In this week's wrapup, we talk about immortal bonds, packaging costs, bulk deals, Wikipedia and e-commerce algorithms. But before that, a note on this week's Finshots Markets.
About two years ago, we wrote a rather elaborate exposition on a theme very few people had heard of at the time — Steel pipes. The hope was that city gas distribution would take off in a massive way and benefit manufacturers aiding the pipeline infrastructure However, fast forward to 2020, and things look a lot different. So if you want to know how the "steel pipe" story has played out so far, here is our take on the matter.
When Immortal Bonds Become Mortal
Everybody’s worried about SEBI’s new perpetual bond norms. Unfortunately, if you aren’t intimately familiar with these complicated instruments, all this might sound like woo-woo. So in this story, we attempted to provide an oversimplified account of the matter at hand and to make sure we left no stone unturned, we took it from the absolute top. Read more here.
Package and Pay
There was an interesting headline on ET a few days back and it went something like this — “Prices of refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners and televisions are set to go up by up to 5–6% next month.” And this shouldn't come as a surprise. Rising shipping charges, semiconductor shortage, copper price increases —Input costs are generally on the rise. But there’s one other element that’s also contributing to this price hike and it’s not something you think about too often. Want to know what it is and why? Read the entire article here.
Leaks and Bulk Deals
Big foreign investors and fund managers are complaining about leaks. These big investors contest they don’t even get what they want because some other chap is trying to get there first. They contest their orders don’t get filled because everybody’s vying for those same shares —considering information about this big deal is already out there. So yeah, these people want SEBI to intervene and make sure they don’t get fleeced in the process. You can read more here.
Wikipedia's Monetization Gambit
Wikipedia generally grants free access to its content. But things seem to be changing now. The Wikimedia Foundation is creating a new paid service for companies that use their data. It’s likely the company will provide services that include cleaning and formatting the data so corporates no longer have to do it themselves. And if you're wondering why Wikipedia is doing this, read this article here.
Regulation of E-commerce Algorithms
According to a new report by Reuters, it seems Indian lawmakers are finally about to introduce policies that will compel e-commerce giants to play fair. As the report notes, the new draft policy seeks to make companies answerable for their algorithm and stop discrimination of third-party sellers. They can’t just hide behind “algorithms” anymore. And if you're looking for just one article that explains everything about the regulations in the simplest manner possible, read this article here!
That's it from us this week. We will see you on Monday :)
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