Mumbai, Nov 13: The Indian benchmark indices opened in mild red zone on Thursday, amid mixed global cues and persistent selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs).

As of 9.25 am, Sensex declined 68 points, or 0.08 per cent at 84,398 and Nifty dipped 15 points, or 0.05 per cent to 25,860.

The broadcap indices performed in line with the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.13 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 dipped 0.27 per cent.

Tata Steel, Hindalco and Dr Reddy’s Labs were among the major gainers in the Nifty Pack, while losers included Bajaj Finance, Apollo Hospitals, Shriram Finance and TCS.

All the sectoral indices were trading in green except FMCG (down 0.78 per cent), IT and private bank. Nifty Metal was the standout gainer up 1.52 per cent.

A possible India-US trade deal that removes penal tariffs and reduces reciprocal tariffs is an important economic factor that should be watched for, said analysts.

The decline in October retail inflation in India to 0.25 per cent indicates the possibility of a rate cut from the RBI MPC in December. But the monetary policy transmission turning weak has become a challenge for the RBI, they added.

Analysts placed immediate resistance for Nifty at 25,950, followed by 26,000, and support at 25,700 and 25,750 zones.

Most of the Asia-Pacific markets rose in early trading sessions after US House of Representatives passed a short-term funding bill to end the longest federal shutdown on record.

The US markets ended in green zone overnight as the S&P 500 added 0.06 per cent, and the Dow inched up 0.68 per cent. However, Nasdaq continued its decline, slipping 0.26 per cent.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index added 0.3 per cent, and Shenzhen inched up 1.62 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei advanced 0.2 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index eased 0.45 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.17 per cent.

On Wednesday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,150 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 5,127 crore.

Ahmedabad, Nov 12: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Wednesday said it has become India’s first Integrated Transport Utility to embrace the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, setting a new benchmark for nature-positive infrastructure development.

With this, APSEZ joins a select league of global port operators championing biodiversity, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems through science-based, transparent environmental disclosures.

As a TNFD adopter, the company said it is committed to implementing TNFD-aligned reporting on nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

The TNFD is a global, science-based initiative founded by a coalition including the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Canopy, to guide companies in identifying, assessing, managing, and disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities.

“We firmly believe responsible business practices drive long-term success. Our adoption of the TNFD framework demonstrates support for nature-related corporate reporting at COP30. We see nature-related issues as a strategic risk management priority. The TNFD framework provides robust support for integrating nature into our decision-making processes and enhancing our contribution to biodiversity conservation,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-Time Director and CEO of APSEZ.

This step further strengthens APSEZ’s dedication to nature-positive business practices and positions it as a leader in sustainable maritime logistics.

As part of this commitment, Adani Ports will further enhance disclosure standards to ensure alignment with the TNFD recommendations in its corporate reporting, starting FY26.

The company has already institutionalised climate risk assessment and disclosure practices that align with globally recognised frameworks and continues to set standards in environmental stewardship, having afforested over 4,200 hectares of mangroves and actively conserving an additional 3,000 hectares — making it the largest private sector contributor to mangrove ecosystem restoration in India.

The new initiative is a key component of APSEZ’s broader ESG strategy and reflects a proactive approach in assessing and addressing nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities.

The company operates a comprehensive ecosystem of 15 strategically located ports and terminals across India’s west, south, and east coasts, combined with a diversified marine fleet of 127 vessels.

Chennai, Nov 12: With the state’s daily electricity demand averaging 16,000 megawatts (MW), Tamil Nadu is gearing up for a massive power procurement exercise worth over Rs 25,100 crore over the next five years to ensure uninterrupted supply during both regular and peak hours.

According to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), the state currently generates an average of 3,000 MW from thermal plants, 1,000 MW from hydropower stations, and around 150 MW from gas-based plants.

The remaining demand is met through central generating stations and private power companies. To address the increasing consumption, particularly during high-demand periods, the state has floated tenders to procure 500 MW of electricity every day during peak hours for the next three years. In addition, a five-year tender has been issued to purchase 1,000 MW of power round the clock from private producers.

The peak hours, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., are the most expensive period for electricity procurement. Even if the maximum tariff is capped at Rs 8 per unit, the daily expenditure for 500 MW would amount to nearly Rs 3.2 crore, translating to about Rs 3,500 crore over three years.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour supply agreement for 1,000 MW over five years is projected to cost approximately Rs 21,600 crore. Together, the total outlay for both arrangements will reach Rs 25,100 crore.

Officials noted that the decision was made to prevent outages during the upcoming northeast monsoon season and to maintain grid stability as the state’s demand continues to rise steadily.

The government is also exploring renewable energy integration, with a focus on solar and wind sources, to gradually reduce dependence on costly thermal and imported power.

The new procurement strategy is expected to provide crucial support to Tamil Nadu’s industries and domestic consumers alike, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply despite fluctuating generation levels from hydel and renewable sources.