NDTV has been in all sorts of trouble in recent times. The channel’s TRPs are at rock bottom, showing no signs of improvement. Its leading anchor Barkha Dutt left, in a not-so-cordial manner. NDTV’s tax troubles are here to stay. Even the founders of NDTV found themselves at the wrong end of a CBI raid. And of course, there is the recurring issue of fake news, which has become par for course for NDTV. In all this mess, sensible investors would prefer to jump ship before the channel hits the iceberg.
Today, Social media was abuzz with rumours that NDTV had been sold off to new investors:
Wow hearing NDTV has been bought – Is it true?
— Vijay (@centerofright) September 18, 2017
Ndtv sale completed, see their share price chart of last few days.
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) September 18, 2017
Reliable Sources say NDTV sold.
Is it true ?
???
— Suresh Nakhua (@sureshnakhua) September 18, 2017
Pitrupaksh ending day after, NDTV AGM on 21st – We will know either way by sometime https://t.co/37fQtPmA99
— Vijay (@centerofright) September 18, 2017
While such unconfirmed rumours could have been ignored, one cannot ignore the very interesting and mysterious movements which NDTV’s shares had exhibited in the last few days. In fact, even before today’s rumours, many share market observers had noticed the erratic movement in share prices:
How @ndtv shares have been going up since past seven days, it means only one thing… pic.twitter.com/Z4V8lwEp9V
— Ankiit Koomar (@AnkiitKoomar) September 8, 2017
NDTV shares back in demand, zoom 87.59% in 1 week https://t.co/ry5hUW6KpA pic.twitter.com/qJkG5fBaGO
— Financial Chronicle (@FCLive) September 7, 2017
Sir, NDTV shares appreciated by over 60% in last 3 days. Is there any specific reason.@Swamy39 https://t.co/FFiGCYpXfd
— Mohit Sharma (@mohitshrm8) September 6, 2017
NDTV shares are FLYING….Rs 39 to 66 in just 5 days!!!! Something spicy for this price jet? : https://t.co/RoEDjlytLf
— J Gopikrishnan (@jgopikrishnan70) September 10, 2017
One of the websites to have noticed this, pgurus.com, had this to say:
Some say that when the shares in the stock market go below 10 percent, then with the consent of SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India), the promoters can delist the shares and get off from the stringent SEBI and Stock Exchange Rules and Regulations. Now NDTV is facing several complaints in SEBI from investors for insider trading and stock exchange manipulation. But it may not be as easy as it sounds, to get the shares delisted. Moreover, the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the stock related trading complaints and money laundering aspects. Is NDTV expecting support from “big wigs” in the current government to escape from SEBI cases filed by minority shareholders like Sanjay Dutt and get the company delisted?
Independent market analyst Deepak Singh opined:
An 80% rally in a stock is huge. Speculators or Insiders may have ramped up the stock from 36 to 70 in anticipation of the sale of company. Historically – it has been seen that stock price movements precede major news flow announcement like promoter selling major stake egs Ranbaxy. On the other hand, other media companies have also risen. Thus it can also be thematic buying by investors too. But stock price movement does warrant this question.
Sooner or later, the truth will come out as NDTV files corporate information with the stock exchanges. Till then the market is open to speculation.
