B2B GROSS MERCHANDISE VALUE
US proposes tougher H-1B visa extension scrutiny and over 2 lakh foreign worker petitions could be affected annually
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed removing a rule that requires immigration officers to give weight to previous approvals when reviewing certain work visa extension applications. The change could affect around 208,429 petitions annually, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E visa categories. If finalised, the proposal would allow USCIS officers to reassess applications even when workers remain with the same employer in unchanged roles.
Bodhi Tree invests $180 million for majority stake in Adyar Ananda Bhavan
Bodhi Tree Systems, backed by James Murdoch and Uday Shankar, has invested $180 million for a majority stake in Adyar Ananda Bhavan, or A2B, as it looks to scale the South Indian food brand in India and overseas. The partnership will focus on restaurant and packaged-food expansion, digital capabilities and manufacturing, with Uday Shankar becoming chairperson of A2B’s new board.
Usher and Chris Brown cancel more R&B Tour shows: Which concerts are still on and how to get refunds
The R&B Tour featuring Usher and Chris Brown has unfortunately led to the cancellation of several shows in November and December, attributed to health concerns. Fans whose shows were cancelled can expect automatic refunds processed within 14-21 days, depending on their bank. While some dates are affected, many performances in major cities will remain as planned.
Secure exclusive visibility for B2B launches, new fund offers and rebrands
An ET Roadblock gives one advertiser exclusive share of voice across The Economic Times on desktop, mobile web and the ET app. See how it works, what ET reports from past campaigns, who it suits and how to plan your own.
Festive online sales hit Rs 1.4 lakh crore, up 17%, but miss forecasts
The season had been expected to hit a record Rs 1.50-1.55 lakh crore in GMV, up 25-29% from last year. GMV is total value of goods sold by marketplaces before discounts and returns. The festive sale period started on October 8 with the flagship events of Amazon and Flipkart followed by multiple micro-events until Diwali, which fell on November 8.
India's growth gets further votes of confidence as Moody's raises FY27 forecast to 7% from 6.5%
Moody's Ratings has raised India's economic growth forecast for 2026-27 to 7% from 6.5%. This adjustment reflects the nation's strong consumption and improving investment dynamics. Despite potential challenges such as policy interest rate hikes, consumption remains crucial for growth. Additionally, SBI Research predicts a growth of 7.8% for India in the July-September quarter. Improving economic indicators suggest a strong recovery might be underway, supporting a new cycle of private investment.
- Go To Page 1
Quick commerce delivers huge festive triumph for D2C brands
Beauty brand Pilgrim and healthy snacks brand Open Secret both doubled their sales year-on-year (YoY) during the festive period, driven by purchases on quick-commerce platforms.
CM Devendra Fadnavis says no flights will shift from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai airport; opposes proposed relocation of international services and suggests an alternative plan for Terminal 1 redevelopment
Mumbai airport news: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is opposing plans to shift international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai airport. He communicated with the union civil aviation minister regarding an alternative redevelopment proposal for Terminal 1. This plan aims to keep the existing terminal operational during its replacement construction. The Airports Authority of India holds a minority stake in Mumbai airport, while Adani Airport Holdings Ltd is the majority stakeholder.
Festive shopping: Home, kitchen products drive 81% jump in D2C sales to Rs 1,328 crore
Home and kitchen product sales surged 81% year-on-year during the pre-Diwali shopping period in India. Gross merchandise value reached an estimated ₹1,328 crore from October 21 to November 5. Consumers showed increased spending on household appliances, water purifiers, and kitchenware, reflecting changing priorities. Traditional categories like fashion and gifting also experienced notable growth during this time. However, health and wellness product sales decreased as budgets shifted towards festive purchases.
Shemaroo flags BARC blackout, deferred broadcaster deals amid digital growth
Shemaroo Entertainment faced challenges in its traditional media business due to BARC ratings blackout and deferred content investments. The company's digital business grew significantly, with digital revenue rising by 26% year-on-year. EBITDA loss has narrowed, indicating improvement in financial performance. Continued investments in Gujarati content remain a key focus for Shemaroo. Management remains optimistic about achieving profitability aspirations amid ongoing industry dynamics.
FCNR(B) interest bill to keep dollar hedging costs high
As a multibillion-dollar FCNR(B) interest bill escalates, Indian banks grapple with increased dollar hedging expenses. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India mandated new reserve prerequisites for forex derivatives, compounding the challenges for banks that must secure cash reserves against these contracts. A significant number of Indian banks are currently without a robust hedging strategy, frequently depending on short-term contracts.
Nepal PM seeks $2B package ahead of visit
Nepal is preparing to request a $2 billion economic package from India during Prime Minister Balen Shah's upcoming visit. The package includes $1 billion in credit for infrastructure projects and $1 billion in grants for highway upgrades and post-flood reconstruction. Additionally, Nepal will advocate for new air routes between the two countries during the visit.
Honasa Consumer revenue grows 36% in Q2, highest since listing
The company’s net profit rose 87% to Rs 73 crore in the second quarter of FY27, compared with Rs 39 crore in the year-ago period. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) nearly doubled to Rs 93 crore from Rs 48 crore a year earlier, while the Ebitda margin expanded to 12.7% from 8.9%.
Festive stocking drives 36% jump in TReDS volumes as small businesses seek working capital
The five platforms operating under the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) financed invoices worth Rs 75,788 crore in August and September, a 36% increase from Rs 55,549 crore in the same months last year, according to RBI data.
Meet Cardi B’s youngest son, Grey Marsean Diggs; what to know about rapper's youngest son
Cardi B took to social media to honor her son Grey Marsean Diggs’ first birthday, proudly unveiling his name. In her touching post, she reminisced about her pregnancy and the resilience it fostered in her during tough periods. Born in November 2025, Grey is Cardi's fourth child with NFL player Stefon Diggs. The celebration marks a significant moment in Cardi's evolving family life, embracing her role as a devoted mother.
How to link Aadhaar with Voter ID: Steps to apply online, through mobile app and check status. Is it mandatory?
Eligible voters can conveniently link their Aadhaar card to their Voter ID either online or via a mobile application. By filling out Form 6B, which includes essential information such as your Aadhaar and EPIC numbers, voters can then track their application status through the ECI portal. It's important to note that linking Aadhaar is voluntary; failure to do so will not affect one's voter registration status.
Cardi B reveals son’s name on his first birthday: What to know about Grey Marsean Diggs
Cardi B celebrated the first birthday of her youngest child, Grey Marsean Diggs, with heartfelt social media posts. The rapper shared his full name and the first public photos of his face. In her emotional message, she reflected on how her son gave her strength during challenging times. Grey's birthday party featured a Grey's Anatomy theme, showcasing pictures from the event.
Nykaa Q2 profit more than triples, operating revenue grows 28%
The platform’s gross merchandise value (GMV) grew 30% YoY to Rs 6,151 crore in the September quarter. The beauty and personal care business reported a 25% expansion to Rs 4,454 crore and the fashion segment recorded a 42% increase to Rs 1,674 crore.
FICCI makes recommendations to FM ahead of Budget 2027-28, highlights LTCG exemption, TDS relief and faster tax appeals
FICCI has recommended the restoration of long-term capital gains tax exemption on listed shares in Budget 2027-28. The organization highlighted concerns regarding the withdrawal of foreign portfolio investments and the impact of capital gains tax. Additionally, it requested the government to implement lighter TDS rules and resolve backlog issues in tax appeals. FICCI emphasized the need for measures to provide certainty to investors over the long term.
Nykaa Q2 Results: PAT soars 207% YoY to Rs 101 crore, revenue up 28%; co to acquire 82% stake in Simply Nam
Nykaa reported a 207% year-on-year profit surge to Rs 101 crore in Q2FY27, with revenue rising 28% to Rs 3,006 crore. Beauty and fashion businesses accelerated growth, while quick commerce, owned brands and strategic acquisitions strengthened expansion.
SBI share price target: Jefferies, Motilal, others see up to 34% upside in state lender. Buy, sell or hold?
State Bank of India has seen a remarkable 15% increase in profits year-on-year, totaling Rs 23,038 crore for the second quarter. With a loan book surpassing Rs 52 lakh crore and a 10% rise in interest income, brokerages have set optimistic Buy ratings on SBI shares, suggesting target prices between Rs 1,225 and Rs 1,350. Despite this positive outlook, management highlighted possible obstacles from macroeconomic shifts and potential treasury losses.
Bata puts its best foot forward on profits as inventory shrinks, distribution expands
Bata India is banking on distribution expansion and tighter inventory management to drive growth, as adjusted profit before tax surged 31.4% year-on-year in Q2 FY27, outpacing revenue growth of 7.5%. The footwear maker has expanded its key retail outlet network 2.6 times and targets 5,000-plus outlets by Q3 FY27.
V-Mart appoints Varin Agarwal as merchandising head
V-Mart Retail has appointed Varin Agarwal as the new head of merchandising effective November 3, 2026. The appointment follows the company's recent financial report, which shows a net loss of Rs 16.34 crore for the September quarter. Agarwal previously served in a leadership capacity at US Mobile, contributing to significant revenue growth and improving customer experiences.
Retailer Zalando launches AI shopping agent as margins squeezed
Zalando has launched its inaugural AI shopping agent, aiming to refine its online retail experience significantly. This innovative platform enables users to shop across various online stores using intelligent AI assistants. Although shares dropped by 5%, the company saw a revenue uptick of 5.1% in Q3. However, the gross profit margin decreased due to heightened investment in technology and infrastructure as competitors embrace AI amid rapid industry transformation.
The power of signature IPs: A new way for B2B brands to reach decision-makers
Learn how signature IPs, including industry summits, executive programmes, awards and exposure, help B2B brands to engage key decision-makers, deepen industry relationships and open up new business opportunities by connecting with the right audience through targeted, business-focused platforms.
India can achieve $1 trillion exports target this fiscal despite global headwinds: Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that India would achieve its $1 trillion exports target in 2026-27 despite global uncertainties. He said nine FTAs could open preferential market access to economies with a combined GDP of $60 trillion. Goods and services exports were estimated at $476.2 billion in April-September.
Reliance Retail Q2 profit takes a hit on Qcomm push
Reliance Retail Ventures reported a significant drop in net profit, down 24.5% year-on-year to ₹2,619 crore in the last quarter. Despite this, revenue improved by 5.8% to ₹80,220 crore, largely driven by a surge in grocery sales. The company's profitability was affected by strategic investments and evolving festive season patterns, alongside rising finance costs stemming from increased borrowing and interest rates. Focus remains on improving transactions and business model adaptation.
Delivery Hero raises full-year forecast again on strong Q3 growth
The company now expects gross merchandise value (GMV), a common metric for delivery firms measuring the total value of all goods sold through the market place, to grow 10%-12% this year, up from a previous forecast of 9%-11%.
Load More
