Xiaomi Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus to launch in China on December 7: Details here

China-based smartphone maker Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus in its home countryon December 7. The entry-level budget-smartphones are getting new colours -- the Redmi 5 would arrive in Black, Pink and Blue and the Redmi 5 Plus in Black and Gold.

The upcoming smartphones are touted to sport 18:9 aspect ratio screen and would boot Xiaomi’s latest MIUI 9 operating system based on Android Nougat 7.1.2 out of the box. The devices would be offered in three different storage and RAM variants – 16GB/2GB, 32GB/3GB and 64GB/4GB. Based on TENAA certification – necessary certification for China-bound devices – the phones would comes with a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a 5 MP selfie camera.

The two smartphones are reported to have Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC or MediaTek Helio P20. The screen size is reported to be 5.7-inch for Redmi 5 and 6-inch for Redmi 5 Plus. The dual-SIM phones would offer a discreet memory card expansion slot and would be powered by 3,200 mAh battery.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5-series smartphones are advertised as ‘a phone for thousand’, suggesting that the phones would carry affordable price tags. However, going by the reports, the phones would see a starting price tag of CNY 999 in China, which hints at sub-Rs 10,000 price in India.

Ayodhya-Babri case hearing today: All you need to know about the dispute

On December 6, 1992, Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished and the country's political and communal fabric significantly altered. A day short of the 25th anniversary of the event, the Supreme Court will on Tuesday commence the final hearings in the long-standing Ayodhya dispute.

According to reports, the top court will be hearing a total of 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court in four civil suits. The stakeholders in the case had moved the apex court after the Allahabad HC directed the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, and the Lord Ram Lalla to settle for a three-way division of the disputed site.

The demolition of Babri Masjid and the deadly riots that followed remain a grim reminder in India’s history of volatile politics and the sway it has over the minds of people who are bent on the path of destruction in the name of religious resurrection.

Here's Business Standard's complete reportage on the dispute, the parties to it, and how it affected the nation:

Has India changed since the Babri demolition?

While a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since December 1992, when scores of Hindutva foot soldiers, purportedly egged on by some who would later be the tallest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, demolished the medieval-era Babri Masjid, how different is today's India?

(Click here to read our full report on how the country has changed, or not, since the Babri demolition) 

Shankara Building hits new high; stock rallies 58% in two weeks

Shares of Shankara Building Products continued their upward journey, hitting a new high of Rs 2,346, up 6% on the BSE in an otherwise subdued market.

The stock has rallied 58% in the past two weeks from Rs 1,484 on November 21, as compared to 2% decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

On Monday, the company said its board will meet on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 to consider and review working capital requirements and realignment of working capital limits and other matters.

Last week, it had opened two additional stores under the “Shankara Buildpro” brand in Vijayawada and Bangalore.

Since listing on April 5, 2017, the stock has zoomed 266% from Rs 633 against 9.4% rise in the benchmark index. Shankara Building Products had raised Rs 350 crore through initial public offer (IPO), by issuing shares at price of Rs 460 per share.

According to Emkay Global Financial Services, Shankara is a good proxy to play on the growing demand for organized home improvement and building material space. Its retail business has an excellent operating matrix backed by clear focus on cost.

Lowering of GST rates and fulfilling pent-up demand is likely to drive growth in the coming quarters. As the focus remains on the Retail business, the company plans on adding 15-20 stores each year and expects the Retail contribution to sales to touch 70% in the next 3-4 years.

“Store additions, upgradation to new format stores (40 stores converted and 60 stores pending), new categories and demand uptick is expected to drive consolidated revenues by 12% CAGR FY17-20E,” the brokerage firm in Q2FY18 results update. However, the stock is trading above its target price of Rs 1,497.

At 10:56 AM; the stock was trading 6% higher at Rs 2,339 on the BSE as compared to 0.27% decline in the Sensex. A combined 664,963 shares have changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE so far.

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Force Motors hits 52-week low post November sales

Force Motors hits 52-week low of Rs 3,164, down 3% on the BSE in intra-day trade, after the company recorded sales growth of 4% at 1,687 units in the month of November 2017. The car & utilities vehicles maker had sold 1,622 units in November 2016. It had recorded total sales of 2,539 units in October 2017.

In past three months, the stock underperformed the market by falling 22% as compared to 3% rise in the STOCK MARKET.

Force Motors said the sales of small commercial vehicles (SCVs) & light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were 5.5% lower at 812 units in November 2017 over the previous year.

“Sales of utility vehicles (UVs), sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and tractors at 875 units in November 2017, up 15% as compared to 763 units sold in November 2016,” the company said in a statement.

For the first six months (April-September) of the current financial year 2017-18 (FY18), Force Motors had reported 29% year on year declined in standalone net profit at Rs 72 crore against Rs 102 crore in the same period last fiscal. It had profit of Rs 180 crore in entire FY17.

Nifty outlook and key technical picks by Prabhudas Lilladher

STOCK MARKET - Few trading ideas by Vaishali Parekh, Research Analyst - Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher:

NIFTY VIEW:

Nifty after correcting by 395 points from a high of 10,490, for now has held on to the support of previous low of 10,098 & closed above 10,100. The support for the day is seen at 10,080 while resistance is seen at 10170.

Fortis Healthcare
CMP: Rs 148.35
STOPLOSS: Rs 135
TARGET: Rs 168
the stock after making a bottom at Rs 123 has bounced back and has regained strength. It is getting into positive trend. RSI is also on rise indicating strength to further up move. We recommend this stock for a buy keeping a stop loss of Rs 135 for an upside target of Rs 168.

Indraprastha Gas
CMP: Rs 333
STOPLOSS: Rs 300
TARGET: Rs 360
The stock has given a breakout to move above the consolidation phase of around Rs 330 and with the RSI indicator reversing its trend to signal a buy, we anticipate the stock to move further to around Rs 360. Along with good volume activity, we recommend a buy in this stock for an upside target of Rs 360 keeping a stop loss of Rs 300.

Strides Shasun
CMP: Rs 818.75
STOPLOSS: Rs 780
TARGET: Rs 980
The stock has made a decent correction from Rs 1041 and has been consolidating at Rs 790. with the RSI on the rise and decent volume participation, we anticipate further move upwards to around Rs 980. We recommend a buy in this stock keeping a stop loss of Rs 780 for an upside target of Rs 980.