Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The market is in a mood swing—selloffs everywhere, but large-cap stocks are holding steady. For long-term investors, it’s time to stay calm, hold on, and keep stacking up!

TOP STORIES

Advertising Costs Are Breaking Records in 2025

What Happened?

The IPL 2025 ad rates have gone up by a whopping 25-30% compared to last year, thanks to the JioStar merger. So, if you were planning to book a 10-second ad slot on TV (SD+HD), expect to pay ₹18-19 lakh, up from ₹16.4 lakh last year.

For Smart TVs, the prices are even higher, jumping 23-38% to ₹8-9 lakh. This hike is way above the usual 10-12% ad rate inflation we see each year.

Why It Matters

So, what’s all this increase in ad rates going to mean? Well, for one, the merger means no more rivalry between TV and digital platforms—now there’s just one entity in charge, and they’re capitalizing on the IPL’s massive advertising potential.

Plus, this year’s IPL is coming after the general elections, which means advertisers are likely ready to open their wallets after holding back in 2024.

Here’s the twist

Not everyone is  thrilled with the spike. Some experts worry that the price increase, especially in a market where ad performance has been lacklustre lately, might not be well received.

Yet, there’s a silver lining. With all IPL rights now under one roof, advertisers have the chance to create more integrated deals which could justify the higher prices.

PAISON KA KHEL

₹64,156 Crore Pulled Out in January 2025

Foreign investors withdrew ₹64,156 crore from Indian equities in January 2025, blaming a weak rupee, rising U.S. bond yields, and a boring earnings season. Compare that to December 2024, when they happily invested ₹15,446 crore—it’s a complete U-turn!

IT stocks saw some interest, but financials faced the heat as most of the selling targeted them. Experts say as long as U.S. bonds remain attractive, FPIs might keep their distance.

Adani Wilmar Spices Up Sonepat with a ₹1,300 Crore Recipe

Adani Wilmar has cooked up a storm in Sonepat, Haryana with its ₹1,300 crore food processing plant. Spread over 85 acres (about as big as 64 football fields), it produces a whopping 6.27 lakh tonnes annually, including rice, flour, suji, maida, and 2 lakh tonnes of edible oils.

Plus, it has created 2,000 jobs too!

TOP STORIES

Tata Brings New Energy to Electronics Manufacturing

What Happened

Tata Electronics has acquired a 60% stake in Pegatron Technology India, a company known for manufacturing Apple products. This follows Tata’s earlier acquisition of Wistron India in March 2024, making it the proud owner of two Apple supplier plants in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Pegatron will now undergo a rebranding makeover to align with Tata’s business goals.

Why it matters

This move drives Tata’s ambitions in electronics manufacturing, putting them head-to-head with giants like Foxconn.

• Apple’s iPhone exports from India hit $7 billion in just seven months of FY25, averaging $1 billion monthly. That’s a record for any company in India!

With Apple’s exports already hitting 70% of last year’s $10 billion mark within seven months, it’s clear that “Made in India” is not just a slogan but a reality.

Anything else?

Also, Tata is set to pump 91,000 crore into a semiconductor fab in Gujarat and ₹27,000 crore into a high-tech ATMP unit in Assam.

GLOBAL NAZARA

OpenAI Hit with Copyright Lawsuit Over Book Summaries in India

Indian book publishers are taking OpenAI to court, claiming the company used their copyrighted works to train its ChatGPT tool. The lawsuit, filed in New Delhi, is led by the Federation of Indian Publishers, which represents big names like Penguin Random House and Cambridge University Press.

The publishers are upset that ChatGPT has been providing book summaries without proper permission, which could hurt their sales.

Bank of Japan Pumps Up Rates to 17-Year High

The Bank of Japan has cranked up interest rates to 0.5%, the highest in 17 years! This decision comes after prices soared 3% in December—faster than they have in 16 months. This decision follows the BOJ’s surprise hike in July, which caused a global stock market selloff.

The bank’s goal is to gradually raise rates to around 1%, striking a balance between slowing inflation and boosting future economic flexibility.

TOP STORIES

Pidilite is Painting a Bigger Canvas

What Happened?

Pidilite Industries, famous for Fevicol and Fevikwik, is expanding its paint business, Haisha, which was launched in FY24.

Initially aimed at rural and semi-urban areas, Haisha might soon make a splash in urban markets. There’s also chatter about Pidilite eyeing AkzoNobel India, potentially adding more colour to its portfolio.

Driving the news

Pidilite Industries is expanding rapidly, adding 1,200 new outlets to its network, bringing the total to an impressive 16,000 stores across India. Their Genie app is also playing a key role, contributing 35% of the company’s total sales, proving that digital innovation is working its magic.

In a surprising shift, 45% of Pidilite’s revenue now comes from non-adhesive categories like sealants, coatings, and even small-ticket loans—because why just stick when you can paint and lend?

Zoom out

Pidilite’s innovative products, like Fevicol Nail Free Ultra, are gaining strong traction, especially in the premium market. To support this growth, the company has built a massive 5 lakh square-foot warehouse in North India, streamlining its supply chain for greater efficiency.

MIRCH MASALA

👑 Live like a king underground with luxury disaster bunkers

🧘 Discover how yoga can reshape your mental health forever

🍷 This winemaker’s produce is illegal in his own country!

📸 Canadian photographer stuns with deepest underwater photoshoot

❤️ Pure joy: Girl’s stage reaction to seeing her parents will warm your heart