It's Thursday, March 6th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started. 

ITC Hotels’ Rough Debut

January 29 was supposed to be a landmark day for ITC Hotels as it began trading independently. However, shares debuted nearly 30% below the implied price, dampening initial enthusiasm. Despite this, analysts remain bullish, valuing the company between ₹42,500-₹62,000 crore. ITC Hotels aims to expand to 200 hotels with 18,000 rooms in five years, relying on managed properties. However, investors worry about its limited owned-hotel pipeline. As competitors like IHCL and Marriott ramp up expansion, ITC Hotels must carve out its niche in a booming industry.

Coforge’s Record-Breaking Deal

Coforge Ltd soared 8% after securing a record 13-year, $1.56 billion deal with US travel tech giant Sabre Corp. This long-term contract ensures strong revenue visibility for FY26, even as tech budgets shrink. Coforge also acquired Rythmos Inc. for $48.7 million and TMLabs for $12.5 million, further expanding its portfolio. A 1:5 stock split was announced to boost liquidity. However, Sabre’s $5.1 billion debt raises cash collection concerns. Despite this, Coforge has outperformed peers, with its December order book reaching $1.4 billion—up 40% YoY.

Tesla, Tariffs & Trump

India’s sky-high auto tariffs—up to 110%—have kept foreign automakers like Tesla out, despite Elon Musk’s repeated attempts to enter the market. Now, US President Donald Trump has joined the fight, slamming India’s “unfair” tariffs and threatening retaliatory action. As trade negotiations intensify, India has begun cutting duties on luxury vehicles—a possible opening for Tesla. With Trade Minister Piyush Goyal in the US for talks, the world watches to see if India will open its doors to global carmakers or protect its domestic industry.

Cancer Drug Prices Set to Fall

Cancer treatment in India is notoriously expensive, with some drugs costing up to ₹2 lakh per month. That’s changing, thanks to domestic production under the government’s PLI scheme. Leading pharma firms like Sun Pharma, Cipla, and Biocon are now manufacturing key cancer drugs, significantly cutting prices. For example, Trastuzumab, once ₹70,000 per month, now costs ₹12,000. More price reductions are expected as local production scales up. The initiative not only benefits Indian patients but also strengthens India’s role as the “pharmacy of the world,” with exports to South America and Africa.

Rupee Rises Amid Market Rally

The rupee strengthened by 19 paise to close at 87.00 against the US dollar, supported by a rally in domestic equities, a weaker dollar, and falling crude oil prices. Volatility remained high, with the currency fluctuating between 86.93 and 87.20. Meanwhile, the dollar index slipped 0.79% amid Trump’s escalating tariff moves. Brent crude also declined 0.75% to $70.51 per barrel. Markets responded positively, with the Sensex surging 740 points to 73,730 and the Nifty rising 255 points to 22,337. However, FII outflows and ongoing trade uncertainties could limit further rupee gains.

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