Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The markets were closed on 20th November due to Maharashtra Elections.

TOP STORIES

Zara’s flies high to dodge shipping delays

What happened

When ships got stuck in the Red Sea traffic jam, Zara’s parent company, Inditex, hit the skies. The fast-fashion giant upped its air freight game, flying 70% of shipments from India to Spain this year, compared to 44% last year. 

That’s a 37% increase in consignments, as Inditex races to keep its shelves stocked. Bangladesh isn’t far behind, with air freight use rising from 26% to 31%. If you’re imagining Zara items zooming through the clouds, you’re not wrong—Zaragoza airport is now buzzing with their cargo flights.

Why it matters

This switch is great for keeping Zara’s collections fresh and avoiding those dreaded “50% off” sales. But here’s the catch: planes aren’t exactly eco-friendly. Transport emissions now make up 12.1% of Inditex’s total emissions, up from 8.4% last year. For a company that’s promised to slash emissions by 50% by 2030, this isn’t exactly runway-ready progress.

Investors are split—some cheer the quick action, others worry about climate goals flying off course.

Conclusion

Inditex’s airlift strategy is a clever way to sidestep delays, but it’s a bumpy ride for its sustainability targets. Balancing speed with its green promises won’t be easy. For now, Zara’s keeping pace with fashion trends—but cutting emissions might take more than just a quick fix.

PAISON KA KHEL

Adani Infra to acquire 30% of PSP Projects 

Adani Infrastructure is set to buy a 30.07% stake in Gujarat-based construction firm PSP Projects for ₹685 crore. This values PSP at ₹575 per share, a 15% discount from its last close. With an impressive order book of ₹65.46 billion (that’s a lot of bricks), the deal comes with an open offer to acquire additional stakes, per SEBI rules.

NTPC's green hydrogen goes global

NTPC is stirring the green hydrogen pot, and it's getting international attention! The state-run giant is in talks with Japan's Toyo Engineering, Norway's Getek, and even Australia's Fortescue for its ₹1.85-trillion green hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh. 

The facility promises a plug-and-play model for producing this eco-friendly fuel, ensuring global companies get their green game on.

TOP STORIES

Coal stock surges 52% this winter

What happened

Indian coal-based power plants are sitting this winter with coal reserves soaring 52% compared to last year.

•  As of November 17, domestic plants had a hefty 33 million tonnes of coal, with total reserves, including imported stock, reaching 37 million tonnes. 

This increase comes from better planning, higher production, and smooth logistics managed by the coal, railway, and power ministries. 

The impact

Officials are optimistic, targeting 50 million tonnes of stock by March 2025. Unlike previous years, the government has decided against asking plants to import coal, thanks to this abundant supply.

Earlier this year, coal stock at power plants fell by 21% between June and September due to transport slowdowns and a dip in wind power output. However, from October to mid-November, stocks rose marginally by 300,000 tonnes, signalling a recovery.

The issues

While the current reserves offer a comfortable buffer, the focus now shifts to maintaining these levels through upcoming seasonal challenges. Efficient logistical arrangements and consistent coal dispatches will be crucial to supporting India’s growing energy demands.

If achieved, this planning could set a benchmark for future energy management strategies, making shortages a problem of the past.

GLOBAL NAZARA

India and UK to rekindle FTA talks in 2025

India and the UK are hitting "refresh" on their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions in early 2025, following a pause caused by political shake-ups. This decision came after a friendly chat between PM Modi and his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, at the G20 Summit in Brazil.

The FTA, which kicked off negotiations in January 2022, had stalled after the 14th round of talks. Now, with 26 chapters on the table—spanning goods, services, and investments—the two nations aim for a win-win deal. 

Ford to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe amid EV struggles

Ford is bracing for a bumpy road ahead, with plans to lay off 4,000 employees, about 2.3% of its 174,000-strong workforce, by 2027. The cuts will mainly hit Germany and Britain as the company faces weak electric vehicle (EV) demand and tough competition from subsidized Chinese automakers.

This move comes as Ford and other carmakers like Nissan and Stellantis scramble to reduce costs while EVs remain too expensive for many consumers.

TOP STORIES

Apple India’s Revenue Soars 36%

What happened?

Apple India’s revenue shot up 36% in FY24, reaching ₹67,122 crore, thanks to booming iPhone sales. Profits climbed to ₹2,745 crore, up from ₹2,229 crore last year. The company shipped 9 million iPhones from January to September 2024, 35% more than the same period last year. 

The July-September quarter saw record shipments of 4 million units, a 58.5% jump, giving Apple an 8.6% share of India’s smartphone market.

Why it matters

Apple is rapidly expanding its presence in India’s premium smartphone segment. Despite average iPhone prices exceeding $950, sales are booming, with shipments expected to cross 12 million in 2024. 

For FY25, iPhones are projected to generate $11 billion in revenue, with another $4-6 billion coming from Macs, iPads, and services. While Apple’s earnings trail Samsung’s ₹1.03 trillion revenue in FY24, its consistent growth shows strong momentum, thanks to attractive financing options, trade-in deals, and a growing pre-owned market.

Zoom out

Apple is successfully blending its aspirational brand with strategies that make its products more accessible. With record-breaking sales and plans to open four more stores in India, Apple’s journey in the country is just beginning. 

CEO Tim Cook’s enthusiasm reflects the brand’s confidence in India’s potential as a key market. As Apple sets its sights on new milestones, it’s clear the iPhone is becoming a staple for Indian consumers.

MIRCH MASALA

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