India’s Strategic Oil Reset: How It’s Diversifying Beyond Russia

Welcome Back Investor!

SBI just rocked the market its mega ₹25,000‑crore Qualified Institutional Placement drew nearly ₹1 lakh crore in bids, a staggering four‑times oversubscription, powered by heavyweights like LIC and global investors. This marks a strategic capital boost to strengthen its CET‑1 ratio by ~60 bps and fuel future loan growth. First time since 2017 that SBI tapped equity markets setting the stage for bigger moves ahead.

Let’s dive in!

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Today’s Market Menu

▪️ Impact News

▪️ Markets

▪️ Everything else you need to know today

▪️ Special

▪️ Mindset

▪️ Stock Screener to up your game

IMPACT NEWS

Can India Thrive Without Russian Crude?

For the past two years, Russian oil has been a game-changer for India.

At discounted prices, it helped keep inflation in check, reduced the import bill, and gave our refineries a new edge in sourcing flexibility. In fact, Russia now accounts for nearly one-third of India’s crude imports a leap from under 2% in early 2022.

But with fresh sanctions looming and tankers being rerouted under pressure, India faces a tough question: Can we adapt again?

🛢️ Key challenges:

• Diversification isn’t cheap: Returning to West Asian or African oil means higher costs.

• Refinery recalibration: Indian plants modified systems to process heavier Russian blends.

• Volatile shipping dynamics: Sanctions add uncertainty around freight, insurance, and delivery timelines.

Yet, India has always thrived on energy pragmatism whether it was buying from sanctioned nations or crafting rupee-based trade agreements.

📌 Now is the time to:

• Strengthen energy diplomacy with multiple partners.

• Fast-track renewable investments for long-term independence.

• Expand strategic reserves to shield against price shocks.

India’s energy future lies not in panic, but in preparedness.

MARKETS

It was a red day on Stock Market! The Sensex slipped 501 points to close at 81,757, while the Nifty 50 fell 143 points to settle at 24,968. Banking and midcap stocks took the hardest hit Nifty Bank dropped 546 points, and Nifty Midcap 100 tumbled 415 points, signaling broad-based pressure. With all major indices in the red, investor sentiment clearly turned cautious.
_{Closing figures as on 18.07.25 (3.30pm IST)}

🔎 In Focus

Stock Performance:

Top Gainers
✅ Wipro: was the day’s star performer, rallying 2.44% after delivering better-than-expected Q1 results and its strongest deal pipeline in over three years.

✅ Bajaj Finance climbed 2.03%, bouncing back after a recent dip as value buyers stepped in. The stock found support from investor optimism around resilient consumer credit demand.

✅ Tata Steel gained 1.54%, riding the wave of renewed optimism in metals driven by expectations of Chinese stimulus and global demand recovery.

✅ ONGC rose 1% as global oil prices stayed elevated, supported by tightening supply due to fresh sanctions on Russia.

Top Losers

🔻 Axis Bank: took a sharp 5.22% hit after disappointing Q1 results revealed a 4% drop in net profit, mainly due to higher provisions triggered by stricter NPA norms.

🔻 Shriram Finance: slid 3% as NBFCs came under pressure amid growing concerns over rising funding costs. Despite no fresh negative news, investors opted to trim exposure in mid-tier lenders.

🔻 Bharat Electronics: declined by 2.34%, largely due to profit booking after its recent strong run. With no specific downside trigger, the stock saw traders lock in gains near resistance levels.

🔻 HDFC Life dropped 1.64% in a weak day for insurance stocks, weighed down by sluggish premium growth concerns and ongoing FII outflows.

INDIA FRONTIER

Everything else you need to know today

🧊 Thawing the Freeze? India’s NITI Aayog is reportedly pushing for a policy shift that would let Chinese firms invest up to 24% in Indian companies without prior approval. After years of freeze following border tensions, this could breathe life into stalled deals and boost lagging FDI. Could economic pragmatism outpace geopolitics?

⚖️ Tariff Tug-of-War: Vedanta Aluminium’s CEO is making noise calling for parity with U.S. tariff rates to curb India’s surging aluminium imports. With the trade deficit more than doubling in five years, he warns of potential retaliation if duties aren’t lowered. Is a new trade flashpoint brewing?

⛔ Oil & Pressure: The EU’s latest sanctions just got sharper tightening oil caps, blacklisting over 400 tankers, and for the first time, curbing a Russian-owned refinery in India. With over 100 entities added to the list, the economic vise keeps tightening. Could India be caught in the geopolitical crossfire?

🧲 Magnet Crunch: With rare-earth magnets critical to EVs and clean energy, the PMO has summoned key players to tackle looming supply risks. GMDC shares surged 14% on the news, riding high on hopes for domestic breakthroughs.

SPECIAL

💊 Anthem Biosciences IPO: Is This the New Star of India’s Pharma Play?

All eyes are on Anthem Biosciences as its ₹3,000+ crore IPO gears up to list soon and it’s already turning heads with impressive oversubscription numbers across categories.

Why this one matters:

🔬 Who is Anthem Biosciences?
A leading CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization), Anthem partners with global pharma players to develop and manufacture complex molecules from APIs to biotech products.

📈 Why the buzz?

• The IPO was oversubscribed 24x overall, with strong demand from QIBs and NIIs.

• A robust product portfolio with over 1,000 clients across 60 countries.

• Consistent revenue growth, with an eye on scaling R&D capabilities.

💡 GMP Watch
The grey market premium (GMP) suggests a solid debut reflecting investor confidence not just in Anthem, but in the CDMO space as a whole.

🏭 Broader Trend
India’s role in global pharma is shifting from just generics to value-added innovation & contract manufacturing. Anthem’s IPO signals growing market appetite for businesses driving this change.

📌 What to watch:

• Listing performance

• Long-term margins in the CDMO model

• Global macro pressures on biotech demand

THE HANOOMAAN INSTITUTE

Stop Doing This If You Want to Get Rich

Building wealth isn’t just about picking the right stocks or saving diligently, it’s about mastering your mindset. Steve Burns highlights five limiting beliefs that often hold people back from financial success:

1. Victim Mentality: Wealth builders take full responsibility for their financial path. Like Warren Buffett, they focus on what they can control, not external setbacks.
2. Short-Term Thinking: They invest for long-term growth, not quick wins, knowing that real wealth compounds over years.
3. Fear of Failure: They view setbacks as feedback, not defeat, and take calculated risks to keep moving forward.
4. Scarcity Mindset: They believe opportunities are abundant and create value rather than hoarding it.
5. Fixed Mindset: They see every financial decision as a learning moment, staying curious and adaptable.

💡 Success is often about what you avoid, not just what you pursue. Mindset is your true compounding asset.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR INVESTING SKILLS

STOCK SCREENER TO UP YOUR GAME

Intrinsic Value
by Niraj

Intrinsic Value - Current price > 0 AND
Sales growth 7Years > 15 AND
Debt to equity < 0.5 AND
Promoter holding > 60

Thanks for reading.

Until Sunday with our Startup Special!

Hanoomaan India Business team

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