Welcome Back Investor!

Buckle up-this week’s market action has it all: high-octane trade drama, surprise EV revelations, tariff tremors, and a nostalgic glance at India’s most jaw-dropping market crashes. From the EU pushing for zero car import tariffs to the Indian government nudging fuel prices just ahead of elections, the landscape is shifting fast. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just market-curious, this edition has the pulse of everything that matters.

Let's dive into the momentum, mystery, and mayhem shaking up Dalal Street!

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Today’s Market Menu

• Focal Point: EU Accelerates Push for Zero Tariffs on Car Imports to India

• Markets

• Everything else you need to know today

• Special: From Harshad to COVID-India’s market meltdowns laid bare

• Psychology: How to Protect your Money in uncertain times

• Supercharge your Investing Skills with this Video

• Stock Screener to up your game

FOCAL POINT

EU Accelerates Push for Zero Tariffs on Car Imports to India

In a strategic move to enhance trade relations, the European Union is urging India to eliminate its steep car import tariffs, which currently exceed 100%. India has signaled openness to a phased reduction down to 10%, despite domestic automakers' concerns about protecting local manufacturing. This development follows similar pressure from the U.S., intensifying the spotlight on India's automotive trade policies. A reduction in tariffs could pave the way for European giants like Volkswagen and BMW to expand their footprint in the burgeoning Indian market.

🔧 Gear Shift
▪️ The Big Ask: The European Union is nudging India to scrap its sky-high car import tariffs, some of which soar above 100%. The goal? To unlock smoother trade flows and better access for European automakers.
▪️ India’s Counterplay: While India isn’t ready to floor the accelerator just yet, officials are reportedly considering a phased reduction-possibly bringing tariffs down to 10%. That’s a big swing, but it’s still on India’s terms.
▪️ Backstory Boost: This follows pressure from the U.S. during Donald Trump’s presidency, which also called out India’s steep auto tariffs. Now, the EU is stepping up to continue the diplomatic horsepower.
▪️ High Stakes for Home Turf: Indian carmakers are nervous about opening the floodgates to global competition. Lower tariffs could rev up demand for foreign brands, potentially steering buyers away from local options.
▪️ European Ambitions: For auto giants like Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, reduced tariffs could be a golden ticket to scale up their game in India’s massive and fast-growing market.
▪️ What’s Next?: These talks are part of broader EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations-a deal that’s been stalling in neutral but now might be ready to shift gears.​

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MARKETS

Markets just hit a rough patch-and how! On April 7th, major indices like Sensex, Nifty 50, Nifty Bank, and Nifty Midcap 100 took a serious tumble, sliding between 3% to nearly 4%. It wasn’t just a dip-it was a full-blown selloff across sectors, sparked by a mix of global tariff tensions, fuel duty hikes, and pre-election jitters. Midcaps bore the brunt, showing how quickly investor sentiment can turn. But here’s the thing: while the red sea on screens looks scary, this could also be the shakeout moment smart investors were waiting for. Eyes now shift to earnings season and FII moves-because the next bounce might just be around the corner.

_{Closing figures as on 07.04.25 (3.30pm IST)}

🔎 In Focus

Sectorial Performance:

 ✅Top Gainer:

🧴HUL: The lone green spot in a sea of red, HUL rose 0.22% as investors sought safety in defensives. Its stable FMCG profile offered much-needed calm amid market chaos.

🔻Top Losers:

🚨 Metals Melt: Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and Hindalco nosedived over 6% on tariff tensions and falling global demand.
🛍️ Retail Pain: Trent plunged nearly 15%, likely due to profit-booking and inflationary stress on consumer sentiment.
🚗 Auto Struggles: Tata Motors dropped 5.56%, weighed down by global policy fears and demand uncertainty.
🏗️ Capex & Credit Hit: Larsen and Shriram Finance slid over 5%, reflecting capex slowdown fears and inflation-driven credit risk.

NIFTY 500: Tariff Pressure

Institutional Action

_{Provisional Net Figures (Rs. in Crores)}

^{For complete data click here}

FROM THE FRONTIER

Everything else you need to know today 

🚀 Surge: Fuel just got fiercer. The Indian government hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre, sparking price jumps across metros. As elections loom and inflation pressures mount, this move could ripple through transport costs and everyday expenses. Could this fuel discontent-or fiscal resilience?

👻 Phantom: Ola’s sales had a ghost in the machine. February EV sales reportedly included electric motorbikes that haven’t even hit the roads yet. This curious “pre-launch push” raises eyebrows and questions around sales reporting, transparency, and how startups game momentum before market rollout.

💥 Jitters: Markets danced to Trump’s tune-again. Sensex and Nifty took a hit as fresh US-China tariff tensions rattled global investors. With gold prices rising and equity indices stalling, investors are now scanning the horizon for safe havens. Could this be the start of another tariff tango?

🔥 Meltdown: Metal stocks got torched. A fresh flare-up in the US-China tariff war sent Nifty Metal crashing 8%, hitting a 52-week low. Giants like Hindalco, Tata Steel, and Adani Enterprises saw red across the board. Is this just a dip-or the beginning of a deeper structural slump?

🛡️ Resilience: GDP growth might dodge the tariff bullet. Despite Trump’s trade war rhetoric, a government official says India’s economy could still clock 6.5% growth in FY26-thanks to stable oil prices and domestic demand. The message? Don't bet against India just yet.

📈 Steady: India’s forecast stays firm. Even with US tariffs looming large, New Delhi is holding its 2025-26 GDP growth outlook steady. Officials say domestic fundamentals remain strong-and global headwinds won't derail the trajectory. Confidence or calculated optimism?

📝 Order Wins

✅ Refex Green Power lands a ₹78.5 Cr, 20-year Bio-CNG project in Madurai-turning waste into clean energy gold.

✅ Trishakti Industries bags a ₹2.5 Cr deal from L&T to fuel metro infrastructure with heavy-duty earth movers.

Special

From Harshad to COVID: History of India’s market meltdowns

The most dramatic stock market crashes in Indian history-from the 1992 Harshad Mehta scam to the COVID-19 freefall. Each crash left scars, shook investor faith, and reshaped regulations. But are we any safer now?

Stock markets soar-but sometimes, they nosedive in ways that leave lasting scars. Here are the most spine-chilling crashes in Indian stock market history. Here's what sent shockwaves through Dalal Street and beyond:

🔹 1992 – Harshad Mehta Scam

• Known as the "Big Bull," Harshad Mehta manipulated stocks using fake bank receipts.

• The market soared... until the ₹4,000 crore scam unraveled.

• Result? Sensex crashed 55% in months. Trust evaporated overnight, and regulators had to rethink everything.

🔹 2004 – NDA Government Surprise Exit

• Markets expected a BJP win. But when the UPA came out on top, investors panicked.

• Sensex crashed 11% in a single day-trading was halted twice.

• It was a stark reminder: politics and portfolios are deeply entwined.

🔹 2008 – Global Financial Crisis

• Lehman Brothers collapsed, and the shockwaves hit India hard.

• Foreign investors pulled out, and Sensex tanked nearly 60% from peak to bottom.

• Real money vanished, and retail investors faced years of recovery.

🔹 2015 – China Shock & Yuan Devaluation

• A surprise currency move by China sent emerging markets into chaos.

• Sensex plunged over 1,600 points-the biggest single-day fall in 7 years.

• The ripple effect? Indian investors learned just how globalized their risk had become.

🔹 2020 – COVID-19 Crash

• As lockdowns rolled out, the Sensex lost a jaw-dropping 13% in one day.

• Travel halted. Demand dried up. Panic took the wheel.

• Though the recovery was fast, the freefall was faster-leaving scars and a new respect for black swan events.

💬 Why it matters:
Every crash tells a story-not just of loss, but of what we learn. From regulatory reforms post-Harshad to pandemic-era digital resilience, India’s market has evolved-but the risk of shock remains ever-present.

🧠 Food for thought:
If history has shown us anything, it's that the biggest crashes often come when confidence is at its peak. So... what’s next?

ONEZERO-F ACADEMY

How to Protect your Money in Uncertain times

Struggling to protect your money during market chaos? Discover smart, actionable strategies to keep your finances steady during economic uncertainty. From building a safety net to mastering long-term investing, this guide arms you with tools to face financial storms with confidence and calm.

🌐 Smart Money Moves During Economic Uncertainty

🔍 Identify Your Financial Stress Triggers
▪️ What’s keeping you up at night? Job insecurity? Dwindling savings? Market losses?
▪️ Knowing your pain points helps you take targeted action - not random guesswork.

🌊 Set Up a Strong Emergency Fund
▪️ Aim to save 3 - 6 months of essential expenses in a separate, easy-to-access account.
▪️ It’s your financial life jacket in choppy waters.

📆 Think Long-Term, Not Just Tomorrow
▪️ Don't let headlines drive your investment strategy.
▪️ Market dips are normal-but staying invested builds wealth over time.

🛡️ Diversify Like a Pro
▪️ Spread your money across different baskets: stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash.
▪️ It lowers your risk and cushions losses during downturns.

😌 Don’t Panic, Stay Calm
▪️ Selling during a downturn can turn paper losses into real ones.
▪️ Stick to your plan unless your goals or life situation changes significantly.

🧠 Seek Expert Guidance
▪️ Talk to a certified financial planner or advisor for tailored, emotion-free advice.
▪️ A second opinion can provide clarity and peace of mind.

🔄 Review & Rebalance Regularly
▪️ Life evolves-your investment mix should too.
▪️ Reassess your portfolio at least once a year or after big life changes like marriage, kids, or a new job.

💸 Use Dollar-Cost Averaging
▪️ Invest a fixed amount at regular intervals (like monthly), no matter what the market’s doing.
▪️ This strategy helps you buy more when prices are low and less when they’re high-smart and steady wins the race.

🧾 Stick to a Budget
▪️ During uncertain times, knowing where your money goes is more important than ever.
▪️ Trim unnecessary expenses and boost savings where you can.

🔐 Avoid High-Risk, Too-Good-to-Be-True Schemes
▪️ Volatility attracts scammers. Stay sharp and research any “hot” investment tips thoroughly.
▪️ If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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TIME TO BUY

by Kaushikjgec

Debt to equity< 1 AND
Sales growth 3Years > 12 AND
Profit growth 3Years > 15 AND
Average return on capital employed 3Years > 20 AND
Average return on equity 3Years > 20 AND
Average dividend payout 3years > 10 AND
Market Capitalization > 500 AND
Market Capitalization < 800000 AND
(OPM last year + OPM preceding year) > 15  AND
(NPM last year + NPM preceding year) > 8 AND
((Debtor days < 60) OR ((Inventory turnover ratio * NPM last year)  > 100 ))

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