Zomato's third-quarter profit dropped by 57% to Rs 590 million due to increased spending on its quick commerce platform, Blinkit. Despite this, overall revenue surged 64% to Rs 54.05 billion. Revenue from the core food delivery business grew by 22%, while Blinkit's revenue more than doubled as Zomato focused on expansion and faced stiff competition.
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Apple plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. This investment will include constructing a large factory in Texas for AI servers and adding 20,000 research and development jobs. This move comes amid tariffs on products assembled in China, with the company securing waivers previously.
Godavari Biorefineries is investing Rs 130 crore in a new 200 KLPD corn/grain-based distillery to boost ethanol production. The facility, expected to be operational by March 2026, will provide dual-feedstock capability, enhancing flexibility and resilience against climate-related disruptions. This investment will help meet the increasing demand under India's ethanol blending program.
US stocks opened higher, signaling market stabilization amidst trade tension volatility. Bond yields slightly decreased, and the dollar steadied after a recent slide. Bank stocks led gains, with Bank of America and Citigroup exceeding earnings expectations. However, Boeing shares dropped following reports of China halting aircraft deliveries, reflecting ongoing trade war concerns.
India's copper demand is set to grow by 7% due to renewable energy and infrastructure projects. With a gap between domestic production and consumption, the country imports 500,000 tonnes annually. Major companies are investing in copper production. The closure of Vedanta's Sterlite plant significantly impacted supply, turning India into a net importer.
Global central banks continued to bolster their gold reserves in November 2024, adding 53 tonnes collectively. India, the second-largest buyer of the year, increased its reserves to 876 tonnes. Poland led purchases with 21 tonnes. Other notable buyers included Uzbekistan, China, and Turkey. Conversely, Singapore and Finland saw reductions in their gold reserves.
Budget 2025 income tax expectations: The introduction of pre-filled Income Tax Returns (ITRs) has proven to be a significant advancement in streamlining the tax filing process. However, there is a strong need for further enhancement in data extraction.
Bank credit and deposit growth in India slowed in the October-December quarter of 2024. Notably, personal loans and credit to key sectors saw a decline, while public sector lending picked up. Term deposits grew significantly, driven by higher interest rates and large-value deposits.
The electric vehicle industry in India communicated to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal that they will no longer require subsidies once the current regime ends. Goyal emphasized the nation's readiness for electric mobility and plans to simplify the setting up of charging infrastructure at petrol pumps. He also expressed intentions to strengthen economic ties with the US amid trade tariff tensions.
Russian oil exports to India have dropped 25% in February amid sanctions, while US shipments surged nearly 100%. The overall Middle East exports to India for February might be lower than the initial 20-day average, as loadings typically decrease in the latter half of each month.
India is emerging as a top destination for startup IPOs, aided by robust domestic economic growth, favorable geopolitical conditions, and substantial foreign capital inflows. With a surge in profitable tech-based listings, investors are focusing on manufacturing startups targeting global demand and IP-driven innovations, with Accel playing a significant role.