Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The Indian stock market took a hit today, plummeting sharply amid global recession fears. Global markets also suffered, with Wall Street Futures staring at steepest 3-day decline since 1987. Read more about it here.

TOP STORIES

Tata Group Stocks Crushed in Monday Massacre 💔

What Happened

Six Tata Group heavyweights took a brutal beating on Monday's trading session, collectively losing a staggering ₹1.28 lakh crore in market value. 

Despite posting 28% year-on-year revenue growth to ₹4,334 crore, the figures disappointed investors who expected more from a company with a five-year growth trajectory of 36%. 

• Adding to the bloodbath, Tata Motors dropped 6% after its luxury arm Jaguar Land Rover hit the brakes on US shipments due to new tariffs. 

• Tata Steel melted 8%, while TCS briefly touched a 52-week low before recovering slightly to close down 1%.

Why It Matters

This market carnage isn't just about numbers on a screen - it reflects growing panic over President Trump's aggressive trade policies.

JLR's decision to halt US shipments sends a chilling message about the real-world impact of these tariffs on global businesses. 

Even TCS, typically a steady performer, couldn't escape investor jitters about a potential US recession - and remember, America remains India's tech sector's golden goose.

Zoom Out

You can think of the Tata Group as India's market barometer - when these giants sneeze, the entire economy catches a cold. 

With metal, auto, retail, and tech sectors all taking hits simultaneously, we're witnessing a perfect storm of market anxiety.

The IT sector appears particularly vulnerable, as it's still trading 15% above pre-COVID valuations despite increasingly darkening economic clouds on the horizon.

The million-rupee question now: is this just a temporary tantrum or the beginning of something bigger?

TOP STORIES

JSW Steel Shatters Production Records 👏

What Happened

JSW Steel has pulled off something remarkable - breaking its own production records while the market was busy having a meltdown.

The steel giant pumped out a massive 7.63 million tonnes of crude steel in Q4 FY25, jumping 9% from the previous quarter and soaring 12% year-on-year. 

A Deeper Look

Their Indian operations were the star performers, churning out 7.40 million tonnes while running at an impressive 93% capacity. Anyway, investors were less enthusiastic, sending JSW Steel shares tumbling 7.44% to ₹930.90 on the NSE. 

On the expansion front, the company's massive 5 MTPA Vijayanagar project continues to make progress, with key equipment already commissioned during Q3.

For the full year, JSW Steel's total production climbed 5% to reach 27.79 million tonnes.

Why It Matters

While most companies are battening down the hatches amid global trade tensions, JSW Steel is charging full steam ahead with expansion plans.

Their ambitious goal to grow from 35.7 MTPA to 43.5 MTPA in just three years shows remarkable confidence. 

This matters because steel production serves as a key indicator of economic health - when steel companies expand, they're essentially placing bets on future growth in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

TOP STORIES

Zepto’s New Plan to Win More Shoppers 🏆

What Happened

Zepto is making a strategic pivot in its business model. The company is launching "Zepto Daily," an invite-only subscription service available in select neighborhoods. 

This new offering comes with an attention-grabbing entry fee of just ₹1 for initial customers, with the full subscription priced at ₹299 monthly. 

Why It Matters

This subscription shift arrives as Zepto prepares for its anticipated public market debut slated for next year. The timing is significant – Zepto has been aggressively expanding its network of dark stores while promising investors EBITDA profitability by the final quarter of FY26. 

The company's impressive growth trajectory has been fueled by a massive funding round secured in 2024.

Beyond The Basics

Beyond the subscription pivot, Zepto is navigating complex ownership structures. The firm is actively working to increase domestic shareholding amid growing regulatory scrutiny of quick-commerce business models. 

This move involves bringing more Indian family offices into their investor pool – a strategic realignment that could impact their market positioning.

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PAISON KA KHEL

VVIP Infratech Wins ₹414 Cr Govt Projects 

VVIP Infratech has secured government contracts worth ₹414 crore, boosting its role in India’s growing infrastructure sector.

The projects include a ₹175 crore sewerage system in Rishikesh under the Ganga Rejuvenation Mission, funded by Germany’s GIZ, and a ₹238 crore power distribution project across key UP districts under the RDSS scheme.

With a strong FY24 performance—₹285.82 crore in revenue and ₹20.71 crore profit—VVIP is clearly on solid ground. As India’s infra market targets $1.4 trillion by 2030, this company’s digging deep… into both sewers and success.

Coffee Day Sinks in ₹425 Cr Debt ☕

Coffee Day Enterprises has spilled some strong financial beans—reporting a total default of ₹425.38 crore as of March 2025. Blame it on a “liquidity crisis,” but the caffeine-powered chain failed to pay ₹174.83 crore in loan principals, ₹5.78 crore in interest, and another ₹244.77 crore tied to bonds and preference shares.

Since founder V G Siddhartha’s passing in 2019, the company’s been brewing trouble, with lenders sending loan recall notices and knocking on court doors. Even after repaying ₹1,644 crore in 2020, the espresso shot of hope seems to have worn off.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Trump Isn't Finished Yet….. 👀

Trump just pulled a “Buy one tariff, get 50% more free” deal on China. On April 7, he warned Beijing: roll back your 34% retaliatory tariffs by April 8—or get hit with 50% more, starting April 9. 

Meanwhile, the Dow nosedived 1,200 points and the S&P 500 went into bear territory. Trump’s advice? “Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient.”

Vijay Mallya Says – Banks Got More Than I Owed! 🤨

Vijay Mallya, the man who flew to London after a ₹9,000 crore loan mess, now says Indian banks have already recovered ₹14,131 crore—more than double the ₹6,203 crore he was told to pay.

The money was recovered through his seized properties, thanks to the Enforcement Directorate. Mallya is now using this in a UK court to cancel his bankruptcy case.

His message? “I owed less, they got more—so what’s the problem?”

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