FESTIVE DEMAND
Kalyan Jewellers gains 16% in two sessions; analysts see 13% upside
In a bold move, Kalyan Jewellers India announced a significant 31% rise in revenue and a notable 64% boost in net profit. Plans include launching 84 new Kalyan stores along with expanding the Candere and Akshaya Thanga Maligai outlets. Analysts have expressed optimism, issuing 'Buy' ratings based on the growth from non-South markets, which climbed by 21%, positioning the company favorably against unorganized competitors amidst fluctuating gold prices.
No longer just non-AC train: Indian Railways' first Amrit Bharat Express 3.0 with AC coaches hits tracks between Delhi and Patna to ease Chhath Puja rush
Indian Railways has introduced its first Amrit Bharat Express 3.0 featuring AC coaches on the New Delhi-Patna route to manage the Chhath Puja rush. The special train, which departed on November 11, has a 22-coach configuration comprising First AC, Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper and General coaches. The upgraded train features push-pull technology, improved suspension, modern toilets and mobile charging points.
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.
Online festive sales miss estimates; Munjal steps down as Unacademy CEO
Happpy Thursday! Online festive sales grew, but fell short of expectations amid weak smartphone demand.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Indians buy 30% more gold after recent price correction
Indians showed a significant increase in gold and silver purchases during Dhanteras-Diwali this year. Gold buying rose by 30% while silver demand increased by 10% compared to last year. Consumers bought 52 tonnes of gold valued at ₹72,000 crore and 300 tonnes of silver worth ₹5,400 crore. The rise in purchases was fueled by lower prices and upcoming wedding season. Jewellers expressed optimism about continued consumer interest in precious metals.
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.
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Don't let fare caps clip airlines' wings
Recently, airline price surges during festival seasons have raised concerns about imposing fare caps. While there is public demand for such measures, they may disrupt airlines' pricing flexibility. Regulations on airfares are more effective when they account for market demand and emergencies like natural disasters. Airlines might resort to add-on charges if their revenue is impacted by fare restrictions.
Festive hamper orders triple, laddu tops 'Mithai' chart on Zepto this Diwali
Zepto's festive hamper orders tripled during Diwali compared with last year, while laddu emerged as the most frequently ordered sweet and soan papdi led in total quantity sold. The platform recorded 4.68 lakh diya orders, while festive fashion purchases doubled and flowers and garland orders rose 2.5 times.
BlueStone strikes gold this festive season, clocks 45% business growth
BlueStone Jewellery and Lifestyle reported 45% year-on-year business growth between October 1 and November 8, driven primarily by an increase in buyers during the festive season. Average realisations remained unchanged, while demand for everyday jewellery and entry-level products gained momentum during the Dhanteras-Diwali period.
Passengers climbing through train windows, some travelling in toilets, others waiting 12 hours in queues: Railway stations witness unprecedented Diwali-Chhath chaos
Railway stations across Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are witnessing massive crowds as passengers head home for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Videos show commuters attempting to enter packed trains through doors and windows, while some wait up to 12 hours to board services. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says 18,000 special trains have been added this festive season, alongside holding areas and AI-enabled cameras to manage crowds.
Samvat 2083 begins: Will the good times roll for Indian businesses?
Samvat 2083 begins with Indian businesses entering the new year on a note of cautious optimism. Strong GST collections, festive demand and the RBI’s upgraded FY27 growth forecast point to economic resilience. But weak hiring, easing manufacturing momentum, food inflation and crude oil risks cloud the outlook.
Kalpataru confident of achieving ₹6,500 crore pre-sales target in FY27, says CFO
With a pre-sales target of ₹6,500 crore for this fiscal year, Kalpataru is navigating through the current market landscape. Although sales bookings remained stable at around ₹2,600 crore in the initial half, the housing demand shows resilience against global uncertainties. The CFO is confident about a strong second half, anticipating a surge in sales due to festive season activities, having recorded ₹5,280 crore in the last fiscal year.
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.
Quick commerce emerges beyond Diwali shopping panic to breathe on the necks of e-commerce giants
Quick-commerce platforms in India are increasingly including fashion, beauty, and gifting items for Diwali shopping. Myntra and Amazon are experiencing significant growth in orders and customer engagement during the festive season. Quick-commerce is projected to account for a larger share of online retail, boosting convenience for consumers. The demand for immediate shopping solutions is prompting a shift in purchasing behaviours.
14,000+ gold, silver coins delivered per hour: Instamart, Zepto, others record rising orders as Diwali shopping shifts to q-comm
During the recent Dhanteras and Diwali events, consumers turned to quick-commerce platforms for their festive shopping needs. Significant increases were noted in purchases of gold, silver coins, and traditional items. Quick-commerce platforms reported high demand for kitchen appliances, clothing, and home decor. A marked shift was seen in consumers' willingness to shop during unconventional hours for festive essentials.
Cars to clogs: Dhanteras brings out best retail day of year; takes festive value sales up 20%
Buoyant festive demand in Dhanteras, India’s largest sales period, will be a relief to companies and retailers as it comes in the backdrop of deficient monsoons, high food inflation, volatility in IT sector employment, continued geopolitical uncertainties and risks of El Niño weather conditions.
Vehicle registrations fall 24% in October on high base
Registrations of vehicles in October experienced a significant decline compared to the previous year's records. This drop was largely due to an earlier festive season that drove higher demand last year. Despite the decrease, certain vehicle segments like electric vehicles showed remarkable growth in registrations. The upcoming Dhanteras and Diwali festivities are expected to positively impact sales this month. Dealers remain cautiously optimistic about demand, especially in rural markets.
Dhanteras rush: Quick commerce apps flag high demand, surge charges
The platforms’ home screens were heavily themed around Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festivities, when it is traditionally considered auspicious to buy gold, silver, and utensils. The apps promoted gold and silver coins, steelware freebies, and gadgets, among other things. Lakshmi and Ganesh coins in gold and silver were also advertised.
Dhanteras 2026: A 12% demand surge awaits Indian gold market even as prices hit two-week high
Jewellers expect Dhanteras gold sales to rise 10-12% on strong advance bookings, despite a 4.56% price surge in two days. Crisil expects jewellery sales volumes to fall 4-6%, with higher prices driving revenue growth of 20-21%.
Dhanteras expected to generate over Rs 1 lakh crore in business across India: CAIT
Dhanteras is expected to generate over ₹1 lakh crore in business across India, with gold and silver sales estimated to exceed ₹60,000 crore, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
Gold gets its festive groove back in India as prices cool from record highs
India’s gold jewellery demand is picking up in the October-December quarter as lower prices and the wedding season draw buyers back to stores, with footfalls and purchase conversions improving, according to Crisil Ratings. However, consumers are favouring smaller purchases, including coins and bars.
Titan Company shares drop 3% after Q2 results. Why Emkay, Nuvama and others remain bullish
Titan shares declined despite a 54% rise in adjusted net profit for the September quarter. Strong demand for jewellery, watches, and eyewear supported performance, while brokerages remained largely positive on the stock, citing growth prospects, market-share gains, and improving margins.
Indian auto dealers flag post-festive demand risks as vehicle stocks stay high
Indian auto dealers warned that high vehicle inventories and rising financing costs could hurt post-festive demand. Passenger vehicle stocks remained at 43-45 days despite record wholesale dispatches, though dealers expect strong retail sales in the coming weeks to help clear inventory, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations said.
Auto sales growth to cool post-festive season, says Monarch; bets on Minda Corp, RK Forgings and Sundram Fasteners
Auto sales growth is expected to moderate in the second half of FY27 after strong festive demand, while tractor sales may remain weak. Monarch Networth Capital prefers diversified ancillary players Minda Corporation, RK Forgings and Sundram Fasteners, with potential upside of up to 44%.
Festive demand lifts dry fruit, chocolate imports this season
During the festive season, India's import of tree nuts and chocolates rose significantly, reflecting a 10-12% annual demand increase. The reduction in goods and services tax has made these gourmet products more accessible to consumers. In 2025, dry fruit imports during this period accounted for a substantial share of annual purchases.
Indian auto's real test lies ahead after firecracker start to festive season
India’s passenger vehicle dispatches crossed the 5-lakh mark for the first time in October, with wholesales estimated to grow 13-15% year-on-year to 5.25-5.3 lakh units. Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai reported record monthly sales, while commercial vehicle makers also posted strong growth.
Aditya Birla Lifestyle bets on festive demand
The company, which owns brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England, reported flat like-for-like sales growth in September, against 5.3% for the second quarter of FY27. The slowdown comes just as the full impact of price increases begins to flow through in the December quarter, making consumer acceptance and discounting critical to sustaining growth.
Micro occasions fuel demand surge across quick commerce, beauty services
On Myntra Now, overall orders rose about 70% on October 29 compared to regular days. “We saw intent for Karva Chauth starting from October 28, with demand spanning ethnic wear, beauty, and accessories,” said a Myntra spokesperson, adding that in the two days leading up to the festival, demand for kurtas, kurta sets and sarees rose 2.5 times, while red lipsticks saw a 2.1x increase across Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
Royal Enfield reports 7% growth in October sales
Royal Enfield reported a 7% year-on-year increase in October sales to 1.33 lakh motorcycles, supported by strong festive demand. Domestic sales rose 4% to 1.22 lakh units, while exports surged 47% to 11,915 units. Motorcycles above 350cc recorded 18% growth, outpacing the 5% rise in smaller-engine models.
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