🏏 India-Pak Cricket Match Breaks All Records! (Feb 24)

🏏 Happy Monday & What a Win! Mondays might be rough, but waking up to an India-Pakistan victory makes it a whole lot better! 🇮🇳🔥
Kohli's clutch century and a record 60.2 crore viewers on JioHotstar—this was cricket at its absolute best. If only the markets could chase down losses the way India chased that total!

While we ride that Monday energy, here’s what’s brewing in business, tech, and markets this week. Grab your chai! ☕👇

Chai Shots ☕🔥

• 📜 Trump’s Tariff Threats Push India’s FTA Talks into Overdrive – With US trade relations on shaky ground, India is fast-tracking FTA negotiations with the UK and EU. This week, the UK Trade Secretary and EU Commission President are in New Delhi to seal economic and strategic ties. As US tariffs loom, India is diversifying its global trade bets. 🚀🌏

• ⚡ HP buys Humane, but chaos follows – The AI Pin is officially dead. HP acquired Humane for $116M (half of what it raised in VC funding), but while some employees got a 70% salary bump, many others were laid off without warning.

• 💼 Days after firing 3,600 employees, Meta rewards top execs with 200% bonuses – The timing couldn’t be worse! Meta doubled executive bonuses, citing "industry standards," while fired employees vented their frustration online.

• 🏆 India-Pakistan cricket match sets new streaming record – JioHotstar clocked a staggering 60.2 crore viewership as Virat Kohli’s century sealed the win, making it the most-watched cricket stream ever! 📺🔥

• 📈 Sebi plans to expand angel investing – The market regulator wants to remove the 200-investor cap and bring in qualified institutional buyers, unlocking more funds for startups.

Market Masala 📈🌶️

• 📊 India’s Q3 GDP (Feb 28) is key – Growth is expected at 6.4%, the slowest in four years. A lower-than-expected number could spook markets.

• 📉 Nifty’s Key Support at 22,500: After a bearish breakdown last week, technical charts suggest 22,500 is a crucial support level. If breached, it could accelerate selling, while resistance at 22,850 needs to be broken for a recove

• ⚠️ FII Outflows & Market Liquidity: Foreign investors pulled ₹7,793 crore last week, as India underperforms Asian peers amid US tariff fears. Unless inflows resume, markets may struggle to sustain any recovery.

• 📺 Advertisers Bet Big on India-Pakistan Clash – Brands shelled out a staggering ₹50 lakh for a 10-second ad spot during the record-breaking India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match. This is nearly 3x higher than IPL playoff rates! With 60.2 crore viewership on JioHotstar, sponsors like Dream11, Vodafone-Idea, ICICI Bank, and Pernod Ricard made sure to cash in on the historic eyeball frenzy. 🚀📢

Global Masala 🌍🔥

• 📉 US Inflation (Feb 28) & Fed Rate Clues: The core PCE index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, is expected to land at 2.6%. A higher number may delay rate cuts, tightening global liquidity and impacting FII flows into India.

• 📉 US Stock Market Volatility: The Dow fell 748 points last week, with concerns over weak economic data, soft consumer demand, and new tariff threats. A weaker outlook may further weigh on global sentiment.

• 🚀 Nvidia’s Earnings (Feb 26) - AI’s Big Test: Nvidia’s earnings will set the tone for AI stocks and global tech sentiment. If strong, it could lift market optimism, but a miss may drag tech stocks and overall sentiment lower.

• 📈 European Markets & Germany’s Elections: While European stocks are near record highs, Germany’s snap elections could disrupt investor confidence. If a new government shifts toward higher spending, it may impact global economic policy and markets.

• 📉 Emerging Asia stocks bounce back – A weaker dollar is fueling investor interest in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines after weeks of outflows.

The Big Brew ☕🍵 Nvidia’s Earnings: Make or Break for AI Stocks?

Nvidia ($NVDA) is more than just a stock—it’s the powerhouse driving the AI revolution. With a $3.4 trillion market cap and 98% market share in AI chips, its Q4 earnings on Feb 26 will determine whether AI stocks continue soaring or face a harsh reality check.

• 🔥 The Stakes Are High:

  • Revenue Expected: $38.1B (+73% YoY)

  • EPS Forecast: $0.79 (+61% YoY)

  • Big Question: Is AI demand still “insane” or is the hype cooling off?

• 🛠️ The DeepSeek Challenge:

  • Chinese startup DeepSeek claims it can train AI models without Nvidia’s expensive chips. If this works, AI companies may not need Nvidia’s cutting-edge GPUs, shaking up the industry.

• 📈 If Nvidia Crushes Expectations:

  • AI stocks like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and AMD could surge.

  • Confidence in the AI boom strengthens, leading to more tech investment.

• 📉 If Nvidia Disappoints:

  • Investors may rethink AI stock valuations, leading to a market correction.

  • Nvidia’s dominance could be challenged, especially with new competitors emerging.

💡 Bottom Line:
Nvidia’s report isn’t just about one company—it’s a verdict on AI’s future. If demand remains strong, AI stocks will fly higher. But if Nvidia signals slowing growth, the AI bubble might finally start deflating. 🚀📉

Startup Scoop 🚀💰

• 💊 KKR to acquire HealthCare Global for $400M – Strengthening its India healthcare footprint.

• 🥃 Bro Code’s parent IndoBevs eyes ₹700 crore revenue – Betting big on its Bonga Bonga liqueur & whisky lineup.

Chai Break Trivia 🤓☕

Did you know? The world’s largest stainless steel statue was built by an Indian company! 🇮🇳🏗️

🏆 Jindal Stainless created the 182m Statue of Unity, honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. It’s the tallest statue in the world, towering over iconic structures like the Statue of Liberty! 🌍🔥

What’s Brewing Next? 🔮🔥

🚀 Feb 26: Nvidia earnings – The biggest AI market test of 2025.
📊 Feb 28: India’s GDP & US Inflation Data – Will growth slow down further?

From Nvidia’s high-stakes earnings to India’s record-breaking cricket win, this week is packed with action. Markets are on edge, AI stocks are holding their breath, and GDP data could shake things up.

Will AI stocks soar or stumble? Will Sensex find its footing? Stay tuned, stay sharp, and as always—bet on Virat in a chase! 🏏🔥

See you tomorroq for more Masala Chai! ☕✨