Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The market plunged as all sectoral indices closed in the red, with PSU Bank falling 4%, and sectors like metal, realty, and energy dropping 3% each. In contrast, ITI Ltd stood out with a sharp 20% rise.

TOP STORIES

Hollywood Set for a Blockbuster 2025 in India

What Happened

Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet in India for 2025, with its box office share expected to hit a whopping 22%—a sharp leap from last year’s modest 10%. What’s cooking? A star-studded menu featuring films like Avatar: Fire and Ash, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Jurassic World Rebirth—the kind of big-screen spectacles that make you forget your samosas while watching!

This blockbuster year follows a not-so-Hollywood 2024, which was a bit like a sequel nobody asked for. Thanks to strikes by writers and actors over fair pay and AI (yes, even robots are in scripts now), production came to a standstill, costing Hollywood $5 billion. But now, the big guns are back, and they’re targeting Indian hearts.

Why It Matters

Hollywood’s box office success in India is like a Bollywood song in an otherwise action-packed film—unexpected but delightful! Over the past decade, Hollywood’s contribution hovered around 18–20%, but now it’s eyeing bigger numbers.

Here’s the secret sauce: regional language dubbing. Films like Mufasa: The Lion King earned ₹44.1 crore from its Hindi version alone, outshining the English original. Indians clearly love watching lions roar in their mother tongue! Plus, iconic franchises (Deadpool, Godzilla x Kong) are proving irresistible, earning ₹169.2 crore and ₹134.4 crore, respectively.

Final words

And let’s not forget the thrill of watching these films on the big screen. Hollywood isn’t making movies for your phone’s 6-inch display; they want you in theatres, eyes glued to the action, popcorn spilling in excitement.

As India cheers for superheroes, dinosaurs, and secret agents, Bollywood might need to step up its game. For now, sit back, grab some vada pav, and get ready for a year full of “lights, camera, action!”.

PAISON KA KHEL

$107 billion plan to triple clean energy

India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has suggested states monetize their transmission assets by leasing them to businesses and using the funds to power new projects. This $107 billion plan aims to supercharge the grid by 2032, nearly tripling clean energy capacity while keeping coal plants in the loop for growing demand.

A third of the investment will focus on regional networks, currently dominated by state-run firms. To sweeten the deal for investors, the CEA recommends a pricing model with predictable returns.

Infosys puts pay hike on snooze mode until Q4 FY25

Infosys has hit the pause button on its annual wage hikes, pushing them to Q4 FY25, citing global demand uncertainty. The last raise for employees came in November 2023. CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka shared that increments will roll out in phases, with some starting in January and the rest by April.

This isn’t just an Infosys story—HCLTech and LTIMindtree are also delaying salary hikes to keep profits steady amid low client spending and volatile markets.

TOP STORIES

Reliance Takes on Tata, Dabur, and PepsiCo

What Happened

Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) has decided to dive into the hydration game with its new drink, RasKik Gluco Energy, priced at just ₹10 per serving. With flavours like mango, apple, nimbu pani, and coconut water, the drink aims to hydrate the masses and make competitors sweat.

Reliance, known for reviving nostalgic brands like Campa Cola, is positioning Raskik as a “master brand” for juices and functional beverages. The plan is to go pan-India and shake up the ₹10 hydration segment ruled by Tata Gluco+ and Dabur GlucoPlus-C.

Why it matters

This isn’t just about keeping people hydrated—it’s about heating up the competition! India’s non-alcoholic beverages market is set to grow to ₹1.47 trillion by 2030, with an 8.7% annual growth rate. Reliance clearly wants a big gulp of this market, and its ₹10 pricing is the key ingredient.

If you remember how Campa Cola came back and shook things up, Reliance is pulling a similar trick with Raskik Gluco Energy. By keeping prices low and taste high, it’s giving big players like Tata and Dabur a serious challenge. Analysts say Reliance’s wide reach across India could make it tough for competitors to keep up.

Zoom out

Reliance is back with another “dhamaakedaar” entry, proving yet again that it knows how to disrupt markets. For consumers, it’s a jackpot—quality drinks without breaking the bank. For competitors, it’s a head-scratcher.

GLOBAL NAZARA

United Airlines takes Starlink internet to new heights

United Airlines will test Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet on its Embraer E-175 planes starting in February, with a full rollout across its regional fleet by 2025. But here’s the twist: the free Wi-Fi won’t be free for everyone—only MileagePlus members get to browse without paying.

The airline plans to equip its entire fleet of over 1,000 aircraft with Starlink, aiming to make in-flight scrolling smoother than your landing. This partnership highlights the growing trend of satellite internet in aviation. 

ArcelorMittal SA winds down long-steel business

ArcelorMittal South Africa is shutting down its long-steel products unit, potentially leaving 3,500 workers in limbo. Persistent high costs for logistics and energy, paired with government inaction, made the business unsustainable.  

Steel production is expected to stop by month-end, marking a grim chapter for an industry battered by low-cost imports (hello, China!) and weak markets. To add salt to the wound, the company predicts a steep annual loss of up to 4.41 rand per share—a jump from last year’s 1.70 rand.

TOP STORIES

India’s Love Affair with Swiss Watches Hits a High

What Happened

Move over mithai boxes; it’s Swiss watches Indians are gifting themselves now! In the first 11 months of 2024, India imported ₹2,360 crore worth of Swiss watches, a 27.6% rise from 2023. In November alone, we clocked a jaw-dropping 60% year-on-year growth—leading the global market. 

While the US imported watches worth 4 billion Swiss Francs and China brought in 1.9 billion, India is catching up. From ₹1.6-crore customised pieces with kids’ birthdays engraved to a ₹5-crore grand fireplace clock (yes, it tells time and stuns guests), Indian wallets are on fire. 

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about flaunting luxury—it’s a reminder of India’s growing purchasing power. Micro-brands like Ludovic Ballouard and Laurent Ferrier are now the new wrist royalty, as collectors trade up from their long-standing love for Rolex and Omega.

But, here’s the twist: many of these imports are pre-owned or “demo” watches—basically second-hand, but dressed up as classy veterans. Oh, and there’s some chatter about the GST on luxury goods climbing from 18% to 28%. Buyers and sellers might soon find themselves racing against time.

On the bright side, there’s a new deal in place between India and Switzerland to cut tariffs on watches from a hefty 22% to zero. 

Zoom out

India’s luxury watch market is ticking faster than a Mumbai local at rush hour. While we’re still ranked 20th in Swiss watch imports (a long way from the US and China), our growth is unmatched. 

As wedding seasons, festive buying, and bespoke commissions fuel demand, the industry must address policy challenges and sustain momentum. For now, Swiss watchmakers might as well say, “Namaste, India! Aapka waqt shuru hota hai ab.”

MIRCH MASALA

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