👷 Low attrition

Good morning and happy Friyay. This week has felt particularly long for us - hope it wasn’t the case for you! Either way, hope you have a lovely and restful weekend when it arrives ☀️ 🛏️ 

- Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 👷 Low attrition

• 📉 IPO non-hype

• 🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

  • 🏦 RBI meetings with Fintech giants

  • 🏅 Olympic grant

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

• 🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

MARKETS

🇮🇳 India

• Indian stock markets extended their rally. The recovery was driven by falling crude oil prices, positive global cues, and strength in metals and oil & gas stocks. Broader indices also performed well as investor sentiment improved.

🌍️ International

• US markets fell sharply. The sell-off was driven by concerns over Trump’s tariffs, disappointing earnings from Marvell Technology, and weakening AI sector momentum. Investors remain cautious as trade policy uncertainties and inflation fears weigh heavily on market sentiment.

EMPLOYMENT

👷 Low attrition

India’s corporate sector saw a notable decline in employee turnover in 2024, with attrition rates dropping to 17.4%—the lowest since the pandemic-induced slowdown in 2020.

The fall is largely attributed to reduced hiring, economic uncertainty, and a cautious approach from employees who are staying put in their current roles. This data comes from the Deloitte India Talent Outlook Survey, which analyzed trends across 500 companies in seven sectors.

Key Insights:

1. Declining Attrition Across Sectors:

   • IT/ITeS saw the steepest drop, with attrition in ITeS falling to 10.8% from 18.7% in 2023, while IT dropped to 15.1% from 19.3%.

   • Life sciences, manufacturing, and financial services also reported lower churn, with financial services dropping from 27.9% to 26.4%.

   • Consumer products, however, saw an increase in attrition from 17.4% to 18.4%.

2. What’s Driving the Decline?

   • A hiring slowdown due to economic constraints and technological advancements that are boosting productivity with fewer hires.

   • Employees are prioritizing stability amidst global geopolitical tensions and concerns over AI’s impact on jobs.

   • Companies are improving internal mobility and career growth opportunities to retain talent.

3. What’s Next?

   • While attrition is currently low, hiring is expected to pick up in the coming quarters.

   • Experts suggest this may lead to a moderate rise in employee turnover but not a return to the high churn levels of the “Great Resignation” period.

   • Leading IT firms like HCLTech, Wipro, and TCS have already reported a slight uptick in attrition in the last quarter of 2024.

Final Thoughts The current job market is characterized by cautious optimism. While hiring remains subdued, companies are focusing on retention strategies. As recruitment picks up, attrition may rise, but experts believe it will remain within a manageable range. Employees and businesses alike should stay prepared for gradual shifts in the employment landscape.

Read more: Economic Times

MARKETS

📉 IPO non-hype

The once-thriving IPO market in India has hit a rough patch in 2025, with three out of four newly listed companies trading below their issue price. A combination of market downturns, foreign investor selloffs, and global uncertainties has led to a disappointing performance for most IPOs, especially in the SME segment.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Out of the 52 companies that went public last year, nearly 40 are trading in the red, and 45 have delivered returns of less than 5%.

• The worst-hit stocks, including GB Logistics Commerce, Citichem India, and Davin Sons, have plummeted between 50% and 62% below their IPO prices.

• The overall bearish sentiment in the broader markets, where 30 out of the 50 Nifty stocks have fallen over 20% from their highs, has contributed to this poor performance.

Despite the bleak outlook, a few IPOs have managed to shine.

• Indobell Insulations and Fabtech Technologies Cleanrooms have nearly tripled investor wealth since their listing.

• Other companies like Anya Polytech and Quadrant Future Tek have also delivered strong returns, proving that selective investments can still yield gains.

Market analysts cite the equity selloff, driven by the exit of foreign institutional investors, as a major factor behind the slump. The volatility in global markets and concerns over economic growth have added to investor caution. Additionally, the once-popular trend of investing in IPOs for quick listing gains has faded, with almost half of new listings delivering flat or negative returns on debut.

Overall: The IPO pipeline remains robust, with over 1,000 companies waiting to go public. However, many may delay their launches due to unfavorable market conditions.

Experts caution investors against blindly chasing IPOs and recommend focusing on blue-chip stocks, which are considered more stable in turbulent times. With mid- and small-cap stocks still deemed overvalued, shifting towards well-established large-cap companies may be a safer bet for long-term gains.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

🚘️ No fear - Indian automakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are confident that Tesla's entry into the market won't disrupt their dominance. Despite Tesla opening a showroom in Mumbai and planning a manufacturing plant, local players believe Tesla faces challenges, such as aligning its prices with local expectations. Indian automakers are deeply entrenched in the EV market, with a strong focus on local production. Industry leaders, like Sajjan Jindal, believe Tesla will struggle in India, emphasizing that local companies understand the market better and are committed to producing high-quality vehicles tailored for the Indian consumer.

🤑 Future of Crypto - CoinDCX founders, Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal, discuss the evolving crypto landscape in India. Despite regulatory hurdles and high taxation, India has become a global leader in crypto adoption, largely due to its young, tech-savvy population. CoinDCX, launched in 2018, has been crucial in making crypto more accessible. The founders emphasize their focus on security, compliance, and innovation. Their vision includes expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) through platforms like Okto. They also highlight the broader shift in India's investment sentiment, driven by digital transformation and growing interest in portfolio diversification.

🚢 Panama Ports Sold - BlackRock, leading a consortium, has agreed to purchase a majority stake in CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company for $22.8 billion, granting control over key ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. This acquisition aligns with President Donald Trump's agenda to "reclaim" the canal, a sentiment he reiterated in his recent congressional address, highlighting the strategic importance of these ports. Trump praised the deal, viewing it as a reclamation of U.S. interests in the region. CK Hutchison emphasized that the sale is a commercial decision, unrelated to political considerations.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Declining crude prices adds elbow room for rate cuts amidst weakening rupee.

• Trump delays tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month.

• EAM Jaishankar's security breached in London; India miffed.

• Sunil Chhetri to come out of retirement to represent India in March fixtures.

• Is RBI's CBDC initiative just another digital mirage?

CULTURE

🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

• Former India wrestler Vinesh Phogat announces pregnancy, expecting first child with husband Somvir Rathee.

• With Love, Meghan review: Duchess Of Sussex's luxurious lifestyle is dressed up in approachable, you-can-do-this-too packaging.

• Picture This review: Simone Ashley and Hero Fiennes Tiffin's film is charmingly messy.