
Indian markets close lower on Monday amid weak global cues and sectoral pressure
Kotak Mahindra Bank was among the top laggards, plunging close to 7% after reporting a decline in its consolidated net profit for the June quarter. The bank also flagged rising stress in its retail commercial vehicle (CV) loan segment, which weighed on investor sentiment.
IT majors also saw sustained selling, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys under pressure. TCS further dented confidence after it announced a 2% reduction in its workforce — a rare move among large-cap IT firms.
Broader market sentiment remained cautious, influenced by weak cues from Asian markets and a rise in Brent crude prices. Volatility spiked sharply, with the India VIX rising nearly 7%, signaling growing unease among traders.
On the BSE, out of 4,299 stocks traded, 2,870 declined while 1,265 advanced and 164 remained unchanged. Market breadth remained weak, with 125 stocks hitting 52-week highs and 89 touching 52-week lows. Additionally, 244 stocks hit the upper circuit, while 321 were locked in the lower circuit.
Analysts expect the near-term trend to remain volatile as earnings season continues and global macroeconomic signals remain mixed.

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Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Applause Entertainment to adapt six Jeffrey Archer novels into Indian series and films
Mumbai: Applause Entertainment has acquired exclusive screen rights to six novels by bestselling British author Jeffrey Archer, marking its entry into adapting global fiction for Indian and international audiences. The six novels are The Clifton Chronicles, Fourth Estate, First Among Equals, The Eleventh Commandment, Sons of Fortune, and Heads You Win. The stories, centred around politics, espionage, media dynasties and family sagas. will be developed into premium series and films in various Indian languages. The adaptations will be produced in India and distributed globally via streaming platforms. 'This is a milestone moment for us,' said Sameer Nair, managing director, Applause Entertainment. 'We've told stories reimagined from Indian books, formats and real events. Now we step into the world of global fiction. Jeffrey Archer's novels are compelling, character-rich and built for the screen.' Applause has previously adapted Indian books such as Scam 1992 and Avrodh, as well as international TV formats such as Criminal Justice and The Office. The Archer deal expands its global ambitions by leveraging known intellectual property (IP) for Indian storytelling with a worldwide reach. Archer, who has sold over 300 million books in 115 countries, said he was 'thrilled' to collaborate with Applause. 'India has embraced my stories like its own, and I'm excited to see them take on a new life across India and far beyond,' he said, adding, 'But I'll be watching closely and waiting for results.' Addressing the press in Mumbai on Monday, Nair said the novels will be adapted into various formats. Some will be developed as series, others as films, and some may have simultaneous versions across languages and platforms. 'The Clifton Chronicles lends itself to a sweeping saga,' he said. 'Some books might work better in Hindi, others in Tamil or Bengali. The idea is to reimagine these stories in Indian contexts while staying true to their emotional core.' While timelines haven't been disclosed, Nair said announcements on formats, writers, and platforms would begin rolling out over the next few months. 'This is global IP coming to India, being reimagined here, and then going back out to the world. It's not about dubbing, it's about retelling,' he said. The partnership also underscores a growing emphasis on legitimate IP acquisition in Indian entertainment. Both Nair and Archer noted that unofficial adaptations have long been a grey area. 'We've always acquired formats the right way, from Kaun Banega Crorepati to Indian Idol,' said Nair. 'But fiction was blurry. That's no longer an option. We're a big company. We must do it right.' Archer recalled hearing from Indian fans who enjoyed versions of his work he had no involvement with. 'It drove me mad. They just stole the story,' he said. 'So this time, it's official.' He also cautioned against rewriting for the sake of it. 'Stick to the story. Don't try to write your own half of Kane and Abel. That's one of the reasons I chose Applause. They've committed to honouring the original.' That said, both parties acknowledged the need for cultural adaptation. 'First Among Equals was written about four Englishmen vying to be Prime Minister,' Archer said. 'If we adapt that now, at least one of them must be a woman. The world has moved on. And I accept that.' Asked whether the screen adaptations would be aimed only at readers, Nair was clear. 'Reading requires literacy. Watching doesn't. The point is to take these powerful stories to a much wider audience.' He also encouraged Indian creators to come forward with their interpretations. 'Everyone's read these books. Now we want to hear what speaks to whom, and how they'd like to retell them.' For Archer, the collaboration is another chapter in a long global journey. 'They've just made Kane and Abel the musical in Japan,' he said. 'I didn't understand a word, but it was completely sold out. So why not India next?'


Economic Times
28 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Ananta Capital acquires majority stake in Rubans, one of India's fastest-growing fashion jewellery brand
Ananta Capital has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Fonte Fashions India Private Limited, the parent company of Rubans, a digitally native, fast-growing fashion jewellery brand redefining affordable luxury for Indian women. Founded in 2017 by Chinu Kala, Rubans began as a single mall kiosk fueled by ambition and a deep understanding of India's evolving fashion sensibilities. In just a few years, it has grown into a leading name in the fashion jewelry space, blending contemporary aesthetics with Indian elegance to create a trend-first, high-impact brand that resonates with millions of style-conscious women across the country. Speaking on the investment, Ashutosh Taparia, part of the Taparia family and Founder & Managing Partner of Ananta Capital, said: ' Rubans is a rare blend of creative excellence and commercial agility — a brand that understands the pulse of the modern Indian woman. Under Chinu's dynamic leadership, Rubans has scaled with vision, resilience, and an innate sense of style. We are especially proud to welcome Rubans into the Ananta portfolio — a milestone that reflects our belief in backing bold, driven entrepreneurs who are reshaping the consumer landscape. We're excited to partner with Chinu and Amit as they lead Rubans into its next era of growth .' Sanjeev Taparia, part of the Taparia family, added, ' India's appetite for curated, high-quality yet affordable jewellery is rising rapidly. Rubans is uniquely positioned to meet this demand. We see immense headroom for growth and are thrilled to back the brand's next phase of scale. ' Rubans plans to use the new capital to deepen its design and product innovation, and strengthen its omnichannel presence across leading marketplaces and offline touchpoints. Investments will also be made in marketing, community-building, and strengthening brand recall among new-age consumers. Chinu Kala, Founder of Rubans, shared, ' Rubans is not just a brand — it's a dream I've built brick by brick. Partnering with Ananta marks a powerful new chapter in that journey. Their deep understanding of consumer brands and long-term mindset makes them the perfect strategic partner as we scale Rubans into India's go-to destination for women's fashion accessories .' Amit Kala, Co-founder of Rubans, added, ' This partnership is a validation of the hard work our team has put in and the brand loyalty we've built. With Ananta's strategic guidance and support, we're confident about taking Rubans to even greater heights. ' Ananta Capital's investment in Rubans adds to its foray into the fashion/lifestyle space, having recently acquired a significant strategic investment in Bacca Bucci (a fast-growing D2C sneaker brand).Backed by Mumbai-based Taparia Family, Ananta Capital has controlling investments in leading beauty and wellness brands such as Bellavita, Betteralt, ThriveCo, Bevzilla – all under the Guardian group. The Guardian Group also owns the Guardian Pharmacy chain and holds the India master franchise for GNC, a global nutritional supplements brand. The fund also owns a majority stake in prominent home furnishing brands - Sleepycat and Springwel. Additionally, Ananta Capital has invested in companies like Open Secret, Liquiloans, Stovekraft (exited), Pickrr (exited), Alivaa Hotels, and PG Electroplast (exited). About Ananta Capital: Ananta Capital is a private equity firm headquartered in Mumbai. With a diverse portfolio and a track record of successful investments, Ananta Capital is committed to partnering with visionary entrepreneurs to unlock value and drive sustainable growth. Ananta Capital's portfolio includes Bellavita, Bevzilla, BetterAlt, Thrive Co., Springwel Mattresses, Sleepycat, Open Secret, Bacca Bucci,, GNC India (Guardian Pharmacy) Pickrr (exited), Liquiloans, Stovekraft (exited), Alivaa Hotels and PG Electroplast (exited) Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.


Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Latest entrant in India's EV landscape, VinFast, opens manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu
In a boost to India's electric vehicle ambitions and Tamil Nadu's standing as a manufacturing powerhouse, Vietnamese automaker VinFast Auto inaugurated its first Indian manufacturing facility on Monday at the SIPCOT industrial complex in Sillanatham, Thoothukudi district. The inauguration by Chief Minister M K Stalin marked the operational start of a Rs 16,000 crore (2 billion USD) project that VinFast announced 17 months ago. 'Thoothukudi is now firmly on the map as an automotive hub,' Stalin said at the launch, adding that Tamil Nadu's traditional strength in automobile production is now extending beyond Chennai, long regarded as 'India's Detroit.' The plant, which sprawls over 408 acres near the strategically located Thoothukudi Port, is VinFast's first integrated electric vehicle and battery production facility in India. The company aims to manufacture 1.5 lakh EVs annually once fully operational. In the initial phase, the facility will produce 50,000 vehicles per year and create more than 3,500 jobs over the next five years. The company, which aims to be a global challenger to Elon Musk's Tesla and China's BYD, has identified India as a cornerstone of its expansion strategy. The company intends to use the Thoothukudi plant not just to serve the domestic market but as a regional export hub for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 'We aim to develop this into VinFast's largest export hub in South Asia,' said Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia. 'We already have confirmed orders from countries across the region.' At the launch, Stalin signed the bonnet of a VF7 model on the shop floor, symbolically flagging off the firm's Indian journey. The company, part of Vietnam's largest conglomerate Vingroup, has rapidly scaled its international presence despite a rocky entry into the US market. With the Thoothukudi launch, it now competes head-on with Tesla, which is still negotiating with the Indian government for import duty concessions, and BYD, which assembles vehicles from a Kanchipuram facility near Chennai. Breaking ground just 50 days after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Nadu government in January 2024, construction of the plant started on February 25 last year, and the first cars rolled out less than 15 months later. Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said that 18 months ago, 'many didn't believe a car plant could be built here. Today, it's a reality.' VinFast's presence, he said, would trigger the development of a supplier ecosystem in Thoothukudi, with plans for a dedicated suppliers' park already in motion. The location of the plant in Thoothukudi is part of the state's broader strategy to decentralise industrial growth away from congested zones like Chennai. The city's port access, availability of land, and logistical advantages played key roles in attracting VinFast. The project aligns with Stalin's vision of 'distributed industrial growth' and job creation for youth across all districts. The company's job creation efforts have already tapped into Tamil Nadu's 'Naan Mudhalvan' skill development initiative. Stalin also used the occasion to invite Vingroup to invest further in Tamil Nadu in its other verticals, including education, real estate, and hospitality, promising 'all necessary support' from the state. VinFast's India venture comes at a time when Tamil Nadu accounts for over 40% of all planned EV investments in the country, further cementing its reputation as India's electric mobility hub. Alongside VinFast, global players like Tata Motors–Jaguar Land Rover are also establishing EV plants in nearby districts. Ministers Geetha Jeevan and Anitha Radhakrishnan, MP Kanimozhi, and Chief Secretary N Muruganandham were among the dignitaries present during Monday's ceremony.