Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Markets stayed shaky as key indexes dropped by the end, with mid and small-cap stocks taking the biggest hit. With the rupee falling and foreign investors pulling out money, more ups and downs could be ahead.

TOP STORIES

A Game-Changing Partnership For You 🚕

What Happened?

Maruti Suzuki has partnered with Hero FinCorp to offer more car loan options for both new and used car buyers. 

The collaboration aims to make car ownership more accessible across India, leveraging Maruti’s extensive dealership network and Hero FinCorp’s financial solutions. 

With this deal, Maruti Suzuki now boasts over 40 retail finance partners, giving customers more choices when financing their desired cars.

Why It Matters?

For anyone dreaming of owning a car but held back by financial constraints, this partnership is good news. 

Hero FinCorp’s deep reach into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, combined with its digital lending solutions, means that more people will have access to easy and hassle-free car financing.

Zoom Out

With vehicle prices steadily rising, financing plays a crucial role in the car-buying decision. India’s auto market is shifting, and having multiple loan options tailored to different income groups is a big plus.

This move could also boost sales for Maruti Suzuki, which already leads the Indian car market with a 41% share.

PAISON KA KHEL

Soap Prices Rising? Godrej Says, “Slow and Steady!” 🧼

Godrej Consumer (Stock Price) is hiking up soap prices—but don’t worry, it won’t hit like a surprise bucket of cold water! Thanks to floods in Indonesia and Malaysia, palm oil prices have shot up, making soaps costlier to produce.

CEO Sudhir Sitapati says they’ll spread the price hike over 2-3 quarters, so no sudden shocks. Meanwhile, Hindustan Unilever is tweaking its soap recipe to use less palm oil, but Godrej is sticking to its formula. 

Cheaper Diabetes Meds Are Here 💊

Good news for India’s 10.1 crore diabetes patients—treatment is about to get way cheaper!

With Boehringer Ingelheim’s patent on Empagliflozin expiring on March 11, Indian pharma firms are swooping in to launch their own versions at 90% lower prices.

Companies like Mankind Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s, and Lupin plan to sell tablets for just ₹9-₹14, compared to ₹60 earlier.

GROWTH GULLY

🧓 Food & Aging: As years add up, hunger fades—can nutrition science fix it?

📈 Solid Gains: Why Cement Could Boom Again in 2025!

💬 Master LinkedIn: 3+ years, 10,000+ messages distilled into one ultimate playbook

🖊️ Bland to Brilliant: Elevate your storytelling with this easy method

🪫 Optimized: Simple habit boosts productivity by 30% in a week

TOP STORIES

Ola Electric in Hot Water  ♨️

What Happened?

Ola Electric’s aggressive showroom expansion has hit a regulatory roadblock.

Out of 4,000 stores that have opened since 2022, over 95% reportedly lack the mandatory trade certificates required under the Motor Vehicles Act. 

As a result, transport authorities across multiple states have cracked down—raiding outlets, seizing vehicles, and issuing show-cause notices.

Why It Matters?

For Ola, this isn’t just a minor paperwork issue—it’s a full-blown crisis. Without trade certificates, the company’s retail model faces serious risks.

Transportation officials have been investigating the violations since 2023, with increased scrutiny in March 2025.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Ola Electric’s stock has already taken a 4% hit following the news, adding to a 60% plunge from its peak since its IPO in August. 

This also comes amidst mass layoffs and delayed product launches, painting a challenging picture for the once-dominant EV startup.

Adding to the drama

A major discrepancy in sales numbers has raised eyebrows. While Ola reported selling 25,000 scooters in February, government records (VAHAN) show only 8,600 registrations.

Since selling unregistered vehicles is a no-go in India, this raises further concerns about compliance.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Wall Street Takes a Hit as Tariff Worries Grow 🇺🇲

The US stock market had a tough day, with the Dow Jones dropping 392 points (0.9%), the S&P 500 down 1.8%, and the Nasdaq sliding 2.8%. Investors are nervous about Trump’s tariffs, fearing a slowdown in the economy.

Tech stocks took a beating—Tesla fell 3%, Alphabet dropped 4%, and Meta lost 3%. Meanwhile, safe stocks like Procter & Gamble (+1%) and Unilever (+2.4%) gained ground.

With key inflation data coming this week, Wall Street is on edge. 

Unilever and ICC Join Hands for The Ladies 🏏

The ICC and Unilever have sealed a game-changing two-year deal, making Dove and Rexona the first official commercial partners for women’s cricket.

This partnership will support major tournaments, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027.

Beyond sponsorship, Unilever is stepping up with women’s cricket festivals and hygiene education programs to boost the sport’s growth.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Unilever’s stock rose 2.79% to ₹2,266—because when cricket wins, so does business!

TOP STORIES

New Horizons for Cancer Care ⚕️

What Happened

Sun Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire Checkpoint Therapeutics for $355 million, boosting its foothold in oncology. 

The deal, expected to close by Q2 2025, gives Sun Pharma access to UNLOXCYT, an FDA-approved immunotherapy drug for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). 

Checkpoint’s shareholders will receive $4.10 per share in cash, plus up to $0.70 in contingent payments.

Why It Matters

With skin cancer cases rising, this acquisition strengthens Sun Pharma’s oncology portfolio. UNLOXCYT, the first anti-PD-L1 treatment for advanced cSCC, could be a blockbuster drug. 

Sun Pharma’s global presence means wider distribution and potentially lower prices. The deal also aligns with its strategy to expand beyond generics into high-margin specialty drugs.

Zoom Out

For Sun Pharma, this is a strategic leap in the $200B+ oncology market. Investors should watch how the acquisition integrates and whether UNLOXCYT gains traction.

If successful, this could be a long-term win for both patients and shareholders.

MIRCH MASALA

🍅 Lab-Grown Food: Coming to UK plates in two years

😮 Noel on Ratan Tata: “He might have walked a different road.”

❔ NHPC: A modern East India Company draining J&K’s wealth. Is it true?

💲 China’s Palm Payment: Pay with your palm—China just skipped credit cards.

🦁 Mom Mode: Lioness drops cub in water, rescues it like a pro.