Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Indian equity markets rebounded on Thursday, driven by sustained foreign fund inflows and blue-chip stock buying. BSE Sensex and Nifty50 rose after a brief dip, led by PSU Banks, Oil & Gas, and financial services stocks.

ECONOMY

Trump’s Tariff is India’s Hidden Win 🏆

What Happened

U.S. President Donald Trump has slapped a hefty 25% tariff on fully built vehicles and auto parts. While this move has rattled global auto markets, India seems to be cruising smoothly. 

According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s limited exposure to the U.S. auto market means the impact will be minimal. 

In 2024, India exported cars worth just $8.9 million to the U.S. — a mere 0.13% of its total global car exports of $6.98 billion. With such tiny stakes, Indian automakers are hardly breaking a sweat.

Why It Matters

Surprisingly, Trump’s tariff could shift gears in India’s favor. The $2.2 billion India exported in auto parts to the U.S. last year made up 29.1% of its total global auto parts exports. 

And here’s the kicker — the new tariff hits all exporters equally. This levels the playing field, giving India a chance to race ahead.

GTRI highlighted that India’s strength in labor-intensive manufacturing and favorable import duty structures (0% to 7.5%) might help boost its market share in the U.S. over time.

With global players scrambling, India could find itself in pole position.  

Zoom Out

Instead of rushing to retaliate, GTRI advises India to play it smart — watch, wait, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

With minimal exposure to the U.S. car market and a competitive edge in auto parts, India could shift from a bystander to a significant player.

Primary Source: Economic Times

TECHNOLOGY

Swadeshi Silicon with a Chinese Twist? 🌀

What Happened?

India is gearing up for a ₹25,000 crore push to boost electronics component manufacturing.

The government’s new incentive scheme aims to upgrade domestic production of critical parts like display modules, lithium cell enclosures, and printed circuit boards. 

Big players — Dixon, Micromax, Zetwerk, and Syrma SGS — are racing to form joint ventures, especially with Chinese companies, thanks to the government easing its stance on China-linked partnerships.  

Why It Matters

India wants to go from Make in India to Make Everything in India. But here’s the catch — you need parts to build products. Currently, we import most of them. That’s why companies are scrambling for global partnerships to lock down the supply chain.

Micromax has already teamed up with Taiwan’s Phison for storage modules and is chasing more deals. 

Dixon is set to roll out display modules by late 2025 through its joint venture with China’s HKC. They’re also eyeing precision components and battery packs. 

Beyond the Boardrooms

This move could create thousands of jobs and strengthen India’s supply chain, reducing the country’s dependence on imports. 

Also, these collaborations are essential because they integrate Indian firms into global value chains (GVCs), speeding up access to advanced technology and reducing the long wait times for supplier qualifications. 

Primary Source: Moneycontrol

FMCG

HUL’s Influencer Army Marches Ahead

What Happened?

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) has significantly increased its focus on influencer marketing. In just one year, the company expanded its roster from 700 to 8,000 influencers.  

From shampoos to dishwashers, HUL has turned Instagram into its personal shopping mall. Last year, it partnered with over 200 influencers for just one brand — Vim dishwasher. 

Why It Matters

HUL, India’s largest consumer goods company, shelled out a massive ₹6,380 crore on marketing in FY24, with TV being the star of the show.

But with Gen Z glued to reels more than remote controls, the company is now putting its money where the memes are.

With half of India’s consumer spending expected to come from Gen Z by 2035, HUL knows it can’t afford to be the “uncool uncle” in the room.  

Plus, HUL has an in-house AI tool called ‘Sangam’ that helps pick influencers based on geography, engagement, and brand goals — cutting media planning time from 25 days to just five.  

What’s Crazier? 

Digital now eats up 45% of HUL’s advertising budget. The company is moving away from old-school Bollywood glitz to quirky Instagram skits. After all, 80% of shoppers discover brands on social media, and two-thirds buy after watching Instagram Reels.

Primary Source: Mint

GROWTH GULLY

🏆 Beyond Talent: 8 habits of high achievers

🗝️ The 10-Second Key: The secret to powerful speaking

🔍 Hidden Gems: 7 habits that quietly boost your life

💻 Mac Magic: 11 cool tricks you didn’t know your Mac could do

📚 Munger’s Pick: 6 key lessons from Charlie Munger’s favorite book

PAISON KA KHEL

India’s Highways: Bigger, Better, Faster 🚧

India is going full throttle! Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a plan to widen 25,000 km of highways to four lanes for a whopping ₹10 lakh crore. Not enough? Another 16,000 km will become six-lane highways for ₹6 lakh crore.  

In Jammu & Kashmir, 105 tunnels worth ₹2 lakh crore are in the works, including Asia’s longest sub-zero tunnel at Zojila — originally estimated at ₹12,000 crore but now a steal at ₹5,500 crore.

These upgrades could reduce India’s 4.8 lakh annual accidents and 1.88 lakh deaths, saving 3% of GDP.  

Primary Source: Economic Times

FIIs Are Back With The Cash 👏

Foreign investors are back on India’s bandwagon, pumping in a whopping $1.39 billion this week — the highest among Asian markets. After offloading $28.18 billion since September 2024, this sudden U-turn is like a plot twist no one saw coming.

Meanwhile, Taiwan led the outflow club with $298 million, followed by Malaysia ($161 million) and Thailand ($89 million). Even Vietnam and the Philippines weren’t spared.

Pro Hints of an RBI rate cut and increased market liquidity have made Indian stocks attractive.

Primary Source: Moneycontrol

GLOBAL NAZARA

Why Trump Won’t Let TikTok Go ❓

Donald Trump once wanted TikTok banned — now he’s fighting to save it. Why the sudden U-turn? Blame it on politics, popularity, or both. Initially, Trump pushed for a ban over fears that China could spy on Americans.

But with TikTok’s 170 million US users and his own 15 million followers, the app now holds a special place in his heart (and campaign).

In a bold move, Trump even offered to reduce tariffs on China if ByteDance sold TikTok to a US company before the April 5 deadline.

But China wasn’t impressed, rejecting the offer. With a $50 billion valuation, investors are eager to buy, but time is ticking.

Primary Source: Economic Times

Bank of America’s Mortgage Mania 💹

Homebuyers are back in action! Bank of America saw an 80% jump in mortgage applications between January and March — much higher than the usual 60% rise. 

Why the rush? Lower bond yields made mortgage rates more affordable. The 10-year U.S. bond yield dropped to 3.6% in September, bringing 30-year mortgage rates down to 6.1% by October. 

Primary Source: Reuters

MIRCH MASALA

💰 Billionaire Secrets: From $5B giveaways to billion-dollar divorces

🎨 AI Art Shock: ChatGPT’s Ghibli stuns Desi netizens with Goddess Lakshmi

📺 Not Kohli, Seriously! Cricketer’s lookalike in Turkish drama leaves fans shocked

🏰 Roots of Venice: The ancient forest keeping the city standing from 1604 years

🦋 Challenge: Can you find the butterfly in 7 seconds?

And that’s a wrap. Have an amazing weekend.

We’ll see you again on Monday! 😄