☕ Midweek Chai: Tesla, Gold & Campa Cola’s Global Move (Feb 18)

It’s Wednesday, which means we’re halfway through the week! While you sip your chai, Tesla is gearing up for its big Indian debut, markets are keeping an eye on gold prices, and Reliance is going global with Campa Cola.

Let’s dive into today’s top stories!

⚡ Chai Shots

• ✈️ Air India & IndiGo’s Hiring Controversy: ALPA India claims Air India & IndiGo have an unspoken pact not to hire each other’s pilots, raising legal and ethical concerns about fair hiring practices in aviation.

• 💸 PNB Reports ₹270.57 Cr Loan Fraud: Gupta Power Infrastructure defaulted on loans, leading to one of the biggest banking frauds of the year. PNB has already set aside provisions for the loss.

• 📉 Rupee Slips Further: The rupee weakened to ₹86.95 per USD as foreign investors continued pulling out funds. The RBI’s support for the currency is reportedly tapering off.

• 💰 Gold Hits Record High: Goldman Sachs has raised its year-end gold price target to $3,100 per ounce, citing central bank buying and inflation hedging. Could gold be the ultimate safe bet?

• 🥤 Reliance Expands Campa Cola to UAE: In a bold move against Coca-Cola and Pepsi, Reliance is taking Campa Cola international with its launch in the UAE at aggressive price points.

📈 Market Masala

• 📉 Sensex fell 201 points to 75,795, while Nifty dropped 82 points to 22,876. Indian stock markets kicked off Tuesday on a weak note, as foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their sell-off, offloading a whopping ₹3,937.83 crore on Monday.

  • 🚨 Top losers: Tata Steel, NTPC, SBI, UltraTech Cement, and Tata Motors.

  • 📈 Top gainers: Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Infosys, HCL Tech, and TCS.

• 📊 Block Deals: Indian Continent Investment Ltd sold 511.15 lakh shares of Bharti Airtel worth ₹8,485 crore, leading to significant stock movement.

• 🔐 Sebi Strengthens Trading Security: SEBI is proposing SIM-binding authentication for trading accounts to curb unauthorized transactions.

• 🔋 Reliance Wins ₹3,620 Cr Battery PLI: The company secured government incentives to boost battery manufacturing for India’s EV and renewable energy ecosystem.

• 💼 India & Qatar Set $28B Trade Target: Both nations aim to double bilateral trade over the next five years, focusing on energy and investment.

🌍 Global Masala

• 📊 U.S. Markets Hover Near Records: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged higher as traders await the Fed’s meeting minutes, while fears of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs weigh on investor sentiment.

• 🚀 Intel Stock Surges: Intel shares soared 10% after reports that Broadcom and TSMC are in talks to split up the chipmaker.

• 📉 Asia Markets Mixed: Investors are assessing Chinese President Xi’s latest pro-business comments, while the Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates for the first time in four years. Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi rose, while China’s CSI 300 dipped.

• 🛡️ European Defense Stocks Rally: As Russia and the U.S. met for the first formal talks on Ukraine, European defense stocks hit record highs, with leaders discussing increased military spending.

• 💵 Trump Tariffs Could Cost India $7B Annually : Proposed U.S. tariffs could hit Indian exports, impacting chemicals, jewelry, and agriculture. The government is preparing countermeasures.

🍵 The Big Brew: Tesla Inches Closer to India Launch 🚗

Tesla is finally making its India move! The EV giant has locked in showroom locations in New Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), marking a major step toward selling in the Indian market.

What’s Happening? 🚀

• Showrooms Locked In: Tesla is setting up 5,000 sq. ft retail spaces in Delhi and Mumbai, strategically placed near major business and travel hubs.

• Hiring in Full Swing: The company has listed 13 job openings, including roles for store managers and customer relationship executives.

• PM Modi & Musk Connection: Last week, PM Modi met with Elon Musk in the U.S., discussing trade, mobility, and potential investments in India.

Challenges Ahead ⚠️

• Import Duty Hurdles: Tesla faces a 70% import tax on EVs, making its cars significantly more expensive in India. Will the government ease policies for the EV giant?

• No Service Centers Yet: While showrooms are confirmed, Tesla hasn’t announced any service or charging infrastructure, raising concerns for early buyers.

• Local Competition Fears: Indian automakers Tata, Mahindra, and MG Motor worry that Tesla’s entry could disrupt the domestic EV market and impact local production.

With Tesla’s presence now official, all eyes are on its next move—will it announce local production to sidestep taxes? Or will it stick to importing premium models? Stay tuned! 🚗⚡

🚀 Startup Scoop

• 👟 Nike x Skims Collab: Nike is teaming up with Kim Kardashian’s Skims to launch a women’s activewear brand, debuting in the U.S. this spring.

• 🍗 Licious Targets $2B IPO: The D2C meat & seafood brand is targeting a 2026 listing, planning to achieve profitability within a year. The Temasek backed brand cut losses by 44% in FY24.

• 💻 Swish Club Raises $4.5M: The Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) startup secured funding to expand its enterprise laptop & smartphone rental platform.

• 🚗 Spyne Secures $16M for AI Car Imaging: The startup is scaling globally, enhancing car dealership visuals using AI-powered tools.

🧠 Chai Break Trivia

Did you know? 🥤 Before Coca-Cola and Pepsi entered India, Campa Cola was the undisputed king of fizzy drinks!

🔮 What’s Brewing Next?

• 🚗 Tesla’s Next Move: Will Tesla announce local production plans to tackle high import duties?

• 📉 Fed Rate Cut Clues: The Fed’s meeting minutes could signal whether rate cuts are coming soon.

Markets are zig-zagging, Tesla is revving up for India, and Reliance is taking Campa Cola global—it’s a wild ride out there! 🎢

Will Tesla shake up India’s EV game? Can gold keep shining? Will the rupee find solid ground? Stay tuned, sip your chai, and watch the markets brew! ☕🔥

See you next time—same time, same masala! 🇮🇳🚀