Business

Black Friday 2024 has arrived with a surge of competitive pricing across retail categories, from electronics and fashion to home appliances and personal tech. As brands push to capture festive-season spending, retailers are offering unprecedented discounts, extended sale windows, and value-driven bundles to appeal to cautious yet eager consumers. This year marks a shift toward strategic early deals rather than a one-day shopping frenzy, with both online and brick-and-mortar stores reporting heightened footfall and digital traffic.

Unifinz Capital has announced a net profit of ₹24 crore for the second quarter, reflecting resilient operational performance amid evolving market conditions. The financial results underscore the company’s strategic focus on portfolio diversification, efficient risk management, and customer-centric financial services. Analysts highlight that steady profitability amid moderate credit growth and controlled operating expenses positions Unifinz Capital for sustained expansion in India’s competitive financial sector.

Exide Industries, one of India’s leading energy storage manufacturers, is preparing to launch commercial production of lithium-ion cells by the end of FY26. The move represents a major strategic shift as the company positions itself to meet rising domestic demand for advanced battery technologies, driven by electric mobility, grid storage, and industrial applications. With its new facility designed to deliver large-scale output, Exide aims to strengthen India’s battery ecosystem and reduce dependence on imports.

Akme Fintrade reported a solid performance for the second quarter, delivering a 23% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 10 crore, indicating sustained momentum in its lending operations. The non-banking financial company (NBFC), which focuses on retail and small-business financing, benefited from improved asset quality, expanding loan demand, and disciplined cost management. The company’s results reflect the broader resilience seen across India’s credit ecosystem, where diversified lenders are experiencing steady demand despite evolving macroeconomic challenges.

Sharat Industries Ltd. reported a strong second-quarter performance with profit rising 54% to Rs 5.74 crore, supported by resilient demand, improved operating efficiencies, and steady margins across its product segments. The company demonstrated notable financial momentum despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, as robust execution and disciplined cost management helped elevate profitability. The improved quarterly results signal strengthening fundamentals within the aquaculture and allied processing sector, where Sharat Industries maintains a significant presence.

In a strategic move to strengthen its footprint in India’s rapidly expanding men’s grooming market, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) has acquired Muuchstac, a rising homegrown brand, for Rs 450 crore. The acquisition marks a significant step in GCPL’s portfolio diversification strategy, enhancing its presence across high-growth personal care categories.

In a development that underscores the intricate power dynamics within one of India’s most influential philanthropic and corporate institutions, Tata Trusts is reportedly witnessing an internal tussle over governance and leadership roles. The focus has shifted to Noel Tata and Ratan Tata’s foster son, with emerging indications of differing visions for the Trusts’ future. As the organization—central to the control of Tata Sons—undergoes leadership transitions and strategic realignment, this unfolding boardroom drama has drawn attention across India’s corporate circles.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has reserved its verdict on Vedanta Limited’s ambitious demerger proposal, which seeks to restructure the conglomerate into multiple independent entities. The move, aimed at unlocking shareholder value and enhancing operational focus, represents one of India’s most significant corporate reorganizations in recent years. Once approved, the demerger will reshape the company’s vast portfolio across natural resources, energy, metals, and semiconductor businesses.

The Government of Maharashtra has announced a new incentive scheme aimed at modernizing the state’s sugar industry and enhancing its contribution to ethanol production under India’s biofuel expansion plan. The initiative focuses on encouraging sugar mills to improve operational efficiency, adopt sustainable practices, and increase ethanol output to strengthen the agricultural economy. The scheme includes a range of fiscal benefits and policy support designed to stabilize the sugar sector, which plays a critical role in rural employment and the state’s agro-industrial growth.

In a significant step toward advancing India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, Lockheed Martin has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to expanding local partnerships and technology collaborations under the country’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The U.S. aerospace and defence major is deepening cooperation with Indian industry to strengthen indigenous production, co-development of advanced platforms, and supply-chain integration.