Lalatendu Mishra has been recognised by HDFC Securities with the ‘Powerful Voices in Finance’ award.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

HDFC Securities awarded The Hindu’s Senior Deputy Business Editor Lalatendu Mishra the “Powerful Voices in Finance” award at an event here in Mumbai.

Mr. Mishra was given the award for his “three decades of unwavering commitment to indepth financial journalism across diverse sectors,” at the 25th Anniversary celebration of HDFC Securities. The brokerage house’s CEO and MD Dhiraj Relli conferred the award.

Mr .Mishra has worked in The Hindu for more than a decade covering varied business beats.

Jewellers are expecting consumer demand to be driven by light weighing ornaments on this Akshaya Tritiya, as gold prices are soaring to the historic highs of Rs 1 lakh.
Akshay Tritiya, set to be celebrated on April 30, is considered an auspicious day to buy gold, hence often bringing a surge in the yellow metal’s purchases across India. However, with current rates testing consumer patience, the industry is adapting to the mood with smaller, more affordable designs and a wider range of products.
“As we approach the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the gold market is buzzing with anticipation,” said Rajesh Rokde, chairman of the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC). “Akshaya Tritiya holds immense cultural significance in India, traditionally marking a surge in gold purchases.”
Despite the skyrocketing prices, this year could still provide a healthy demand driven by light weight items, Rokde further told PTI.
Gold traded weak at Rs 95,075 per 10 grams on Friday on MCX, as international prices faced resistance near the $3,330-an-ounce mark. Still, the symbolic value of gold is expected to outweigh short-term hesitation from buyers.
Would high gold prices weaken the festive sentiment?
Rokde said that even though some consumers might be hesitant, the appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset and the metal being an integral part of traditions will likely translate into positive sales.
To further boost the sentiment, the jewel industry is also rolling out a diverse range of items for customers to choose from, catering to a spectrum of budgets and preferences, he said.
Avinash Gupta, GJC’s vice-chairman also echoed a similar view, saying, though high prices might prompt some to resort to caution, the cultural significance of the yellow metal, aided with its status of being a reliable asset, would ultimately suggest an upward trend in buying.
“High prices may keep the volume demand either the same as last year or bring it down by 10 per cent. The jewellery sector is showcasing innovative designs alongside classic pieces to cater to diverse consumer needs,” he added.
“Gold purchases have traditionally been an integral part of Akshaya Tritiya celebrations for millions of Indians, symbolising prosperity and good fortune,” said Sachin Jain, regional CEO, India, World Gold Council.
“We are currently witnessing sky rocketing gold prices – ‘gold’s era’. This year marks a significant period for gold, with global prices increasing by 25 per cent since January and reaching a record high of $3,500 per ounce.”
From traditional buyers to digital-savvy investors, demand is expected to span across jewellery, coins, bars, gold ETFs, and digital gold.
Saurabh Gadgil, chairman and MD of PNG jewellers, said the festive buzz is undeterred by high prices. “Volume has been under pressure for quite some time as the gold prices continue to soar. However, with Akshay Tritiya falling at the cusp of a packed wedding season, we are optimistic that it will mirror the encouraging performance we saw during Gudi Padwa. We anticipate a strong turnout both for fresh purchases and for deliveries scheduled on the day,” he said.
Gadgil expected old bars and coins to perform well as consumers continue to look at gold as a safe, long-term asset. “The next 10 days will be crucial in shaping momentum, but all indicators point to a promising Akshay Tritiya ahead,” he added.”

Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s most valuable company for the 4th quarter ended March 31, 2025 reported 2.4% growth in consolidated net profit (attributed to owners of the company) at ₹19,407 crore as compared with ₹18,951 crore in the year ago period.

The gross revenue for the quarter was ₹2,88,138 crore, up 8.8% Y-o-Y, supported by double-digit growth in O2C and consumer businesses. 

For the financial year 2024-25 the company’s net profit remained flat at ₹69,648 crore as compared with ₹69,621 crore a year ago.

Reliance posted record annual consolidated revenues at ₹10,71,174 crore, up 7.1% YoY, supported by continued revenue growth in consumer businesses and O2C businesses. 

Capital Expenditure for the year ended March 31, 2025, was ₹1,31,107 crore and it’s consolidated Net Debt as of 31st March 2025 was marginally up at ₹117,083 crore as against ₹116,281 crore a year ago.

Reliance Industries’ board has announced a dividend of ₹5.5 per share of face value of ₹10 for the year ended March 2025. The board has also approved to raise ₹25,000 crore via Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD).

In Digital Services segment Jio Platforms reported quarterly net profit at ₹7,022 crore, up 25.7% YoY. Jio reported 6.1 million net subscriber addition during the quarter driven by continued subscriber addition post tariff hike related churn and steady ramp up in home connects. Jio’s subscriber base stood at 488.2 million on 31st March 2025, including 191 million True5G subscribers Its ARPU increased further to ₹ 206.2.

Reliance Retail recorded quarterly revenue of ₹88,620 crore, up 15.7% YoY. The quarterly EBITDA was up by 14.3% YoY at ₹6,711 crore; EBITDA margin stood at 8.5%. The quarterly net profit grew 29% to ₹3,545 crore. 

Reliance’s O2C Segment Revenue for the quarter increased by 15.4% YoY to ₹164,613 crore due to higher volumes and increased domestic product placement. This Segment EBITDA decreased by 10.0% YoY to ₹15,080 crore due to sharp fall in transportation fuel cracks and lower polyester chain margins partially offset by higher volume, feedstock cost optimization and higher PP and PVC delta. 

The Oil & Gas segment revenue for the quarter was lower by 0.4% YoY at ₹6,440 crore, mainly on account of lower gas production and lower oil offtake from KGD6, partly offset with higher gas price realisation in KGD6 Field and higher CBM production.

This segment’s quarterly EBITDA declined 8.6% to ₹5,123 crore on YoY basis following higher operating cost due to one-time maintenance activity and Government levies, the company said.

Mukesh D. Ambani, CMD, Reliance Industries Ltd said: “FY2025 has been a challenging year for the global business environment, with weak macro-economic conditions and a shifting geo-political landscape.”

“Our focus on operational discipline, customer-centric innovation and fulfilling India’s growth requirements has helped Reliance deliver a steady financial performance during the year,” he said. 

“The Oil to Chemicals business posted a resilient performance despite considerable volatility in energy markets. Significant demand-supply imbalances in downstream chemicals markets have led to multi-year low margins,” Mr Ambani said. 

“The Retail segment also delivered consistent growth. In FY25, the business focused on a strategic recalibration of our store network, aimed at improving operational efficiencies and long-term sustainability,” he said.

“Our Digital Services business achieved record revenue and profit numbers. Steady increase in subscriber base, with an improving mix and increasing user engagement metrics boosted earnings. Jio continues to invest in innovation, focusing on AI capabilities and next generation technologies, which will shape India’s digital future,” he added. 

Reliance Industries said it has becomes the first Indian company to have networth of over ₹10 lakh crore.