*Financial News*
Source: Leading Newspapers
Compiled by: RUDRA SHARES
Vande Mataram
Thursday, 18 December 2025
*MACRO ECONOMY & POLICY*
• India’s pharma exports cross $30 billion, according to Rajesh Agrawal.
• CareEdge revises India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast upward to 7.5%.
• SEBI chairperson says the regulator will not interfere in IPO offer-for-sale decisions.
• Listing-day stock performance is not a measure of regulatory success or failure, says SEBI chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey.
• SEBI board clears key proposals on MF regulation, IPO lock-in norms and discounts to investors in debt issues.
*AUTOMOBILES & EVs*
• Car companies must increase localisation levels and improve quality standards, says Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
• Maruti Suzuki expects its upcoming EVs to lift green-car share of India sales to 45%.
• Maruti Suzuki launches WagonR with swivel seat option to improve accessibility.
• Tata Motors’ Sierra records 70,000 bookings on the first day of sales.
• Ford cancels its $6.5 billion EV battery deal with LG.
*PHARMACEUTICALS & HEALTHCARE*
• India’s pharmaceutical exports surpass the $30 billion mark.
• Nephrocare Health Services shares fall 4% after listing at a 7% premium to IPO price.
• Park Medi World shares close 9% below IPO price after a weak market debut.
• Promoter sells 9% stake in Akzo Nobel; Polar Capital and Poonawalla Vision Fund acquire 4% stake in Nephrocare.
*BANKING, FINANCIAL SERVICES & INSURANCE*
• Shriram Finance board to consider stake sale to MUFG.
• Insurance companies must migrate to 1600-series customer service numbers by February 15, as directed by Trai.
• Insurers may soon be allowed to invest directly in private companies.
• Margin trading book hits a record high in November, though growth momentum slows.
• FIIs turn net buyers of Indian equities worth Rs 1,172 crore, while DIIs buy equities worth Rs 769 crore.
*CAPITAL MARKETS & IPOs*
• KSH International IPO subscribed 26% on Day 2; analysts see long-term potential despite muted grey market premium.
• Jefferies says Zepto’s IPO plans and Swiggy’s proposed Rs 10,000-crore QIP are unlikely to trigger a quick-commerce price war.
*TECHNOLOGY & DIGITAL PAYMENTS*
• TCS reports $1.5 billion in annual AI revenue and completes over 5,500 AI projects.
• Amazon Pay rolls out biometric authentication for UPI payments in India.
• Apple is in talks with Indian chipmakers to assemble iPhone chips locally.
*INFRASTRUCTURE, POWER & METALS*
• Tata Power plans to raise Rs 2,000 crore through a bond issue.
• Tata Chemicals raises Rs 1,500 crore via private placement of non-convertible debentures.
• Vedanta receives NCLT approval, paving the way for five listed entities; metals cash flows come into focus.
*CORPORATE & BUSINESS UPDATES*
• Tata Group steps up its iPhone manufacturing push, infusing an additional Rs 1,500 crore into its electronics business.
• Bhavish Aggarwal sells another block of Ola Electric shares worth Rs 142 crore.
• Overseas tourism boards expect a 25% jump in bookings this December as travel demand accelerates.
• Indian Railways surpasses China, the UK and Russia by achieving 99.2% coverage of its broad gauge network.