Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Nifty slipped 82 points on Thursday, reacting to the US tariff news. Despite an early bounce, it stayed range-bound. Over in the US, markets took a bigger hit—here are 3 key insights for investors.

TOP STORIES

Big Bucks Before Big Listing 💰

What Happened?

Flipkart Internet, the marketplace arm of Walmart-owned Flipkart, has secured ₹3,249 crore from its Singapore-based parent, Flipkart Marketplace Private Limited.

The funding came through the issuance of 470,773 equity shares at ₹69,014.7 each. This fresh capital isn’t just for show—Flipkart is gearing up for a major IPO and doubling down on quick commerce with its new service, Flipkart Minutes.  

Why It Matters?

Flipkart’s latest cash infusion comes at a crucial time.  With Amazon India testing pilots in Bengaluru and Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto already dominating major cities, Flipkart needs to move fast to stay ahead.

Financially, Flipkart is showing strong growth. In FY24, its revenue surged 20% to ₹17,907 crore, while losses shrank by 41% to ₹2,359 crore. That’s a clear signal to investors that the company is becoming more efficient with its spending.

Final Words

Backing from Walmart (which holds an 85% stake) and major investors like Tencent, GIC, SoftBank, and Microsoft gives Flipkart a strong foundation.

But competition isn’t standing still—Meesho is also eyeing a $1 billion IPO, adding more pressure to the race.

TOP STORIES

India Tightens Steel Rules 🇮🇳

What Happened?

The Indian government has rolled out new steel procurement rules, ensuring that domestically manufactured iron and steel take priority in government projects.

Under the “Domestically Manufactured Iron and Steel Products Policy 2025,” foreign suppliers who don’t allow Indian mills to bid in their countries will now find themselves locked out of Indian government contracts.

Driving The News

This policy, valid for five years, comes at a time when cheap steel imports from China, South Korea, and Japan have flooded the Indian market.

In response, India has also proposed a temporary 12% tax on certain steel imports for 200 days to protect local producers.

This is a lifeline for Indian steelmakers. Surging steel imports have hurt local mills, making domestic production less profitable. By curbing foreign bids and unnecessary certifications, the government aims to level the playing field.

Zoom Out

However, not all foreign steel is unwelcome. The policy exempts steel grades that aren’t produced in India or cases where domestic mills can’t meet demand.

This means the government is striking a balance—protecting local producers while keeping critical imports flowing.

TOP STORIES

India Dodges the Tariff Bullet 🙌

What Happened?

The US has rolled out a fresh wave of tariffs, slapping heavy duties on imports from over 60 countries. China faces a brutal 54% tariff, Vietnam 46%, Bangladesh 37%, and Thailand 36%. 

Meanwhile, India gets off relatively easy with a 26% tariff on most goods, except key sectors like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, and energy products (oil, gas, coal, LNG), which escape unscathed.  

Why It Matters?

While a 27% tariff isn’t great, it’s far better than what competitors are facing. This gives Indian textile and garment manufacturers a big advantage as China and Bangladesh struggle with higher duties.  

In electronics and telecom, Vietnam and Thailand’s cost competitiveness will take a hit, creating space for India, especially with the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme supporting local manufacturing. 

Semiconductors could also see some gains as companies look to shift away from Taiwan (which now faces a 32% tariff).

But (and there’s always a but), India can’t just sit back and relax. To truly cash in on this, it must improve the ease of doing business, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure stable policies. Otherwise, this opportunity might slip through its fingers faster than a stock market rally.

The Best Part

Speaking of rallies—oh, and I almost forgot—Indian pharma stocks are celebrating! Gland Pharma, Sun Pharma, and Cipla soared up to 10% as investors cheered the tariff relief.

The NIFTY PHARMA index surged 4.5%, proving that even in global trade chaos, there’s always room for a profit party.

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PAISON KA KHEL

Gold ETFs Shine Brighter Than Ever 💫

Gold ETFs are on fire! With geopolitical tensions soaring and gold prices skyrocketing, investors have poured in ₹1,979.84 crore this February—up a whopping 98.54% from last year’s ₹997.21 crore.

The total assets under management? Almost doubled, jumping from ₹28,529.88 crore to ₹55,677.24 crore. At this rate, investors might start hoarding gold ETFs like Indian aunties hoard jewellery.

Citi & SBI Sow $295 Million for Small Farmers 🧑‍🌾

Citi and SBI have joined forces to pump $295 million into India’s small farms, proving that money does grow on trees(if you finance agriculture right). 

Citi’s Trade & Working Capital Solutions will provide the loan, while SBI will use it to fund Kisan Credit Cards, ensuring small landholders get much-needed financial support.

With this initiative, farmers can boost productivity and income instead of just hoping for a good monsoon.

GLOBAL NAZARA

The $4.8 Trillion Frenemy of Jobs? 🏢

Artificial Intelligence is on a meteoric rise, with the market projected to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033—almost as big as Germany’s economy! But here’s the catch: AI could impact 40% of jobs worldwide, according to a UN report. 

Advanced economies might adapt, but developing nations risk falling behind, as just 100 companies—mostly from the US and China—control 40% of AI research.  

Amazon’s Last-Minute Swipe at TikTok 🤝

Amazon is making a last-minute bid to buy TikTok as the April 5 ban deadline looms. The offer, sent to VP JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, comes as ByteDance scrambles to sell or shut down in the US.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump—once a TikTok critic, now a viral sensation—may extend the deadline (again). Other buyers like Oracle and Blackstone are circling, making this a business showdown worthy of reality TV.

MIRCH MASALA

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🤣 Memes: Why Arshad Warsi is trending among Kohli fans

🐔 Rescue Mission Anant Ambani saves chickens on his Dwarka padyatra!

And that’s a wrap. Have an amazing weekend.

We’ll see you again on Monday! 😄