Business
High commodity prices continue to weigh on trade deficit, estimate for FY23 at $90bn: Acuite
The expectation of the expansion of the current account deficit is not just driven by elevated global commodity prices, but is also linked to the unlocking of the economy reviving pent-up demand and improved vaccination cover aiding an organic recovery in the economy, ratings and research firm Acuite Ratings & Research said in a report.
Nevertheless, there is considerable uncertainty in projecting trade and current account deficit due to high volatility in commodity prices, which in the current environment is taking cues from unpredictable geopolitical events.
“Given, the relentless rise in commodity prices particularly crude oil which has again risen to $120 per barrel, we project current account deficit (CAD) to widen to more than $90 billion (in FY23) from an estimated $47 billion in FY22,” the report said.
India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to a record high level of $23.3 billion in May 2022 from a deficit of $20.1 billion in April, the report said citing the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s preliminary data.
On the other hand, imports increased slightly to $60.6 billion in May from $60.3 billion in the previous month, given the rising crude oil bill.
Notably, India’s share of oil imports from Russia has increased from 2 per cent to nearly 25 per cent since the onslaught of the geopolitical crisis, with India taking advantage of competitive pricing with an aim to fulfil its heavy oil needs, it said.
“On the exports front, the moderation was driven by non-oil exports while oil exports eased a tad in May-22. On a sectoral basis, commodities such as petroleum products, electronic goods, chemicals, and engineering goods remained strong in May-22.”
The report further said that the evolving global geopolitical dynamics, and policy support through targeted incentive structures like the production-linked incentive schemes and strategic trade partnerships (such as India-Australia trade agreement, and India-UAE trade pact) would also continue to support exports, besides the inorganic expansion via price effect.
That said, some normalisation in growth is likely in the coming quarters on deceleration in global demand, the report added.
Business
2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 Unveiled: India Launch Expected Next Year
Ducati has revealed the 2025 Multistrada V2, set to go on sale internationally in January 2025. The updated model is lighter by 18 kg, features a new engine, and boasts a refreshed design. Available in two variants, V2 and V2 S, the new Multistrada V2 will be offered in Ducati Red and Storm Green colours. With a focus on lightness, handling, and ease of riding, the redesigned sport tourer sets new standards for mid-size twin-cylinder motorcycles. The model is expected to be launched in India sometime next year.
2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 comes with design updates, including a sharper, shorter beak, a taller windscreen, and a redesigned rear section. The new Storm Green colour adds to its appeal. The rider and passenger seats have been revamped, offering improved passenger room. Additionally, the seat height is adjustable between 850 mm and 830 mm, allowing riders to touch the ground more easily for better stability. These changes focus on enhancing comfort and practicality for everyday use.
2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 is powered by an 890cc 90-degree L-Twin engine, which also powers the Streetfighter V2. This engine produces 114 hp at 10,750 rpm and 92.1 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm, with more than 70% of the torque available from 3,500 rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and features a bi-directional quick-shifter as standard, offering smooth and responsive gear shifts for enhanced performance.
The 2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 is equipped with a redesigned frame, rear subframe, and swingarm, contributing to an 18 kg weight reduction compared to the previous model. The new aluminium monocoque frame uses the engine as a stressed element, while the rear subframe is made of steel trellis and the swingarm is cast aluminium. The V2 weighs 199 kg, with the V2 S version at 202 kg due to its semiactive suspension. Both variants feature a 19-inch front wheel, 17-inch rear wheel, Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres, and 170 mm of suspension travel. The Brembo braking system includes twin 320 mm front discs and a single 265 mm rear disc.
The bike is also equipped with a 5-inch TFT display, providing a new multilingual interface for managing the full electronics package, including five riding modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro, and Wet. These modes adjust engine power, cornering ABS, traction control, and other settings. Standard features include cruise control and a USB charging port.
Business
MAS Slaps Penalty Of SGD 2.4 Million On JP Morgan Chase Bank For Misconduct By Relationship Managers In 24 Bond Transactions
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has imposed a civil penalty of SGD 2.4 million on JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPM), according to a media release issued by the central bank of Singapore. The penalty was for JPMorgan Chase Bank failing to prevent and detect misconduct committed by its relationship managers (RMs).
The media release said: “In 24 over-the-counter (OTC) bond transactions, the RMs had made inaccurate or incomplete disclosures to clients, resulting in the clients being charged spreads that were above the bilaterally agreed rates.” These transactions took place between November 2018 and September 2019, said MAS.
Explaining that the RMs of JPMorgan Chase Bank had misled the clients into paying more than what they should have paid, MAS said that “JPM did not establish adequate processes and controls to ensure that its RMs adhered to pre-agreed spreads with clients when executing OTC bond transactions on their behalf”.
The central bank “sampled OTC bond transactions conducted by JPM’s RMs” and found that in the 24 transactions, the RMs had “either misrepresented the price components or omitted material information that the spreads charged were above the agreed rates”. The phrase “price components” refers to the executed interbank price and/or spread charged.
MAS said that this misrepresentation and omission by the RMs was “in contravention of sections 201(c) and 201(d) of the Securities and Futures Act (SFA)”.
Informing that the private bank had accepted these violations and its responsibility for what the relationship managers did, MAS said: “JPM has admitted liability under section 236C of the SFA for its failure to prevent or detect the misconduct by its RMs and has paid MAS the civil penalty. The bank has refunded the overcharged fees to affected clients.”
At the same time, JPMorgan Chase Bank has taken measures to prevent a repeat of this. “The bank has also enhanced its pricing frameworks and internal controls to prevent the recurrence of such misconduct,” said MAS. “Separate reviews into the individual RMs involved in the misconduct are ongoing.”
What is the MAS civil penalty?
“A civil penalty action is not a criminal action and does not attract criminal sanctions. The civil penalty regime, designed to complement criminal sanctions and provide a nuanced approach to combat market misconduct, became operational at the beginning of 2004,” said the MAS media release.
“Under section 232 of the SFA, MAS may enter into an agreement with any person for that person to pay, with or without admission of liability, a civil penalty for contravening any provision of Part 12 of the SFA. The civil penalty may be up to three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided by that person as a result of the contravention, subject to a minimum of USD 50,000 (if the person is not a corporation) or $100,000 (if the person is a corporation).”
Under section 201(c) of the SFA, no person shall, directly or indirectly, in connection with the subscription, purchase or sale of any capital market products, make any statement he knows to be false in a material particular.
● Section 201(d) of the SFA
Under section 201(d) of the SFA, no person shall, directly or indirectly, in connection with the subscription, purchase or sale of any capital market products, omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
● Section 236C of the SFA
Under section 236C of the SFA, a corporation which fails to prevent or detect a contravention of any provision in Part 12 of the SFA that is committed by an employee or officer for its benefit and attributable to its negligence, commits a contravention and shall be liable to an order for a civil penalty.
Business
Zypp Electric Crosses 20.5 Million Zero-Emission Deliveries Milestone
Zypp Electric, a leading EV-as-a-service platform in India, has reached a significant milestone by completing over 20.5 million zero-emission deliveries in the last year. With a focus on sustainable logistics, Zypp plays a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of last-mile delivery and currently handles 15-20% of quick commerce orders in the Delhi-NCR region.
The quick commerce sector in India, valued at $60-70 billion, is witnessing rapid growth and is expected to expand to $25-55 billion by 2030. Companies like Zypp Electric are driving this transformation by improving delivery efficiency, lowering business churn rates, and promoting eco-friendly logistics solutions to meet the demands of this booming market.
Zypp Electric has significantly reduced carbon emissions through its strategic partnerships with major quick commerce players like Zepto, Blinkit, Big Basket Now, and Instamart. The company has helped cut 2.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions over the past year. With Zepto, Zypp completed 10.4 million deliveries, saving 11.95 lakh kg of carbon, while Blinkit achieved 7.19 million deliveries, reducing emissions by 8.29 lakh kg.
Big Basket Now contributed 2.76 million deliveries, resulting in a 4.22 lakh kg reduction in carbon, and Instamart’s 2.15 lakh deliveries helped cut over 72,000 kg. Zypp is not only advancing eco-friendly logistics but also providing substantial earning opportunities for delivery partners, with top earners during the festive season reaching Rs 99,949 per month, demonstrating the platform’s impact on both the quick commerce and gig economy sectors.
Akash Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO of Zypp Electric, said, “I remember when we had our 1st meeting with all our amazing quick commerce partners Zepto, Blinkit, BB Now & Swiggy Instamart, we were sure that this sector will revolutionize the delivery market. This achievement is not just a number; it signifies our relentless pursuit of sustainability in quick commerce. At Zypp Electric, we believe that quick and sustainable logistics is the future of e-commerce. Our partnerships have shown that we can break the myth that speed and sustainability are mutually exclusive. As we move forward, we are excited to lead the charge in making electric deliveries the norm in India, and I would personally cherish delivering the 21st million delivery landmark myself with my leadership team.”
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