The Core Report
Every Monday to Saturday, tune in as financial journalist and host Govindraj Ethiraj gives you the latest news in business, economy and technology
Latest episodes
Feb 7, 2025 • 40min
#502 Inside India's $100 Billion Energy Giant with IndianOil Chairman A S Sahney
This week, on our Energy Special series as part of the India Energy Week 2025 (Feb 11-14), financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil). They discuss IndianOil's processing capacity, product strategy, clean energy and the future of India's energy requirements. Tune in for insights into the scale of an energy giant.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction(02:10) Evolution of the Petrol Business(03:00) AI at the pump for customers(06:01) IOC’s crude processing capacity(08:48) The journey of crude oil for IOC(09:50) IndianOil Refineries(12:13) The different strategies for products(14:51) Upstream vs Downstream(16:55) Petro-chemicals(19:42) Gas / Renewables / Bio Gas(21:44) Ethanol and FLEX Engines(25:33) Compressed Bio Gas(28:35) IOC and Startup ecosystem(29:35) What gaps can Startups fill(31:35) The future of energy requirements in India(34:21) Industry is lacking certain skillsets(35:55) India Energy Week(38:00) Energy transitionRegister for India Energy Week, Feb 11-14Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inJoin and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
Feb 6, 2025 • 26min
#501 Why The Markets are Wary of a RBI Rate Cut
On Episode 501 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to DK Joshi, Chief Economist at CRISIL. We also feature an excerpt from our interview with Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil) as part of our Energy Special series with IEW.
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) Stories of the Day
(01:09) Why the markets are wary of a RBI rate cut
(03:19) What is the RBI faced with in its calculations on a possible interest rate cut
(09:48) The Rupee hits another record low
(10:56) Rural demand stays strong, lifts consumer goods sales 11% in last quarter
(12:31) What Indian Oil wants from young entrepreneurs and engineers wanting to join the energy giant
(20:50) January was the warmest on record
(21:30) America’s egg crisis, one reason is Ozempic
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Feb 5, 2025 • 30min
#500 Markets Edge Down with Selling In Consumer Stocks
On Episode 500 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Rajesh Nambiar, president of Nasscom (National Association of Software and Service Companies) as well as Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor of the CMAI (Clothing Manufacturers Association of India).
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) Stories of the Day
(01:29) Markets edge down with selling in consumer stocks
(02:07) Gold prices hit record highs on global trade uncertainty
(05:43) How India’s IT industry looks at DeepSeek and the potential
(18:39) India to review and potentially lower import duties on 32 items coming to the US…will Tesla get its pound of flesh now?
(20:16) Now Kia Motors gets slapped with a hefty tax notice for misdeclaring imports
(21:50) What Indian apparel manufacturers can and cannot do in a global trade war
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Feb 4, 2025 • 35min
#499 Stock Markets Saw Their Biggest One-Day Gain In A Month
On Episode 499 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to J. Kyle Bass, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Hayman Capital Management.
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) Introduction
(01:38) Markets on Tuesday
(02:52) The Rupee is Up
(03:18) The China Syndrome
(05:07) India Has Outgrown Emerging Markets – J. Kyle Bass Explains Why
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Feb 3, 2025 • 30min
#498 Trump Tariff Shocks Hit Indian Markets
On Episode 498 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Kunal Sodhani, Vice President, Shinhan Bank as well as Ajay Rotti Founder and CEO of Tax Compass .
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) Stories of the Day
(00:50) Trump tariff shocks hit Indian markets
(04:17) The rupee takes a sharp knock as the dollar surges
(13:52) The new oil routes that could kick in on Canada and Mexico tariffs. Could India benefit?
(16:21) The Income Tax Department admits it was adversarial earlier but will now move to trust
(18:14) Signs of policy consistency and certainty in the Union Budget, including in transfer pricing
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Feb 2, 2025 • 40min
#497 The Markets Did Not Get What They Wanted From The Union Budget
On Episode 497 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ashok Bhattacharya, Editorial Director at Business Standard, Jairaj Purandare, Founder and Chairman at JMP Advisors as well as Indrani Bagchi, CEO at Ananta Aspen Centre.
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) The Take
(06:36) Trade wars begin.
(09:13) The markets did not get what they wanted from the Union Budget
(11:14) A distilled Union Budget view and fine print
(27:16) India and China ties are thawing after a freeze, what does this mean in the context of US, India and China equation
(33:39) India launches a fresh effort to kick start private participation in nuclear power. The history
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Feb 2, 2025 • 46min
#496 Union Budget 2025: Not Enough Economic Future-Proofing
On this Budget Special of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj is joined by Uday Ved, Partner at KNAV & Co, E.N. Dwaraknath, Partner at Price Waterhouse & Co LLP and Ajay Srivastava, Founder of Global Trade Research Initiative to talk about the key takeaways from yesterday’s Union Budget.
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) Introduction
(07:16) Tax Changes and Simplification in the Budget
(09:53) Draft IT Act bill
(11:06) Not enough Future-Proofing
(14:20) There is a capital shortage
(17:16) we need to address sectors specifically like Steel, Textiles, etc
(18:43) Trump Tariffs
(20:11) TCS and TDS rates
(21:38) The 12 lakh tax limit and the Tax Slabs
(24:02) What are the Tax exemptions?
(25:32) Simplification of Customs Tax Slabs
(27:30) Provisions to Foreign investors for Electronic Manufacturing
(29:53) FM is focusing more on the PLI than the tax exemption
(31:42) Corporate tax
(32:55) How is India competitive globally on Corporate tax and Personal tax
(34:18) A perspective on Corporate tax
(36:32) Smartphone manufacturing and Uncertain Tariff policy
(39:17) Final thoughts - Dwarak Narasimhan
(40:16) IFSC
(42:52) Clean Energy
(44:05) Final Thoughts - Ajay Srivastava
(45:22) Final Thoughts - Uday Ved
Listeners! We await your feedback....
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Jan 30, 2025 • 21min
#495 A Relief Rally Picks Up Some Steam as Some FIIs Return
On Episode 495 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj takes you through the big business stories for today. We also have an excerpt, as part of our Energy Special series for India Energy Week 2025, from an interview featuring Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director at Oil India Limited.
SHOW NOTES
(00:00) The Take: India Must Equip Its Small Businesses To Fight In A Deglobalising World
(05:09) A relief rally picks up some steam as some FIIs return.
(07:12) Oil is stable as traders price in US tariffs on oil suppliers Canada & Mexico
(09:01) An exciting new oil discovery on the other side of a river.
(15:47) Global air traffic officially overtakes pre-pandemic levels
(18:51) India could see above average temperatures in February, affecting crops.
FULL INTERVIEW - India’s Next Big Oil Discovery? Ranjit Rath on Energy, Gas & Exploration
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Jan 30, 2025 • 40min
BONUS: India’s Next Big Oil Discovery? Ranjit Rath on Energy, Gas & Exploration
This week, on our Energy Special series as part of the India Energy Week 2025 (Feb 11-14), financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director at Oil India Limited (OIL). They discuss OIL's current exploration efforts at the Brahmaputra, changes they have made to their strategy of discovery, Natural Gas wells in Assam, the huge potential for Compressed bio gas and much more. Tune in to get insight's into how OIL is forging their path to oil discovery .(00:00) Introduction(01:41) Sustained Exploration in North and South Bank of Brahmaputra(04:27) The History of Digboi(06:40) How the government catalysed exploration at the Brahmaputra(08:00) OIL’s presence across India(09:20) Technical changes in the process and strategy of exploration(12:16) Drilling Rigs(14:28) The risks and rewards of exploration(15:39) Natural Gas Wells in Assam(17:40) Distribution of Natural Gas(19:52) Rejuvenation of existing wells(22:30) Oil and Gas Scenario in India(24:02) Future plans for Oil India Limited(25:22) Compressed Bio Gas(27:23) Geothermal Energy(29:30) The potential for deep and Ultra-deep waters(33:00) Collaborations(34:00) Data Analysis(35:16) Collaborating with Startups(36:46) What inspires younger people to join this fieldRegister for India Energy Week, Feb 11-14Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inJoin and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
Jan 30, 2025 • 36min
BONUS: India's Hunt for Oil with Arun Kumar Singh, ONGC Chairman and CEO
This week, on our Energy Special series as part of the India Energy Week 2025 (Feb 11-14), financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited. They discuss the current state of oil exploration, onshore vs offshore production, their new deal with British Petroleum, petrochemical strategy, renewables and much more. Tune in to get insight's into ONGC's current business strategy.(00:00) Introduction(02:08) Oil Exploration in India(03:39) Onshore vs Deepwater(07:25) Current Production(08:42) New deal with British Petroleum(10:17) Big reservoirs have eluded us (15% Oil is domestic production)(11:42) ONGC is present in 15 countries(13:54) ONGC Petrochemical Strategy(17:05) Renewables(19:30) The long-term view(21:07) Management Focus on Exploration and Production (E&P)(24:39) Increasing Recovery percentage(25:53) Shale Gas(28:08) Do governments only have the capacity for E&P(29:41) Research and Development(33:00) What are the opportunities in working for ONGC?Register for India Energy Week, Feb 11-14Listeners! We await your feedback....The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirementsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inJoin and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Youtube
