CONSUMER ELECTRONIC
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.
Hindalco bets on value-added products for earnings growth, stock re-rating
Hindalco reported record revenue and profit in the latest quarter amid increasing metal prices and improved Novelis performance. The company anticipates muted growth due to declining aluminium prices and elevated input costs. It has initiated significant investments in capacity expansion and enhancing value-added products. Novelis expects to transition towards increased earnings and cost savings in the coming years. Hindalco's strategic moves aim to fortify its position in the aluminium market.
Electronics exports surge 44% in H1, but pricier chips widen deficit
Sectoral exports rose 44% year-onyear to $31.9 billion in April-September due to an increase in smartphone shipments, official data showed. However, electronics imports also widened 22% to $68.53 billion on account of pricier chip inflows. As a result, the absolute trade deficit in electronics stretched to $36.57 billion, up from $33.9 billion a year ago.
Healthy eating, GLP-1 trend make air fryers a kitchen staple as sales double
Air fryer sales in India have experienced significant growth, reaching nearly ₹1,000 crore in annual sales. The surge in demand is attributed to a focus on healthier cooking alternatives and falling prices. With the cost dropping from ₹10,000 to ₹4,000, more consumers are adopting air fryers. The popularity of social media cooking videos also plays a role in increasing sales across various regions.
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.
Qcomm’s Diwali boost; Energy startups attract funds
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce powered a strong festive season for D2C brands. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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Xiaomi eyes local partners; Electronics firms target AI infra
Xiaomi is looking for local partners as it plans to manufacture home appliances in India. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
UAE launches digital ATA Carnet system, becoming first country outside Europe to adopt paperless customs process
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the eATA Carnet system, becoming the first country outside Europe to adopt the digital customs facility. Rolled out on November 9, 2026, with support from Dubai Chambers, the system allows businesses to process temporary imports and exports electronically using digital declarations and QR codes.
South Korean shares fall as AI concerns, US inflation weigh on sentiment
South Korean shares fell as concerns over elevated AI valuations and stronger-than-expected US inflation weighed on investor sentiment. The benchmark KOSPI declined 0.34%, led by losses in chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The won strengthened against the dollar, while government bond yields rose amid expectations of further US interest rate hikes.
Local partner wanted for Xiaomi ‘home’ coming
The proposal is in the exploratory phase, but the Chinese technology company is set to begin evaluating potential Indian suppliers, according to one of the persons who did not wish to be identified. “It marks a natural progression for Xiaomi as it has committed to expanding beyond air purifiers into categories such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines,” the person said.
Titan bets on studded jewellery, premium watches and eyewear to drive growth
Titan’s strong Q2 performance, driven by studded jewellery and premiumisation, is expected to sustain earnings growth, with gold price stability and a prolonged wedding season likely to revive buyer growth.
Electronics Inc runs ops update to build AI infra
India’s electronics manufacturers are moving into AI data centre infrastructure, targeting optical transceivers, advanced packaging and specialised cooling systems. Dixon Technologies, Samsung, LG, Blue Star and PG Electroplast are exploring production opportunities as global demand rises. The shift could attract investment, improve margins and strengthen India’s position as an export hub.
Still possible chipmaker Nexperia could reunite with Chinese operations, CEO says
If the split becomes permanent, however, Nexperia's Chinese parent Wingtech Technology should be compensated, interim CEO Stefan Tilger said in an interview on the sidelines of the electronica 2026 conference in Munich.
PHD Chamber seeks capital gains tax rationalisation, doing away with BCD on feedstock
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to abolish long-term capital gains tax on equity investments, cut short-term capital gains tax to 10% and reduce securities transaction tax (STT) rates in its pre-Budget recommendations for FY28.
India’s product landscape is changing: Which products are setting the benchmark across technology, finance, and consumer markets?
The ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 showcase India's rapidly growing product ecosystem by honoring groundbreaking innovations across diverse sectors such as enterprise technology, financial services, and consumer markets. These awards place emphasis on products that have made a significant market impact, gained customer adoption, and demonstrated exceptional innovation, motivating companies to present their tangible successes and contributions to the industry.
Whirlpool hikes prices by 5% from November 1 amidst inflationary heat
Whirlpool of India Limited announced a five percent price increase on all products, effective November 1, 2026. This decision aims to address cost pressures stemming from commodity inflation and rising crude oil prices. The price hike occurs ahead of the peak Diwali season, which is vital for consumer sales. The company faces challenges due to new energy regulations and increased production costs.
HSBC upgrades India, downgrades China. Here are the sectors it likes now
HSBC has upgraded Indian equities to overweight and downgraded mainland China to neutral, citing improved valuations, stronger credit growth and resilient corporate earnings. The global brokerage favours financials, autos, industrials and consumer discretionary stocks, while remaining cautious on IT, staples and oil and gas amid growth and margin concerns.
AMFI reshuffle: Jio Platforms and NSE may get largecap status, Vedanta may become midcap in H1 CY27
Nuvama expects Jio Platforms and NSE to enter AMFI's largecap category in its H1 CY27 reshuffle, while Vedanta may move to midcap status. The proposed changes also include upgrades and downgrades across midcap and smallcap stocks, with revised market-cap thresholds estimated at Rs 1.12 lakh crore and Rs 36,700 crore.
Diwali rush lifts rapid delivery orders for last-minute shopping, gifting
Platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes revamped their apps for Diwali, introducing interactive interfaces, gamified rewards and other features to drive consumer engagement and orders.
AI slump revives Asia’s forgotten trades from China to India
Global investors are rethinking their Asia bets as the AI trade loses momentum following the US midterm elections. India and China are emerging as potential beneficiaries of the shift, with funds rotating towards undervalued stocks, domestic growth, healthcare, consumer companies and financials. India's limited AI exposure, easing oil prices and renewed foreign inflows are strengthening its appeal.
Voltas names Noel Tata chairman emeritus; Q2 profit rises 53.5%
Voltas has announced the appointment of Sunil Alaric D’Souza as the new chairman. Noel Tata will step down as chairman on November 11, 2023. The company also designated Jayant Balan as managing director starting from May 25, 2027. Voltas recently reported significant financial growth with a 53.5% increase in quarterly profits. The leadership changes coincide with improved demand for the company's air conditioning products.
Foxconn posts highest-ever monthly revenue in October, up 45.73 pc YoY on AI demand
According to the company's unaudited monthly revenue report released on Thursday, October revenue increased 12.66 per cent from NT$1.159 trillion (USD 35.18 billion) in September 2026, marking the highest single-month revenue in Foxconn's history.
LG Electronics shares jump 8% to 52-week high after Q2 results. Jefferies retains Buy, retains target price
LG Electronics India shares surged to a 52-week high after strong Q2FY27 results, with Jefferies retaining its Buy rating and Rs 1,950 target price. The brokerage expects 21% EPS CAGR through FY29, driven by premiumisation, capacity expansion and new business opportunities.
US Democratic win unlikely to ease firms' cost, tariff woes in near term, executives say
Global businesses expect limited immediate changes following Democrats' takeover of the US Congress, as high energy and raw material costs, inflation and strained consumer spending continue to weigh on operations. While some executives welcomed prospects of political stability, companies remain uncertain about tariffs, AI regulation and trade policies, amid fears of Washington gridlock.
Sam Altman becomes Ram Altman: OpenAI CEO accepts suggestion, changes display name on X
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has changed his display name on X to "Ram Altman" after facing online criticism over his remarks about the use of Random Access Memory (RAM) in personal computers. The controversy started after his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he questioned whether allocating large amounts of memory to individual desktop and laptop users was an efficient use of limited global supplies.
He left his teaching job to make adhesive tapes; now Crown New Materials' 787% IPO surge has made him a billionaire
He once worked as an elementary school teacher. Today, Mai Huiquan and his sister Mai Huixia are at the centre of one of China's biggest stock market debut stories. Their company, Crown New Materials, saw its shares jump 787% on November 3, turning its IPO into a major talking point among investors.
Elon Musk vs Sam Altman: After OpenAI CEO questions people's RAM usage at home, Musk defends ordinary users with a meme
Elon Musk has taken a dig at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after the latter questioned why people keep large amounts of RAM in their personal computers when the limited memory supply could be used more efficiently by AI data centres. Sharing a meme on X, Musk defended ordinary consumers. The exchange comes amid a global memory shortage that is driving up prices of PCs, smartphones and other electronic devices.
JioHotstar launches StreamToCart Ads, enabling in-stream shopping through Instamart
Introducing a game-changer in digital advertising, JioHotstar has launched StreamToCart Ads, an interactive format that merges streaming with online shopping. Viewers can now browse and directly add products to their shopping carts without interrupting their viewing, consequently boosting user engagement. Advertisers are empowered to monitor user behaviors from impressions to purchases, optimizing their marketing strategies.
Soaring tech costs push festive shoppers towards EMIs
At Bengaluru-based Pai International Electronics, which operates across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 70-80% of smartphone sales during the festive season were financed through EMIs, up from 40-50% last year, said director Rahul Pai. At Vijay Sales, which operates 181 stores nationwide, EMIs accounted for about 70-75% of festive-season sales.
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