A look at the headlines in the sector right now:

  1. Snapdeal Gold premium service launched to challenge Amazon Prime, Flipkart Assured: Customers, who can opt for it free of cost, will get free shipping, an extended two-week return limit on orders and a free upgrade for next-day deliveries.
  2. Supreme Court gives banks 10 days' time to reply to Vijay Mallya's plea against contempt notice: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi argued that the businessman's petition should not be heard as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders.
  3. Paytm eyes $350 million in new funding round, valuation could rise to $5 billion: MediaTek, Goldman Sachs and Temasek are reportedly in talks with the online payment and e-commerce firm, alongside existing investors Alibaba and SAIF Partners.
  4. Maharashtra Assembly unanimously ratifies GST Constitution Amendment Bill: This makes it the eighth state in the country to give the long-pending proposed law its formal consent.
  5. Australian court rules in favour of Gautam Adani’s Carmichael mine project, dismisses environmental concerns: The Australian Conservation Foundation had moved a federal court in November, challenging the approval granted to the coal excavation project in in Queensland.
  6. Airtel launches 'India with Airtel' one-stop connectivity service for MNCs: It provides a platform for international firms looking to open shop in India.
  7. BlackBerry to raise $605 million from shareholder FairFax Financial Holdings and other investors: The firm has the second-largest stake in the Canadian smartphone making company at 8.9%.