Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The market saw strong gains across sectors, with media, capital goods, IT, metal, and realty rising 2-3%, while auto, banking, pharma, and oil & gas gained 0.5-1.5%—FMCG, however, slipped half a percent.

TOP STORIES

India’s Loving Second-Hand Smartphones

What Happened?

India’s love for a good deal has sparked a boom in the second-hand smartphone market, especially for 5G devices. With over 650 million smartphone users in the country, only a third currently own a 5G phone. 

New models are expensive, and affordable 5G options under ₹10,000 are scarce. This is where refurbished phones come into play, offering premium features at budget-friendly prices. 

The numbers tell the story. 

In 2024, India saw 20 million used smartphones changing hands—a 9.6% rise from the previous year—while new phone shipments grew at a slower 5.5%.

India already ranks third globally in the pre-owned smartphone market, trailing only China and the US.

Meanwhile, Apple, Xiaomi, and Samsung dominate the refurbished segment, with iPhones leading the way.

Zoom out

If you thought second-hand meant second-best, think again. The refurbished smartphone market is set to hit nearly $5 billion by 2028, up from $2 billion in 2023. 

All thanks to value-added refurbishing ( fresh batteries and displays), these devices are fetching prices of ₹20,000-25,000 which is higher than the ASP of brand-new smartphones.

PAISON KA KHEL

Leap takes a giant leap with $65 million

Leap has just raised $65 million to speed up its global expansion. The startup, helping students study abroad, is now aiming to enter China, Taiwan, and Malaysia while strengthening its presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and West Asia.

It’s also eyeing acquisitions, especially in India and China, to speed things up. 

With this fresh funding, Leap is also enhancing its tech, using AI to streamline the student search process and make it faster and more efficient.

Investors check in with $340 million

India’s hospitality sector saw a $340 million shopping spree in 2024, just a little more than 2023’s $337 million.

High-net-worth individuals and family offices led the buying frenzy, snapping up hotels in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and even smaller cities like Amritsar and Shirdi. 

JLL played the broker, facilitating 30% of these deals, including the sale of Holiday Inn Mumbai for ₹445.5 crore. While investment was the highest since COVID-19, it’s still nowhere near 2019’s $762 million. 

TOP STORIES

Essentials & Electronics will Burn Your Pockets

What Happened?

Get ready to shell out more for daily essentials and electronics! FMCG giants like Hindustan Unilever and Godrej are set to increase prices on soaps, tea, and other consumer goods. 

Electronics brands are also following suit after holding off on hikes for seven months.

The reason? Rising input costs and the falling rupee, which is making imported components more expensive.

Why It Matters?

The cost of raw materials has surged—palm oil prices have jumped 40%, tea is up 24%, and wheat flour has risen 16%.

Normally, companies absorb some of the cost to maintain sales, but this time, they’re prioritizing profit margins. 

FMCG sales in urban areas grew by just 0.5%, while rural sales rose 5%, showing weak demand overall.

Meanwhile, electronics manufacturers are struggling as the rupee has dropped 4% against the US dollar, making imported parts pricier.

Conclusion

Consumers will soon feel the pinch as price hikes continue. Parle is increasing prices by 7-8% but aims to avoid more hikes soon.

However, companies will still need to balance price increases with customer demand. The big question remains—will buyers continue to spend, or will they start cutting back?

GLOBAL NAZARA

Apple joins forces with SpaceX

Apple’s latest iPhone update has taken things to new heights—literally! The tech giant has teamed up with SpaceX and T-Mobile to bring Starlink satellite support to iPhones.

Starting with a U.S. beta test, users can now send texts via satellite in areas with no cellular coverage.  

The program may expand to voice and data services soon, and T-Mobile is already testing it with select iPhones.

Volkswagen’s spare parts stuck in traffic 

Volkswagen India hit a speed bump as customs held over 50 shipments due to a $1.4 billion tax dispute.

The delay affected luxury brands like Audi, Lamborghini, and Porsche, leaving dealerships waiting for spare parts. 

Authorities claimed Volkswagen misclassified imports to dodge taxes—Volkswagen, of course, says it plays by the rules.

The shipments, stuck for about two weeks, are now being cleared, but some dealers still face delays.

TOP STORIES

The Game is Still On for Tata Steel

What Happened

Tata Steel just pulled off something pretty cool—they’ve become India’s first steel company to develop pipes for transporting hydrogen.

These pipes, created at their Khopoli plant with steel from Kalinganagar, are now fully hydrogen-ready. They passed all the tests and are ready to carry pure hydrogen under high pressure. 

This marks a major milestone for India’s National Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce 5 million tonnes of Green Hydrogen annually by 2030.  

Why It Matters:

Hydrogen is looking like the rockstar of the clean energy world, and these pipes are about to be its stage. Starting in 2026, demand for these steel pipes is expected to skyrocket.

Think of Tata Steel as the supplier of the backstage passes—without them, hydrogen can’t make its entrance. 

Plus, steel pipelines are the cheapest way to move hydrogen in bulk, so Tata’s timing is just right. 

How is the company doing?

Tata Steel’s Q3 results for FY25 took a hit with a 43% drop in profit, landing at ₹295 crore. Revenue also slipped, partly due to lower steel prices and imports.

But it’s not all bad news—steel production in India grew by 6%, and the company’s still making progress. 

The global steel market may be shaky, but Tata Steel is holding strong. Let’s see if they can turn things around next quarter!

MIRCH MASALA

🧑‍🎓 Mukesh Ambani urges students to be careful while using this special tool

💃 How rang de basanti shook indian cinema forever

🎤 Jennie, Dua Lipa, and Kylie Jenner bring the glam at Chanel Haute (watch now)

🏞️ Blood Falls: The chilling mystery of Antarctica’s crimson cascade

😆 How China’s memes took over America’s heart