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Chemists’ body urges cabinet secy to ban online pharmacies

May 27, 2023 by economictimes.indiatimes.com Leave a Comment

Synopsis

The chemists’s body has alleged that no further action has been taken, despite notices being served on various online pharmacies by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in February. The chemists’ body also brought an affidavit filed by the joint drug controller in 2020 which stated that “there is currently no provision under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for online pharmacies. The issue of online sale of drugs was under the consideration of the government,” it said.

The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on Friday sent a letter to the Cabinet secretary, urging him to intervene and ban online pharmacies on the grounds that they are violating norms and putting people’s lives at risk.

The letter cited the Delhi High Court order of 2018, which injuncted e-pharmacies from online sale of medicines without a licence and directed that such sales were prohibited forthwith until further orders. However, “They continue to operate despite court orders,” the letter said, adding “The illegally operating E-pharmacies are still in operation after more than 4.5 years.”

The chemists’s body has alleged that no further action has been taken, despite notices being served on various online pharmacies by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in February.

The chemists’ body also brought an affidavit filed by the joint drug controller in 2020 which stated that “there is currently no provision under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for online pharmacies. The issue of online sale of drugs was under the consideration of the government,” it said.

According to AIOCD, the submission by the “CDSCO clearly indicated that there is no license for the online sale of drugs. Therefore, in accordance with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, online sales of medicines should be immediately ceased,” it further said. However, a recent status report on E-pharmacies submitted by the CDSCO on the orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi reveals that there are no provisions in the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945, that restrict the shipping, mailing, or door delivery of prescribed medicines. “This submission contradicts the earlier affidavit filed in the High Court of Delhi and raises concerns about the well-being of our citizens,” it said.

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Saturday, 27 May, 2023

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DB, Cerberus to Lead $1.7-b Credit Raise by SP Promoters

Deutsche Bank (DB) and Cerberus Capital Management, a special situations specialist, are leading the $1.7 billion credit raise by the promoters of Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, the Mistry family. Deutsche Bank is also book runner and lead arranger of the capital raise along with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB).

Markets Rally for 2nd Day on US Debt Deal Hopes

India’s stock market witnessed a broad-based rally Friday, helping local shares regain their positive momentum, on expectations of the US government edging closer to a deal to raise the national debt ceiling.

Tata Motors and M&M Apply Brakes on EV Fundraise Plans

Plans by Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) to sell stakes in their respective electric vehicle (EV) units have stalled over valuation mismatches, causing both to suspend the process, said people aware of the development.

Fitness influencers inspire thousands online but there are concerns some peddle dangerous advice

April 8, 2023 by www.abc.net.au Leave a Comment

When Danielle Knox had her son two years ago, she found the motivation to exercise at home from a small but mighty contender in the fitness space.

“I have really come so far in the last two and a half years with my training, getting into fitness and trying to live a healthier lifestyle, all through social media,” Ms Knox said.

She is one of the thousands of Australians who are turning to fitness influencers for health and wellbeing content to implement in their day-to-day life.

A “fitness influencer” creates content — including work-out inspiration, food blogs, “day-in-the-life” videos, and product promotion — often getting paid for posts on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

Ms Knox said that, through the influencers, she had found a community of other down-to-earth mums and women from across the world who had kept her inspired.

“I find that it helps me to juggle my fitness and being a mum, through that accountability and that motivation and inspiration that these influencers give me,” Ms Knox said.

“It’s amazing where we are today and the access that we have online, everything is at our fingertips and it’s one of the positives of social media.

“I would have to say I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for following these influencers and following their programs.”

The number of online creators in Australia has grown by nearly 50 per cent to six million since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Australian Computer Society.

That’s nearly one in four people in Australia.

‘Everyone can come out and claim to be an expert’

While the experience has been positive for Ms Knox, experts say the dangers of unrealistic ideals and unqualified information-sharing can be harmful.

Curtin University professor of internet studies Crystal Abidin has dedicated the past 15 years to understanding social media and, more recently, influencers.

She said that some content available online was concerning.

“We’ve now come to the point in a very mature influencer industry, where some fitness influencers, unfortunately, are also peddling rather unrealistic ideals results, or even very harmful types of behaviours,” Professor Abidin said.

“Anyone and everyone can come out and claim to be an expert of something and then promote a cause or a message.

“Body enhancements — whether through drugs, through traditional means, through injections — are also becoming a health concern when the body image you have in mind does not match what’s happening as an outcome of your efforts.”

‘There’s so much valuable content out there’

However, Canberra’s Maurine Magka says her Instagram presence, and many others like her, can help not hinder.

With more than 13 years in the fitness industry as a qualified personal trainer, she began sharing educational content online as a way to reach more people.

She said that the main goals of her Instagram page — which has nearly 63,000 followers — were to be realistic and to inspire those followers to step into the gym.

“[Going to the gym] can be so scary. So, I think, we — as influencers — have the power to create an access point for people,” Ms Magka said.

“If we can show what it’s really like, and be positive and be inviting, then someone might feel comfortable enough to actually start [going to the gym].

“The way that the industry is moving, in terms of body acceptance and body image, there’s so much valuable content out there.”

That’s a sentiment that Ms Knox agrees with. She says her fitness journey is unlimited, thanks to online platforms.

“They are a huge part of what keeps me going and keeps me motivated.”

Posted 8 Apr 2023 8 Apr 2023 Sat 8 Apr 2023 at 7:48pm

Things to keep in mind when buying the right truly wireless earbuds

March 21, 2021 by indianexpress.com Leave a Comment

True wireless earbuds are some of the most popular tech purchases right now. Originally a segment of premium products, true wireless earbuds are today available in all shapes and sizes. Many good true wireless earbuds are also now available at an affordable price point.

However, with so many true wireless audio options out there, choosing the right one for you can be difficult or overwhelming for some. If you’re in the market looking for a new pair of true wireless earphones, here are some pointers to keep in mind to ensure you buy the right pair.

Brands and pricing

Probably the most important point to look at is what brands are you considering. While casual listeners need not shell out extra bucks to buy an audiophile-level product, it is still crucial to get TWS earphones from a good brand that you trust. Brands that have a big product lineup and have been making audio products for years are likely to produce good quality earbuds that will last longer, offer better sound and more.

On the other hand, spending the right amount of money is also more important. If you buy a product that is too cheap and then realise it doesn’t offer the kind of sound quality you expected, you end up wasting that amount as well as your time. Try to find the right balance between a recognised brand and an affordable price. Don’t forget to look out for offers and sales.

Design

The design is the next most important thing when buying new true wireless earbuds. When it comes to a product that is going to continuously hang out of your ears for presumably a long amount of time at a stretch, it is crucial that you get a design that you’re comfortable wearing and the right fit.

If the buds are too big, they might be painful for you to wear. If they’re too small, they may fall out. This is especially important with plastic earbuds like the Apple AirPods or the OnePlus Buds, which do not feature silicone tips. If you’re unsure about your fit, it is best to look for options that come with multiple sizes of replaceable ear tips.

If you plan on using your earbuds for the gym or during runs, you’re also better off with buds that have extra mechanisms to stay snug. Check out options like the Amazfit PowerBuds, which have optional ear hooks.

Features and gestures

Almost every product you encounter while buying a new pair of TWS earbuds will have a few standout features. However, it’s best to stick to the features that are relevant to you. For instance, if you have no intention of using your earbuds in the shower, don’t go looking for a product with the best water resistance, and look for something that sounds the best at that price point instead.

Some key, must-have features to look out for are the ability to control music playback and calls, trigger voice assistants, quick pairing and reliable connectivity. If you’re buying a pair in 2021, it should have at least Bluetooth 5.0 and gestures.

Speaking of which, also not that touch-based gestures are not for everyone. If you plan on using your buds while in bed, during sports or around water, touch-based gestures may occasionally fail to get triggered or worse, trigger without your intention. Earbuds with physical buttons that you can click to trigger have more control but may lose out on water resistance as a result.

Sound quality, call quality, and audio-codec support

Good TWS earbuds should have a rich, balanced sound that is neither lacking in bass nor too bass-heavy. To make sure that your music doesn’t sound hollow, look at the size of the drivers used in the earbuds. 6mm drivers are known to be decent but if elements like instrument isolation and richer sound matter to you, look for at least 10mm drivers on each end of the earbuds.

Also, look at the mic-reception quality. Your TWS earbuds could sound really good, but fall apart in quality when you make a call. To us, that is a bad pair of TWS buds. If you plan on using your earbuds a lot for calls and multiplayer gaming, look for products that have either multiple mics or good ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

If you’re willing to spend more money on higher-end products, also look at the audio-codec support you get on the earbuds. Mid-range quality earbuds will usually support the SBC codec, but if you want better, higher resolution audio, you must look for products that support AAC, AptX or LDAC codecs.

Battery life (Case and Earbuds)

Battery life is crucial and there are no two ways about it. The more battery capacity your buds have, the longer they will work on a single charge. The more capacity your case has, the more times it will be able to charge your buds. Also, note that most brands that advertise a number when talking about battery life are usually talking about music playback time. For calls, that number will usually drop down a bit.

FPIs invest Rs 37,316 crore in May on strong domestic macro fundamentals, reasonable valuation

May 28, 2023 by economictimes.indiatimes.com Leave a Comment

Synopsis

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have invested Rs 37,316 crore in Indian equities in May, the highest in the past six months. This inflow is attributed to strong macroeconomic fundamentals and reasonable stock valuations. A positive resolution on the US debt ceiling and good domestic macro-economic data could lead to fresh asset flows from foreign investors. The recent quantitative tightening cycle in the US and India’s outperformance in global equities has improved the FPI flow outlook. The sustained buying by FPIs has pushed the NSE’s Nifty benchmark index up 2.4% in May so far.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have pumped Rs 37,316 crore in Indian equities in May so far, primarily due to strong macroeconomic fundamentals and reasonable valuation of stocks. This is the highest investment by FPIs in the last six months. Before this, they made a net investment of Rs 36,239 crore in equities in November 2022, data available with the depositories showed.

Going forward, a resolution on the US debt ceiling and good domestic macro-economic data could prove to be positive for the markets and may lead to fresh flows of assets from foreign investors, Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director – Manager Research, Morningstar India , said.

The outlook for FPI flows has significantly improved, primarily due to the completion of the quantitative tightening cycle in the US and India’s recent outperformance in comparison to global equities, Shrey Jain, founder and CEO of SAS Online , said.

According to data from the depositories, FPIs invested a net sum of Rs 37,317 crore in Indian equities during May 2-26.

This came following a net infusion of Rs 11,630 crore in equities in April and Rs 7,936 crore in March. The March investment was mainly driven by bulk investment in the Adani Group companies by the US-based GQG Partners .

However, if one adjusts for the investments of GQG in Adani Group, the net flow was negative.

Moreover, in the first two months this year, FPIs had pulled out over Rs 34,000 crore.

Srivastava said that the latest net inflows are largely driven by the strong domestic macro-outlook, reasonable valuation of Indian equities, and a good earning season, signifying better growth prospects.

“Encouraging trajectory of inflation, pause stance of RBI (Reserve Bank of India), healthy growth prospects of India in an otherwise recessionary global scenario, reasonable valuations of the equity market and resilient and strong performance of most industries in the current result season, have led to an optimistic outlook for FPI in Indian equity markets,” Nitasha Shankar, Head – PRS Equity Research at YES Securities, said.

The sustained buying by FPIs has lifted the NSE benchmark index Nifty by 2.4 per cent in May so far, and the upward momentum is expected to continue.

Apart from equities, FPIs have invested Rs 1,432 crore in the debt market so far in May.

With the latest inflow, net investment by FPIs in Indian equities reached Rs 22,737 crore in 2023 so far.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services , said that India is among the best-performing markets like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Brazil, while other markets, developed and emerging, are struggling.

In terms of sectors, FPIs have been buyers across sectors, such as automobiles, capital goods, healthcare , oil and gas, and telecom. Moreover, massive buying was witnessed in financial services, particularly banking.

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Sunday, 28 May, 2023

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PM Calls for Aligned Vision of Developed India by ’47

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined the need for evolving a common vision between the Centre and states to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047 and asked states to take financially prudent decisions so as not to burden future generations.

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Monsoons best time for Indian equities, I am looking forward to this one: Dipan Mehta

May 28, 2023 by economictimes.indiatimes.com Leave a Comment

Synopsis

“I do sense that there is a growing appetite for equity amongst the HNIs and family offices as well. And that trend is going to continue. And this entire piece of financialisation or savings is certainly very beneficial for Indian equities. As such, we have been in a decent bull market right from the lows of the pandemic.”

Dipan Mehta , Director, Elixir Equities , says “ we have sailed through a lot of crises and now we are in calmer seas. That is the reason I am very optimistic on the market over the next few months or so. I think monsoons are the best time for Indian equities intuitively. I do not have any statistical evidence to back it. It is just that I am looking forward to this monsoon , especially on the equity side. We had a very good bull rally during that period.”

FIIs are back and we are saying welcome back to India. But domestic institutional investors also have shied away; they are sitting on a lot of cash. What if they start reducing the cash levels?
Domestic institutions are never an issue because they are really the smart investors and whenever there is a panic in the market, they are the first to support the market and take advantage of it. So they are a good counterbalance to FII flows. FII flows are dependent on many complex factors. A lot of it is coming through ETFs as well, which buy and sell stock irrespective of the underlying fundamentals. So it is a good fact that a lot of the domestic institutions are sitting on cash. The SIP flows continue to remain very strong.

I do sense that there is a growing appetite for equity amongst the HNIs and family offices as well. And that trend is going to continue. And this entire piece of financialisation or savings is certainly very beneficial for Indian equities. As such, we have been in a decent bull market right from the lows of the pandemic. But the aberration was the spike in commodity prices, the war in Ukraine, the global kind of macro headwinds where we have kind of swam through all of that, we have sailed through all of those crises and now we are in kind of calmer seas at this point of time.

That is the reason why I am very optimistic on the market over the next few months or so. I have told your channel before that I think monsoons are the best time for Indian equities intuitively. I can say I do not have any statistical evidence to back it. It is just that I am looking forward to this monsoon, especially on the equity side. We had a very good bull rally during that period.

What are your views on travel because all the long weekends are booked out? We are clearly spending a lot more on airfare or anything when it comes to hotel bookings. With the summer holidays around the corner or having already started, what is your outlook on listed players within this space?
We are very positive. One of the biggest winners of this earning season has been travel tourism. Notwithstanding the issues at Go Airways, Indigo’s numbers were exceptionally good. The entire prospects and environment for Indigo, that is Inter-Globe Aviation, looks very interesting. Indian Hotels also certainly should be on the shopping list of many investors. Disclosure: we and our clients are invested in it. These are great times for travel tourism companies.

Another company which comes to mind is Mahindra Holidays . You can check out their numbers as well. They were quite impressive, again, a disclosure over here. The next two, three years, because of maybe demand-supply mismatch and resurgence of travel as it is becoming a way of life for the millennials and for Generation Z, this is one sector that we should be overweight on. Valuations are on the higher side but when one is looking at historical earnings and comparing, in the next few quarters, you will consistently see companies engaged in travel and tourism business beat the analysts’ expectation and surprise us on the earnings front quarter after quarter.

Indian Hotel has got a market cap of about 50,000 crore, profits of Rs 1,000 crore this year. Let us assume a 25%-30% growth for FY24, which still means that FY24 and FY25, the stock actually is trading at PE multiples north of 40. What is the right value to look at a stock like Indian Hotels?
That is one way of looking at it but I am not sure it will just be 15%, 20% type of growth rates. It could be much higher. And all the time, they are consistently increasing their capacity as well. They are trying to lighten the balance sheet. And also, when one wants to buy a hotel company, what is your choice? Typically, Indian Hotels has been an expensive play in the past.

When the overall industry is doing as well as it is doing just now, we will see a lot of the investor crowd going to that particular counter and some amount of PE expansion is to be expected. But if this PE is sustained at these levels for even three to four years or so, even then, just based on the EPS growth, which could be north of 20%, one could still expect 15%, 20% return on the stock price, assuming the PE remains constant but the EPS will take the stock price up.

That is our assessment and there could be quarters where the performance is slightly soft. But remember, they are expanding capacity very aggressively. The threat from Airbnb and some of these other players is much reduced at this point of time. We have not even seen the beginning of business travel pickup the way it has right now. It is just the holiday travel which is driving revenues at the Indian Hotels but that also is a big factor to consider.

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Sunday, 28 May, 2023

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Front Page
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PM Calls for Aligned Vision of Developed India by ’47

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined the need for evolving a common vision between the Centre and states to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047 and asked states to take financially prudent decisions so as not to burden future generations.

Women Applicants for Foreign Edu Go from Trickle to Tide

Indian women are going places – queueing up in droves to pursue higher education in foreign destinations such the US, UK and other parts of Europe, not just in the metros but in smaller towns as well.

India Tops China Alternatives List

India is the top destination being explored by multinational corporations as an alternative to China, according to a survey of 100 CEOs who primarily represent foreign B2B-focused firms.

Chemists’ body urges cabinet secy to ban online pharmacies

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