Wednesday, September 30
Rating agency Icra on Wednesday retained its India's GDP growth forecast for fiscal 2025-26 at 6.2 per cent, assuming well-distributed monsoons and crude oil prices averaging around USD 70/barrel. However, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, volatility in financial markets, and uncertain trade policies pose downside risks to this growth outlook, which have intensified, Icra said in its Macro Update June 2025. Reserve Bank has projected the GDP growth at 6.5 per cent. "Economic activity has displayed a mixed trend in the first two months of FY2026, with only nine of the 17 non-agri indicators showing an improvement over Q4 FY2025, even as the output of summer crops is estimated to grow at a healthy pace," the report said. The early onset of monsoons in May 2025 partly weighed upon the perfo
Japanese alcobev giant Suntory has revived plans to acquire the Imperial Blue whiskey brand in India from France’s Pernod Ricard, said people in the know, sensing rival Tilaknagar Industries’ continued struggle to raise funds.Imperial Blue is the third-largest whiskey brand in the country though sales have lagged in recent years as many Indian consumers moved to upgrade to premium brands over mass or prestige offerings.The proposed sale is part of a broader global restructuring exercise initiated by Pernod Ricard—the owner of best-selling brands like Absolut vodka and Jameson whiskey—since last year. This includes a portfolio reshuffle, job cuts, and splitting its global brands into two blocks.122055143Suntory, the world’s third-largest spirits maker after Diageo and Pernod Ricar
