Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: On Friday, Nifty slipped below 26,200, and Sensex shed 264 points as banking and realty stocks weighed heavy. While sectors like auto, metal, and IT gained 0.3-2.5%, realty, power, and bank indices took a 0.3-1% hit.

TOP STORIES

Unilever gears up for battle to defend India crown

What happened

Unilever is not giving up its leadership in India’s consumer market without a fight. According to Chief Financial Officer Fernando Fernandez, the company is ready to invest “hundreds of millions” or even consider acquisitions to protect its top position. 

Hindustan Unilever (HUL), its Indian arm, already holds a commanding presence in home and personal care products, with market shares ranging from 35% to 50% across categories like soaps, shampoos, detergents, and skincare.

Why it matters

India is crucial for Unilever, contributing over 11% to the company's global sales, making it the second-largest market after the US. With competition rising, especially in premium categories and from regional players, the company isn’t just sitting back.

• In fact, HUL’s haircare portfolio grew 11%, which is 1.5 times larger than one of its European rivals,  L'Oreal. 
  

• Moreover, e-commerce is rapidly growing, three times faster than traditional brick-and-mortar channels. 

Numbers Game

Unilever’s strategy in India is aggressive and far-reaching.

• It has doubled its sales in the past decade to ₹59,579 crore, while its net profit has tripled to ₹10,114 crore. 
  

HUL’s premium products now make up 35% of its portfolio, up from less than 20% a few years ago. With an economy expected to grow by 5-6%, Unilever plans to expand 4-5% by volume. 

PAISON KA KHEL

Adani’s $4 billion datacentre dash

Adani Group is hitting the fast-forward button on a $4 billion datacentre expansion , racing to scale up from 17 MW to a jaw-dropping 1-1.5 GW in just two years. Why the rush? India’s data hunger is growing faster than your inbox on Monday morning. 

With AI-driven services gobbling up 8-12x more power than usual, Adani’s power division is gearing up for a mega workout. Data orders that once stood at a modest 5-10 MW have ballooned to 50-100 MW – because apparently, the future of tech doesn’t believe in portion control!

Vodafone Idea locks ₹13,500 crore gear deal with Nokia

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has signed a ₹13,500 crore deal with Nokia to supply 4G and 5G network equipment for nine regions over the next three years. This move is part of Vi’s plan to beef up its network and compete with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. While Nokia provides fancy 5G gear, Vi is still ironing out details with Ericsson and Samsung for other areas. The deal marks a big step for Vi, hoping to stop customer losses and stay in the game. 

TOP STORIES

Why the World Wants India’s Vande Bharat Trains

What happened?

India’s Vande Bharat Express is going global, with countries like Chile, Canada, and Malaysia expressing serious interest in buying these sleek, semi-high-speed trains. Why? 

• They’re cheaper and faster than many foreign competitors. While similar trains from other countries cost around ₹160-180 crores, India builds Vande Bharat for ₹120-130 crores.
  

It’s also fast—zooming from 0 to 100 km/h in just 52 seconds, outpacing Japan’s iconic bullet train by two seconds. Plus, these trains are quieter than your average airplane (100 times quieter, to be exact) and super energy-efficient.

Why it matters

This interest from international buyers isn’t just about selling trains—it shows India’s growing influence in the global railway market. Vande Bharat’s cost-effectiveness and top-tier design are proving to be a game-changer. As foreign countries look for ways to modernize transportation systems without breaking the bank, India’s tech-forward, budget-friendly option is hard to beat.

Meanwhile, India isn’t slowing down on the home front. Indian Railways is actively expanding its network, adding over 31,000 kilometres of tracks in the past decade and setting a goal for another 40,000 kilometres. The Railways is also focused on safety, with its indigenous Kavach system being rolled out to prevent accidents.

The big update

India's railways are on the cusp of a transformation, with innovations like the Kavach system and Vande Bharat trains leading the charge. Kavach, a cutting-edge safety system, is focused on preventing accidents and minimizing human error. With plans to cover 40,000 kilometers, this homegrown tech aims to reduce accidents by up to 80%, ensuring safety across India’s growing rail network. 

GLOBAL NAZARA

Walmart leases big in Bengaluru for new tech hub

Walmart is going big in Bengaluru, leasing 1 million sq ft of office space from Prestige Group to set up a Global Capability Centre. The deal is one of India’s largest this year, with Walmart paying ₹108.3 crore annually for the space. That’s about ₹95 per sq ft—cheaper than a cup of coffee at a fancy café! The new campus will support Walmart’s growing tech operations in India. With two blocks, each measuring 600,000 sq ft and 400,000 sq ft, Walmart is here to stay—well, at least for the next three years, thanks to a lock-in agreement.

OpenAI's Pricey AI Adventure with $5 Billion Down the Drain

OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, saw a hefty $5 billion loss this year, despite pulling in $3.7 billion in revenue. The silver lining? They have anticipated next year's revenue to soar to $11.6 billion. 

Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI had been chasing a valuation of over $150 billion in a new funding round, with Thrive Capital and Tiger Global set to invest $1 billion. While their AI services surged in popularity, the cost of running those models and keeping the lights on put a serious dent in their profits.

TOP STORIES

Auto Companies Slash Prices, Chase Festive Cheer

What Happened

As the festive season approaches, major automakers like Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki are revving up their engines in hopes of a sales surge. After a lacklustre start with Onam and Ganesh Chaturthi not meeting sales expectations, these companies are pulling out all the stops with enticing discounts and price cuts. 

Historically, the festive period—especially October, which features Navaratra, Dussehra, and Diwali—accounts for a hefty 30-40% of annual sales. To sweeten the deal, they are also betting on launching new models, which could be the cherry on top of their sales strategy.

Why It Matters

This year’s numbers are telling a different story. 

• September saw around 277,000 passenger vehicles sold, a dip from August's 309,000. 
  

The slowdown has resulted in a stockpile of cars at dealerships, making it crucial for automakers to clear inventory. With many dealers holding stock for 75 to 90 days, they are desperate for a turnaround.

Conclusion

The stakes are high as automakers aim to turn the tide before the year's end. As the festive season kicks off, these strategies might just be the fuel needed for a robust recovery. If all goes well, the next few months could shift from being a bumpy ride to a smooth cruise, benefiting both manufacturers and consumers alike.

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