Business
Fearing rate hikes, consumers may front load purchases in niche areas: SBI Research

Customers, especially in retail verticals could be having a feel of future run expected in interest rates, and might be front loading their purchases in days to come giving a fillip to consumer demands in select niche areas, said SBI Research in a report.
The sector-wise data for April indicated that credit off-take has happened in almost all sectors. Personal loans segment continued to perform well, registering an acceleration in growth to 14.7 per cent in April 2022 and contributed around 90 per cent of the incremental credit during the month, primarily driven by housing, vehicle loans and other personal loans segments, the report said on Tuesday.
The omicron fuelled days brought the bleak memories from last year. Spike in caseloads in select developed economies scared the psyche, the scars of past coming to the fore.
Businesses caught unaware previously and braving essential commodities as well as specialised essentials like chips shortages kept the expectations short. Against that backdrop, the report said that the GDP numbers did not disappoint much and it inspired the market.
India’s gross domestic product during fiscal year 2021-22 is estimated at 8.7 per cent as compared to a contraction of 6.6 per cent in the year 2020-21, official data showed.
The GDP grew 4.1 per cent year on year in Q4FY22 as against 1.6 per cent during the same quarter of FY21.
By far, trade, hotels, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting are the only sectors which are still not out of the woods post the pandemic.
The report said these sectors will reach or cross the pre-andemic levels by Q1FY23.
The global economic outlook is marred with downside risks due to the ongoing geopolitical upheaval and its impact on trade, output and prices.
Sharp increase in most commodity prices, significant tightening of financial conditions due to frontloaded monetary policy actions and high inflation are posing financial stability concerns.
“The World Economic Outlook (WEO) has cut its global growth forecast for 2022 relative to its January 2022 projection by 0.8 percentage points to 3.6 per cent. China’s economy remained deep in a slump in May as lockdowns continued to weigh on activity. The downward revision is sharper for emerging markets and developing economies than for advanced economies,” the report added.
National
Big relief for Kunal Kamra as Bombay HC grants protection from arrest

Mumbai, April 25: In a major relief for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the Bombay High Court on Friday granted him protection from arrest in connection with an FIR lodged over his satirical video and his controversial “gaddar” (traitor) remark aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The court directed the Mumbai Police not to take any coercive action against Kamra, who is currently residing in Chennai.
The FIR had been filed following the circulation of a video in which Kamra allegedly mocked Shinde and referred to him as a “gaddar,” sparking outrage among the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) supporters.
While restraining the police from arresting the comedian, the court, however, allowed investigators to proceed with their inquiry.
It permitted the Mumbai Police to travel to Chennai to question Kamra, with the assistance of the local police.
The court said if the police file a charge sheet, the trial court should not proceed till the High Court decides the quashing petition filed by Kamra.
Kamra had filed a plea before the High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against him.
Earlier on April 16, the High Court had granted him interim bail, which has now been made regular.
The FIR was filed at Khar police station following a complaint by Shiv Sena legislator Muraji Patel after Kamra, during a performance of his stand-up show Naya Bharat, allegedly referred to Shinde as a ‘gaddar’.
Kamra was initially granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court before he moved the Bombay High Court to seek quashing of the FIR and grant of regular bail.
The remark was purported as a reference to Shinde’s political defection from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to join hands with the BJP, which led to a dramatic split in the party and the rise of a new ruling coalition MahaYuti.
Business
Demand for homes priced Rs 1 crore and above boosts market in India: Report

Mumbai, April 24: The demand for homes prices Rs 1 crore and above bolstered the Indian property market in the first quarter this year, preventing overall sales of 65,250 units from hard landing, a report said on Thursday.
Residential sales in Q1 2025 (January-March) experienced only a modest decline and added up to 65,246 units. This limited drop was primarily due to robust demand in the Rs 3-5 crore and Rs 1.5-3.0 crore segments, which helped counterbalance the slowdown in relatively affordable housing, according to a JLL report.
The steady growth in higher ticket size homes indicates increasing affluence among homebuyers, changing lifestyle preferences and buyers prioritising larger and premium properties.
According to the report, housing sales in India’s top seven cities continued to be dominated by Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune, which collectively accounted for 66 per cent of Q1 sales.
High concentration of MNCs and startups creating significant employment opportunities and ongoing infrastructure improvements make these cities increasingly attractive places to live and work.
It is interesting to note that over the last few quarters a significant share of quarterly sales volume has been contributed by projects launched during the same quarter.
Q1 2025 was no exception, with around one-fourth of its sales being contributed by quarterly new launches. Launches by reputed developers with assurance of timely delivery and steady price appreciation, are driving the trend, the report informed.
“The residential real estate market is showing signs of a shift in buyer preferences with lowering of demand for less than Rs 1 crore housing and a growing affinity for mid to high-end properties. This as well suggests a potential upward movement in the overall market dynamics,” said Dr Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research and REIS, India, JLL.
“This upswing in the higher-priced segment demand has shielded the overall housing sales from a sharper decline,” Das added.
Developers are focusing more on mid to high-end projects to align with current demand patterns. High-end housing sector experienced a steady upswing with 107 per cent year-on-year growth in launches of properties priced at Rs 1 crore and above, driven by strong sales in this segment.
Growth in launches despite economic uncertainties signals robust developer confidence in high-end housing demand, said the report, adding that 2025 is poised for robust growth in the residential sector demand.
Business
GreenLine flags off LNG truck fleet for Bekaert to drive sustainable logistics

Mumbai, April 24: GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd., an Essar venture and India’s only green logistics operator of LNG and electric-powered heavy commercial trucks, has partnered with Bekaert, a global leader in tire reinforcement technology, to decarbonise road logistics and support India’s vision of a gas-based economy.
The partnership was flagged off with the deployment of GreenLine’s LNG-powered trucks at Bekaert’s Ranjangaon Plant, marking the beginning of a pilot phase that aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Bekaert’s logistics operations.
Each GreenLine LNG truck is expected to reduce up to 24 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to Bekaert’s ambition of becoming carbon net-zero by 2050 and achieving 65 per cent of sales from sustainable solutions.
Commenting on the partnership, Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, said, “Our partnership with Bekaert demonstrates the growing commitment of forward-thinking corporates to drive sustainability at scale. At GreenLine, we are proud to offer not just green trucks, but an integrated ecosystem — from LNG refuelling to real-time telematics — that empowers our partners to make meaningful progress on their net-zero goals.”
Dinesh Mukhedkar, Procurement Operations Lead — South Asia and Procurement Global Shared Service Centre Lead, Bekaert, added, “As part of our purpose ‘Establishing the new possible,’ and our ambition to lead in safe, smart, and sustainable solutions, decarbonising logistics is an essential step. This directly supports our commitment to ESG principles and long-term sustainability goals.”
GreenLine’s expanding fleet of LNG-powered trucks has already clocked more than 40 million km, avoiding over 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The company’s ongoing expansion includes plans to deploy over 10,000 LNG and EV trucks, supported by a nationwide network of 100 LNG refuelling stations, EV charging hubs, and battery swapping facilities — targeting a reduction of 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
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