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 28, 2025 • 40min
#520 How Marico Dominated Coconut Oil Market With One Bold Move
In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, Govindraj Ethiraj sits down with Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico, to discuss his incredible journey of building one of India’s most successful consumer goods companies. Discover how his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship transformed Marico into a market leader with iconic brands like Parachute and Saffola.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Introduction(01:35) Innovation at Marico(05:20) Innovation in Parachute(07:30) Coconut oil Bottles and Reducing Plastics(11:43) Innovation in Saffola and being a leader in oats(13:48) Differentiation and technology(15:43) Facilitating Organisations and creating business opportunities(20:08) D2C brands and Growth Avenues(25:36) Multinationals v Local Players(28:33) How the name ‘Parachute’ came about(30:05) Companies that are exemplary currently(33:00) Entrepreneurs and Talent(35:27) Business problems today and disruptions(38:00) US marketsListeners! 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 27, 2025 • 31min
#519 The Markets Go Flat in Search Of Signals
On Episode 519 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Varun Singh, Managing Director at XIPHIAS - Certified Investment Migration consultant. We also feature an excerpt from a recent panel discussion moderated by the Core’s editor-in-chief (at BioAsia 2025 in Hyderabad) which featured amongst others G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman & Managing Director Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, India.SHOW NOTES (00:00) Stories of the Day (01:09) The markets go flat in search of signals(05:44) Brace for one of the warmest March ever (07:25) A personal story in the life sciences innovation journey(16:39) India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant says Mahindra and Tatas will give Tesla a run for its money (18:21) The new US gold card replacing the EB5, what will be the outcome? (28:08) Air cargo is growing but growth slows down in JanuaryListeners! 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 26, 2025 • 33min
#518 The Markets Are Still Struggling To Find A Bottom
On Episode 518 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief Commodities Analyst of SEB Research. We also feature an excerpt from our interview with Noshir Kaka, Senior Partner, Mumbai at McKinsey & Company from the recent Nasscom Technology Leadership Forum 2025 in Mumbai.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:29) The markets are still struggling to find a bottom(02:58) RBI reduces risk weightages for banks, possibly to drive retail demand revival(04:19) How natural gas demand for Europe is driving a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal(04:53) BP to increase oil & gas investment to $10 billion per year in return to fossil fuel focus(16:27) The EU wants India to open up too, just says it more nicely(19:15) Where is AI taking us and Indian enterprises?(30:01) Tesla sales fall 45% in Europe as scepticism about an early India success risesListeners! 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 24, 2025 • 23min
#517 Markets Hammered Once Again
On Episode 517 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Kinjal Shah, Senior Vice President & Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA. We also feature an excerpt from our interview with C Vijayakumar, CEO at HCL Tech from yesterday’s Nasscom Technology Leadership Forum in Mumbai.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:19) Markets hammered once again even as institutional brokerage buy calls rise(05:13) We need to transition from an input centric model to an outcome centric model, HCL Tech CEO C Vijayakumar to The Core(11:06) Indian IT to grow faster this year, expand workforce(12:30) Rating agency ICRA projects improved revenues on rural revival and increased Govt spend(20:47) Apple to hire 20,000 workers in US in definite hit to global sourcingListeners! 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 23, 2025 • 22min
#516 Small And Mid Cap Indices Are Fighting Back
On Episode 514 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director at PRIME Database Group; Kunal Shah, Head of Commodities at Nirmal Bang as well as Amit Pabari, Managing Director at CR Forex Advisors.SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take: A Minister’s Bad Flight Sparks a Bigger Question (05:38) Small and mid cap indices are fighting back (08:45) Rupee is steady, forex reserves fall. (09:29) Winter rains are short and the wheat crops might be hit (14:18) Can a reciprocal tariff include GST as well?Listeners! 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 21, 2025 • 39min
#515 Two Hundred Million Children Lost Learning: How India is Fixing It
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education for over two years, causing significant learning loss among millions of children across India. In this insightful interview, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Anurag Behar, CEO of Azim Premji Foundation, about the innovative and impactful strategies implemented to recover learning loss and rebuild foundational literacy and numeracy among students.(00:00) Introduction(03:00) Learning Loss during COVID(05:14) How do you recover lost learning?(07:00) Assessment Method/Tool(10:51) Example of an Assessment Method(12:50) Multiple levels of learning loss. Particularly in Primary grades.(16:54) Operationalising the solution is difficult(20:00) Issues in operationalisation(24:55) Wide variation and relative loss from pre pandemic(29:00) What can be replicated in solving the learning loss(32:26) The Learning Crisis(35:19) An inspiring storyListeners! 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 20, 2025 • 32min
#514 The Large Caps Are Weak
On Episode 514 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director at PRIME Database Group; Kunal Shah, Head of Commodities at Nirmal Bang as well as Amit Pabari, Managing Director at CR Forex Advisors.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) The large caps are weak but the mid and small cap segments are rising(05:12) The untold story. FPIs sold Rs 120,000 crore of stock in 2024 but they also bought Rs 120,000 crore worth of IPOs(14:05) Gold prices hit a fresh high as banks struggle to move bullion bars around the world(23:14) The rupee is on firmer footing this week(30:06) Why companies from Schneider Electric to ABB are reporting sharp rises in profitsListeners! 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 19, 2025 • 29min
#513 Are The Markets Circling The Bottom?
On Episode 513 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Gaurang Shah, Head Investment Strategist of Geojit Securities as well as B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters' Association (REA).SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (04:31) Are the markets circling the bottom even as they fight back? (17:07) S&P says limited impact of US tariffs on India as it is a domestic economy. (19:26) China makes life difficult for Tesla cars in tit for tat. (20:25) Rice stocks are at record highs and exporters want more curbs to be lifted. (26:44) Salaries are still projected to rise in India even as attrition continues to fall.Listeners! 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 18, 2025 • 25min
#512 The Markets Are Flat Again and That’s A Good Sign
On Episode 512 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Probal Sen, Senior Analyst, Indian Oil & Gas Sector at ICICI securities.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) The markets are flat again and that’s a good sign(03:27) Fresh upside targets set as Trump uncertainties drive up gold prices again(06:15) Making sense of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on India, sectors hit and the hit(08:47) India will import more LNG from the USA, what could that mean?(21:13) Tesla is set to roll into India, on the back of unprecedented concessions(23:07) Vietnam goes DOGE too, announces cut backs in GovernmentDISCLAIMER (For segment ft. Probal Sen)ICICI Securities Limited is a SEBI registered Research Analyst having registration no. INH000000990. It is confirmed that the Research Analyst or his relatives or I-Sec do not have actual/beneficial ownership of 1% or more securities of the subject company, at the end of 17/02/2025 or have no other financial interest and do not have any material conflict of interest. I-Sec or its associates might have received any compensation towards merchant banking/ broking services from the subject companies mentioned as clients in preceding 12 months.Listeners! 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 17, 2025 • 25min
#511 Markets Breakthrough on The 8th Day to End Positive
On Episode 511 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Ajay Srivastava, Founder, Global Trade Research Initiative as well as Jaspreet Bindra, Co-Founder and CEO of AI&Beyond.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) Markets breakthrough on the 8th day to end positive.(02:28) Gold prices continue to rise on Trump induced uncertainty(03:53) India is unveiling massive nuclear power building plans(05:24) China is wooing its private sector once again to fight the big fight(06:52) India’s trade deficit rises, what does that mean in the context of tariff wars?(15:59) India is unveiling AI compute capacity, how will it work?Listeners! 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
