Latest news with #Vix
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
'It tore my heart apart': The pain of being the guest, never the bridesmaid
As Vix Proctor watched her childhood friend get married, she began to sob. Only, these weren't happy tears. As the bride walked up the aisle, flanked by her bridal party, Vix was watching on from her seat, just an ordinary guest. 'It tore my heart apart that I wasn't up there with her,' Vix, 44, tells Metro. 'I had spent years thinking we were close, but she hadn't asked me to be her bridesmaid.' We've all heard that (annoying) phrase, 'always the bridesmaid, never the bride,' but the scenario of 'always the guest, never the bridesmaid' can be particularly hard to take. Weddings are rife with politics, from seating plans to the guest list. But psychologist, Emma Kenny, says selecting people for different roles on the big day — from best man to maid of honour — forces us to place our loved ones into a hierarchy. Emma tells Metro: 'Weddings are inherently symbolic, and being left out of the bridal party can feel like being publicly ranked, like a declaration in reverse, stating 'you're not quite good enough'. 'The public aspect of a wedding can intensify that hurt, and if you've been through break-ups, grief, careers highs and lows with someone, it can feel bewildering what that isn't reflected in the bridal party.' Vix and Jessie* had been close since primary school. 'We'd discussed our weddings since we were little girls, and always said we'd be each others bridesmaids,' Vix explains. 'Then, when her sister got married a few years earlier, we sort of sealed the deal. She said it would 'totally' be me.' But when Jessie* got engaged, Vix, who is the co-host of podcast We've Got This… Maybe, says she was 'waiting for an ask', that never came. 'It was probably at her hen do when I realised it definitely wasn't going to happen,' says Vix. 'The worst part of it was that, as her other friends got a bit tipsy and more loose lipped, they were asking me why I hadn't been chosen — even her sister questioned it. 'I didn't have any answers. The other three bridesmaids were either family, or people she'd also known for a long time — but I felt for sure I'd be part of the group.' When the wedding day finally arrived, Vix was 'extremely emotional.' 'I was sat mid-row, as I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself. But it really broke my heart. I was a muted throughout the day. I can usually be relied on to get the party going, but I didn't hit the dancefloor.' The pain was so intense, that it took Vix 'a couple of years' to work through in therapy. 'I really had to grieve the friendship I thought we had,' she explains. While Vix and Jessie are still friends, things are different now: 'I withdrew. I've never brought the situation up with her because I wanted to respect her decision. But it's not the same as it used to be. We keep up on Facebook. I'm just not as invested as I was before.' Sadly, it's not the only time this has happened to Vix. On three more occasions, she had hoped to a bridesmaid, but wasn't asked. While she's never approached any of the brides for answers, she says it's taught her that she goes into friendships whole-heartedly, with her heart on her sleeve — and that's okay. 'My therapist explained that I had two choices: I could continue to be my authentic self, and risk pain and loss, but stay true to who I am, or I could compromise myself. I wasn't willing to do that. 'I've learnt a valuable lesson about being the real me, no matter what.' Vix says the experience has left her 'hesitant' in new friendships, and adds that she's learnt 'you never truly know the value that a friend places on you.' However, she adds it's made space for other people in her life, including her close friend Erin, who she started her podcast with, where they have 'real' conversations that they hope will help their listeners. And, as a result of Vix's own upset, when she gets married this year, she's decided to have just one bridesmaid, her sister. 'I didn't want anyone else to feel how I felt,' she explains. 'I have so many people who I want to celebrate with me, and I don't want to rank them and pick VIPs.' The situation has even influenced how she's parenting her five-year-old daughter. 'Her dad and I try to avoid using the term 'best friend'.' explains Vix. 'Instead, we talk about the people that make her happy.' While Vix found not being chosen as a bridesmaid particularly difficult, not everyone feels this way, Claudia Sokolova, 28, who runs The Big Day Events, has also experienced not being included in a bridal party, but says it would be 'unfair' to get upset. 'My friend Samantha and I had been close for about eight years when she got engaged,' Claudia tells Metro. 'She was going back and forth between having a big wedding or something more intimate. I was waiting in the wings, silently hoping I'd be included, but when she opted for a smaller day, she only had two bridesmaids, and I wasn't one of them.' Claudia says that, while she was disappointed, she quickly got over it. 'It's not my place to put my wants and desires onto someone else and their wedding,' she adds. And when Claudia got married she picked Samantha as a bridesmaid regardless saying: 'I've never understood the notion that it has to be transactional.' Not selecting a certain someone as bridesmaid did cause drama, though. 'It was the ex-girlfriend of my ex-boyfriend,' Claudia explains. 'She simply thought we were closer than we were.' Claudia decided to be direct and call her. 'I told her that it was unfair that she assumed she'd be a bridesmaid, and that the wedding has nothing to do with her. 'It might sound harsh, but I'm a blunt person. If not being bridesmaid for someone is going to make you unhappy to such an extent, you need to look in a mirror. 'I've never been a bridesmaid to anyone, ever, and I'm not fussed,' she adds. If you're currently thinking about who to have your bridesmaids — or waiting to be asked — therapist Emma Kenny has some words of advice. 'If you're the bride, be honest, but kind,' says Emma. 'You don't owe people an apology, but an honest conversation can go a long way. 'Make it clear that it was a difficult decision and that it is no reflection of their meaning in your life. Make it clear that it came down to issues such as budget, or family ties, and reinforce just how important they are in your life. 'Avoid over-explaining or justifying by comparison. It can make someone feel like they're being measured and found lacking.' More Trending And if you're the friend who wasn't asked? 'Allow yourself to feel disappointed, hurt, even rejected, but try not to make it about blame,' says Emma. 'If you need closure, approach the conversation with vulnerability, not accusation. Tell her that you understand difficult decisions need to be made, but that you feel hurt. 'Make it clear you will get over it, and that above anything you respect her choice and want her to have a wonderful day, but that you also don't want to allow you feelings to fester, so you want to be open.' Emma adds that while not being asked can feel like a 'verdict' on your friendship, 'most often, it's a reflection of multiple pressures the bride is juggling, such as family expectations, budget, numbers, geography — not your worth as a person.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Pass the parcel? 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Mint
23-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Best FMCG stocks to buy today as recommended by expert Raja Venkatraman
The FMCG sector posted a muted performance in the fourth quarter of FY25, largely due to persistent weakness in urban demand. Urban markets, which contribute over half of total FMCG sales, struggled with subdued discretionary spending, stagnant wage growth, high EMIs, and rising living costs. Additionally, intensifying competition from direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands and quick-commerce platforms further eroded traditional retail demand. Despite these challenges, rural markets showed signs of steady recovery, buoyed by easing inflation, increased government spending, and higher minimum support prices (MSPs) for key crops. This rural resilience helped cushion the overall topline, though most companies reported only low single-digit volume growth. Gross margins remained under pressure due to elevated input costs, especially for commodities like palm oil and other agri-ingredients. Also Read: For FMCG Inc., the holy grail of volume growth is in sight Navigating Current Headwinds FMCG companies are adopting a cautious 'wait and watch" approach, focusing on cost optimization and selective price hikes to protect margins. While EBITDA margin expansion remains limited, firms are banking on a favorable monsoon, potential rate cuts, and improved rural sentiment to drive recovery in the coming quarters. Recent Market Trends In the past few weeks, the sector has shown early signs of stabilization. Ecommerce continues to be a bright spot, with major players like Hindustan Unilever and Nestlé India reporting strong growth in online sales. Retail giants such as Reliance Retail have also posted robust Q4 numbers, with a 30.4% rise in net profit, driven by operational efficiencies and digital investments. Also Read: HUL, Nestle lag as FMCG volumes stay weak—what could drive a 2025 rebound? Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTrader's Raja Venkatraman: Buy DMART (Current price ₹4300.30) Buy TRENT (Current price: ₹5869.40) Buy TITAN (Current price ₹3519) Conclusion In short, while urban demand remains a drag, the sector is holding its ground through rural strength, digital acceleration, and strategic cost management. The next few months will be pivotal in determining whether this resilience can translate into a broader recovery. Let me know if you'd like this turned into a presentation or infographic. Outlook for Trading The Nifty and Sensex tested the recent highs yet again along with many other sector indices showing some recovery. In fact, the small and midcap indices are showing some renewed enthusiasm. It is only the Bank Nifty and IT indices are still playing catchup. The Nifty took time to make the grade mainly owing to the fact that the big weights in the index are banking, IT and Fmcg names and most of they were slow to respond. The trading of last week looks pretty solid as a continuation thrust higher. Over the June series as markets were trying to decode the sentiment Vix has begun to cool-off around 22% and a gap is anticipated on Monday. A clearer resolution to the war scenario will certainly lead to an upside gap and then it will all be about courage to buy higher and squeeze of whatever shorts are left in the system. On the other hand, a downside gap will probably lead to a scramble for long exits and could push the market into a range yet again. That may create a limited downside activity. Some sectors managed to climb back into the green post the strong thrust that we witnessed in the market on Friday to end the week on a positive note. The thrust seen in Banking associated stocks were quite visible like INFRA , Private Banks and Auto that managed to show some spirited rise in the last week while Metals and Pharma after the large selloff was seen mildly limping back to some recovery. While the trends are clearly bullish the clarity on the market trends is still to get set. Now the question is where do we go from here? Chart 1 shows a possible projection using range breakout that is possible in the next week setting tone for a potential upmove that can help some upside potential. With the market continuing to show that the upward potential is now emerging we can look for some strong upward possibility in the next few days. This is pointing towards 25300/25500 as the next extended targets. For the coming week one can still remain a buyer on dips. Shorter term players should have a firm stop below 24800. On the higher side crossing of 25200 can help set up a new high. We can review in our midweek update on what lies ahead. Raja Venkatraman is the co-founder of NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Mint
23-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Best FMCG stocks to buy today, 23 June, as recommended by expert Raja Venkatraman
The FMCG sector posted a muted performance in the fourth quarter of FY25, largely due to persistent weakness in urban demand. Urban markets, which contribute over half of total FMCG sales, struggled with subdued discretionary spending, stagnant wage growth, high EMIs, and rising living costs. Additionally, intensifying competition from direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands and quick-commerce platforms further eroded traditional retail demand. Despite these challenges, rural markets showed signs of steady recovery, buoyed by easing inflation, increased government spending, and higher minimum support prices (MSPs) for key crops. This rural resilience helped cushion the overall topline, though most companies reported only low single-digit volume growth. Gross margins remained under pressure due to elevated input costs, especially for commodities like palm oil and other agri-ingredients. Also Read: For FMCG Inc., the holy grail of volume growth is in sight Navigating Current Headwinds FMCG companies are adopting a cautious 'wait and watch" approach, focusing on cost optimization and selective price hikes to protect margins. While EBITDA margin expansion remains limited, firms are banking on a favorable monsoon, potential rate cuts, and improved rural sentiment to drive recovery in the coming quarters. Recent Market Trends In the past few weeks, the sector has shown early signs of stabilization. Ecommerce continues to be a bright spot, with major players like Hindustan Unilever and Nestlé India reporting strong growth in online sales. Retail giants such as Reliance Retail have also posted robust Q4 numbers, with a 30.4% rise in net profit, driven by operational efficiencies and digital investments. Also Read: HUL, Nestle lag as FMCG volumes stay weak—what could drive a 2025 rebound? Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTrader's Raja Venkatraman: Buy DMART (Current price ₹4300.30) Buy TRENT (Current price: ₹5869.40) Buy TITAN (Current price ₹3519) Conclusion In short, while urban demand remains a drag, the sector is holding its ground through rural strength, digital acceleration, and strategic cost management. The next few months will be pivotal in determining whether this resilience can translate into a broader recovery. Let me know if you'd like this turned into a presentation or infographic. Outlook for Trading The Nifty and Sensex tested the recent highs yet again along with many other sector indices showing some recovery. In fact, the small and midcap indices are showing some renewed enthusiasm. It is only the Bank Nifty and IT indices are still playing catchup. The Nifty took time to make the grade mainly owing to the fact that the big weights in the index are banking, IT and Fmcg names and most of they were slow to respond. The trading of last week looks pretty solid as a continuation thrust higher. Over the June series as markets were trying to decode the sentiment Vix has begun to cool-off around 22% and a gap is anticipated on Monday. A clearer resolution to the war scenario will certainly lead to an upside gap and then it will all be about courage to buy higher and squeeze of whatever shorts are left in the system. On the other hand, a downside gap will probably lead to a scramble for long exits and could push the market into a range yet again. That may create a limited downside activity. Some sectors managed to climb back into the green post the strong thrust that we witnessed in the market on Friday to end the week on a positive note. The thrust seen in Banking associated stocks were quite visible like INFRA , Private Banks and Auto that managed to show some spirited rise in the last week while Metals and Pharma after the large selloff was seen mildly limping back to some recovery. While the trends are clearly bullish the clarity on the market trends is still to get set. Now the question is where do we go from here? Chart 1 shows a possible projection using range breakout that is possible in the next week setting tone for a potential upmove that can help some upside potential. With the market continuing to show that the upward potential is now emerging we can look for some strong upward possibility in the next few days. This is pointing towards 25300/25500 as the next extended targets. For the coming week one can still remain a buyer on dips. Shorter term players should have a firm stop below 24800. On the higher side crossing of 25200 can help set up a new high. We can review in our midweek update on what lies ahead. Raja Venkatraman is the co-founder of NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Mint
19-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Uncertain times: Here's why index options trading is plummeting on Dalal Street
Options trading activity on both BSE and National Stock Exchange (NSE) plummeted to nearly four-month lows in the second week of June, as a sharp decline in trader participation coincided with the escalating Middle East conflict. A regulatory overhang from a high-frequency trading investigation might have also contributed, market experts said. Analysts said that many traders have opted to sit on the fence for a bit till greater clarity emerges on both fronts. During 9-13 June, BSE witnessed a 39% fall in average daily premium turnover (ADPT) of Sensex options to ₹10,511.48 crore from an average ₹17,187 crore the week prior (2-6 June). In the same period, NSE's ADPT sank 21% to ₹36,045 crore from ₹45,746 crore. This was the lowest weekly average premium turnover for both exchanges since the week of 24-28 February. In that week, BSE had posted a turnover of ₹8,857 crore, and NSE ₹32,686 crore, data from the exchanges show. Also read | Horror show on Dalal Street as US, Japan spook investors 'There is a risk-off, given the heightened geopolitical uncertainty, which resulted in lower volumes," said Rajesh Baheti, managing director of Crosseas Capital, one of the country's leading proprietary traders. Jyoti Jaipuria, founder & managing director of Valentis Advisors added that the Middle East strife has created indecisiveness in the minds of traders, as 'one day you hear of talks and the next of reports that negotiations are off the table". The conflict, which commenced with Israel pounding nuclear and military assets in Iran since last Thursday and Iran retaliating thereafter, entered its sixth day on Wednesday despite US President Donald Trump warning the Iranian regime to surrender unconditionally. According to Rajesh Palviya, derivatives research head at Axis Securities, the uncertain situation has caused rapid fluctuations in volatility, causing many options traders 'to sit on the sidelines until greater clarity emerges". Read this | BSE, NSE cut website access outside India ahead of 'Operation Sindoor' Fear gauge India Vix, which rises when market uncertainty increases and falls when confidence increases, fell from 14.69 on 9 June to 13.66 on 11 June, only to jump to 15.08 on 13 June, a day after the Middle East conflict began. It closed at 14.27 on Wednesday, Bloomberg data showed. Vix is computed based on options pricing. Options traders generally sell calls and puts when volatility is high so that a fall in volatility enables them to pocket the premiums paid by options buyers. But if volatility changes frequently amid a potential market-moving event, there can be lesser participation by options traders. Volatility measures the rate and magnitude of the changes in asset prices. For instance, if Iran comes to the negotiating table, a risk-on sentiment would return, but if the war prolongs, a risk-off sentiment arises, making it more difficult for traders to make money, explained S.K. Joshi, consultant at Khambatta Securities. 'That's when aggressive trading stops and volumes dip," he said. There's another angle, too Another reason partly attributed to the steep fall in volumes is an investigation into trades run by a large foreign high-frequency trader (HFT), which has led to an element of caution creeping in among proprietary traders, according to Mayank Bansal, a UAE-based trader who specialises in options trading in India. 'Big prop traders have let go of some of the traders they employ, post news emerging of Sebi investigating a large international HFT which has allegedly manipulated the index movements through intraday strategies," said Bansal. 'They are waiting for this overhang to subside before hiring more people to run intraday trades." Also read | Market fear gauge VIX sees sharpest fall in 5 years. Know why While a Sebi official was not immediately available for comment, a person aware of the development confirmed the investigation. Equity derivatives trading forms a big part of exchange transaction charges, the mainstay of an exchange's revenue. Equity advisory firm Equentis' data shows that derivatives, of which options are an important part, contributed 24% to BSE's transaction income of ₹708 crore in FY24, when the bourse's derivatives segment began to gain traction, and 85% of ₹2,029 crore in FY25, with cash contributing to the rest. In the case of NSE, Equentis estimates that derivatives contributed to 89% of transaction fees of ₹12,120 crore in FY24 and 87% of ₹13,509 crore in the previous fiscal. And read | NSE investors hold tight as price surges in grey market
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Street Signs: Markets stretch their legs, May 12's phantom rally, and more
While secondary markets have wavered, primary markets have been largely dormant over the past three months, with only one initial public offering (IPO) from Ather Energy Listen to This Article Markets stretch their legs: The sprint isn't over yet The Nifty benchmark jumped more than 1,000 points (4.2 per cent) last week, gussied up by positive developments, including the Pakistan ceasefire 'understanding', renewed hope for a US trade deal, and expectations of further Reserve Bank of India interest rate cuts. The 50-share index closed at 25,020, positioning itself for a possible advance towards 25,500. Technical analysts see last week's gains and broad sector support as signs of a bullish trend. Key indicators include the relative strength index staying above 60 and India Vix dropping nearly 23 per cent to 16.55.
