🔥 Ambani x Adani = Petrol Plot Twist

☀️ Happy Friday Junior, folks!

Thursdays are basically pre-weekend vibes in the Masala Chai universe, and today’s edition is serving everything hot—from record-breaking market highs and AI power tools to India’s richest rivals teaming up for petrol supremacy. 🧊💰⛽

Pour your cup, scroll on, and enjoy your most productive procrastination of the day.

☕️ Chai Shots

• 🧊 Markets hit 2025 high: The Sensex surged by 700 points to close at 82,756, while the Nifty smashed past the 25,200 barrier for the first time this year, ending at 25,245. The rally was fueled by cooling geopolitical tensions, especially the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, with IT, FMCG, and auto stocks taking the lead.

• 🛢️ Adani & Ambani’s fuel collab heats up: India’s biggest business rivals are teaming up at the petrol pump. Adani and Ambani are shaking hands to cross-sell CNG, diesel, and petrol at each other’s stations. More in the Big Brew 👇

• ⚖️ SEBI slams BSE with ₹25 lakh penalty: The exchange was fined for providing unfair disclosure access to select insiders. The move signals SEBI’s continued crackdown on transparency violations.

• 🤑 GoKwik lands $13M at a $450M valuation: Delhi-based e-commerce infra startup GoKwik raised a fresh $13 million growth round, nudging its valuation up 43% since the last raise. The new funds will help the company double down on global expansion and AI-driven growth.

🌟 Market Masala

• 📈 Best close of 2025!: Sensex shot up 700 points to hit 82,756, while Nifty jumped 200 points to 25,245—its highest close this year. Over 40 of the Nifty 50 stocks ended in the green, signaling widespread investor confidence.

• 🚗 Auto, FMCG & IT shine: Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consumer, Nestlé, and Titan were among the biggest gainers. Titan surged over 3% as bullishness around its jewellery segment continued to glitter.

• 💸 India VIX drops 5%: The volatility index dipped to 12.96, reflecting investor comfort with current market trends and declining geopolitical risk, especially after the Middle East ceasefire.

• 🖥️ ITC shuts down its online store: ITC has pulled the plug on its pandemic-era D2C platform, saying the project fulfilled its purpose. With apps like Blinkit and Zepto now dominating, ITC is refocusing on partnerships instead of running its own e-com ops.

• 📡 Chidambaram backs Vi revival, warns against duopoly: Former FM urged global telcos to invest in Vi to maintain market diversity. He warned against the risks of consolidating power among just two major players.

• ✈️ Air India gets a ₹9,558 Cr booster shot: Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines have injected fresh funds post-Vistara merger. The cash will help fuel fleet upgrades, technology investments, and global network expansion.

🌍 Global Masala

• 📈 Wall Street inches toward record highs: The S&P 500 is now less than 1% away from its all-time peak of 6,147, driven by a ceasefire-induced rally and AI stock euphoria—especially Nvidia, which soared 4% on the day.

• 🏦 US banks get a break (maybe): US regulators are looking to loosen post-2008 capital requirements for major banks like JPMorgan and Goldman. While some see this as a path to growth, others warn it may lead to increased systemic risk.

• 🧠 Google drops Gemini CLI for devs: Google has launched an open-source Gemini Command Line Interface, allowing developers to use natural language to debug, explain, or generate code right from the terminal. With 60 requests/min free and 1,000/day, it's a dev-friendly AI power tool.

☕️ The Big Brew: Adani + Ambani Fuel Up Together ⛽

India’s fiercest corporate rivals—Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani—are parking their egos at the pump.

Their companies, Jio-bp (Reliance) and Adani Total Gas, are teaming up to cross-sell fuels at each other’s outlets. Think of it as a gas station version of a Spotify x Netflix collab, only way more desi.

• 🛠️ What’s the deal?: Adani’s CNG units will show up at Jio-bp stations, while Jio-bp’s petrol and diesel will hit Adani outlets.

• 🏙️ Why now?: Competition with government-run fuel giants is heating up. This team-up lets them boost margins, improve efficiency, and offer more options to drivers.

• 💡 Strategic déjà vu: This is their second collab—Reliance recently bought a stake in an Adani Power project. The bromance is cautiously brewing.

• 🔄 The bigger picture: Amid rising EV adoption and fuel margin pressures, players are looking for smart partnerships to survive and thrive.

What does this mean?

This isn’t just a fuel station shake-up. It signals a broader trend of strategic alliances in India’s cutthroat infrastructure and energy space. If these giants can align in select verticals, the ripple effects on pricing, accessibility, and competition could be massive—especially for consumers.

🚀 Startup Scoop

• 💔 EaseMyTrip-Rollins deal falls through: The medical tourism play by EaseMyTrip won’t be happening. The ₹60 crore share swap deal with Rollins International collapsed, halting a planned 30% stake acquisition.

• 🍨 Walko Food buys Meemee’s Ice Creams: Walko, known for NIC and Grameen Kulfi, has bought Meemee’s to break into artisanal desserts. The move aims to expand its D2C reach and urban footprint.

• 🥨 Indian Snack House raises ₹2.2 Cr from Titan Capital: Chennai’s clean-label snack brand just raised fresh funds to scale its South Indian treats and launch new regional products. The startup now ships over 1 lakh packets monthly.

• 💎 GIVA raises ₹530 Cr in Series C: Omnichannel jewellery player GIVA raised ₹530 crore led by Creaegis. The funds will fuel new stores, digital ops, and supply chain tech. FY24 revenue rose 66% to ₹274 crore, but losses also widened.

🧠 Chai Break Trivia

🧠 Did you know: The word "petrol" is derived from the French word pétrole, meaning "rock oil"? The term was popularized in British English, while Americans went with “gasoline.” Next time you're at the pump, you’re technically buying rock juice! ⛽

🔮 What’s Brewing Next?

• 🔍 All eyes on SBI’s mega QIP: India’s biggest-ever qualified institutional placement (QIP) could launch any day now.

• 🇮🇳 Tariff tensions ticking: Trump’s July 9 tariff deadline is coming up fast. Markets are bracing for volatility.

☕ That’s all for your Thursday masala dose (aka Friday Junior!). Whether you’re investing in chips or just eyeing some kulfi, stay curious and caffeinated. Catch you tomorrow!