Page 18 - BS Premium
100% FDI gives flexibility to serious insurers: Generali Central Insurance
Anup Rau shared his views on FDI, insurance penetration, regulation, bancassurance, and the company's growth plans
 "100% FDI gives flexibility to serious insurers: Generali Central Insurance")
Amid Hormuz closure, Indian refiners look at other crude oil sources
Indian refiners are diversifying crude sourcing to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and tapping inventories as the West Asia crisis disrupts key routes that handle over half of India's oil and gas imports
 "Amid Hormuz closure, Indian refiners look at other crude oil sources")
Marketing That Works: A book on how 'unify, magnify, amplify' builds brands
After laying the foundation to the UMA model in the first half of the book, Mr Das Gupta offers 28 nuggets, each looking at one aspect of the Indian consumer that has changed
 "Marketing That Works: A book on how 'unify, magnify, amplify' builds brands")
Extended Iran conflict may disrupt L&T's order inflows, regional projects
With nearly half its order book linked to the Middle East, L&T may see short-term disruptions from the Iran conflict, raising concerns over execution, exports and regional project pipelines
 "Extended Iran conflict may disrupt L&T's order inflows, regional projects")
Hotels likely to wait before unlocking West Asia biz expansion door
Indian hotel companies exploring growth opportunities in West Asia are adopting a wait-and-watch stance as the sudden conflict in the region injects uncertainty into long-term expansion plans
 "Hotels likely to wait before unlocking West Asia biz expansion door")
Travel firms hit as West Asia crisis triggers cancellations, stock decline
Travel and tourism stocks fell more sharply than the Sensex as tensions in West Asia led to mass cancellations, flight disruptions and rising uncertainty across key outbound markets for India
 "Travel firms hit as West Asia crisis triggers cancellations, stock decline")
Exporters, vessel operators at sea over stranded ships, Indian seafarers
DGFT, DGS officials have met stakeholders over past two days to discuss issues they are facing
 "Exporters, vessel operators at sea over stranded ships, Indian seafarers")
Indians press pause on Dubai real estate amid rising West Asia conflicts
Developers planning new projects in the region may defer new launches
 "Indians press pause on Dubai real estate amid rising West Asia conflicts")
TollBit is about monetising AI bot traffic, says cofounder and CEO
Today we have crossed over 7,000 publishers (Time, AP and Adweek, among others) in the US, Europe, South Asia and Japan, says Toshit Panigrahi
 "TollBit is about monetising AI bot traffic, says cofounder and CEO")
Pronto raises $25 million to expand instant-home services across cities
Epiq Capital leads the round; Pronto's daily bookings surge to over 18,000
 "Pronto raises $25 million to expand instant-home services across cities")
Seiko resets its India clock, targets 2x revenue in 3 years: Kawada
Japanese watchmaker plans 30 exclusive boutiques by 2028
 "Seiko resets its India clock, targets 2x revenue in 3 years: Kawada")
Tata Motors, M&M, and JSW MG oppose Niti Aayog's transport report
Govt think-tank's report on transport sector suggested CAFE norms must incentivise smaller entry-level vehicles
 "Tata Motors, M&M, and JSW MG oppose Niti Aayog's transport report")
Investing in domestic companies crucial for AI sovereignty: Mark Surman
Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman says India and the Global South must build open-source AI models, buy from domestic firms and ensure that AI reflects local cultures and societal norms
 "Investing in domestic companies crucial for AI sovereignty: Mark Surman")
Holi adds splash of colour to quick-commerce carts and campaigns
In addition to curating a Holi section, Zepto is also allowing users to send festival greetings to one another on the mobile application itself
 "Holi adds splash of colour to quick-commerce carts and campaigns")
India's cities need bureaucrat-CEOs who do more than maintain order
In tandem, the Union Budget allocated ₹1 trillion to the Urban Challenge Fund, aimed at catalysing fund flows to urban local bodies (ULBs) over the next five years
 "India's cities need bureaucrat-CEOs who do more than maintain order")
Govt should amend SMC Bill to unify regulation of the corporate bond market
To facilitate retail participation in G-Secs, RBI came out in November 2021 with a scheme for direct retail participation in G-Secs through its own depository system and the NDS-OM trading platform
 "Govt should amend SMC Bill to unify regulation of the corporate bond market")
Preventive leap: Nationwide HPV drive can target the cervical cancer burden
Cost had earlier been a barrier. In the private market, vaccines such as Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, cost ₹3,000-4,000 per dose
 "Preventive leap: Nationwide HPV drive can target the cervical cancer burden")
Global reinsurers scrap marine hull war cover amid West Asia tensions
Several global reinsurers, including GIC Re, have withdrawn marine hull war cover as West Asia tensions escalate, sharply increasing premiums and raising operational risks for exporters
 "Global reinsurers scrap marine hull war cover amid West Asia tensions")
M&A activity in power sector gathers pace as PPAs drive up valuations
Accelerating power demand, revival of long-term PPAs, stronger plant load factors and attractive valuations are triggering a fresh wave of M&A activity across thermal and renewable assets
 "M&A activity in power sector gathers pace as PPAs drive up valuations")
Managing the fallout: West Asian conflict can be challenging for India
Oil imports account for 3.1% of gross domestic product, and according to Nomura, every 10% rise in oil prices worsens India's current account by 0.4 percentage point
 "Managing the fallout: West Asian conflict can be challenging for India")