Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Indian stock market rallied for the seventh straight day, with the Sensex and Nifty gaining, both hitting new highs for the year. The surge was driven by strong buying in IT stocks, positive global cues from easing US-China trade tensions, and continued foreign investor inflows.

TOP STORIES

Why Apple’s Smiling at the Rupee 🍏

What Happened

In a market known for bargain hunting and tight wallets, Apple is smashing expectations in India. Analysts estimate that Apple will clock $15 billion in revenue from India this year—almost double what it made in FY24 ($7.9 billion).

The iPhone maker sold 9.5 million units in 2023, jumped to 12.5 million in 2024, and is now eyeing 15 million units in 2025. If it hits that number, Apple could finally sneak into India’s top 5 smartphone brands—a space long dominated by affordable Chinese brands.

Why It Matters

Behind the scenes, Apple is pushing its full product ecosystem—from Macs and iPads to AirPods and Watch—and it’s working. From boardrooms (thanks to tie-ups with firms like Wipro and Zoho) to college canteens, Apple is everywhere.

And let’s not forget: Apple products don’t come cheap. The average Apple phone costs 3x more than its competitors, yet Indians are still opening their wallets. 

That’s a clear sign of rising premium demand. In fact, experts predict India will host over 120 million premium smartphones by 2028—half of which may have a half-bitten apple on the back.

Zoom Out

But here’s the catch: while sales are booming, manufacturing muscle is still weak. India mostly assembles the phones. The pricey bits—chips and displays—are still imported from China and Taiwan. So, unless India levels up in local production, it might remain Apple’s glorified assembly line.

TOP STORIES

India-Saudi Energy Alliance Takes Off

What Happened

India and Saudi Arabia just shook hands on a new energy partnership and it’s more than just a polite “let’s keep in touch.” 

After Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Riyadh, both nations agreed to work together to steady the global oil markets, ensure energy security, and even explore future-friendly fields like green hydrogen and climate change initiatives. 

The deal also includes teamwork in crude oil supply, energy efficiency, tech, and even tourism and digital regulations.  

Why It Matters

Here’s the thing: with oil prices as unpredictable as your internet during a storm, this pact could be a stabiliser for not just India but global markets too. 

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter. India? The third-largest consumer. So when these two agree to cooperate, the rest of the world listens. 

Zoom Out

They’re not stopping at fossil fuels either—green hydrogen, circular carbon economy, and climate-smart tech are on the agenda.  Plus, with energy-hungry sectors like transportation and industry growing fast in India, reliable partnerships are a must.

And while the deal comes on the heels of tragic events in Kashmir, it shows India’s commitment to long-term diplomacy and progress. If this pact delivers on even half its promises, we’re looking at cleaner air, more stable oil prices, and maybe—just maybe—less drama at the fuel pump.

TOP STORIES

Banks Get Breathing Room, Finally

What Happened?

The Reserve Bank of India has pulled a neat trick with its final Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms—freeing up a whopping ₹2.7–3 lakh crore for banks to lend.

Think of it as a liquidity diet plan for banks—except the result isn’t less fat, but more muscle( loans). 

FYI: Bank credit already rose 11% year-on-year, touching ₹18.2 lakh crore by April 4. 

Why It Matters

Let me explain: banks had to keep a buffer of high-quality liquid assets (HQLAs), like money just sitting on the sidelines. But now, thanks to a revised “run-off factor” (a fancy term for “how fast people might withdraw money online”), banks can hold a bit less in reserve for depositors. This opens up more room for loans.

More funds = more lending = happier borrowers. With ₹45–50 lakh crore already parked in HQLAs, this move frees up nearly 6% of that stash. That could mean 1.4–1.5% more credit growth across the banking system.

Zoom Out

The RBI seems to be walking a tightrope between stability and flexibility, and doing a pretty solid job. With more funds now flowing toward borrowers, businesses and individuals could find loans slightly easier (and maybe cheaper) to get.

But let’s not get carried away—banks will still make the final call, depending on demand and their own cautious nature. So while this isn’t a free-for-all, it’s certainly a big thumbs-up for credit growth in 2025.

GROWTH GULLY

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PAISON KA KHEL

Kandhari Beverages Bottles a Big Deal  🍾

Kandhari Global Beverages has sealed the deal to acquire Coca-Cola’s north Gujarat and Diu bottling plant for ₹2,000 crore. With this move, Coca-Cola continues its strategy of divesting assets globally, franchising operations to local partners. 

Kandhari, already a bottler in Rajasthan, plans hefty investments in this new acquisition, focusing on supply chains, sales, digitalisation, and sustainability.

As Coca-Cola reduces its direct operations, Kandhari is eager to expand, with an eye on more bottling opportunities in India and abroad.  

MEIL Steps Into Nuclear Like a Boss 

Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL) bagged a massive ₹12,800 crore deal from NPCIL to build two 700 MW nuclear reactors in Karnataka. Yep, that’s nuclear—with atoms and all! 

This is the first time India’s private sector has scored a nuclear power project, and MEIL beat everyone else in June 2024 to grab it. The project was awarded using something called the Quality-cum-Cost-Based method (sounds serious, right?).

GLOBAL NAZARA

Trump’s U-Turn on Jay Powell 🇺🇲

Donald Trump declared he had “no intention” of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, easing tensions that had recently rattled global markets. The president, who has repeatedly criticised Powell for not cutting interest rates, backed off from a potential showdown. 

This shift in tone sent stocks soaring—S&P 500 futures rose 1.7%, Nasdaq climbed 1.9%, and European markets followed suit with a 1.3% gain. The dollar bounced back, and Treasuries rallied as well.

India First to Seal Trade Pact with Trump 2.0 🤝

India has clinched the terms for its first Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the Trump administration, paving the way for formal negotiations. This deal focuses on reducing tariffs, tackling non-tariff barriers, and expanding market access for American goods. 

The US wants to balance trade imbalances, address unfair practices, and create new opportunities for workers and farmers. The BTA will cover goods, digital trade, intellectual property, and the movement of professionals.

MIRCH MASALA

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