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The new year began on a positive note for markets, with the Sensex and Nifty logging modest gains, thanks to rallies in auto and financial stocks. As we reflect on 2024, a record-breaking year for Indian equities, all eyes are now on the prospects for 2025. Will the markets deliver double-digit returns? Experts share their outlook.
Beyond equities, the Defence Ministry has declared 2025 the “year of reforms,” setting the stage for transformative changes, while the electronics industry is pushing for a simplified duty structure in the upcoming Union Budget. Meanwhile, Bihar’s political arena is heating up with speculation around Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s next move.
In corporate updates, Mahindra & Mahindra capped off 2024 with robust sales growth, Hyundai achieved record domestic sales, and Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip announced his resignation amid plans to divest stake.
Globally, Trump’s evolving stance on H-1B visas is stirring debate, and Silicon Valley’s dependence on skilled immigration remains in focus. Lastly, Swiggy Instamart delivered record orders on New Year’s Eve, signalling the growing scale of quick commerce in India.
Dive into today’s top stories and stay ahead with the latest updates and insights!
Markets start 2025 with modest gains; Sensex, Nifty gain up to 0.5%
The new year 2025 started on a positive note for domestic equity indices, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, which logged gains as much as 0.5% on Wednesday helped by rallies in the auto and financial stocks.
Banking and financial services stocks have a 34.6% weightage in the Nifty 50. A rise in these stocks pushed the benchmark indices higher. At closing, the Nifty 50 was up 0.4% at 23,742.90 points and the Sensex was 0.5% higher at 78,507.41 points.
The rupee ended flat at 85.64 against the US dollar on Wednesday (January 1), weighed down by importers’ dollar bids and weak foreign inflows, marking its seventh consecutive session of record closing lows.
Outlook 2025 — Will the Nifty see double-digit returns in the new year? The biggest market poll answers
2024 has now become the ninth consecutive year of positive returns for Indian equities and that is a record.
The year itself was a record year in many ways, highest funds raised in a single year, the ever growing domestic pool and so on.
But the big question, what is in store for 2025?
Now Crystal Gazing is always a challenge. But CNBC-TV18 has reached out to the biggest market experts and brought to you OUTLOOK 2025 – the biggest market poll for the new year!
Mega CNBC-TV18 Poll: Mixed views on RBI rate cuts as new governor takes charge
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As the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) enters a new chapter under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, market participants are closely watching the central bank’s monetary policy moves, particularly the timing and magnitude of the first repo rate cut.
A CNBC-TV18 Mega Poll, which surveyed 61 fund managers, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and dealers, revealed a broad range of expectations for the RBI’s policy trajectory through 2025.
December Auto Sales | M&M reports 16% growth, tractor sales up 20%
Mahindra & Mahindra recorded growth across its automotive and farm equipment divisions in December 2024, with total auto sales reaching 69,768 units, a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.
The automaker sold 41,424 units domestically under the utility vehicle segment, up 18% from the corresponding period a year ago. Including exports, total sales in this category stood at 42,958 units.
Hyundai CRETA achieved the highest-ever yearly domestic sales of 1.86 lakh units.
Hyundai Motor India also achieved its highest-ever yearly CNG contribution of 13.1% to domestic sales, in Calendar Year 2024.
Electronics body ICEA bats for simplification of duty structure, rationalisation
Electronics industry body, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), has written to the Finance Ministry ahead of the upcoming Union Budget to seek simplification of the existing duty structure. Calling the current structure as the “most complex globally”, the industry body is batting for a more compact structure with 4 (3 + 1) slabs.
The ICEA letter, which CNBC-TV18 has accessed, flags that the existing structure (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 15% plus surcharge), especially on sub-assemblies and components, impacts global competitiveness and export potential.
Defence experts spotlight need for timely action even as MoD declares 2025 ‘year of reforms’
The Defence Ministry has declared 2025 as the “year of reforms,” setting the stage for transformative changes aimed at bolstering jointness (cross-service cooperation) among the three services and modernising India’s defence capabilities.
Speaking to CNBC TV18, defence experts lauded the focus on integrated theatre commands, streamlined acquisition procedures, and preparedness for new-age warfare but stressed the need for clarity and timely action.
Trump’s H-1B Tightrope Walk: Silicon Valley dreams crash into MAGA reality
Remember when Trump thundered against H-1B visas back in 2016? What a difference seven years make. The man who once vowed to end the “abuse” of foreign worker programmes now calls H-1B “a great programme” — a surprising volte-face that has left both his supporters and critics scratching their heads.
The tech world’s romance with H-1B visas isn’t hard to understand. Silicon Valley’s biggest names — from Google to Microsoft — have built their empires on the backs of brilliant minds from across the globe. Software wizards, engineering virtuosos, research pioneers — they’ve all found their way to American innovation hubs through this golden ticket of skilled immigration.
Nishant Pitti, Co-promoter of Easy Trip Planners, resigns as CEO with immediate effect
Nishant Pitti, one of the co-promoters of Easy Trip Planners Ltd., the parent company of online travel aggregator EaseMyTrip, has resigned as the company’s CEO with effect from January 1, 2025, citing personal reasons.
Pitti has been on the board of the company since 2008 and was re-appointed for a five-year period only in May last year.
Nishant Pitti had announced plans on Monday evening to sell his remaining 14% stake in the Easy Trip Planners via block deals. However, he could only manage to sell 1.4% of that stake on Tuesday.
Bihar politics 2025: Speculations rise over Nitish Kumar’s next move amid alliance uncertainty
As the new year unfolds, Bihar’s political landscape is abuzz with speculation and uncertainty. Historically, the period after Makar Sankranti has often heralded major political changes in the state.
Recent developments suggest this tradition might repeat in 2025, with whispers of alliance shifts involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Order Frenzy On NYE | Swiggy Instamart sees highest-ever orders on New Year’s eve
Quick commerce platforms like Zomato’s Blinkit and Swiggy’s Instamart saw record orders on New Year’s eve.
Also Read: 2024 was the year of quick commerce. Platforms like Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, owned by Zomato, saw exceptional growth, added many more products beyond grocery, and blurred the lines between e-commerce and quick commerce. 2025 will be the year quick commerce will start hitting a scale comparable to e-commerce, says Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha. This was one of the 3 predictions Palicha made for 2025 in a LinkedIn post on the eve of the new year.
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