In this week’s wrapup, we talk about Amazon’s next battle for customers, India’s dilemma over cabotage laws, the India–South Korea partnership, the cost of the EU wanting better phones and PSU stocks rallying because of elections.
Also, here’s a quick heads-up: We’re pausing the Markets story for this week.
With that out of the way, here’s what we wrote this week.
Amazon’s next battle isn’t for customers
Amazon’s history in China hasn’t been great. It tried to win over Chinese shoppers, but couldn’t keep up with local giants, and eventually pulled back.
But now, it’s making a quiet return. Only this time, the strategy looks completely different.
Instead of chasing customers, Amazon is going after Chinese sellers.
Think about it. Sellers today can either ship products globally at ultra-low costs through platforms like Temu and wait weeks… or use Amazon’s logistics network to deliver in days. Faster shipping, better reliability, and access to high-value markets suddenly make Amazon very attractive.
But here’s the catch. Platforms like Temu and Shein are built for cost, not speed. And in a price-sensitive world, that advantage is hard to beat. In our Monday newsletter, we explain why Amazon is back in China and why sellers would choose it over local platforms.
India is in a dilemma over cabotage laws
India’s cabotage laws are suddenly back in the spotlight, and for good reason.
For the uninitiated, ‘cabotage’ refers to the transport of goods or passengers between two points in the same country. For years, the rules were strict, keeping foreign ships out to protect domestic players. Then in 2018, things shifted.
The government relaxed these restrictions, hoping to make shipping faster, cheaper, and more efficient.
And it seemed to work… at least on the surface
But here’s where it gets tricky. The same move that improved logistics also opened the door to global competition, something India’s shipping industry wasn’t entirely ready for.
Now, policymakers are facing a classic trade-off: stick with efficiency or circle back to protection.
But can cabotage reforms really deliver the best of both worlds this time? We tried to answer that in Tuesday’s story. You can read it here.
The India-South Korea Partnership Explained
Earlier this week, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung concluded his state visit to India. And both sides announced plans to raise bilateral trade from around $27 billion today to $50 billion by 2030.
This is because India wants to become a serious manufacturing power. It wants better supply chains, advanced technology, and expertise across sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, electronics, shipbuilding, and steel. And South Korea already has global champions like Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, LG, SK Group, and POSCO that know how to build exactly that.
So this isn’t just about exports and imports. It’s about two Asian powers trying to reduce dependence elsewhere and build strength together in a fragmented global economy.
Could this become one of Asia’s most important economic partnerships outside the China-centric model?
Read our full story to find out.
EU wants better phones. But at what cost?
The European Union is tightening the screws on smartphone makers again. But this time, it’s not just about chargers—it’s about how long your phone actually lasts.
Sounds like a win, right?
Not so fast. Because what regulators want often clashes with what companies have been building—thin, sealed, high-performance devices. Making phones easier to repair could mean trade-offs in design or performance.
And then there’s the cost angle. Redesigning phones and using more durable components isn’t cheap. So while you may upgrade less often, you could end up paying more upfront. Which raises a bigger question.
Are we moving toward truly better, longer-lasting devices… Or just more expensive ones that try to balance everything?
In our Thursday story, we break down why this shift could reshape the smartphone industry.
Do PSU Stocks Really Rally Because of Elections
Every election season, a familiar theory returns to Dalal Street: buy PSU stocks because governments spend more, launch visible projects, and push growth when votes are near.
And on the surface, that sounds logical. After all, PSU companies sit at the centre of railways, defence, banking, oil, power, and infrastructure. So if the government spends more, many assume these stocks must rally.
But history gives us a more nuanced outlook.
And we have explored this in yesterday’s story. You can read it here.
Finshots Weekly Quiz v2.0 🧠
Hey folks! As you probably already know, the Finshots Weekly Quiz has a new avatar. If you missed out on it in the last few months, don’t worry. Click here to check out the rules and set a reminder to participate consistently starting next month!
Next, let’s move on to the top scorers from our previous weekly quiz. There were a whole bunch of you who participated, and many of you ended up with the same scores. So we’re calling you Bulls, Bears, Unicorns, Blue Chips, and Rising Stars. Here’s how the leaderboard looks right now:
If your name has been featured on the leaderboard, then congratulations! If not, don’t lose hope. If you attempted last week’s quiz, keep at it and answer all the weekly quizzes this month. You never know when the turntables! Click on this link to take this week’s quiz, which is open till 12 noon, Friday, 1st of May, 2026. The more answers you get right, the better your chances of appearing on the Finshots Weekly Quiz leaderboard. We’ll publish it every Saturday in the Weekly Wrapup. And the winner will be announced in the first week of June.
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