Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The domestic market showed increased momentum, fueled by optimism ahead of the upcoming earnings season. Eicher Motors led the way with an 8.65% gain, while the auto sector, along with banking and IT stocks, saw strong performances thanks to robust December sales.

TOP STORIES

Snapdeal Cuts Losses by 43% 

What Happened

Snapdeal is giving its finances a good old workout, and it’s showing results. In FY24, the e-commerce platform cut its losses by an impressive 43%, dropping them to ₹160.4 crore from ₹282.2 crore last year. Even better, its adjusted EBITDA loss shrank by a whopping 88%, falling to just ₹16 crore from ₹144 crore in FY23. Revenue grew, but at a modest pace—just 2%, bringing in ₹379.8 crore. 

• The secret? Snapdeal slashed expenses across the board—cutting total costs by 21%, halving employee costs to ₹158.4 crore, and trimming ad spending by 24% to ₹70.4 crore.

Why It Matters

Snapdeal is now the go-to for budget-friendly shoppers in tier-II cities and beyond, where the wallets are small, but the savings dreams are big. With 90% of its products priced under ₹1,000, it’s dishing out affordable fashion, home goods, and beauty essentials. It’s like Meesho’s competition, but with a sharper focus. 

Snapdeal also said goodbye to big-ticket items like electronics and appliances, keeping things simple and sticking to what it knows best. Plus, it sold stakes in Unicommerce for ₹33 crore and ₹81 crore in two deals.

The old story

Snapdeal's journey from a $6.5 billion unicorn to near-collapse and now a rising star of value e-commerce is nothing short of a Bollywood blockbuster. By embracing its roots and focusing on value-conscious buyers, Snapdeal 2.0 has managed to cut losses, boost revenue, and regain market trust. From slashing expenses to shedding non-core assets like FreeCharge, the company has crafted a lean, mean e-commerce machine.

PAISON KA KHEL

Unicorns, rural India, and big returns

Accel just raised a massive $650 million (₹5,500 crore) for its eighth India fund, pushing its total commitment here to a jaw-dropping $3 billion. The VC giant, known for flipping a $20 million Swiggy investment into a 35x return, clearly has the Midas touch.

With stakes in nearly 20% of India’s unicorns like Flipkart and BlueStone—Accel is also eyeing rural markets, where the top 30% spend over $250 billion.

Force motors to deliver 2,429 ambulances to UP govt

Force Motors has secured a major order from Uttar Pradesh’s Medical Health and Family Welfare Department to supply 2,429 BS-VI diesel ambulances. The delivery is scheduled between December 2024 and March 2025. This announcement caused a surge in Force Motors’ stock, with shares climbing over 8.69% to settle at ₹7,208 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. sentence case.

TOP STORIES

Quick Commerce Rings in the New Year

What Happened

Quick commerce (q-commerce) popped the champagne with record-breaking sales. Zepto reported a jaw-dropping 200% increase from last year, hustling 3,345 ice cube packets every hour—because apparently, no one planned their parties properly. 

Blinkit had its busiest day ever, fueled by grapes, chips, and soda orders. Swiggy Instamart doubled its sales, selling over 500,000 packets of chips, while cola sales bubbled up by 394%, and clear soft drinks skyrocketed 941%—because everyone loves a fizz. Blinkit also expanded into heaters and air purifiers, proving it’s not just about snacks anymore, while BigBasket ventured into medicines with Tata 1mg.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just a festive shopping spree; it’s a glimpse into the future of convenience. Blinkit holds a commanding 40% market share, but Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are hot on its heels. Even Amazon and Flipkart joined the q-commerce bandwagon in 2024, along with Myntra, Nykaa, and Reliance Retail, making the competition spicier than a bag of masala chips.

Experts predict q-commerce could outrun food delivery in gross order value by 2025, with categories like beauty, electronics, and fashion stepping into the fast lane.

Conclusion

Q-commerce is evolving from a sprint to an Olympic relay. Zepto’s “SuperSaver” bulk deals and Blinkit’s expanding product line are just the beginning. The market is expected to balloon to $5 billion by 2025, up from $3 billion in 2023. But as competition heats up, the race will be won by those who innovate and execute flawlessly—because, let’s face it, no one forgives a delayed bag of chips. 

GLOBAL NAZARA

Mubadala outshines PIF with $29 billion in deals

Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Co. has taken the crown as the world's most active sovereign wealth fund, making $29.2 billion in deals in 2024—67% more than the previous year. This surge put it ahead of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which slowed its spending in favor of domestic investments. 

Middle Eastern funds dominated, with five making up the top 10 global dealmakers, contributing a total of $82 billion in investments.

BYD's sales surge brings it closer to Tesla

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD had a record-breaking December, selling 207,734 EVs and bringing its total annual sales to 1.76 million. BYD's total vehicle sales grew by more than 41% in 2024, largely thanks to its hybrid models. 

Most of BYD's sales (90%) were in China, where it continues to outperform foreign brands like Volkswagen and Toyota. However, despite the surge, Tesla still maintained a lead in overall EV sales.

TOP STORIES

iBus Networks Plans to Hit ₹2,000 Crore 

What happened

iBus Networks, the Wi-Fi wizardry behind smarter buildings, has big plans to hit ₹2,000 crore in revenue by 2028. Based in Bengaluru and backed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, the company is aiming to make Wi-Fi a must-have for buildings across India.

It’s expecting ₹290 crore in revenue for FY25 and projects a CAGR of 60%. With its coverage already at 1 billion square feet (and dreaming of 10 billion), iBus is ready to turn every building into a digital fortress.

Why it matters

The demand for Wi-Fi and digital infrastructure is rising rapidly, with 90 million square feet of real estate being built each year, doubling from three years ago. iBus Networks aims to capitalize on this trend, providing Wi-Fi solutions to both new and existing buildings, including hospitals and government offices.

Additionally, the company is expanding into energy management services to increase network efficiency. With a projected CAGR of 60% over the next few years and several strategic acquisitions, iBus is planning to grow at an impressive pace. Its international presence is also expanding, with acquisitions in markets like the US, UAE, and Sri Lanka.

The bigger picture

The Indian real estate sector in 2025 is all set to “build” a brighter future with tech upgrades, policy support, and a surge in demand for flexible spaces. As AI and IoT transform how we live and work, it’s clear—India’s real estate is no longer just about bricks and mortar. It’s about smart homes, fancy offices, and a “work-life balance” that’s finally not just a myth.

MIRCH MASALA

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