ET NEWS

Nvidia halts making of China-focussed chip

1 month 2 weeks ago
Nvidia has told some component suppliers to suspend production of its H20 AI chip, designed specifically for the Chinese market, the Information reported on Thursday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the communications. According to the report, Nvidia instructed Arizona-based Amkor Technology to stop production of the H20 chips this week and also notified South Korea's Samsung Electronics . Amkor handles advanced packaging for the chip, while Samsung Electronics supplies high-bandwidth memory chips for the model. Neither companies immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment. Meanwhile, Nvidia spokesperson said in a statement, "We constantly manage our supply chain to address market conditions." "As both governments recognise, the H20 is not a military product or for government infrastructure. China won't rely on American chips for government operations, just like the U.S. government would not rely on chips from China," it said. This comes as Chinese authorities last week summoned domestic companies, including major internet firms Tencent and ByteDance, over their H20 chip purchases, expressing concerns over information risks.

Can betting on last year's losers lead to higher stock market returns?

1 month 2 weeks ago
Mumbai: It pays to bet on the dark horse in the stock market rather than chase recent winners. A study by DSP Mutual Fund shows that investors who bought the previous year's losing index - across large-, mid-, and small-cap benchmarks represented by the Nifty 100, Nifty Midcap 150, and Nifty Smallcap 250 - at the start of every calendar year earned higher returns than those who bought the prior year's winners.For example, in 2009, large caps gained 4%, midcaps 7%, and smallcaps 8%. At the start of 2010, a contrarian investor would have bought large caps - the previous year's laggards - and earned a 19% return that year. The next year, they would have moved to smallcaps, again picking the underperformer. In contrast, performance chasers would have bought smallcaps in 2010 and midcaps in 2011, ending up with lower overall returns.123442328Between October 2009 and June 2025, a performance chaser earned 12.5%, while a contrarian investor made 15.9%. Investing in the Nifty 500 without any changes would have given 13%, while an equal split between large-, mid-, and small-cap funds would have returned 15.2%.

Sebi proposes regulation of grey market for unlisted companies to enhance price discovery and tax revenue

1 month 2 weeks ago
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is looking to regulate the grey or parallel market, where shares of unlisted companies such as NSE, Chennai Super Kings, Cochin International Airport and Mohan Meakins are traded unofficially. The proposed move will facilitate price discovery for unlisted companies before their shares are officially launched for trading on the bourses and will also boost tax income for the government. This comes at a time when India has emerged as one of the top IPO markets globally, with $2.8 billion raised in Q1 of this year despite global economic uncertainties.Speaking at an industry body event on Thursday, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said: "Pre-listing information is often insufficient for investors to make an investment decision. Can we come up with a pilot initiative for a regulated venue where pre-IPO companies can choose to trade, subject to certain disclosures?" Highlighting Sebi's thought process further, its whole-time member Kamlesh Varshney said: "There is a market known as the grey market. Can this be regulated within the confines of law? If this market is regulated, prior to an IPO, it can help in price discovery. The government will also receive its fair share of revenue through taxes. This would benefit everyone involved. If a regulatory framework is established with checks and balances... we are working on this ."India's grey market has operated for years with no oversight from Sebi or stock exchanges. However, trading in grey market stocks is legal even though it is unofficial. The grey market price also helps in predicting listing prices. Pandey further said: "Sebi would collaborate with the corporate affairs ministry and stock exchanges to establish a regulated platform for pre-IPO or unlisted companies so that these companies can trade with necessary disclosures." According to RippleWave Equity Advisors' partner Mehul Savla the pre-IPO market largely targets wealthy investors, who are aware of the risks and rewards.“Such investors have the appetite for making investments that are characterised by lack of immediate liquidity, no clear price benchmark and limited information.” He added that such investments are allowed and undertaken by AIFs catering to high net worth individuals (HNIs) and not by mutual funds, which manage retail money. “Such a sophisticated and restricted market may not need or desire regulatory oversight.” Savla further said: “These transactions are usually secondary trades i.e. shares changing hands from one to another and the company often plays no part in facilitating such transactions and hence avoid any regulatory obligations.” Investors trade in grey market stocks through their demat accounts. Brokers gather these stocks from a variety of shareholders, including employees who own company shares, early-stage investors looking to exit, and sometimes, directly from the promoters. The proposed move will facilitate price discovery for unlisted companies before their shares are officially launched for trading on the bourses and will also boost tax income for the government. This comes at a time when India has emerged as one of the top IPO markets globally, with $2.8 billion raised in Q1 of this year despite global economic uncertainties. Speaking at an industry body event on Thursday, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said: “Pre-listing information is often insufficient for investors to make an investment decision. Can we come up with a pilot initiative for a regulated venue where pre-IPO companies can choose to trade, subject to certain disclosures?” Highlighting Sebi’s thought process further, its whole-time member Kamlesh Varshney said: “There is a market known as the grey market. Can this be regulated within the confines of law? If this market is regulated, prior to an IPO, it can help in price discovery. The government will also receive its fair share of revenue through taxes. This would benefit everyone involved. If a regulatory framework is established with checks and balances… we are working on this .” India’s grey market has operated for years with no oversight from Sebi or stock exchanges. However, trading in grey market stocks is legal even though it is unofficial. The grey market price also helps in predicting listing prices. Pandey further said: “Sebi would collaborate with the corporate affairs ministry and stock exchanges to establish a regulated platform for pre-IPO or unlisted companies so that these companies can trade with necessary disclosures.” According to RippleWave Equity Advisors’ partner Mehul Savla the pre-IPO market largely targets wealthy investors, who are aware of the risks and rewards. “Such investors have the appetite for making investments that are characterised by lack of immediate liquidity, no clear price benchmark and limited information.” He added that such investments are allowed and undertaken by AIFs catering to high net worth individuals and not by mutual funds, which manage retail money.

India to gain as China eases curbs on urea

1 month 2 weeks ago
China has allocated another 7 million tonnes of urea for exports, easing restrictions on the shipment of the crop nutrient further, said people aware of the matter. "Most of this urea will come to India," a person directly involved in the matter told ET on condition of anonymity.China had halted the shipments of urea and some other fertilisers to India in the past few months, but it has begun the process of easing restrictions on supplies of urea to the country. Before the latest allocation, on Wednesday, it had allocated some quantity of urea for exports and India is expected to receive 2-3 million tonnes from that, according to people with knowledge of the matter.India and China have commenced discussions on a trade package covering supplies of critical rare earth magnets, fertilisers and other essentials amid heightening tensions with the US on tariff and the clamour from Indian industry to expedite imports of essential inputs from China.After a significant breakthrough, China conveyed that it has lifted curbs on export of fertilisers, rare earth magnets and tunnel boring machines, bringing relief to farmers during the kharif season, the main planting season for India when farmers sow rice, pulses, oilseeds and maize.Demand for urea in India has surged as farmers want to ensure their crops have enough nutrients after a good monsoon rainfall, with the country receiving a cumulative rainfall of 2.1% above the long period average till August 20, according to the India Meteorological Department.Farmers have sown about 39.86 million hectares under rice as of August 15, up from 36.29 million hectares a year ago. Acreage under maize increased to about 9.28 million hectares from 8.29 million hectares during this period. Both these crops need a significant amount of urea.But data from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare shows that as of August 1, stocks of key fertilisers including urea and di-ammonium phosphate are lower compared with the year-ago figures.

Clean Science bulk deal: Norges Bank picks Rs 158 crore stake. Nippon, SBI MF among buyers

1 month 2 weeks ago
Norway-based Norges Bank bought over 14.62 lakh shares worth Rs 158 crore in Clean Science and Technology via block deal on Thursday. Nippon India Mutual Fund, SBI Mutual Fund and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company were also buyers in the bulk deals where promoters Asha Ashok Boob and Ashok Ramnarayan Boob together sold over 1.9 crore shares.Norges Bank on Account of The Government Pension Fund Global bought these shares at a price of Rs 1,077.68 apiece, which is a near 9% discount over the Wednesday closing price of Rs 1,180.80 on the NSE.Nippon India MF which lapped 31.15 lakh shares at Rs 1,075.20 per share, was the largest buyer at Rs 335 crore. Meanwhile, SBI MF took 27.52 lakh shares for Rs 296 crore. Bajaj Allianz bought 8lakh shares, spending Rs 86 crore. The Clean Science shares ended the session with 2.8% decline at Rs 1,147.80.Promoters' 1.9 crore shares represent close to 20% stake in the company.Also Read: Apollo Hospitals promoters to sell stake worth Rs 1,395 crore in block deal: ReportClean Science share price historyOver the past year, Clean Science & Technology shares have declined 24.46%, while year-to-date (YTD) performance shows a drop of 23.36%. In the last six months, the stock has fallen 9.52%, over the past three months it has slipped 6.75%, and in the last one month alone, it has dropped 10.53%.About Clean Science & TechnologyIncorporated in 2003, Clean Science and Technology is one of the leading chemical manufacturers globally. The company produces functionally critical specialty chemicals, including Performance Chemicals (MEHQ, BHA, AP), Pharmaceutical Intermediates (Guaiacol, DCC), and FMCG Chemicals (4-MAP, Anisole).(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Sebi mulls AI-only AIF regulatory regime with significantly less compliance requirements

1 month 2 weeks ago
Markets regulator Sebi has proposed a new accredited investors-only alternative investment fund (AIF) regime with lesser compliance rules, a move aimed at enabling sophisticated investors to back higher-risk ventures more efficiently, its senior official said on Thursday. Separately, Sebi is also working on an FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) portal, a one-stop shop that will provide clear information for existing and new foreign investors on ways to access Indian markets, its Whole Time Member Ananth Narayan G said at FICCI CAPAM 2025 event here.On Accredited Investors (AIs), he said that globally, such investors are identified as experienced and capable of handling risk, so they are given fewer regulatory protections. To qualify, investors must show they can manage risk and are willing to accept fewer safeguards. India introduced an AI framework in 2021, but it hardly gained traction because the process was cumbersome and expensive, and offered few benefits. However, this is now changing, as Sebi has already simplified the process of obtaining AI status, making it largely paper-free, and is working to make it even easier, Narayan said. He said that Sebi is looking to allow AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) managers to do the initial checks for AI status.Also, Narayan said that Sebi has now " proposed an AI-only AIF regulatory regime that has significantly less compliance requirements around investor protection--our pathway to optimum regulations around AIFs. We want to enable sophisticated investors to back higher-risk ventures in an efficient manner". On FPI front, he said, "Sebi is also developing an FPI Portal, providing clarity and transparency to existing and prospective foreign investors around our regulatory regime".This will also be a one-stop shop for global investors to understand the "how" of accessing India markets, he added. In August 2023, Sebi came out with norms requiring foreign funds with more than 50 per cent of their holdings in a single corporate group to give detailed information about all their owners and beneficiaries. However, some funds such Sovereign Wealth Funds and regulated mutual funds with strict rules on diversification and transparency were exempt, based on a trust-but-verify approach. Now, the regulator wants to turn these exemptions into a positive qualification. The idea is to create a framework called SWAGAT-FI or a Single Window Automatic & Generalized Access for Trusted Foreign Investors. This could cover up to 70 per cent of foreign portfolio investor (FPI) assets, Narayan said.Trusted FPIs would benefit from easier registration, simpler compliance requirements, and broader market access, similar to large domestic investors.On the Futures& Options market, Narayan said that Sebi is considering ways to improve the tenor and maturity profile of derivative products, so that they better support sustained capital formation."This may also need to be achieved in a calibrated manner, giving the system adequate time to adjust," he added.He said that the regulator is open to objective and simple mechanisms to ensure that derivative participation is informed, suitable, and appropriate.Sebi's approach to arriving at the optimum regulatory regime around derivatives has been, and will continue to be, analytical and consultative.Average daily traded volumes in equity cash markets have grown rapidly by over 25 per cent Compounded Annual Growth Rate over the past 5 years, to well over Rs 1 lakh crore now. Earlier in the day, Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey also stressed on improving the tenor and maturity profile of derivative products.
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