Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Markets took a breather after the recent rally, with Nifty remaining range-bound and ending slightly lower at 23,686.65. While metals and energy sectors saw gains, realty and FMCG faced pressure, though broader indices stood out with gains.

TOP STORIES

GAIL Bids Goodbye to US Shale 

What Happened?

India’s top gas marketer, GAIL, is packing its bags and exiting the US shale business.

The company has put its Eagle Ford shale assets in Texas up for sale, including a 20% stake in 92 oil and gas wells and 48 untapped locations spread across 2,870 acres. 

Originally acquired in 2011 for $64 million, with an additional $31 million in development costs, these assets are now on the chopping block.

Bids are due by February 14. GAIL is following in the footsteps of Reliance Industries and Oil India, both of which have already ditched their US shale investments.

Why It Matters?

US shale was once the golden child of the energy sector, turning America into the world’s top oil and gas producer.

But reality hit hard—many shale companies collapsed, unable to keep up with high drilling costs. 

Indian firms, initially eager to cash in, have slowly backed out, realising the profit party wasn’t as grand as expected.

GAIL’s exit signals a broader trend of Indian companies shifting focus back home, where they already operate in 10 exploration blocks.

Conclusion

The shale dream is turning into a costly lesson for companies that once saw it as a goldmine.

GAIL, with its stronghold in India’s gas market, is cutting its losses and moving on.  

• In 2023-24, GAIL earned ₹1,033 crore from its upstream ventures, but it seems US shale no longer fits in the strategy.

PAISON KA KHEL

Weddings Have Got Pricier—And Bigger!

Indian weddings are getting grander—and costlier! The average wedding now costs ₹32-35 lakh, up 28% since 2022.

Guest lists are swelling too—big fat weddings (300+ guests) jumped 16.29%, while intimate ones (under 100 guests) rose 26.66%. 

Destination hotspots? Jaipur and Goa still rule, but Nainital and Dehradun are gaining steam.

Even weekday weddings are trending! With the industry now worth $75 billion and growing at 7-8% annually, it seems the only thing shrinking is their wallet.

₹16,000 Crore Investment Lights Up Bengal

JSW is lighting up West Bengal with a massive ₹16,000 crore investment in a 1,600 MW power project in Salboni.

With plans to double the capacity soon, JSW Energy is fast-tracking its goal of hitting 30 GW of total generation capacity.

By 2030, they’re aiming for 20 GW—just in case you thought they were taking it easy. 

TOP STORIES

Ford’s India Comeback Hits a Speed Bump

What Happened?

Ford’s much-hyped return to India was supposed to be a grand spectacle.

The American automaker had promised a big announcement in January, but now it seems to be stuck in neutral, with no final decision expected before late summer.

A key factor in this delay?

The massive cost of retooling its Chennai plant for electric vehicle (EV) production—an investment that could range between $100 million and $300 million.

The old stories

Ford has a long, bumpy history in India. After first exiting in 1953 due to import restrictions, it returned in the 1990s with big ambitions.

But despite spending over two decades in the market, it never gained significant traction, racking up $2 billion in losses before shutting down operations in 2021.

At the time, Ford held less than a 2% market share, struggling against local giants like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.

Zoom out

However, India remains an attractive market, with annual car sales hovering around 3 million units.

While that’s below the once-projected 5 million, automakers like Kia and MG have shown that success is possible with the right strategy. 

Ford’s misstep? Betting big on larger vehicles like the EcoSport and Endeavour instead of compact, fuel-efficient models that dominate Indian roads.

GLOBAL NAZARA

USPS to China: “No Parcels for You!”

The US Postal Service (USPS) has hit pause on accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong, though letters are still good to go.

No official reason was given, but the timing screams trade war drama.

Just days after Trump slapped a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and shut down the $800 tax-free loophole, USPS made its move.

China fired back—starting Feb 10, US coal and LNG get a 15% tariff, while crude oil and big-engine cars face 10%. 

Panasonic’s Bold Move: Fewer Hairdryers, More AI

Panasonic is cleaning house—literally.

Shares jumped 15%, the biggest surge in 11 years, after the company announced plans to trim underperforming businesses and focus on AI-powered data centres.

CEO Yuki Kusumi even got nostalgic about Panasonic’s TV business, which is now under review.

The company aims to boost profits by ¥150 billion ($966 million) by 2027 and another ¥150 billion by 2029.

TOP STORIES

Godrej Properties Smashes Records

What happened

Godrej Properties just set a new benchmark in the real estate world by selling a colossal ₹28,800 crore worth of properties in 2024.

Yes, you read that right—28,800 crore! That’s like if you stacked ₹1,000 notes from floor to ceiling, you’d be able to reach the moon… twice. 

Driving the news

While DLF, the so-called “Giant of Gurgaon,” clocked in at ₹20,650 crore, Godrej took the crown by a mile.

Godrej is being the hero with a six-pack, doing all the stunts, while DLF is left holding the popcorn.

Godrej Properties saw an immense demand for homes, especially in high-traffic markets like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), and Bengaluru.

In fact, Delhi-NCR alone accounted for a jaw-dropping ₹9,936 crore of the total sales. These markets are what we can call hotcakes—people just can’t get enough.

How’s the game?

On top of that, the company’s profit game is strong. 

• In Q4, net profits surged over 2.5 times to ₹162.64 crore. 

• This was backed by a stellar income of ₹1,239.97 crore

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