September 9, 2025 | Auto Rally, AI Funding Surge, and Apple’s Moment.

Good Morning & Market Recap

Good morning, investors! Indian markets closed marginally higher yesterday, with the Sensex gaining 76 points to 80,787 and the Nifty adding 32 points to 24,773. Overnight action shows GIFT Nifty futures at 24,960, indicating a flat-to-positive start.
Overnight, the Nasdaq closed at a record high, with Broadcom leading gains as traders priced in potential Fed cuts this month. The STOXX 600 closed in the green, while the Nikkei traded firm this morning. In safe-havens and energy, gold printed new records near $3,640–3,650/oz, while Brent crude steadied around the mid-$60s.
What’s different today? Auto stocks stole the show, with the Nifty Auto index surging 3.3%, led by Tata Motors (+4%), Bharat Forge, and Ashok Leyland. This followed major automakers announcing GST-related price cuts of ₹1–2.4 lakh across models. Metals sentiment also brightened after Morgan Stanley’s steel upgrade basket covering JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and SAIL, while auto names remain in focus for potential GST-led price roll-downs later this month.
Key watch factors include Apple’s iPhone 17 event today, building Fed rate-cut expectations, and China’s inflation data due Wednesday.

Tech Pulse

Cognition AI raised $400 million at a $10.2 billion valuation, with the autonomous coding agent “Devin” securing funding led by Founders Fund, highlighting investor confidence in AI coding solutions despite a broader market cooldown.
Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event takes place today, with the iPhone 17 series launch expected. The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air (5.5 mm thickness) may replace the Plus model, while Pro models could feature redesigned camera bumps and upgraded cameras.
At IFA Berlin 2025, AI-powered smart glasses and next-generation wearables dominated the consumer tech landscape, signaling accelerated adoption of ambient computing.
Sector sentiment remains mixed, with rotation from traditional tech toward AI infrastructure plays. Actionable trigger: Apple’s event at 10:30 PM IST could impact global tech sentiment and supplier stocks.

Funding Radar

Porter is nearing a $110 million pre-IPO round, positioning India’s logistics unicorn for one of 2025’s largest venture deals ahead of a 12–15 month IPO timeline. The total round could reach $300–310 million, including significant secondary sales.
Urban Company’s ₹1,900 crore IPO opens tomorrow, with a ₹98–103 price band, comprising a ₹472 crore fresh issue and a ₹1,428 crore offer-for-sale. Dev Accelerator’s IPO also opens this week from September 10–12, priced at ₹56–61, targeting a ₹143 crore fundraise.
B2B e-commerce firm Jumbotail raised $120 million in a funding round led by SC Ventures, the investment arm of Standard Chartered. The company will use the funds to build AI-native solutions. This round coincides with Jumbotail’s acquisition of Solv India, a B2B financial services platform approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The consolidation is expected to create significant ripple effects across the B2B marketplace and food and grocery sectors by building a more integrated platform for small retailers.

Market Movers & Watchlist

The auto pack led, with Tata Motors, M&M, and Hyundai Motor India announcing price cuts post-GST reforms. Tata Motors above ₹720 remains a key level for momentum continuation.
Metals remain overweight, supported by Morgan Stanley upgrades and a stronger domestic demand narrative. Watch JSW Steel (₹1,080 / ₹1,130) and Tata Steel (₹195 / ₹200) for follow-through.
Banking stocks were mixed, with Bank Nifty at 54,115 showing consolidation. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank remain range-bound ahead of policy announcements.
In pharma, Zydus Lifesciences cleared a USFDA inspection with four observations, while Aurobindo Pharma received eight procedural observations. On the corporate front, Infosys’ board will discuss a buyback on September 11, with IT flows tracked against USD strength.

Quick Bytes (Global / Off-Radar)

ConocoPhillips layoffs signal energy sector discipline, with up to 25% staff cuts highlighting capital allocation pressures as oil prices moderate. Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson called an end to the “rolling recession,” suggesting a three-year disguised downturn is transitioning into a recovery phase, supporting an early-cycle bull market thesis.
European bond yields surged, with UK 30-year yields hitting 5.72%, the highest since 1998, reflecting fiscal deficit concerns across developed markets.
A rare “Blood Moon” total lunar eclipse was visible across India on September 7–8, coinciding with the sacred Pitru Paksha period. Numerologists and astro-finance analysts note its convergence with the 9-9-9 date, linked to Mars, believed to signal the end of old market cycles and the beginning of new wealth patterns, albeit with heightened volatility.

Deep Dive – India’s Tech Startup Ecosystem: A Reality Check

For a moment, India was hailed as the next great frontier for tech startups. That narrative has shifted. The struggles of marquee names like Byju’s (valuation down over 90%) and Paytm (stock down ~80% post-IPO) highlight a deeper malaise, with over $45 billion in combined value erased from peak levels.
This downturn has triggered a venture capital retreat, with funding for the next generation of founders drying up. While more than three dozen tech startups with a combined valuation of $100 billion are still projected to go public by 2027, the path to successful IPOs now faces far greater scrutiny.
Investor Takeaway: The Indian startup story is not over, but the era of growth-at-all-costs is. Investors must prioritize startups with strong fundamentals, clear paths to profitability, and resilient business models. The current correction is separating hype from sustainability, offering discerning investors an opportunity to back the next wave of truly innovative companies.

What to Watch Today

• Apple iPhone 17 event (10:30 PM IST) – Impact on global tech sentiment
• US inflation expectations ahead of the September 16–17 FOMC meeting
• Auto sector momentum following GST-led price cuts
• Urban Company IPO opening tomorrow – Retail investor interest gauge
• Astrological influence: Rare 9-9-9 alignment watched by some traders

Quote of the Day

“Central to our view is the notion that the economy has been much weaker for many companies and consumers over the past three years than what the headline economic statistics suggest. We’re entering an early-cycle environment.”
— Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley Chief US Equity Strategist (September 8, 2025)

Chart of the Day

Nifty Auto Index Performance: A 3.3% surge, led by GST reform beneficiaries, marking the strongest single-day gain in September with broad-based participation across passenger and commercial vehicle segments.

Compliance

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All data has been validated through multiple reliable sources. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Oorjita FinAI Services is not responsible for any financial losses incurred based on this information.

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