Latest news with #Kasat
Time of India
12 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Over 4,100 Trees In Nagpur Found Choked, Just 1,100 Freed So Far: NMC to HC
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Thursday informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that over 4,147 trees across the city were found choked by concrete, but only 1,104 were de-choked so far despite directives and multiple agency involvement. The data was submitted during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL No. 39/2024) filed by environmental activists Sharad Patil, Prachi Mahurkar, Yash Netke, and Preeti Patel through counsel Radhika Bajaj. As per petitioners, while executing road improvement projects, the work of concretisation by cement, asphalt, or bitumen is choking roots of trees. They claimed though administrative instructions are issued to the contractors and subordinate officers to ensure removal of concrete, asphalt, or bitumen near trees, effective steps are not being taken by respondents. NMC counsel Jemini Kasat submitted the affidavit and minutes of meetings with agencies such as NHAI, NIT, and PWD, confirming the extent of choking and partial progress on relief efforts. Kasat told the court two experts—Kaustav Chatterjee of Green Vigil Foundation and Dilip Chinchmalatpure—were included in official de-choking panel as per court's earlier order. The panel has begun conducting site visits to verify work and shared technical recommendations, including removing concrete as per Urban Green Guidelines 2014, ensuring soil aeration, and protecting root systems. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "The experts delivered a presentation on best practices and are expected to submit their assessments during the next review," Kasat said, adding that officials from PWD and NHAI have also been included for effective implementation on the ground. The petitioners objected to their exclusion from committee despite prior experience in tree conservation. The bench, comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh, questioned the civic body on this omission. NMC also submitted various govt departments have started following the 2014 Urban Green Guidelines and cited ongoing environmental audits by NEERI. Kasat informed the court Environment Status Reports (ESR) for the years 2017–18 to 2023–24 (barring 2021–22 due to the pandemic) were prepared scientifically by NEERI and submitted. The 2024–25 ESR is currently under preparation. The division bench gave time to file compliance documents, directing the finalised ESR for 2024–25 to be submitted by July 1, and adjourned the matter to July 9. The PIL highlights the alarming decline in Nagpur's green cover, which decreased from 31 percent in 1999 to a mere 21 percent in 2018, as per a study conducted by ISRO's Regional Remote Sensing Centre in 2019. The petitioners attribute this drastic reduction to the rapid expansion of urban infrastructure projects, which have adversely affected the city's once-abundant greenery.
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Indian stock market closes higher; Adani Group shares surge
The Indian equity markets opened the week with strong gains on Monday, supported by a rally in Adani Group stocks and strength in select auto and banking shares. Sensex started the day around 160 points higher at 80,662 and climbed to an intra-day high of 81,049. Although it gave up some of the gains later in the session, the index still ended 295 points up at 80,797. The Nifty touched a high of 24,526 during the day and eventually closed with a gain of 114 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 24,461. 'Markets started the week on a firm footing, lifted by steady foreign inflows and optimism around an impending India-US trade deal,' said Vikram Kasat of PL Capital. Strength in Asian currencies and easing global trade tensions added to the positive sentiment, even as activity remained muted in some global markets due to holidays, Kasat added. The Adani Group was at the centre of investor attention, with shares jumping up to 11 per cent following reports of the company's top executives holding discussions with officials from the US President Donald Trump administration to settle an ongoing US bribery case. Adani Ports was the top performer among Sensex stocks, soaring 6.3 per cent. Other gainers included Mahindra and Mahindra, ITC, Power Grid Corporation and Tata Motors. On the other hand, Kotak Mahindra Bank fell 4.5 per cent, making it the biggest loser on the Sensex. SBI and Axis Bank also ended the day in the red. The broader market outperformed the benchmark indices. The BSE MidCap index jumped 1.5 per cent, while the SmallCap index advanced by 1.2 per cent. Among sectors, oil and gas stocks saw notable buying, with the BSE Oil and Gas index rising 2 per cent, driven by strength in oil marketing companies. Consumer durables, energy, and FMCG sectors also posted gains of over 1 per cent each. However, the BSE Bankex ended lower, down nearly 1 per cent due to pressure on select banking names. 'The upbeat start to the week reflects investor optimism, driven by corporate developments and select sectoral momentum,' market experts noted. The rupee traded positive, gaining 13 paise to settle at 84.32 as sustained FII inflows continue to support the domestic currency. 'Going ahead, the rupee is expected to trade in a range of 84.00 to 84.75, with continued global risk sentiment and commodity movements guiding intraday volatility," Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities noted. Gold prices surged sharply as expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this week fuelled strong buying.
Economic Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India-Pak tensions seen as temporary; focus on earnings, gold allocation up to 20%: Vikram Kasat
Markets typically distinguish between political headlines and actual war risks. Unless there is a full-blown conflict—which is very rare—investors eventually shift their focus back to earnings, economic growth, and liquidity. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In this edition of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Vikram Kasat , Head of Advisory at PL Capital , shares his perspective on the current market landscape amid geopolitical tensions and global concerns around India-Pakistan relations and global tariff risks have caused volatility, Kasat believes such events are typically short-lived and unlikely to derail long-term growth also highlights the importance of earnings recovery, sectoral opportunities, and strategic asset allocation—including up to 20% exposure to gold—as key drivers for investors navigating this evolving environment. Edited Excerpts –A) Historically, India-Pakistan tensions have caused temporary market dips, but markets tend to recover quickly if the situation doesn't escalate into full-scale typically distinguish between political headlines and actual war risks. Unless there is a full-blown conflict—which is very rare—investors eventually shift their focus back to earnings, economic growth, and liquidity.A) The RBI has implemented a total of 50 basis points (bps) in repo rate cuts, and further reductions are likely. While normal monsoons have helped cool inflation, government capital expenditure and the expected benefits from the ₹1,000 billion tax cuts are positive the outlook remains extremely uncertain due to global cues. India continues to be one of the fastest-growing economies.A similar boom is expected in this decade, supported by strong consumption growth and capital investment, aided by favorable policy asset allocation for individuals aged 30–40:Equity/Gold/Fixed Income (Bonds) – 70:20:10A) NIFTY EPS has been revised downwards by 6.2% and 5.6% for FY26 and FY27, respectively, since October 2024. Ongoing tariff wars and the uncertain global environment may lead to further cuts in the first half of believe that domestically oriented sectors are likely to outperform in the near term. We expect Hospitals, Domestic Pharma, Retail, select Consumer Staples, Banks, Defence, and Power to lead the outperformance.A) Over the past year, global GDP growth has moderated due to rising uncertainty, inflation, and disruptions in global trade and supply chains. Most countries are being forced to make significant adjustments to their economic plans. There has also been increased volatility in commodities such as crude oil, and such an environment, gold is likely to remain firm as a safe haven. Historically, when markets experience sharp declines, gold tends to perform better or remain stable, helping to reduce overall portfolio risk. In my view, investors should consider holding 10–20% of their portfolio in gold.A) The market has rallied strongly following the 'Trump pause,' with Financials leading the way. However, we are not yet out of the woods when it comes to identify two key drivers for the market going forward:i) The pace of bilateral trade deals announced by the US, particularly with China; andii) Earnings momentum in expect a strong rally in Indian equities, supported by bottoming earnings, moderate valuations, and a significant reduction in global some volatility is likely as tariff-related news fluctuates, we recommend ignoring the noise and using any corrections as buying opportunities.A) PL Research is valuing NIFTY at 7.5% discount to 15-year average (18.9x) PE at 17.5x with March27 EPS of 1460 and arrive at 12-month target of 25521 (25689 earlier). Bull Case: We value NIFTY at PE of 18.9x and arrive at bull case target of 27590 (27041 earlier). Bear Case: Nifty can trade at a 10% discount to long-period average with a target of 24831 (24337 earlier).A) While foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are positive on the India story, they remain cautious about high valuations. Indian stocks are trading at a premium compared to other emerging markets, prompting FIIs to focus on quality sectors and companies rather than making broad-based China experiencing a slowdown and facing geopolitical risks, many FIIs are increasing their allocations to India as a key part of their Asia strategy.A) We remain overweight on Banks, Healthcare, Consumer, Telecom, and Capital Goods. We have increased our weightage in Banks, Telecom, Consumer, and Healthcare, while reducing our weightage in Capital have turned underweight on Auto, IT Services, and Oil & Gas. We have increased our weightage in ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, BEL, and Bharti Airtel. Additionally, we are adding Apollo Hospitals, Pidilite, and Eicher Motors to the model portfolio.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Pak tensions seen as temporary; focus on earnings, gold allocation up to 20%: Vikram Kasat
In this edition of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Vikram Kasat , Head of Advisory at PL Capital , shares his perspective on the current market landscape amid geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty. While concerns around India-Pakistan relations and global tariff risks have caused volatility, Kasat believes such events are typically short-lived and unlikely to derail long-term growth prospects. He also highlights the importance of earnings recovery, sectoral opportunities, and strategic asset allocation—including up to 20% exposure to gold—as key drivers for investors navigating this evolving environment. Edited Excerpts – Q) Thanks for taking the time out. We are seeing some volatile swings in the markets, thanks to the back-and-forth from Trump on tariffs and now some geopolitical concerns amid tensions between India and Pakistan. How are you looking at all this? A) Historically, India-Pakistan tensions have caused temporary market dips, but markets tend to recover quickly if the situation doesn't escalate into full-scale war. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Markets typically distinguish between political headlines and actual war risks. Unless there is a full-blown conflict—which is very rare—investors eventually shift their focus back to earnings, economic growth, and liquidity. Q) It looks like we have entered a low-interest-rate environment. What should the asset allocation strategy be for an individual in the age bracket of 30–40 years? A) The RBI has implemented a total of 50 basis points (bps) in repo rate cuts, and further reductions are likely. While normal monsoons have helped cool inflation, government capital expenditure and the expected benefits from the ₹1,000 billion tax cuts are positive factors. Live Events However, the outlook remains extremely uncertain due to global cues. India continues to be one of the fastest-growing economies. A similar boom is expected in this decade, supported by strong consumption growth and capital investment, aided by favorable policy support. Suggested asset allocation for individuals aged 30–40: Equity/Gold/Fixed Income (Bonds) – 70:20:10 Q) What is your take on the results that have come out from India Inc., and what are your expectations for the next few quarters? A) NIFTY EPS has been revised downwards by 6.2% and 5.6% for FY26 and FY27, respectively, since October 2024. Ongoing tariff wars and the uncertain global environment may lead to further cuts in the first half of FY26. We believe that domestically oriented sectors are likely to outperform in the near term. We expect Hospitals, Domestic Pharma, Retail, select Consumer Staples, Banks, Defence, and Power to lead the outperformance. Q) Gold is back in the limelight as it hit the Rs 1 lakh mark in the physical market. Is it no longer just a safe haven but also a money-making machine? It has been outperforming equities for the past couple of years. A) Over the past year, global GDP growth has moderated due to rising uncertainty, inflation, and disruptions in global trade and supply chains. Most countries are being forced to make significant adjustments to their economic plans. There has also been increased volatility in commodities such as crude oil, and metals. In such an environment, gold is likely to remain firm as a safe haven. Historically, when markets experience sharp declines, gold tends to perform better or remain stable, helping to reduce overall portfolio risk. In my view, investors should consider holding 10–20% of their portfolio in gold. Q) How should one be looking at the small- and mid-cap space in FY26? A) The market has rallied strongly following the 'Trump pause,' with Financials leading the way. However, we are not yet out of the woods when it comes to tariffs. We identify two key drivers for the market going forward: i) The pace of bilateral trade deals announced by the US, particularly with China; and ii) Earnings momentum in India. We expect a strong rally in Indian equities, supported by bottoming earnings, moderate valuations, and a significant reduction in global uncertainty. While some volatility is likely as tariff-related news fluctuates, we recommend ignoring the noise and using any corrections as buying opportunities. Q) Where is the value in the market after the recent fall we have seen? A) PL Research is valuing NIFTY at 7.5% discount to 15-year average (18.9x) PE at 17.5x with March27 EPS of 1460 and arrive at 12-month target of 25521 (25689 earlier). Bull Case: We value NIFTY at PE of 18.9x and arrive at bull case target of 27590 (27041 earlier). Bear Case: Nifty can trade at a 10% discount to long-period average with a target of 24831 (24337 earlier). Q) How are FIIs viewing Indian markets? We have seen some net buying in the past few sessions, but for the month, FIIs have pulled out more than Rs 13,000 crore from the cash segment of Indian equity markets. A) While foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are positive on the India story, they remain cautious about high valuations. Indian stocks are trading at a premium compared to other emerging markets, prompting FIIs to focus on quality sectors and companies rather than making broad-based purchases. With China experiencing a slowdown and facing geopolitical risks, many FIIs are increasing their allocations to India as a key part of their Asia strategy. Q) Have you made any changes to your strategy or portfolio to balance out the volatility arising from external factors such as tariffs or geopolitical concerns? A) We remain overweight on Banks, Healthcare, Consumer, Telecom, and Capital Goods. We have increased our weightage in Banks, Telecom, Consumer, and Healthcare, while reducing our weightage in Capital Goods. We have turned underweight on Auto, IT Services, and Oil & Gas. We have increased our weightage in ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, BEL, and Bharti Airtel. Additionally, we are adding Apollo Hospitals, Pidilite, and Eicher Motors to the model portfolio.
