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Reliance’s Campa Energy partners with Ajith Kumar Racing

Indian motorsport is getting a powerful boost as Ajith Kumar Racing, the brainchild of actor and racer Ajith Kumar, has joined hands with Campa Energy, the energy‑drink brand from Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) , in a partnership that’s about more than sponsorship, it’s about shared dreams.

The collaboration brings together two homegrown champions. Firstly, chasing speed on the track, the other energising people every day. Ajith Kumar Racing has already made waves internationally, finishing third overall at the 2025 Creventic 24H European Endurance Championship. Now, with Campa Energy backing them, the team aims even higher.

For RCPL, it’s a chance to celebrate determination, grit, and performance while supporting India’s rising motorsport talent. Together, the partnership is not just about racing, it’s about showing the world the spirit of India, one fast lap at a time.

Also Read: Cabinet approves ₹45,060 cr plan to boost exports

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ReNew to invest ₹82,000 cr in Andhra Pradesh

ReNew Energy Global Plc plans to invest ₹82,000 crore across Andhra Pradesh in a wide range of renewable energy projects. The investment includes a 6 GW solar ingot-wafer plant, a 2 GW pumped-hydro project, a 300 ktpa green ammonia facility, and about 5 GW of hybrid solar-wind-storage projects.

The company has already signed four MoUs with the state government for fresh commitments of ₹60,000 crore, in addition to a previous ₹22,000 crore pledge. ReNew’s existing footprint in the state includes around 717 MW of wind and 60 MW of solar power across ten sites.

 CEO Sumant Sinha said the projects will create a fully integrated clean-energy value chain, supporting India’s push for self-reliance in energy and green technologies.

This massive expansion is expected to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s position as a hub for renewable energy.

Also Read: SpiceJet adds 5 planes, daily flights rise to 176

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Sensex & Nifty pause after four-day rally

Indian stocks paused on Thursday, with the Sensex and Nifty ending almost flat as a four-day rally lost momentum.

The S&P BSE Sensex inched up 12 points (0.01%) to 84,478.67, while the NSE Nifty 50 added just 3 points to close at 25,879.15. On the 30-stock Sensex, Asian Paints, ICICI Bank, Power Grid, Larsen & Toubro, and Bajaj Finserv led the gainers, rising between 1% and 4%.

Asian Paints surged 3.8%, extending its 4% rally from the previous session after reporting stronger profits driven by growth in its decorative paints segment.

Meanwhile, the IT index slipped 0.5% as investors booked profits following a nearly 5% rise over the past three sessions.

Positive sentiment from easing inflation and hopes of an India-US trade deal was balanced by caution ahead of the Bihar election results.

Also Read: Sensex volatile, Nifty steady above 25,850

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SpiceJet adds 5 planes, daily flights rise to 176

SpiceJet has added five new planes to its fleet, including a Boeing 737 MAX, bringing the total number of aircraft to 35.

With these additions, the airline has increased its daily flights from 100 to 176, responding to the higher number of passengers during the festive and winter season.

The new planes are part of a larger expansion: SpiceJet added 15 aircraft in the past month, including leased planes and one reactivated from earlier grounding.

Despite the fleet growth, the airline posted a net loss of around ₹621 crore for the quarter ending September 2025, compared with a loss of ₹457.8 crore a year ago. Revenue also fell about 13% to ₹792 crore.

SpiceJet’s shares rose slightly after the news, as investors welcomed the airline’s plan to increase capacity and cover more routes.

Also Read: India’s inflation plunges to 0.3% in October

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India’s inflation plunges to 0.3% in October

India’s retail inflation fell to a record low of 0.3% in October, offering welcome relief to households. Reuters reports a similar figure of 0.25%, marking one of the slowest rates of price rise in recent years.

The drop is largely due to falling food prices. Overall food inflation fell around 5%, with vegetables down over 27%. Onion prices plunged 54%, tomatoes 43%, and potatoes 37%. Cuts in the GST on everyday items also helped keep prices in check.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and fuel costs, eased slightly to 4.4%, while September’s inflation was revised to 1.44%.

Economists say the subdued inflation gives the Reserve Bank of India space to consider cutting interest rates in December. However, they caution that lower prices alone do not guarantee stronger growth, with upcoming GDP data expected to show the real state of the economy.

For consumers, this means some relief in their daily expenses, while policymakers now have room to support economic growth.

Also Read: Jaishankar meets Rubio at G7, India-US ties strengthen

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Mahindra, Manulife launch 50:50 life insurance joint venture

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) and Canadian insurer Manulife Financial Corporation have agreed to form a life-insurance joint venture in India, with each holding a 50 % stake. The venture is still subject to regulatory approvals from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

The companies plan a total investment of up to ₹3,600 crore over the next 10 years, with about ₹1,250 crore from each partner in the first five years. The JV will focus on long-term savings and protection products for individuals, combining Manulife’s global insurance experience with M&M’s strong rural and semi-urban network.

The partnership targets India’s growing life-insurance market, especially in areas where financial penetration is low. The venture is expected to start operations within 15–18 months and may take 10–12 years to break even.

India’s life-insurance sector has been growing steadily, with new business premiums for individual policies rising 12.1 % year-on-year in October 2025, highlighting a strong demand for insurance products across the country.

This collaboration also aligns with India’s broader goal of increasing insurance penetration nationwide, offering financial protection and long-term savings solutions to a larger population.

Also Read: Asian Paints brushes up 47% profit gain in Q2

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Asian Paints brushes up 47% profit gain in Q2

Asian Paints reported a sharp rise in profits for the July-September quarter, driven by strong festive-season demand and steady growth in its decorative paints segment.

The company’s consolidated net profit jumped 47% year-on-year to ₹1,018.23 crore, compared to ₹692 crore a year earlier. Revenue from operations rose 6% to ₹8,531 crore. The paint major also declared an interim dividend of ₹4.50 per share.

Asian Paints said its decorative paints business grew 10.9% in volume, supported by good demand across metros, towns, and rural areas. The home improvement and industrial coatings divisions also recorded steady gains, while international operations in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa contributed positively.

Margins improved on the back of higher operating efficiency and stable raw-material costs, boosting overall profitability.

Following the results, Asian Paints’ shares rose over 3%, extending their post-earnings rally. The stock has gained about 8% this week, outperforming the broader market.

The management remains optimistic about sustaining growth, backed by new product launches, improved distribution, and festive-driven demand recovery.

However, brokerages offered mixed reactions. While some analysts remain bullish on the company’s strong brand equity and pricing power, others flagged rising competition and uncertain rural demand as near-term challenges.

Also Read: Tata Steel Q2 profit soars 272% to ₹3,102 crore

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Tata Steel Q2 profit soars 272% to ₹3,102 crore

Tata Steel Ltd reported a sharp rise in earnings for the second quarter of FY 2026, backed by solid domestic demand, cost efficiencies, and a recovery in its European operations.

The steelmaker’s consolidated net profit surged 272% year-on-year to ₹3,102 crore, compared with ₹833 crore in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operations rose 9% to ₹58,689 crore, against ₹53,905 crore a year earlier, supported by higher deliveries and better realisations.

Operating profit (EBITDA) climbed 46% to ₹9,106 crore, reflecting improved spreads and a favourable product mix. The company said its India operations remained the key growth driver, with deliveries rising to 7.91 million tonnes from 7.52 million tonnes last year. Production also edged up to 7.69 million tonnes.

Tata Steel’s European business posted a core profit of €92 million, up sharply from €22 million a year ago, aided by efficiency measures and better operating conditions in the Netherlands.

The company said strong domestic consumption, particularly from infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, cushioned the impact of fluctuating global steel prices. It continues to focus on value-added products, cost optimisation, and deleveraging to strengthen its balance sheet.

Following the announcement, Tata Steel shares gained over 3% in early trading on Thursday.

 Analysts remain positive on the stock, citing stable demand and improved profitability, though they caution that global steel price movements and input costs will influence future performance.

Tata Steel said it remains committed to sustainable growth and operational excellence, as it continues to invest in technology and capacity expansion to meet rising demand across key markets.

Also Read: Trump signs bill to end 43-day US shutdown

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Sensex volatile, Nifty steady above 25,850

Indian equities opened on a weak note Thursday, with the Sensex swinging between gains and losses and the Nifty holding firm above 25,850. Investors turned cautious ahead of updates on the India-U.S. trade deal, while IT and financial stocks weighed on sentiment.

Markets paused after a three-day rally as traders booked profits in select heavyweights. However, buying in FMCG and pharma counters helped offset some of the pressure.

Among key movers, Honasa Consumer surged 7%, Lupin gained over 4%, and Asian Paints rose nearly 3%. On the downside, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles (TMCV) dropped about 3%, while Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, and Infosys also traded lower.

Broader indices showed a mixed trend, with mid- and small-cap stocks holding relatively steady amid cautious global cues.

Also Read: Sensex jumps 595 pts, Nifty crosses 25,850

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Tata Motors commercial-vehicle unit debuts 28% higher

Tata Motors’ newly separated commercial-vehicles business made a strong market debut. The stock opened at around ₹335 per share, about 28% higher than its pre-listing implied value of ₹261. It later climbed to roughly ₹345, signaling strong investor interest.

The de-merger separates the passenger-vehicle and electric-vehicle business from the commercial-vehicle arm, allowing each to be valued independently. The commercial-vehicle business reported revenue of about ₹75,055 crore and an EBITDA of ₹8,856 crore, with margins around 11.8%.

The sector is supported by improving freight activity, infrastructure development, easing commodity costs, and a reduction in GST from 28% to 18%. Analysts estimate the unit’s fair value at about ₹310–₹320 per share.

Tata Motors is also planning to acquire Iveco’s commercial-vehicle operations, which could strengthen its global presence in medium and heavy vehicles, although benefits may take time to materialize.

Investors are advised to note that the commercial-vehicle sector is cyclical, and margins can fluctuate depending on economic conditions and demand. While the listing was strong, medium-term investors are likely to benefit most from the stock’s focused play on the commercial-vehicle market.

Also Read: Adani Enterprises raises ₹25,000 crore via rights issue