Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, January 7, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started.

The Indian stock market tumbled on Monday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 both plunging over 1.5%, as widespread selling gripped the market. Investor sentiment was rattled by reports of a new virus outbreak in China, fueling fresh concerns.

India's real estate sector is poised for an eventful year. While the office market shows promise, driven by demand from global capability centers and tech companies, challenges loom. A shortage of premium office spaces in key markets like Mumbai and Bengaluru could hamper growth unless new, high-quality projects come online. On the residential front, the momentum seen post-pandemic is slowing. Elevated property prices in several cities are deterring buyers, potentially prompting a shift towards affordable housing as the market undergoes a correction. Madhurima Nandy explores the key factors shaping the outlook for the real estate market this year.

The Indian government is set to introduce a new policy aimed at driving sustainability in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. This initiative will provide financial, technological, and regulatory support to help MSMEs adopt greener practices, aligning with India's net-zero carbon emissions target for 2070. Rituraj Baruah and Manas Pimpalkhare report that a dedicated body under the MSME ministry will oversee this transition, ensuring a smooth shift to sustainable operations. Beyond environmental goals, the policy aims to ease the financial burden on small businesses by offering a robust support system to manage the costs of these changes.

India’s consumer goods companies are bracing for a tough third quarter with expected low single-digit revenue growth and margin contraction. Despite price hikes aimed at combating inflation, weak urban demand and a delayed winter have dampened the sector's performance. Suneera Tandon spoke to Nitin Gupta from Emkay Global, who told her that only a few companies like ITC, Marico, and Bikaji might report double-digit revenue growth. Marico has seen some support from rural markets and has raised prices on products like Parachute coconut oil to cope with rising costs. However, the overall urban demand is expected to remain subdued for a few more quarters, with further price hikes likely as companies grapple with high input costs affecting essentials like soaps and edible oils.

After stepping down as managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak isn’t hitting the brakes. Instead, he’s channeling his energy into USK Capital, his family office, where he’s focused on investing in businesses with long-term growth potential and mentoring the next generation of business leaders. While no longer in a full-time banking role, Kotak remains actively involved as a non-executive director on the bank’s board. In a recent conversation with Mint’s Satish John and Gopika Gopakumar, he shared insights on topics ranging from privatization and regulatory challenges to Starlink's entry into India’s telecom space. At 65, Kotak remains steadfast in his vision of witnessing India emerge as a global powerhouse within his lifetime.

In 2024, while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) took a cautious stance on Indian equities, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) confidently stepped in. Notably, when FIIs recorded their largest sell-off of the year in October, DIIs countered with their highest-ever monthly purchases for the period. This marked the fourth consecutive year where DIIs outpaced FIIs in market investments, according to a report from IIFL Securities. Although FIIs showed signs of a minor comeback in December, it’s still uncertain whether this trend will persist in 2025. Experts at Bajaj Broking suggest that FII caution might continue, driven by global and local economic challenges. Looking ahead, market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. If the upcoming budget strikes the right chord with investors, it could pave the way for a stronger FII resurgence, writes Dipti Sharma. India’s core growth fundamentals remain robust, and with favourable global conditions and strategic domestic policies, foreign interest could see a meaningful revival.

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