☕ EMIs Down, Zepto Up, IndiGo Flying High

Happy Friday Junior! 🎉 While it feels like the weekend is just one filter coffee away, here’s your dose of weekday wisdom. A quick reminder: Markets are closed today for Mahavir Jayanti. Trading will resume Friday.

It’s Friday Junior, and while the stock markets are taking a midweek power nap, we’re still brewing up a hot cup of news for you! From RBI’s surprise rate cut to Zepto’s rapid rise and Samsung’s AI-powered homebot, there’s plenty to sip on. So lean back, enjoy the holiday, and get your daily dose of gyaan — Masala Chai style.

🫖 Chai Shots

• 📉 RBI hits the brakes again: The Reserve Bank of India cut its repo rate by another 25 basis points to 6% and shifted its stance to “accommodative” — hinting that more cuts could be on the table. This comes as fresh US tariffs create new headwinds for India’s economy. The Big Brew has more on this rate cut and what it means for you ☕️➡️

• 💸 IndiGo flies past competitors: India’s biggest airline by market share has now become the most valuable airline in the world (yep, you read that right!) with a market cap of $23.3 billion. That’s higher than even Delta and Ryanair — thanks to strong financials and an expanding international presence.

• 🏃‍♂️ Zepto zooms in: Quick commerce unicorn Zepto is nearing $4 billion in annualised order value, while halving its cash burn. The company is now flirting with EBITDA breakeven and its Zepto Café has hit 1 lakh+ daily orders — with a 50% gross margin. Not too shabby.

• 🏨 IndiGo checks into hotels: InterGlobe (IndiGo’s parent) and hospitality giant Accor are teaming up to build a 300-hotel empire in India by 2030. They’ll integrate their loyalty programs too — so your flights and hotel stays might soon rack up rewards faster than your credit card.

📊 Market Masala

• 📉 Markets take a breather: Indian markets slipped on Wednesday, tracking global weakness. The Sensex dropped 380 points to 73,847 while the Nifty closed at 22,399. Rate-sensitive sectors like IT, realty, and pharma were among the biggest losers.

• 🧘‍♀️ Repo relief, but muted reaction: Even though the RBI delivered a rate cut and a shift to an “accommodative” stance, markets didn’t exactly cheer. Experts say global uncertainty — especially around tariffs — is keeping investors on edge.

• 📦 FMCG stocks buck the trend: Nestle India and Hindustan Unilever gained nearly 3% each, with investors leaning into defensives amid volatility.

• 🔮 Volatility still high: India VIX remains elevated, signaling more choppiness ahead. Traders are watching closely as earnings season begins.

• 🪙 Bitcoin bounces back: Crypto markets rallied on the news of the tariff pause, with Bitcoin surging over 9% to $83K. Risk-on mode reactivated.

🌍 Global Masala

• 🌪 Wall Street rebounds — hard: US markets had their biggest day in years after President Trump announced a 90-day pause on new tariffs for most countries (China excluded). The Nasdaq soared nearly 12%, the S&P 500 jumped over 9%, and the Dow rocketed 2,800 points. Relief rally much?

• 🇨🇳 China hits back, again: China slapped fresh retaliatory duties, hiking tariffs on US goods to 84%. Tensions are high, but talks are (supposedly) underway. Let’s hope they’re productive.

• 💵 Bond yields still rising: Despite the tariff pause, US Treasury yields continued to climb — a sign investors remain jittery about inflation and uncertainty.

• 🧱 Lego stacks up a new base: The Danish toy giant opened a $1B factory in Vietnam to meet Asia demand. The plant will be solar-powered and won’t export to the US, where tariffs on Vietnamese goods remain steep.

• 🎮 Samsung’s Ballie gets Gemini brainpower: Samsung’s home robot Ballie will now be powered by Google’s Gemini AI, letting it answer your questions, give fitness and sleep tips, and even rate your outfits. Alexa, who?

☕ The Big Brew: RBI Cuts Rates — What It Means for You

India’s central bank is in rate-cut mode — and it’s all about keeping the economy caffeinated ☕

• 📉 What just happened?

  • The RBI trimmed its key repo rate by 25 basis points to 6% — second cut this year

  • It also changed its stance to "accommodative", hinting more cuts are brewing 🍵

  • All six members of the Monetary Policy Committee were on board — full consensus

• 🌍 Why now?

  • The US slapped 26% tariffs on Indian goods, rattling global trade

  • The RBI dialed back its growth forecast to 6.5% and sees inflation easing to 4%

  • With exports under pressure, the central bank is trying to soften the blow

• 💸 What does this mean for you?

  • Got a home, auto, or small biz loan linked to the repo rate? Your EMIs could drop soon

  • Borrowing gets cheaper, demand gets a boost — that’s the idea

  • The RBI isn’t targeting a specific rupee level, but it will step in if things get too wild 💱

• ⚠️ But don’t get too comfy...

  • A weaker rupee could make imports pricier

  • Global uncertainty still looms large — especially if the US-China tariff drama continues 🎭

• 👉 Bottom Line:
  This move gives the economy a gentle push forward — but it's also a signal that the RBI is watching global chaos closely, and ready to act again if things get worse.

🚀 Startup Scoop

• 🥗 Let’s Try gets a crunchy $2.5M: Delhi-NCR based snacking brand Let’s Try raised $2.5 million in a round led by SWC Global, with backing from Wipro Consumer and boAt’s Aman Gupta. The healthy snackmaker plans to expand across Tier I-III cities and add more products.

• 🛠 Amicco fuels up with $1M: Auto spare parts marketplace Amicco snagged $1M in seed funding from Eximius Ventures. It’s now revving up to expand to more cities and make parts sourcing smoother for independent garages.

• 🕉 Bhagva taps into spiritual-tech: Digital spiritual platform Bhagva secured $1M to scale its services — from online pujas to astrology and skill training for women artisans making pooja products. Namaste meets next-gen tech.

🤓 Chai Break Trivia

Did you know India is home to the world’s highest cricket ground?
🏏 The Chail Cricket Ground in Himachal Pradesh sits at a stunning altitude of 2,444 metres (8,018 feet) above sea level. Built in 1893, it’s not just scenic — it’s record-breaking!

🔮 What’s Brewing Next?

• 📆 Markets closed today: Indian stock markets are shut for Mahavir Jayanti. Trading resumes Friday.

• 🪙 US inflation data incoming: The March CPI report drops Thursday evening IST. Brace for fresh clues on whether the Fed will cut rates soon.

🧘‍♂️ That’s a wrap for this chilled-out Thursday!
While the markets snooze for Mahavir Jayanti , we hope you're sipping something warm ☕, catching a break 🌿, and maybe even plotting your Friday comeback like the Sensex after a long weekend 📈😉.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more spice 🌶️, stories 📚, and stock talk 💹.