🛵 Zomato & Swiggy Under Fire And More (Mar 7)

Author

Masala Chai
March 07, 2025

🥳 Happy Friday, chai lovers! ☕️✨

Dog Friday GIF by Nebraska Humane Society

The weekend is just a sip away, and we've brewed up the perfect blend of news to kickstart your Friday feels. Whether you're winding down the week or gearing up for the weekend, grab your cup and let's dive into the hottest stories of the day! 🚀🌶️

☕️ Chai Shots

📈 Market Masala

  • 📈 Sensex & Nifty Shine: Sensex surged 610 points to close at 74,340, while Nifty gained 207 points to end at 22,545. All sectors ended in the green, with metal, oil & gas, and pharma leading the charge with gains of 1.5-2%.

  • 🛢️ Oil Prices Provide Relief: Crude oil stabilized near multi-year lows, easing inflation concerns and boosting sentiment in energy stocks. BPCL soared 3.6%, while Asian Paints led the pack with a 4.8% jump.

  • 🛠️ Top Gainers: Reliance Industries (+3%), Hindalco and Coal India (+4% each), NTPC, and BPCL were among the major winners.

  • 📉 Mild Losers: Tech Mahindra, Trent, Bharat Electronics, HDFC Life, and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the laggards of the day.

  • 🚗 Auto parts players scramble: Indian auto part manufacturers are strategizing to reroute exports through tariff-free countries to avoid the impact of Trump's reciprocal tariffs, aiming to maintain competitiveness in the $6.79 billion U.S. market.

  • 🌐 CBDT cashes in: India's compliance campaign led to ₹29,208 crore in declared foreign assets, with the number of voluntary disclosures skyrocketing from 60,000 in 2021-22 to 231,452 in 2024-25, highlighting a strong crackdown on hidden offshore wealth.

🌏 Global Masala

  • 📉 Nasdaq Enters Correction: The Nasdaq Composite dropped over 2.6%, officially entering correction territory, as tech stocks took a hit from Trump's tariff uncertainty. The S&P 500 also plummeted nearly 2%, hitting its lowest level since November.

  • 🚗 Tariff Tangle Continues: While Trump announced a temporary tariff reprieve for Mexican and Canadian goods compliant with the USMCA, the lack of clarity on broader tariff policies kept markets on edge. Tech stocks like Marvell, Nvidia, and AMD bore the brunt of the sell-off.

  • 🇨🇳 China vs. U.S.—Ready to fight: China warns the U.S. it's ready for any trade war escalation after Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing imposed retaliatory duties, raising stakes in the ongoing economic battle.

  • 💹 Dollar losing steam? Analysts predict the U.S. dollar might weaken further as tariffs raise prices and dampen consumer spending, potentially paving the way for RBI rate cuts despite a weakening rupee.

☕️ The Big Brew – Quick Commerce Faces Heat from India’s Kirana Stores 🚦🛒

What’s Brewing?
India’s quick-commerce giants—Zomato’s Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto—are in hot water as the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The accusation? Predatory pricing and deep discounting that’s putting small, local kirana shops at risk. 🛍️💥

Why the Fuss? 🤔

  • 💸 Predatory Pricing: Quick-commerce platforms allegedly offer deep discounts that local shops simply can't match, pushing small businesses into the red.

  • 🚨 Market Monopoly? AICPDF claims that these platforms are leveraging their deep pockets to absorb losses and grab market share, effectively sidelining traditional retailers.

  • 📉 Impact on Kirana Stores: Nearly 82% of consumers have shifted at least 25% of their purchases to quick-commerce apps, leaving kiranas struggling.

The Bigger Picture 🌐 The quick-commerce market in India is projected to soar to $35 billion by 2030, up from just $200 million in 2021. But this rapid growth isn't sitting well with traditional retailers, who see it as an existential threat.

Our Take 🧐 This battle between quick-commerce platforms and traditional kirana stores could reshape India’s retail landscape. While consumers enjoy the convenience and discounts of rapid delivery, there’s also value in supporting local businesses that have been the backbone of Indian neighborhoods for generations. It’s a delicate balance, and how this unfolds could set the tone for the future of retail in India. Definitely one to watch! 📲✨

🚀 Startup Scoop

🧠 Chai Break Trivia

Did you know? India is the world's largest producer of milk, contributing over 22% of the global milk production! That's a lot of chai lattes! 🥛☕

🔮 What's Brewing Next?

  • 📊 Jobs Report Incoming: All eyes on the US February jobs report dropping today—will it boost or break the markets?

  • 🧠 AI Accelerator Kickoff: India's new AI startup accelerator program is set to launch—could we see the next big tech unicorn?

🚀 That’s a Wrap!

That’s your Friday brew, folks! As we head into the weekend, gear up for the big showdown on Sunday—India vs. New Zealand in the Cricket Champions Trophy final! 🏏🇮🇳🇳🇿 Will Team India bring home the cup? We'll be on the edge of our seats, masala chai in hand! ☕️

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