🇺🇸 Trump’s 200 Orders & Zomato’s Profit Plunge 📉 + Top Headlines (Jan 21)

Good morning and happy Tuesday! 🌞 It’s a big day in global politics, with Donald Trump sworn in as the 47th President of the United States for his second term.

The "T-Factor" is already sending ripples through markets, with over 200 executive orders set to drop on everything from energy production and tariffs to TikTok and crypto. Whether you're a fan or not, the world is bracing for a wave of changes that could reshape policies and markets alike. Buckle up—2025 is kicking off with a bang! 🚀

Chai Shots ☕

• Zomato tumbles 📉: Q3 profit down 57% YoY to ₹59 crore, as Blinkit’s expansion strains finances. Revenue surged 64% to ₹5,404 crore.

• Bitcoin whiplash 🪙: Hits a record $109,000 before falling to $101,822 on Trump’s inauguration day. Speculations around pro-crypto policies keep markets buzzing.

• Paytm narrows loss 💰: Q3 loss reduced to ₹208 crore from ₹928 crore in the previous quarter, with revenue up 10% sequentially to ₹1,828 crore. Profitability expected within 1-2 quarters.

• 🏦 Big Boost for Insurance? Moody’s says India could see a flood of foreign investments if FDI in insurance is hiked to 100%. With better margins, new tax rules, and LIC & New India Assurance already reshaping the game, the sector is gearing up for big changes! 🚀

Market Masala 📈

• Sensex & Nifty climb 📊: Nifty 50 rose 0.61%, while Sensex surged +0.59%, led by Kotak Mahindra Bank’s stellar 9% gain after Q3 results. Wipro (+7%) impressed with strong Q3 results, while Bajaj Finserv (+4%) surged on its new digital finance partnership with Airtel.

• Trade setup for today 🧐: Nifty eyes 24,000 with a breakout above 23,400. Key earnings to watch: Tata Tech, PNB Housing, and ICICI Prudential.

• Airtel & Bajaj Finance team up 💳: The two giants announced a partnership to launch a digital financial platform, combining Airtel’s 370M customer base and Bajaj Finance’s wide array of financial products.

• Go First Airlines Grounded Permanently ✈️💸: Go First Airways, once a key player in India's budget airline space, is set to be liquidated. An Indian tribunal ordered the decision after lenders rejected revival bids, marking the end of a turbulent journey. The airline, which filed for bankruptcy in May 2023, owes ₹6,521 crore to creditors, including major banks like Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Deutsche Bank.

Global Masala 🌍

• European markets steady 💶: Stoxx 600 gained 0.05%, with mining stocks (+1.2%) leading the charge. Euro and pound surged against the dollar.

• Nikkei rebounds 🇯🇵: Gains 1.17% to 38,902.50, aided by a weaker yen and global optimism, but markets eye potential volatility from Trump’s policies.

• 🌱 Climate Club Chaos: Scotiabank exits the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, joining Wall Street giants like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. Amid Trump’s pro-fossil fuel stance, Canadian banks face pressure, with RBC as the only major player still holding on. 🌍 What’s next for global decarbonization efforts?🌐 

• Big Tech Gets EU Rules Ready: YouTube, Facebook, and Elon Musk’s X have agreed to stricter hate speech regulations under Europe’s updated Digital Services Act. Expect faster takedowns, transparency in recommendation algorithms, and better protection for online users.

• Argentina Hits a Record Trade Surplus 🌽🚢: Argentina smashed its trade surplus record in 2024, reaching $18.9 billion under President Javier Milei's leadership. Key factors? Boosted grain and energy exports, plus slashed public spending to tame inflation. With nearly $80 billion in exports, the country's top buyers were Brazil, the US, and Chile.

Trump’s Power Play Unleashed 🌎

Newly reinstated President Donald Trump wasted no time making waves on his first day back in office, signing a flurry of executive orders. Some notable ones include

• Drill, Baby, Drill! 🛢️ Trump declared a national economic emergency to ramp up energy production, reversing regulations on LNG exports and lifting restrictions on Alaskan drilling.

• Trade Turbulence Incoming 💼 No day-one tariffs yet, but Trump hinted at big plans for Canada and Mexico to "protect American workers."

• TikTok Takes the Stage 📱 Amid weekend drama, Trump promised a reprieve for TikTok but left questions about his authority to act.

• Paris Accord? Not So Much 🌍 Trump withdrew from the climate pact (again), emphasizing energy independence as the path to American riches.

• Pardons and Power Moves 🏛️ Trump pardoned Jan. 6 supporters and announced sweeping control over federal hiring, stirring up the bureaucracy.

The Big Brew 🫖: Zomato: Balancing Growth and Losses

Zomato, India’s food delivery heavyweight, just spilled its Q3 beans, and it’s a mix of flavors. Here’s the dish:

• 🍕 Revenues Rising: Zomato’s revenue from operations jumped a sizzling 64% YoY to ₹5,404 crore. People are still ordering in, and the numbers prove it.

• 📉 Profits Go Cold: But wait—profits? Not so tasty. PAT shrank 57% YoY to ₹59 crore. Turns out, growing pains in Blinkit’s quick commerce business have left a dent.

• 🚴 Quick Commerce Chaos: Blinkit’s losses surged to ₹103 crore, thanks to Zomato speeding up investments to expand its store network. CEO Deepinder Goyal says this will help them hit 2,000 stores by December 2025—an ambitious upgrade from their earlier timeline of December 2026.

• 💰 Cash on the Table: On the bright side, Zomato’s cash reserves soared to ₹19,235 crore after a hefty ₹8,446 crore fundraise. That’s some cushion for their rapid expansion.

• 📦 Growth Appetite: The company’s new ventures, like the "District" live events app, are showing promise with 6.5M downloads already. Zomato’s strategy to diversify into dining, live experiences, and B2B supplies is clearly on the boil.

What does this mean?

Zomato’s recipe has a lot of spice but needs more seasoning. Their investments in Blinkit and new verticals are future-focused, but the short-term margin squeeze is leaving investors with heartburn. The good news? Zomato’s confident about long-term growth and profitability. Looks like it’s all about patience while they simmer their expansion plans!

Startup Scoop 🚀

• Burma Burma expands 🍜: Raises ₹25.46 crore to double its outlets to 24 by FY26, with IPO plans by 2027.

• Oyo’s IPO push 🏨: Reviving plans to file for a ₹1,000 crore IPO by Q1 FY26 after turning profitable with ₹229 crore PAT in FY24.

• Paytm goes global 🌏: Expands to the Middle East and Southeast Asia with ₹20 crore investments in new subsidiaries, aiming for profitability in 1-2 quarters.

• Veritas Finance IPO 💸: Files for a ₹2,800 crore IPO to expand its MSME-focused lending portfolio.

• 💊 PharmEasy Founders Exit Amid Struggles: Four out of five co-founders are leaving the healthtech giant as it battles financial woes. With a nearly 90% drop in valuation from its 2021 peak and increasing debt from past acquisitions, PharmEasy’s IPO plans remain uncertain.

Chai Break Trivia 🤔

☕ Did you know? During his second inauguration, President Donald Trump mentioned creating a "Department of Government Efficiency" (yes, DOGE for short). 😏 While Elon Musk didn't confirm involvement, crypto enthusiasts couldn't help but have a field day with the potential acronym! 🚀

What’s Brewing Next? 🔮

• Q3 earnings to watch: Keep an eye on Tata Tech, PNB Housing, and ICICI Prudential reports today.

• Budget buzz: With the Union Budget around the corner, markets are speculating about potential reforms and fiscal measures.

• Trump’s Executive Order Bonanza: With the executive orders in full swing on everything from energy policy (think "drill, baby, drill") to TikTok reprieves under the lens, investors, businesses, and governments worldwide are waiting to see how this shock and awe strategy unfolds. 🌎💼

That’s it for today’s brew, chai lovers! ☕ Let’s take on this Tuesday with the same energy as Trump’s wave of executive orders and Bitcoin’s wild ride. See you tomorrow! ✌️