Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: On Tuesday, the Indian stock market extended its winning streak for the sixth day, powered by broad buying across sectors like finance, FMCG, and real estate. This growth came despite global market jitters, especially from the US, where political tensions caused a sharp selloff. 

TOP STORIES

Indian Banks Are Winning the Digital Game

What Happened

Indian banks are sprinting ahead in the digital banking marathon, leaving global competitors huffing and puffing behind.

According to the latest Deloitte Global Digital Banking Maturity study, nine Indian banks have earned the prestigious "Digital Champions" title, joining an elite club of just 40 banks worldwide with this recognition.

Why It Matters

India’s digital banking boom is changing how 1.4 billion people handle their money. From easy transfers to smart finance tools, banking is now smoother and more personal.

This shift is powered by better internet, friendly rules, stronger infrastructure, and more money flowing into tech.  

Plus, the numbers tell a jaw-dropping story: India's Digital Banking Maturity Index has skyrocketed from 43% to 59% since 2022 - a mighty 16 percentage point jump! The most impressive gains came in day-to-day banking (up 9.8%).

Zoom out

Hey, it's not all digital roses. The sector faces challenges including economic uncertainties, increasing deposit costs, and credit quality concerns.

The journey ahead? Expanding ecosystem services (which saw only a modest 0.5% point improvement) represents the next frontier. For now, though, India's banking sector deserves a high-five for its remarkable progress!

TOP STORIES

Tata Communications Triples Profit in Q4 

What Happened

Tata Communications has knocked it out of the park this quarter! The company reported a whopping 223.6% jump in net profit, reaching ₹1,040.5 crore for Q4 ending March 31, 2025.

That's more than triple the ₹321.5 crore they earned in the same quarter last year. Revenue wasn't too shabby either, climbing 6.1% year-over-year to hit ₹5,990.4 crore. 

The cherry on top? Shareholders are getting a sweet reward - the board has recommended a final dividend of ₹25 per share (that's 250% of the face value).  

Why It Matters

This isn't just another good quarter – it signals a successful transformation. Digital services are now driving Tata Communications' growth, making up nearly 50% of their entire portfolio.

All components of their "digital fabric" offering posted high double-digit growth during the fiscal year.

For the full year, consolidated revenue jumped 11.2% to ₹23,109 crore, with the data services segment crossing the ₹19,000-crore mark (up 13.7% year-over-year).

These numbers reflect how Tata Communications is evolving from a traditional telecom player into a digital solutions provider.  

The Bottom Line

Tata Communications has proven that pivoting to digital can supercharge profits, even for established companies.

As CEO, AS Lakshminarayanan pointed out, their strategic investments are "translating into stronger customer relevance", and their offerings are gaining recognition as "leaders across domains."

TOP STORIES

HCL Tech Closes FY25 with $3 Billion  

What Happened

HCL Technologies wrapped up the last quarter of FY25 with a bang, reporting $3 billion in fresh bookings and a YoY profit jump of 8.05% to ₹4,307 crore.

The IT major’s total contract value for FY25 hit a hefty $9.27 billion, showing that clients are still happily signing checks, especially if AI is involved. 

Why It Matters

CEO C Vijayakumar credited the company’s new AI-led propositions and a refreshed go-to-market strategy for the success, saying they’re “navigating short-term cautiously” while eyeing medium-term opportunities.

Translation: They’ve got their umbrellas ready but are still headed to the beach.

HCL’s guidance for FY26? Revenue growth in the range of 2% to 5%.

Not dazzling, but not disastrous either — especially in a market where clients are cautious about spending like someone double-checking their credit card bill after a shopping spree.

Zoom Out

HCL Technologies might not have blown the roof off this quarter, but it certainly reinforced the walls. With $3 billion in new deals and a growing AI-fueled pipeline, it’s clear the company is betting smart on future tech. 

The slight revenue miss is a blip, not a bruising, especially with shareholders cashing in ₹60 a share this year.  

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PAISON KA KHEL

Mumbai Leads India’s Real Estate Boom 🌆

Mumbai isn’t just the city of dreams—it’s the city of deals. From 2022 to 2024, the City pulled in $6.9 billion in real estate equity inflows, claiming 26% of India’s $26.6 billion pie.

Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru trailed along, like backup dancers in a high-budget Bollywood number. Development sites and land were the hot picks in top cities, while Tier-II towns brought in $3 billion, proving small towns can also think big.

With foreign office investments jumping 4x and green buildings getting investor love, the real estate scene is looking anything but boring.

Coal India Turns Up the Heat 

Coal India has struck a ₹16,500 crore deal with Damodar Valley Corporation to build a 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power plant in Jharkhand. 

It’s going super hot—literally—as these plants run on higher steam pressure and temperature, giving more power with fewer emissions. It’s also Coal India flexing its muscle in power generation, diversifying beyond just digging black gold. 

GLOBAL NAZARA

Kuwait’s $1 Billion Bet on Indian Cow-Power 💸

Who knew cow dung could be worth a billion bucks? Kuwait’s Capital Edge just dropped $1 billion (yep, that’s Rs 8,500 crore) into Noida-based NexGen Energia to supercharge India’s Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) scene.

The green energy firm plans to set up CBG plants across Maharashtra, UP, and Karnataka—basically, everywhere the cows roam.

The goal is to ditch fossil fuels and turn gas into… greener gas. Over the next 18–24 months, NexGen will roll out new plants faster than a dosa at a Bengaluru breakfast joint.

India-Saudi Oil Romance Rekindled ♥️

India and Saudi Arabia are cooking up a spicy new energy deal—and this one smells like petro-rupees. During his two-day visit, PM Modi spilt the beans to Arab News: the two countries are exploring joint ventures in refinery and petrochemical projects.  

Here’s the catch: With China going cold on oil (blame EVs and an economic slowdown), Saudi Arabia is looking for a new BFF in energy. India, with its rising demand, fits the bill. Riyadh might even offer crude at “sale” prices to win India over. 

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