Newsletter
Anthropic bets on India, Netflix backs creators, and Bira scales up.
đ Morning, folks!
Markets hit the brakes after a four-day rally, as investors booked profits at higher levels. Both Sensex and Nifty slipped 0.2%, pausing their upward run amid mixed global cues and selective sector moves.
IT stocks were in focus ahead of TCSâs earnings on Wednesday, large-cap names gained 1â3%, keeping sentiment steady. Metals held firm with Nalco and Hind Copper leading the charge, while auto stocks reversed course after weak sales updates weighed on the sector.
In banking, RBIâs draft norms on related-party lending stirred up some action. Meanwhile, midcaps and smallcaps traded mixed, hinting that traders were taking a breather after last weekâs sprint.
đĄ Spotlight: Apple doubles iPhone exports from India
Tech giant Apple exported $10 billion worth of iPhones from India in the first half of this financial year, up 75% from $5.7 billion a year earlier.
In September alone, exports touched $1.25 billion, more than last yearâs $490 million. Despite strong domestic sales of the newly launched iPhone 17 series, Indian factories supplied global markets efficiently.
Appleâs surge is powered by Tata Electronicsâ Hosur plant and Foxconnâs Bengaluru facility, bringing its total iPhone production units in India to five.
For the first time, all iPhone 17 models are being made in India for global markets from launch, cementing the countryâs growing role in Appleâs global manufacturing story.
Letâs hit it!
1 Big thing: Anthropic finds a home in Indiaâs tech hub Bengaluru đť
Anthropic, backed by Alphabetâs Google and Amazon, plans to open its first office in Bengaluru in early 2026.
Anthropic is an AI company that builds safe, reliable large language models, including Claude, its advanced chatbot designed for reasoning and conversation.
Note: Anthropic AI CEO Dario Amodei is set to visit India this week and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Whatâs brewing: this move is part of its broader push to build responsible AI systems in India, amid rising enterprise tech spending and surging investor interest.
India has already become Anthropicâs second-largest market for consumer use of Claude, a model that competes directly with OpenAIâs ChatGPT.
Worth noting: OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, also formally registered as a legal entity in India in August 2025 & plans to open its first India office in New Delhi later next year.
Big theme: India, the worldâs second-largest online market with over a billion internet users, has become a key growth region for Anthropic.
Anthropicâs Claude app saw impressive growth in India this September, with downloads rising 48% YoY to around 7,67,000. Consumer spending on the app also skyrocketed, up 572% from last year bringing in $195,000 in September alone.
2. Netflix to fund scholarships for Indiaâs future creators đ
Netflix India partnered with the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) and FICCI to support students in Indiaâs Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector.
The deets: under the MoU, Netflix will use its fund for creative equity to offer scholarships to students identified by IICT. The fund is part of Netflixâs global effort to create more opportunities for talent in media and entertainment.
Why it matters: this partnership connects academia, industry, and policy to give students real-world exposure through workshops and mentorship. For Netflix, itâs another step in deepening its presence in Indiaâs creative space as a talent enabler.
Zoom out: Netflix now joins the likes of Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Adobe, which have all signed MoUs with IICT during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES).
Indiaâs AVGC-XR sector is valued at over $3 billion in 2024 & it is expanding at 20-25% annually. The growth is driven by streaming platforms, global studios, and rising demand for immersive content.
3. Lloyds Metals expands into pellet biz with Thriveni acquisition đ
Lloyds Metals and Energy will acquire 49.99% stake in Thriveni Pellets, after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) cleared the deal.
Lloyds Metals and Energy is an Indian company involved in iron ore mining, sponge iron (DRI) production, power generation, and pellet trading. While, Thriveni Pellets is a manufacturer and seller of iron ore pellets in India, and it operates a wholly owned subsidiary, Brahmani River Pellets, which also makes and markets pellets domestically.
Why it matters: for Lloyds, the acquisition strengthens its position in the iron ore and pellet value chain, as it already operates in mining, DRI, and captive power.
Zoom out: Indiaâs iron ore output rose to 284 million tonnes in 2024, up 2% YoY, with Lloyds Metals & Energy emerging as one of the fastest-growing producers, up 14% from last year.
NMDC, Tata Steel, and OMC lead the pack, while mid-tier players like Lloyds, Vedanta, and AM/NS India are rapidly expanding their footprint.
For Lloyds, now ranked among the top 10 producers, the acquisition of Thriveni Pellets strengthens its position across the iron ore-to-steel value chain, ensuring a more integrated and secure supply base.
4. Craft beer maker Bira plans $132M funding round đş
Bira will raise $132 million, with GEM tipped to lead a $50 million equity infusion and the rest via structured credit.
Bira is a pioneer in Indiaâs craft beer space, competing against big names like Carlsberg, though currently holding under 5% market share.
The why: the funds will be used for working capital, paying off debts, and restructuring operations.
Moreover, the company has been under pressure after its 2023â24 name change cost it âš80 crore and disrupted operations.
Big picture: Indiaâs beer market industry is now seeing a surge in craft and premium beers as young consumers seek variety and quality. The market, worth around $9â10 billion, is projected to grow 7â8% annually over the next five years, driven by urban millennials, rising disposable incomes, and evolving social norms around alcohol.
5. Stock that kept us interested đ
1. Saatvik Green Energy lights up with orders worth âš707 crore âď¸
Saatvik Green Energy shares rose 10% after it bagged âš488 crore worth of orders from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and EPC firms.
Saatvik Green Energy manufactures high-quality solar PV modules, delivering advanced solar technology solutions for both domestic and international markets.
The deets: the orders are for the supply of solar PV modules, scheduled for execution in FY26. Its subsidiary, Saatvik Solar Industries, also secured additional contracts worth âš219.6 crore from three major IPPs and EPC partners within the same period.
FYI: the development also comes close after Saatvikâs d-street debut on September 26, which saw a muted listing.
Big theme: India has overtaken Japan to become the worldâs third-largest solar power producer, generating over 1,08,000 GWh of solar energy, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
In simple terms, 1,08,000 GWh of solar power is enough to power over 10 crore homes for a month.
2. Solar Industries expands footprint in mining sector âĄ
Solar Industries secured an order worth âš483 crore from South Eastern Coalfields, for the supply of bulk explosives. The stock ended lower for the day.
Solar Industries India makes explosives and blasting systems used in mining, construction, and infrastructure projects through its main company and subsidiaries.
Whatâs happening: the supply of explosives will span two years, supporting SECLâs mining operations. The contract is expected to provide a steady revenue stream for Solar Industries, given its scale and duration.
With this deal, Solar Industries strengthens its presence in the coal mining sector, leveraging its expertise in bulk explosives manufacturing and long-term supply.
What else are we snackinâ đż
đ° AI windfall: Elon Muskâs xAI raised $20 billion, including $2 billion from Nvidia, to power its Colossus 2 data center with a unique GPU-backed funding model.
đ ď¸ Industrial lift: Raymond Group will invest âš1,000 crore in aerospace and auto units in Andhraâs Anantapur, creating 5,400 jobs with âš695 crore in state incentives.
Thatâs a wrap! Donât let the weekday blues get to you.
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