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Indian companies across multiple sectors have reported disappointing results in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, notes a new JM Financials report. Consequently, their poor performance has triggered stock price corrections for affected companies. The brunt of this weaker than expected earnings was largely borne by consumer centric sectors like FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), retail, and auto, which slacked largely due to dampened urban demand. For instance, India's largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, reported a 5% YoY decline in its total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales, largely on the back of pent-up inventory. Similarly, Honda reported a staggering 23% YoY dip in its total sales during October 2024. A recent report by Bernstein noted that around 48% of the companies listed on the NSE100 index missed their earnings estimate for Q2FY25, the highest since March 2020. Most companies have mentioned deteriorated domestic demand, urban slowing, macroeconomic risk, and margin pressures as the main reasons behind the dip. "The quarter's earnings have made investors nervous," noted the JM Financials report. The challenging environment stems from multiple factors: softening consumer demand, rising input costs, and companies' limited ability to increase prices. Moreover, this is not limited to just one quarter. Companies have been reporting weak, single-digit earnings growth for the last six consecutive quarters. Data from India Data Hub also suggests that corporate profits of listed companies plunged by as much as 3.4% during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. This is in stark contrast to the year-ago period, where they had shot up by over 40% The oil and gas sector had a difficult quarter, with refiners hit by weak margins and city gas distributors struggling with higher input costs. Financial institutions showed mixed results. While government-owned banks reported strong numbers, microfinance institutions and some private lenders faced massive difficulties with their unsecured loans. Most notable amongst this was the case of IndusInd Bank, which saw its net profits dip by 40% amidst burgeoning provisions, which climbed 87% to Rs 1,820 crore in Q2, as against Rs 974 crore reported in the year-ago period. <h2>Markets head southwards</h2>The selling trend by FPIs has dragged down the major Indian indices, the Nifty 50 and Sensex, both of which have dropped by around 8% since the beginning of this selling spree in October. According to National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL) data, FPIs offloaded equities worth a significant Rs 19,994 crore in just the first five trading sessions of November last week. The impact is clearly visible on Indian stock markets. Data suggests that while every sector in October closed the month in red, auto, oil and gas, and consumer durables were the most badly hit, each declining by as much as 10% during the month. Another indicator underlining the inherent weakness of the market was that the month saw only 242 stocks hit their 52-week high, significantly below the usual monthly average of 310.

India Inc. stares at an earnings dearth in Q2, FMCG, auto, and consumer durables falter

The Indian cement industry is on track to reach 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29, driven by robust government investment in infrastructure. According to an IANS report originally attributed to Infomerics Ratings, this marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9 per cent between 2024 and 2029. In 2022-23, the industry’s market size stood at 3.82 billion tonnes, with a total installed capacity of 622 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY24 and production at 427 million tonnes. Notably, India contributes over 8 per cent to the world’s total installed cement capacity, highlighting its importance in the global market. Despite this, India’s per capita cement consumption is 260 kg—significantly below the global average of 540 kg—indicating substantial room for growth. Globally, the cement market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3 per cent from 2024 to 2032. The sector’s expansion is fuelled by ambitious government initiatives, including an allocation of ₹11.11 lakh crore for infrastructure in FY25 and housing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The construction sector consumes 55 per cent of cement production, while public infrastructure projects account for the remainder. The industry also plays a critical role in employment, providing direct jobs to over one million people and creating downstream opportunities for about 20,000 individuals per million tonnes of cement produced. Private players dominate the sector, controlling 98 per cent of production capacity, while public sector units hold a mere 2 per cent. Domestic production meets almost all demand, with imports accounting for just 0.2 per cent of total production in FY23. However, exports have declined recently due to reduced global demand and rising competition. India currently has 341 cement manufacturing facilities, including 159 integrated large cement plants, 120 grinding units, and 62 mini cement plants. Cement production has seen steady growth, with a 7.1 per cent increase in September 2024 and a cumulative growth of 1.6 per cent between April and September of FY25, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This growth aligns with India’s overall industrial performance, which saw a 2 per cent rise in core industries in September, led by cement, steel, coal, and fertilisers. As India invests heavily in infrastructure and housing, the cement industry is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s economic and developmental goals. (with IANS inputs)

India's cement industry expected to grow to 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29 amid infrastructure push: Report

The Indian automotive landscape is evolving as consumers lean toward both luxury and sustainable options, according to <keyword id="20034170" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Grant-Thornton-Bharat" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Grant Thornton Bharat" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Grant Thornton Bharat">Grant Thornton Bharat</keyword>’s survey, Shifting Gears: Understanding Passenger Vehicle Market Trends. The survey, gathering insights from over 3,500 respondents, found that 85% are interested in high-end variants, with a notable rise in preference for <keyword id="20372525" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-vehicles" source="keywords">hybrid vehicles</keyword> over electric options. With 40% of respondents favouring hybrids and only 17% opting for EVs, the shift suggests a cautious approach as consumers await more robust <keyword id="20415012" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EV-infrastructure" source="keywords">EV infrastructure</keyword> and incentives. Meanwhile, 34% still prefer petrol vehicles, indicating the ongoing transition in <keyword id="21046358" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-preferences" source="keywords">consumer preferences</keyword>. Hybrid vehicles, acting as a bridge, are likely to boost familiarity with green technology, paving the way for broader EV adoption in the future. According to Saket Mehra, Partner and Auto &amp; EV Industry Leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, automakers must focus on both hybrid and electric solutions to match changing demands. This year’s festive season—typically accounting for 30-40% of annual sales—is critical, yet high inventory levels, weather impacts, and regional elections have slowed growth. Utility (UV) and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) continue to dominate, now representing 65% of passenger vehicle sales with 13% growth year-over-year. Despite a slow start to FY25, the popularity of SUVs and UVs reflects a strong preference for versatile vehicles. Yet, automakers are grappling with inventory challenges, with 7.9 lakh units worth ₹79,000 crore in stock as of September 2024. To tap into festive demand, nearly 90% of consumers expect substantial discounts. The survey also highlights a shift in consumer priorities, with a heightened focus on <keyword id="20961985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vehicle-safety" source="keywords">vehicle safety</keyword> overtaking traditional factors like design or performance. Subscription models are also gaining traction, indicating a broader transformation in how Indians perceive mobility solutions.

Indian consumers shift gears toward luxury and sustainability in the auto sector: Survey

A public interest litigation (<keyword id="19957723" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PIL" source="keywords">PIL</keyword>) has been filed in the <keyword id="19905533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay-High-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bombay High Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court</keyword>, urging the establishment of stringent guidelines to curb <keyword id="21811854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-marketing" source="keywords">black marketing</keyword> and <keyword id="23311384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticket-scalping" source="keywords">ticket scalping</keyword> for major events. The PIL comes in the wake of widespread concerns over alleged irregularities during the online sale of tickets for the British band Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Navi Mumbai, scheduled for January 2025. Filed by advocate Amit Vyas, the PIL highlights the growing menace of ticket scalping and black marketing at large-scale events, including concerts, live shows, and sports matches. The plea calls for a thorough investigation into illegal ticket sales and the manipulation of online ticketing platforms, with specific reference to Coldplay's highly anticipated concert. The plea was mentioned on Monday for urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. Noting that a police inquiry into the matter was already underway, the court adjourned the hearing to November, after the Diwali vacation. <h2>Allegations of <keyword id="23627270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticketing-irregularities" source="keywords">ticketing irregularities</keyword></h2>The PIL specifically alleges foul play during last month’s sale of tickets for Coldplay's concert on the popular online ticketing platform, <keyword id="20215809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BookMyShow" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BookMyShow" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BookMyShow">BookMyShow</keyword>. According to the petition, many potential buyers were locked out of the website within minutes of the ticket sales opening, only to discover that the tickets had been sold out. Shortly thereafter, these same tickets appeared on secondary platforms at exorbitant prices, fueling suspicions of deliberate manipulation. Vyas, in his submission, noted that secondary websites were still selling tickets at inflated rates. He argued that this exploitative practice deprived fans of their right to fair access to entertainment, violating the <keyword id="20003683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-protection" source="keywords">Consumer Protection</keyword> (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which mandate fair and non-deceptive practices by e-commerce entities. The PIL underscored that this problem extends beyond the <keyword id="22044624" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coldplay-concert" source="keywords">Coldplay concert</keyword>, pointing to similar issues during other major events, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and concerts of global artists like <keyword id="19897184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taylor-swift" source="keywords">Taylor Swift</keyword> and Diljit Dosanjh. In each case, fans were exploited through black market ticket sales, with prices soaring well above their official rates. According to Vyas, there is an urgent need for the government and judicial system to intervene, as ticketing platforms and event organisers are either complicit or failing to regulate secondary market sales effectively. <h2>Call for stricter guidelines</h2>The plea calls for the Bombay High Court to lay down stringent guidelines to prevent the black marketing and touting of event tickets. Vyas has asked for a framework that would ensure transparency and fairness in <keyword id="23627269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-ticket-sales" source="keywords">online ticket sales</keyword> and reduce the exploitation of fans. The PIL emphasises that the lack of proper regulations in India’s ticketing sector has allowed platforms like BookMyShow to bypass rules, leaving consumers vulnerable to deceptive practices. It urges the court to consider the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, as the basis for implementing stricter regulatory measures in the ticketing industry. <h2>Ongoing police investigation</h2>Following last month’s irregularities, Vyas lodged a police complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, which is currently conducting an inquiry. The PIL has highlighted the need for a more immediate judicial intervention to prevent further exploitation in upcoming events. As the Coldplay concert approaches, the spotlight remains on the High Court’s response to this plea and whether it will pave the way for reforms that will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to India’s ticketing industry. The court is expected to hear the matter again in November. (With inputs from agencies)

Coldplay concert chaos aftermath: PIL filed in Bombay HC to demand stricter controls over online ticket sales

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stocks reached new records on Tuesday, led by gains in Nvidia.</li><li>A weak consumer confidence reading caused indexes to briefly drop early morning.</li></ul>US stocks kept up their winning streak on Tuesday, with indexes pushing higher to new records. The gains weren't locked in from the start, however, as early-morning economic data briefly drove the <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_100">Nasdaq</a> index into the red.Investors reacted with dismay after the latest consumer sentiment reading, with confidence among US consumers logging its largest one-month drop in more than three years.The Conference Board's consumer confidence index came in at 98.7 for September, well below consensus estimates of a 104 reading."It's never good to see consumer confidence fall this much. Consumers are clearly concerned about the implications of the upcoming election, the increasing conflict around the world, and the stubbornly high cost of food and credit," said Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group."The Federal Reserve seldom reads the tea leaves correctly on when and how much to cut rates, but 50 seems more correct in light of these data."Markets appear to be in agreement, and the odds of a half-point cut in November climbed to 60.7%, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">CME FedWatch Tool</a>.However, after the dip, the market bounced back later in the day with a nearly 5% rally in <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/nvda-stock">Nvidia</a> helping investors push past the discouraging consumer update. The chipmaker ended the day up by about 4%, jumping on news that its CEO Jensen Huang was done selling stock for now. Under a predetermined trading plan, the executive was authorized to sell 6 million Nvidia shares through early next year — but he just met that threshold, Barron's first reported.Outside of the US, emerging equity markets logged big gains. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-stimulus-boosts-emerging-markets-stocks-2024-9">stocks hit their highest level since 2022</a> as China announced its biggest stimulus package to revive its ailing economy.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Tuesday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,732.93, up 0.25% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 42,208.22, up 0.2% (+83.57 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 18,074.52, up 0.56% </li></ul>Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/diddy-sbf-dorm-style-room-brooklyn-jail-crypto-ftx-2024-9">Diddy and crypto fraudster SBF are sharing a dorm-like jail cell</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-labor-employment-data-record-high-recession-forecast-2024-9?_gl=1*49z9pe*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNzIwNTc4OC42NDkuMS4xNzI3MjA3ODI4LjYwLjAuMA..">Stocks could surge 10% by year-end as long as a recession doesn't materialize</a>, Citi said.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-prediction-dot-com-bubble-economy-inflation-outlook-yardeni-2024-9?_gl=1*18z25uq*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNzIwNTc4OC42NDkuMS4xNzI3MjA3ODY1LjIzLjAuMA..">Steep rate cuts could overheat the US economy and create an unsustainable 'melt-up,' </a>Ed Yardeni says.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-nightmare-scenario-is-no-landing-in-the-economy-2024-9">A 'no landing' economic scenario would be bad news for investors</a>, economist says.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up.<a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets"> West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil jumped 1.71% to $71.56 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, increased 1.72% to $75.17 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose 1.29% to $2,687.8 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield was flat at 3.734%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Bitcoin</a> gained 1.55% to $64,305.</li></ul>

Stock market today: New record highs as Nvidia surge offsets weak consumer sentiment     

The <keyword id="21233022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-textile-industry" source="keywords">Indian textile industry</keyword> is set to experience developments in 2024, driven by improving demand in <keyword id="21017131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="export-markets" source="keywords">export markets</keyword>, resilient consumer spending in key sectors, and favourable geopolitical conditions, according to the B&amp;K Securities report. In the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, the demand offtake in export markets is anticipated to show substantial improvement in 2024. While domestic demand is expected to remain moderate due to lower discretionary spending and overstocking from the previous fiscal year, the recovery in export demand is promising. The domestic market could see a boost in the second half of FY25, supported by an increase in wedding days and festive season, although the rise in realisations is likely to be marginal. The export growth in RMG is expected to be driven by a combination of factors including restocking by Western retailers, increased demand for spring-summer collections, and a general uptick in retail sales. The anticipated interest rate cuts in the US will further stimulate demand. India's RMG exports will also benefit from stable cotton prices and uninterrupted supply, enhancing cost competitiveness on the global stage. The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, a major player in the global RMG market, presents a temporary tailwind for Indian exporters. However, the benefits for India are expected to be short-lived due to differences in product portfolios and Bangladesh's trade agreements with the European Union. Over the medium to long term, India could see more substantial gains as global buyers continue to diversify their <keyword id="19959553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supply-chains" source="keywords">supply chains</keyword> away from China and Bangladesh, particularly as Bangladesh faces challenges such as rising wages and the loss of its Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029. The <keyword id="21356289" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-textiles" source="keywords">home textiles</keyword> segment is poised to continue its growth trajectory, primarily driven by robust consumer spending in the United States, which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of India's home <keyword id="21353395" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="textile-exports" source="keywords">textile exports</keyword>. The market share of Indian players in the US has been steadily increasing, supported by the China+1 strategy adopted by big box retailers to diversify their supply chains. India's competitive advantage in raw material costs and increased domestic capacity will likely sustain its dominance in the US home textiles market. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the UK and the European Union offer additional opportunities for growth, potentially leading to higher margins and increased market share for Indian players. While the industry is on a positive trajectory, it faces near-term challenges such as logistical disruptions due to the Red Sea crisis and uncompetitive domestic cotton prices. Moreover, as sustainability becomes a major theme in <keyword id="21977676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="western-markets" source="keywords">Western markets</keyword>, <keyword id="804823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-textile" source="Orion">Indian textile</keyword> companies will need to invest in compliance with these evolving norms to remain competitive. (ANI)

Indian textile exports to remain strong amid global shifts; FTA negotiations with EU to offer growth opportunities

India’s <keyword id="23445999" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="carbonated-soft-drinks" source="keywords">carbonated soft drinks</keyword> (CSD) segment has hit a roadblock, unable to expand and reach its full potential, largely due to the high tax burden under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. A recent report from PTI, originally attributed to the economic think tank ICRIER says that despite the government’s initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the CSD industry is struggling to scale up due to the steep taxation. According to the report, India imposes one of the highest tax rates on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), with a total tax rate of 40% as of 2023. This figure is significantly higher than that of over 90% of the countries that tax SSBs, based on comparative data compiled by the World Bank. The report also added that global and domestic consumers are increasingly opting for low-sugar and zero-sugar varieties. Manufacturers around the world are reformulating their products to cater to health-conscious consumers, offering options like low-sugar, fruit-flavored, and zero-calorie drinks. In India, however, companies face an uphill battle. The high tax of 40%, irrespective of sugar content, is preventing firms from innovating and scaling their low-sugar or fruit-based CSD offerings. The report also highlighted that India, a leading global producer of fruits like mangoes and bananas, has untapped potential for incorporating these ingredients into the CSD sector. Yet, the country’s CSD industry lags behind other developing nations, such as Thailand and the Philippines, in terms of product variety and revenue generation. Despite generating $18.25 billion in revenue in 2022 and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8% from 2017 to 2022, the sector remains underdeveloped. The report also underscored that India’s CSD market could be a major driver for investment and job creation, particularly in Tier 2 and 3 cities. However, the high tax rates, seen as a lucrative source of revenue for the government, are acting as a deterrent to the sector’s growth, preventing it from becoming a global competitor and unlocking its full economic potential. (With PTI inputs)

Indian consumers shifting towards low-sugar beverages, high GST rates stalling growth in carbonated soft drinks market

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-behind-china-luxury-goods-slowdown-economy-changing-consumer-tastes-2024-10">China's luxury slump</a> is spreading to more consumer brands.</li><li>Companies like Starbucks, Estée Lauder, and Nike have reported falling sales in the region.</li></ul>For the better part of this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-luxury-retail-sales-slowdown-brands-fashion-2024-7">China has experienced a slump</a> in the most opulent of sectors. Sales for luxury powerhouses like LVMH, Richemont, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-burberry-became-fashions-biggest-fail-stock-drop-ceo-ousting-2024-8">Burberry</a> have fallen in the region that once seemed to represent limitless growth for high-end goods.Now, that downturn is coming for a wider set of consumer industries. Chinese people aren't just saving on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gucci-sales-profit-reputation-falling-luxury-kering-michele-china-2024-5">Gucci</a> and cognac but also cutting back on spending on cheaper products like beer and lipstick. It's hitting Western brands particularly hard, as reflected by companies across the consumer sector reporting muted sales in China in the most recent quarter.Consumer spending in China never fully recovered after the government started lifting COVID-19 curbs in late 2022. Since then, the country has struggled with weak consumer sentiment and multiple economic challenges, including a property crisis, deflation, and high youth unemployment. China's<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-3q-gdp-growth-stock-market-stimulus-2024-10"> third-quarter GDP</a> grew 4.6% year-on-year — the slowest pace in over a year and below Beijing's growth target of around 5%.In late September, Beijing announced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-aggressive-monetary-stimulus-interest-rate-rrr-2024-9">aggressive stimulus</a> measures to boost the economy, but analysts say much more is needed to spur and drive consumer confidence.Meanwhile, China's once-free-spending consumers are holding back and prefer to save — in cash or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-gold-rush-consumer-spending-money-savings-starbucks-gucci-2024-5">gold.</a> Cautious spenders are also trading down to knockoffs and lower-priced or local alternatives across a range of products from beauty and fashion to travel.The prevailing zeitgeist in China is about "aiming to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-economy-young-shoppers-looking-dupes-substitutes-pingti-fashion-travel-2024-9#">live well while spending less,</a>" MingYii Lai, a strategy consultant at Beijing-based market research firm Daxue Consulting, told Business Insider in September.Last week, AB InBev, the world's largest beer producer, announced declining revenue in the region, joining rival Carlsberg in reporting disappointing results. AB InBev, which makes Budweiser, has struggled in China all year and reported a 16% sales drop in the country for the third quarter.People in China are skimping on on-trade alcohol purchases, meaning they are spending less at bars and restaurants, Spiros Malandrakis, Euromonitor's head of research in the alcohol sector, told Business Insider."There is some flexibility, but it is not entirely recession-resistant," he added.It looks like they aren't going out for coffee or burgers, either. Negative sales in China brought down McDonald's results for the third quarter. And <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-starbucks-is-struggling-in-china-sales-prices-competition-coffee-2024-8">Starbucks</a>, which announced its fourth-quarter earnings last week, saw comparable store sales fall 14% in China."All indications show me the competitive environment is extreme, the macro environment is tough," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-ceo-to-lay-out-strategy-to-fix-coffee-chain-2024-10">Brian Niccol, the coffee giant's new CEO</a>, said about China during the company's earnings call.A similar phenomenon has arisen in fashion and beauty, where nonluxury brands are seeing consumer confidence, leading to an overall tightening of belts.Beauty brands like Estée Lauder and L'Oréal have reported worse-than-expected results in the region. Sales for the former decreased 11% in the most recent quarter, driven by mainland China, where the company noted a declining appetite for skincare. It doesn't expect recent government stimulus to help sales in the current quarter.Those results came on the heels of Nike's, which had lowered its full-year guidance over the summer, blaming China's unstable economy. The sneaker giant cited "softness" in the country, its third-largest market by revenue.Even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-stock-earnings-report-call-live-updates-2024-10">Apple</a>, once bulletproof in the region, missed revenue estimates in the Greater China division.Despite the headwinds, there have been bright spots.Adidas managed to buck the trend, reporting sales up 9% in Greater China in the third quarter. Heineken, too, saw growth in the region last quarter.Sectors offering discretionary <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-lopsided-recovery-consumer-retail-spending-industrial-output-property-2024-5">"eat, drink, and play"</a> experiences outperformed the wider consumer sector in China earlier this year, though their momentum has slowed in the past few months, wrote Lynn Song, the chief economist for Greater China at ING, in an October 28 note."More consumers appear to be gravitating toward higher value-for-money options," Song wrote.

China's luxury slump is trickling down to other consumer companies

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="22530361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ahmed-Al-Sharif" source="Orion">Ahmed Al Sharif</keyword> works in software engineering and <keyword id="6361185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-electronics" source="Orion">consumer electronics</keyword> and previously worked for <keyword id="19911549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meta" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Meta" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Meta">Meta</keyword>.</li><li>The CTO found himself caught up in the outage-induced travel chaos on Friday.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Ahmed Al Sharif, the CTO of Sandsoft, a game developer. Al Sharif was stranded at Barcelona airport on Friday because of the <keyword id="20972526" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="IT-outage" source="keywords">IT outage</keyword> disrupting travel and other services. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I've worked in tech for close to two decades. I've been a <keyword id="19945384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="software-engineer" source="keywords">software engineer</keyword> and startup founder, and have worked for large companies like Electronic Arts and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-ends-restrictions-donald-trump-account-social-media-2024-7">Meta</a>. I was supposed to be flying from Barcelona-El Prat Airport to London Heathrow on business at 11 a.m. local time. I was surprised to arrive and find the flights shuttered. I was also surprised to learn there had been significant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-global-it-outage-one-defective-it-update-sparked-chaos-2024-7">malfunctions across multiple Windows-based systems</a> at the airport. It took some digging to find out that it was a global event. Even as an engineer, the outage has been strange to witness. I didn't believe there was this much dependency on a single piece of third-party software or that pushing an update irresponsibly would cause this much havoc. <h2>I realized the IT outage was happening after I arrived to chaos at the airport</h2>I left for the airport at 8 a.m. Before I got there, there were some early signs of something being wrong. I couldn't log in to my online banking app, and things were a bit slow when I logged into my Outlook-based email, but I chalked it up to my hotel WiFi. When I got to the airport at around 8:20 a.m., it was packed. The queues were endless. Several check-in desks displayed blue screens, and no one was being processed. I realized something bigger was happening. I couldn't understand where to queue, and when I asked an airport advisor, they said there was no point queuing now because there was a problem with the ticketing, booking, and reservation systems. I asked if our airport was the only one affected, and they told me that it was happening everywhere. That's when my furious Googling began. I realized that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-outage-why-taking-time-companies-recover-2024-7">issue was with CrowdStrike</a>, and it was happening globally. <h2>Disruptions at the airport continued throughout the day</h2>Over the course of the day, baggage-drop machines, vending machines, and most display boards at the airport weren't working. Check-ins were being done manually. Before I was given a handwritten paper ticket, I had to prove I had booked a flight for that day by showing staff my emails as proof of payment. Anyone with checked luggage had to bring it to the gate, and airport staff were throwing it into the cargo hold by hand. <div type="image" title="A handwritten boarding pass" height="565" width="1280" msid="111870426" hostid="261"></div>My own <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-microsoft-chaos-delays-distruption-shown-in-photos-2024-7">flight has been delayed</a> by six hours, and I'm still in the airport as we're speaking. It's been annoying and inconvenient, but thankfully, the company is covering my travel, and they understand the situation is out of my control. I've spoken to people waiting in the airport for 11 hours. People seem pretty frustrated. <h2>I was surprised to learn about <keyword id="20424191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CrowdStrike" source="keywords">CrowdStrike</keyword>'s dominance on <keyword id="19895622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microsoft" source="keywords">Microsoft</keyword> devices</h2>During my delay, I've been trying to understand the situation more. It's quite intriguing and reveals that we've taken for granted how interconnected our world is and how dependent we are. I was surprised to learn that the cascading failures were caused by an update CrowdStrike pushed early Friday morning. CrowdStrike is well-known in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-work-in-cybersecurity-expert-advice-2022-1">cybersecurity industry</a>, but until today, I don't think anyone was aware of its dominance as a platform on Windows. It didn't cross my mind that a third-party solution could cause this much damage to Windows-based machines. One of the cardinal rules of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/software-engineers-tech-panicking-golden-age-over-chatgpt-ai-blind-2023-4">software development</a> is that you typically don't want to push a fix later in the week or on a Friday. You'll have less support trying to fix any issues and the weekend is gone. It feels like cardinal rules were broken. However, CrowdStrike might have evidence to suggest that this is a freak accident, so I don't think it's fair to point fingers too much. I've seen people comment on this situation about diversification and companies not relying on just one or two providers. I don't think that's realistic. Windows is commonly used. In any free market economy, the best-performing and most suitable product will dominate the market. We need more stringent reviewing and a better understanding of the tools we use on critical infrastructure. The impact here was so big because it affected infrastructure like airports, railway stations, and hospitals. It's going to cost the economy a lot. Had there been more due diligence or even government regulation, I don't think this would have happened. I'd expect that after this, government authorities will expect widely used platforms like CrowdStrike to notify them before they push changes like this. <h2>Technology will shape our future, so we need to consider how we regulate it</h2>We haven't seen the full impact of this outage, and it's definitely put into perspective how the little devices we keep in our pockets dictate the rhythms of our lives. I don't think anyone really understood the true scope and presence of CrowdStrike before Friday. I still see our future becoming increasingly automated. There will probably be many more situations like this, especially as our society pushes toward more automation. I still think technology is a good thing, but it's made me want to get my bills in the post now and then. It usually takes a horizon event like this for lessons to be learned. I don't think technology is intrinsically good or evil; it depends on how it's used and regulated. Correction: July 20, 2024 — An earlier version of the story misstated how long Al Sharif had worked in tech. He has worked in tech roles for close to two decades, including as a teenager, not "decades," as originally stated.

I'm a software engineer stranded in the IT-outage airport chaos. CrowdStrike broke a cardinal rule of software development, and I can't believe the fallout.     

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

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