisation or aggregation of Indian savings directed at equity markets. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu looks at the gradual change in the stock market.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 9 December 2023, the national company law appellate tribunal (NCLAT) delivered a landmark order in favour of Aquacity Consumer and Social Welfare Society (ACSWS), which represents a group of home buyers, and the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regualtory Authority (MP-RERA). The homebuyers will hopefully get a refund of their investment with interest from the Aakriti group, even if they have had to give up on the homes they had invested in. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Even as millions of new investors enter the capital market, our investor grievance redress system remains broken. Two recent orders that have gone against the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) expose the frightening state of affairs. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The market jumped to an all-time high on the news of higher growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) and several opinion polls favouring a return of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh and a close contest in Rajasthan. Debashis Basu believes that the Indian stock market is carrying, what can be called, a Modi premium. Listen to this week's episode he explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The recent events at Raymond Ltd (Raymond) and the Murugappa group suggest that women have more mountains to climb before achieving true equality in the boardroom. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After the death of Sahara founder Subrata Roy on 14th November, the government has quickly begun to explore the possibility of transferring funds with the market regulator to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI). Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal looks at Sahara and other such financial frauds that have occurred in India.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With the death of Sahara’s founder Subrata Roy, what happens to the crores of rupees that remain unpaid for investors of Sahara’s various cooperative schemes? Will regulators finally wake up and work towards a solution for aggrieved investors or will the case be quietly buried? Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu explores.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal takes a look at the ways banks continue to undermine regulatory oversight by stealing depositors’ money. Listen to this week's episode to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Jet Airways case followed a standard template evident in almost all the large bankruptcy cases. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explores whether Jet Airways was a bankruptcy or a fraud enabled by bankers and auditors.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stock markets are ruled by “sentiment” which drives money in and out of the markets. Bullish sentiment is described as a risk-on period while the bearish sentiment is called risk-off. The US market and economy have a profound influence on emerging markets and it is worth paying attention to them. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu explains in depth.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Long revered as the ‘simple’ middle-class, super-success story, the Murthys of Infosys are perhaps perplexed at why social media seems to explode at their comments these days. This time around, it was NR Narayana Murthy’s ‘request’ that India’s youth must emulate the Japanese and the Germans (who rebuilt their respective nations after the World War), and work for 70 hours a week to build our nation, which caused an uproar. Listen to this week's episode as a Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thousands of fit people are thrown into mental hospitals by their families taking advantage of a corrupt system and those who have recovered after treatment continue to languish there, in very poor conditions, because their families do not want to take the responsibility for them. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal, takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu returns to the bankruptcy and liquidation case of C&C Towers Ltd (CCTL). Listen to learn how public sector banks continue to sanction bad loans and are never held accountable for the same.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look at the grievance redressal mechanisms at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every so often, when one posts a consumer grievance issue on social media, a host of well-meaning sympathisers will say—take them to court, demand compensation, make them pay! The reality is very different. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains why.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Outside of hardcore market participants, not many people are aware of an ongoing crash in one of the largest markets in the world—the US bond market. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last week, Himalaya Wellness Corporation (Himalaya) filed a defamation suit against Cyriac Abby Philips, a hepatologist for his scathing public comments on Liv52, Himalaya’s flagship brand launched in 1955. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look at this particular defamation case.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We have many well-intentioned proposals, new rules from the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI), a new claims portal from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the promise of simplification after a public consultation by the investor education and protection fund (IEPF), all for improving the nomination and succession process. But has any of it worked? as Sucheta Dalal takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There are broadly two views on the Indian economy. One is untrammelled boosterism, the dream of becoming a US$5trn (trillion) economy, delivered by an ostensible era of perpetual prosperity, supported by a set of rosy data. Another view is sceptical of such an inference, based on a different data set. There is enough evidence to support both views, which creates an economic data fog, as Debashis Basu calls it. Listen to this week's episode to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The inability to share wealth and power amicably among siblings, and within families, is a universal problem. Globally, a quick transition from family-/individual-owned businesses to professional management and fear of shareholder lawsuits, especially by activist shareholders, have usually contained the problem. But this is not the case in India. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explores.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Heera Gold, the ‘halal investment’ opportunity that was described as a ‘Ponzi-like’ scheme by the capital market regulator, is back at its old game of luring people with the promise of high returns. This time, the company and its founder are hawking ‘digital gold’. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explores further.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An extraordinary bullishness has gripped a segment of the Indian market. On September 11, the benchmark index Nifty 50 crossed 20,000, braving many negatives such as selling by foreign institutional investors, high bond yields in the US and falling global liquidity. However, the real story is the extraordinary rally in smaller companies' stock prices which are shooting up like wild weeds for the sixth month running. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After losses inflicted by fraud and mis-selling due to the Finfluencers-Trainer-Referral model have led to a furore on social media, the market regulator has stirred into action – much like the police in Hindi movies of the 1980s. Meanwhile, their victims have begun to demand a refund of training fees, sending the fake market gurus rushing to seek legal advice anticipating regulatory action. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the past few days, thousands of angry traders have been spewing vitriol about several high-profile trainers who, it is alleged, have consistently made false claims about their trading prowess to lure gullible investors into buying their online trading courses or open brokerage accounts from which they make crores of rupees as referral fees. How serious is the issue? Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal take a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI), released two short discussion papers that aim to curb the malpractices of financial influencers or finfluencers. But will SEBI’s actions will help curb the menace of finfluencers? Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The unprecedented second interim order of the market regulator against the Brightcom Group Ltd (Brightcom) on 22nd August had no surprises for discerning investors, analysts or commentators. It is a bit like Byju’s—everybody had seen it coming for over a year. And yet, the sheer audacity of the fraud, collusion, stock price manipulation and disregard for rules that have been unearthed so far makes this a case study on par with the notoriety of Dinesh Dalmia’s DSQ Software group, Ramalinga Raju’s Satyam Computers and other scandals that will be documented for posterity. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is a social media influencer’s opinion genuine or paid for? This question has become increasingly difficult to answer, resulting in widespread suspicion about genuine posts as well. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the past four months, a strong rally has gripped the Indian market, while the US stock market has been on a huge bull run throughout 2023. Investors have shrugged off macroeconomic problems such as high-interest rates, poor economic growth and very high debt levels in the developed world. And yet, having declared victory over inflation in the US, which was the main bugbear of 2022, investors appear to be having second thoughts about whether the problems are really over. Indeed, various parts of the world economy could perhaps throw up some nasty surprises. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 3rd August, the securities appellate tribunal (SAT) issued an interesting order which, finally, nails down what thousands of investors have suspected and complained about—that the market regulator deals with complaints to its grievance redress system like a post-office. It merely forwards cases to the regulated entity against which there is a complaint. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal examines the SAT order in detail.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In March 2022, Byju’s, with a valuation of US$22bn, established by a US$800mn (million) fund-raise, was India’s most valuable start-up, despite declaring a loss of Rs4,588 crore for the year ended 31 March 2021. Things have gone downhill since then and even though the signs were always there, the Venture Capitalists invested in Byjus somehow missed it all. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal, takes a deeper look to examine where you things have gone wrong with Byjus.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mukesh Ambani’s newly demerged entity Jio Financial Services, about which hardly anything is known, is widely expected to disrupt the $540bn (billion) Indian mutual fund (MF) business. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu examines whether a disruption in the Indian MF market is imminent.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ask anyone who has registered a company or a limited liability partnership (LLP) online, and you will learn that a flood of spam calls to your registered mobile number, scores of emails and WhatsApp messages marketing bank accounts, compliance services, rubber stamp-makers, etc, will be your first intimation of formal registration. The official email will reach you a few days later. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a look how your privacy has been compromised.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Social media is filled with complaints from citizens who have received notices from the Income Tax department on IT returns filed years or sometimes decades ago. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal examines how difficult it has gotten for law abiding citizens to comply with the ever changing rules and regulations in India.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu looks at the curious case of Bank or Baroda officials onboarding and registering fake phone numbers on their mobile application to boost numbers. Listen to this week's episode to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and its chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch have been the subject of several media columns in recent days. As the first private sector person and woman to head the powerful market regulator, she already comes in for extra scrutiny. There is also a consensus of sorts that she works hard, is data-driven, more outspoken than most of her predecessors and would like to be seen as tough but fair. So, how is she faring so far? Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The big question this week, after almost the entire Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joined the government in Maharashtra, is whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one giant washing machine, which would cleanse politicians under the scanner of our investigation agencies of corruption charges, money-laundering and worse. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last week, the Indian market hit an all-time high. The Nifty just crossed 19,200 and fell back, while the Sensex crossed 64,700. There is strong bullishness all around, with some suggesting that the momentum is so strong that the index will quickly cross 20,000 and go higher. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu shares his thoughts on the market.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subhash Chandra, best known as the high-profile founder of the Zee group (now chairman emeritus) is a maverick entrepreneur who pioneered several new businesses in India—private television news, laminated packaging and giant theme parks. However, the road to achieving his goals of rapid growth, quick riches and diversification has always been suspect and controversial. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When it comes to bank loan defaults, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) views seem to swing from one extreme to another, like a pendulum. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Debashis Basu explains why banks freezing accounts for want of KYC updation is illegal. Listen to this week's episode to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The customer services committee headed by former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), BP Kanungo, has come up with a crisp set of recommendations that have addressed all the important pain points faced by consumers in dealing with banks and other regulated entities (REs) of RBI. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal talks about the suggestions made by the Kanungo committee and what you can do to ensure the recommendations are implemented.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
While the Supreme Court (SC) bench, hearing the Adani stock price crash issue, correctly refused to give SEBI another six months to complete the investigation, the fact is that SEBI has no timelines for its probes and cases have dragged on 20 years, in some cases. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal once again takes a look at the NSE-Colo scam and the long drawn out investigation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das sent out a warning recently to banks that resort to tricks to evergreen bad loans. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu explores the bad practices that many banks unfortunately continue doing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The SC committee on Adani-Hindenburg saga, pointed out that the dilution of disclosure norms by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) was the loophole that would stymie SEBI’s investigation. Yet, the same expert committee also makes a case for less corporate disclosures by listed entities on the fallacious grounds that ‘a surfeit of disclosures’ are loading us investors “with so much data and noise that the real content necessary to make an informed decision may be lost.” Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains in detail.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Supreme Court appointed committee on Adani recently released a report that gave a clean chit to both Adani and SEBI, the regulator. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a closer look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 6th May, an expert committee submitted a report on the Adani saga making a masterly, point-by-point legal case for exonerating the group and the market regulator, while also suggesting that, if the ‘letter of the law’ were to be followed, there is no case for repeated and never-ending investigation based on ‘suspicion’ that various actions of the group violated the ‘spirit of the law’. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explains why a clean chit raises more questions than it answers.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 15th May, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) claimed in Court ‘allegations’ that it has been investigating the Adani group since 2016 are ‘factually baseless’. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal investigates why SEBI has decided to take umbrage at being accused of investigating the Adani stock run-up.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When some parts of the economy experience strong growth while others continue to decline, like two arms of the letter 'K', it is known as K-shaped growth or K-shaped recovery. The worst kind of K-shaped growth is when a small number of (very rich) people do very well while the vast majority languishes. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu looks at the reasons for Indian economy's K-shaped growth.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Would it surprise you to know that banks still do not have unique customer IDs allocated to every customer, 11 years after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed them to do so? Or that banks, sometimes, allot more than one UCIC, defeating the very purpose of the anti-money laundering rules? Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal investigates.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has recently announced measures to stop misuse of investor funds. This action comes after 32 broker defaults. Listen to this week's episode, as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Defamation is a powerful tool, used largely by politicians, businesses and celebrities. Litigation is expensive and often drags on to the point of becoming meaningless. So, the law is out of the reach of most others. But defamation cases make for juicy headlines, especially when the founder of a start-up that has just imploded, files a million dollar defamation suit over an article written by a high-profile venture capitalist (VC). Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a look at the case of Ankiti Bose and Mahesh Murthy.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that India is preparing to overhaul its direct tax laws to help “Prime Minister Narendra Modi reduce widening income inequality.“ Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a look at the impact taxing capital gains might have on reducing inequality.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A lot is happening at Café Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL); but none of it is good news for investors. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look at the Cafe Coffee Day mess.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Many in India believe in the concept of ‘Saade-Sati’– a feared 7.5 year-long phase of the God Shani—when a person faces many challenges. The world of company secretaries (CS) seems to be facing a different, and more draconian, version of this when it comes to dealing with the MCA21 online corporate filing and compliance system. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a look at the problems faced by CS when completing regulatory filings.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As inflation declines, India has paused its interest rate hikes and there is optimism in the air that we have crossed the cyclical hump of a slowdown and should enjoy strong growth. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu takes a deeper look at the projected economic growth of India.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 29th March, the press information bureau (PIB) issued an unusual press release about a Supreme Court (SC) order in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking refund of money deposited with four cooperative societies set up by the notorious Sahara Pariwar. The details of what led to the order are both, extraordinary and confusing, not to mention the fact that it does not give any numbers; the math just does not add up. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal take a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 27th March, a Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by chief justice Dr Dhananjay Chandrachud, issued an order which said that banks must give the borrower a hearing before classifying the loan account as a fraud. The order has evoked mixed reactions. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu takes a look various issues where a lack of standard operating procedures issued by the Reserve Bank of India have harmed customers.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu examines public liability insurance and the lack of awareness about such insurance in India. Listen to this week's episode to learn why public liabiltiy insurance is essential.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Six years after the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) came into existence, a series of decisions is finally working in favour of home-owners. Even the national consumer disputes redressal commission (NCDRC) has stepped up and issued hard hitting orders in favour of home-owners. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal examines how RERA and NCDRC have helped home-owners.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Supreme Court of India (SC) order of 2nd March is a new experiment in investigating financial irregularities that lead to a public outcry. The order was in response to a batch of petitions following the release of a detailed report by Hindenburg Research on 24th January. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal examines whether this "experiment" of the Supreme Court will finally give answers on the Adani saga.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We take great pride in the fact that many successful Indians are occupying corner offices at the world’s largest and most powerful corporate houses and every action of theirs makes news in India. The flip side is that people of Indian origin will also hit the headlines for zip and enterprise of another kind—for gigantic fraud, running mega scams and even market manipulation. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal talks about Prateek Gupta, another PIO who's a defaulter on loans.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu continues to talk about the Adani saga and the wilful blindness by regulatory bodies to recognise a clear case of price rigging.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About a week ago, the government accepted the Supreme Court's (SC’s) suggestion to set up a committee led by a retired judge to study the crash in Adani group shares as well as to recommend improvements in statutory and regulatory regimes governing the securities market. Listen to this week's episode, Sucheta Dalal steps back in time to look at past scams and scandals where a separate committee was setup for investigation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu takes a look at the recent Adani Enterprises saga post release of the Hindenburg report.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal returns to the IL&FS mess with an update on one the Tiruppur saga. Watch the video to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It has been a bad fortnight for the market regulator, SEBI, as it’s tardy investigations, poor supervision and legally weak or poorly justified orders of the decade or more have come up for scrutiny in this short period. Listen to this week's episode Sucheta Dalal examines the issue in depth.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu explains why trading in derivatives such as futures and options is like playing in a casino, where 90% of the time the player looses and the house wins.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has sought feedback on complaint handling by market intermediaries (MIs) and market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), which impounds unclaimed funds, has also sought feedback on plans to ease its much-criticised claims process. Listen to this week's episode Sucheta Dalal examines whether this means investor grievances will be heard or if it’s just another pointless exercise
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The shameful collusion between creditors and resolution professionals (RPs) to legally hijack valuable corporate assets via the bankruptcy law reaches new lows every day. The most recent case pertains to Hirakud Industrial Works Ltd (Hirakud) which has been thwarted due to the efforts of Hindalco Industries Ltd (Hindalco) and the Hirakud Workers Union after the resolution had been cleared in December 2021. Listen to this week's episode Sucheta Dalal investigates.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Listen to this week's episode, Debashis Basu takes an example out of Moneylife’s Wealth Creator series to see what lessons can be learned from the biggest multi-baggers of the past decade.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Sucheta Dalal takes a look at the strange story of ICICI bank’s bailout of Lanco and an Australian coal mine that they had purchased.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Indian banks, especially public sector banks have poor processes for monitoring the use of funds and the guarantee process is downright dubious. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal takes a look corporate bad loans.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People will always make an attempt to predict the impact of events on the stock market, however such predictions are meaningless. Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu explains why predictions are almost always wrong.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 23rd December, when ICICI Bank’s former chief executive officer (CEO) Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak were busy sending out invitations to their son’s nuptials, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) decided to arrest the couple on an issue that has been in the public domain since whistle-blower Arvind Gupta’s blog post in 2016. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal tries to take a look at the possible reasons behind these sudden arrests.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
KPMG India settled a proceeding before the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) on 6 December 2022; but there is barely any coverage by the Indian media. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal, takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last week the finance minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha that Scheduled commercial banks have written off 10 lakh crore of bad loans in five years and that only 13 percent of the write off have been recovered. Separately, cumulative recovery of bad loans through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code until September (since the IBC came into existence in 2016) has been just 30.8% . Listen to this week's episode as Debashis Basu talks about bad loans of public sector banks and IBC.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Over a year ago, Moneylife Foundation, began to explore public liability insurance (PLI) and why it is not available for those who are injured in public places such as banks, restaurants, cinema houses, theatres, malls, hospitals, hotels, airports, or while accessing bridges and ropeways. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal explores why Indians continue to remain unaware of public liability insurance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
One of the best bits of news earlier this month was that the government seems serious about overhauling the bankruptcy Act in Budget 2023. Just six years after it began on a high note, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) needs serious fixing and not a mere patchwork. Listen to this week's episode this week's video as Sucheta Dalal takes a deeper look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SEBI is now planning separate rules for financial influencers or Fininfluencers, who give unsolicited financial advice on social media to ordinary investors on stocks, personal finance, mutual funds etc. Will SEBI’s plan work? Listen to this week’s episode as Debashis Basu explains why SEBI has already lost the battle against Finfluencers and Illegal Advisors.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Winsome Diamonds was a massive corporate default that burst on the business world sometime in 2013—in the same manner as Gitanjali Gems and Niraav Modi. The three are similar because their companies were huge advertisers and this got them loads of high-profile publicity, until they suddenly vanished, leaving massive defaults on the books of Indian and foreign banks. Listen to this week's episode as Sucheta Dalal discusses the case of Jatin Mehta and Winsome diamonds.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently announced that it wants to rein-in financial influencers luring people with unsolicited investment advice on social media platforms. It is also working hard to regulate journalists who have brazenly misused their position for front-running their stock recommendations or help in pump-and-dump schemes. The regulator’s attempt to make the media more accountable and disciplined is most welcome; but its recent investigation and adjudication proceedings against a reporter at ET Now, is deeply troubling in its over-zealousness in alleging fraud and unfair trade practices, and its understanding of the role of the media is also questionable.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Debashis Basu takes the time to talk about the FTX fraud and how first principles of investing and regulation were overlooked during it's operation.
While the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been taking action and forming committees to fix wrongdoing, they continue to go around in circles when it comes to implementing new ideas for better governance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Professionals dealing with the resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) narrate innumerable malpractices, but usually do not want to be named, since they would be replaced and, later, ostracised by banks who invariably act in concert as secured lenders. In this week’s episode, Sucheta Dalal talks about the specific case of Mercator Petroleum Limited.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Unbelievable as it may seem, the Nifty has hit a new lifetime high on monthly closing basis and appears ready to head higher. This sort of thing usually happens in a bull market. You may or may not find the media talking about new or a continuing bull market but stock prices – the ultimate arbiter – seem decisive in their verdict, so far. We could perhaps call it a stealth bull market. Listen to this week’s episode, as Debashis Basu explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.