Author: Sreelatha M

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Technology

Google plans a huge $40 bn investment in Anthropic

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has announced plans to invest up to $40 billion in artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, one of the leading rivals in the fast-growing AI space. The deal strengthens an already close partnership between the two companies.

According to reports, Google will immediately invest about $10 billion in Anthropic. A further $30 billion may follow, but only if the startup meets certain performance targets. The investment values Anthropic at around $350 billion.

Anthropic is best known for its AI chatbot family called Claude, which competes directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s own Gemini models. The company has seen rapid growth in demand, especially for its coding-focused tools.

Along with funding, the deal also includes major support for computing power. Google will provide large-scale access to its cloud infrastructure and specialized AI chips to help Anthropic train and run its models. This kind of computing capacity is seen as critical for building advanced AI systems.

The investment comes as competition among big tech firms intensifies. Amazon recently announced its own multi-billion-dollar backing for Anthropic, making the startup one of the most heavily funded AI companies in the world.

Also Read: RBI cancels Paytm payments bank licence

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Leaders

Noida airport gets interim CEO

Noida International Airport has appointed its Chief Financial Officer, Nitu Samra, as interim Chief Executive Officer in a leadership change aimed at accelerating the start of commercial flights.

The decision comes after aviation security authorities reportedly did not approve the continuation of former CEO Christoph Schnellmann in the role, as airport regulations require the chief executive to be an Indian citizen.

Samra, who has been associated with the airport project since 2021, will lead operations until a permanent CEO is selected by the board. Officials believe her appointment will ensure continuity and help complete the final steps needed before passenger services begin.

She has played a key role in the airport’s financial planning and project execution during its development phase. Her elevation is being seen as a practical move to keep the project on schedule while meeting regulatory norms.

Meanwhile, Schnellmann has been moved to the role of Executive Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors. He is expected to continue supporting the airport’s transition into full operations.

Located at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, Noida International Airport is one of India’s biggest upcoming aviation projects and is expected to serve the Delhi-NCR region. It is also expected to reduce traffic pressure on Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The first phase of the airport includes one runway and one passenger terminal, with capacity to handle around 12 million passengers annually.

Also Read: Reliance Q4 eyes on Jio, retail growth

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Corporate

Reliance Q4 eyes on Jio, retail growth

Reliance Industries is set to announce Q4 FY26 results, with investors expecting a mixed performance.

Strong growth in Reliance Jio and Reliance Retail is likely to support revenue through subscriber additions, higher ARPU, store expansion and better margins.

However, weakness in the oil-to-chemicals and upstream energy businesses may pressure profits due to higher crude prices, freight costs and supply disruptions.

Markets are also watching for a final dividend announcement and updates on the proposed Jio Platforms IPO. Reliance’s commentary may influence broader market sentiment.

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Corporate

Sensex sinks 1,000 points, Nifty ends below 23,900

Indian stock markets witnessed a heavy sell-off on Friday, with the Sensex tumbling around 1,000 points and the Nifty slipping below 23,900, as rising crude oil prices and weakness in IT stocks unsettled investors.

The BSE Sensex closed down 999.79 points at 76,664.21, while the NSE Nifty50 lost 275.10 points to end at 23,897.95. It was the third straight day of losses for the benchmark indices.

Markets remained weak throughout the trading session, with selling pressure seen across sectors. Investor sentiment turned cautious after crude oil prices surged due to fresh tensions in West Asia. Higher oil prices are a concern for India because they can increase inflation, widen the trade deficit and affect corporate margins.

IT stocks were among the biggest losers of the day after disappointing earnings outlooks from some large companies. Infosys remained under pressure after giving a muted growth forecast, while HCL Tech also saw selling after recent quarterly results failed to impress the Street.

Reliance Industries, another heavyweight stock, also dragged the indices lower as investors remained cautious ahead of its earnings announcement. Pharma and energy shares too saw weakness in selective counters.

Among the top losers in the broader market were Infosys, HCL Tech, Reliance Industries, Sun Pharma and Adani Energy Solutions. Their decline added significant pressure on benchmark indices because of their large market weight.

Despite the broad fall, a few stocks managed to end higher. Nestle India gained after posting strong quarterly earnings, while Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) also advanced on the back of better-than-expected results.

Market volatility increased sharply during the day, showing nervousness among traders. Analysts said investors are closely watching crude oil prices, geopolitical developments and the ongoing earnings season for further direction.

Foreign investor activity also remained cautious, adding to pressure on domestic equities. Many traders chose to reduce risk exposure ahead of the weekend amid uncertain global cues.

Also Read: Zerodha closes Zero1 creator platform

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Technology

DeepSeek launches V4 AI model, challenges US giants

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched its latest large language model, DeepSeek V4, in a fresh challenge to major US players such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. The release strengthens China’s growing push to compete in the fast-moving artificial intelligence race.

The company introduced two versions of the model, V4 Pro and V4 Flash. While the Pro version is aimed at advanced reasoning, coding and research tasks, the Flash version is designed to be faster and cheaper for lighter everyday use. Both versions are currently available in preview mode.

DeepSeek said the new model can process very large amounts of text at once, allowing users to analyse long reports, documents and code files more efficiently. This could make the model attractive to businesses, researchers and developers handling large workloads.

The company also claimed improved performance in coding, logic and knowledge-based tasks compared with earlier versions. Independent testing of these claims is still awaited, but the launch has already drawn attention across the tech industry.

Another key feature is compatibility with Huawei’s Ascend chips, showing China’s efforts to reduce dependence on US chipmaker Nvidia amid export restrictions.

DeepSeek gained global visibility last year by offering lower-cost AI models that surprised the market with strong performance. Its latest launch is expected to increase pricing pressure on bigger rivals and expand AI choices for users worldwide.

The V4 release highlights how competition in artificial intelligence is no longer limited to Silicon Valley, with Chinese firms now emerging as serious challengers.

Also Read: Infosys gives ₹51.75 cr stock grant to CEO Salil Parekh

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Leaders

Infosys gives ₹51.75 cr stock grant to CEO Salil Parekh

Infosys has approved stock-based incentives worth ₹51.75 crore for its CEO and Managing Director Salil Parekh, even as the company is yet to take a call on annual salary hikes for employees.

The decision was cleared by the company’s board after recommendations from its Nomination and Remuneration Committee. The grant will be made through employee stock options and restricted stock units under existing company plans, with effect from May 2, 2026.

The compensation package is linked to performance and long-term business goals. Out of the total grant, ₹34.75 crore is tied to annual performance targets, ₹5 crore is linked to shareholder returns, ₹2 crore depends on ESG goals, and ₹10 crore comes under the company’s Expanded Stock Ownership Program. Most of these benefits will vest over time and depend on meeting set conditions.

The announcement came with Infosys’ latest quarterly results, where the IT major posted a strong rise in profit. Consolidated net profit for the March quarter increased 20.9 per cent to ₹8,501 crore, while revenue also recorded healthy growth.

Infosys said it remains cautiously optimistic about the year ahead and expects revenue growth of 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent in constant currency terms for FY27. The company also plans to hire around 20,000 freshers during the financial year, signalling continued investment in talent despite global uncertainty.

However, there is still no clarity on salary hikes for the wider workforce. Chief Financial Officer Jayesh Sanghrajka said the company has not yet decided when wage revisions will happen or how much the hikes will be.

The development has drawn attention because while senior leadership compensation has been finalised, thousands of employees are still waiting for updates on their annual pay revisions. Wage hikes in the IT sector have slowed in recent years as companies deal with weak global demand and cautious client spending.

Also Read: Finance Minister flags AI threat to banks

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Corporate

Google Cloud, CVC partner to speed up AI adoption

Google Cloud and private equity firm CVC have announced a new partnership to help companies adopt artificial intelligence faster and use it in day-to-day business operations.

The collaboration will support companies owned or backed by CVC across sectors such as healthcare, retail, finance, telecom, software and manufacturing. These businesses will gain access to Google Cloud’s AI tools, technical support and cloud infrastructure.

The focus of the deal is on “agentic AI”,  systems that can complete tasks, automate processes and make decisions with limited human involvement. Companies are expected to use these tools to improve efficiency, reduce costs and speed up services.

Under the partnership, CVC portfolio companies will be able to use Google’s Gemini AI models and other enterprise AI platforms. Some firms may also receive early access to new AI products before they are launched widely.

Google Cloud will also provide specialist engineering teams to work directly with these businesses. Their role will be to help companies build AI systems faster, solve technical problems and integrate the technology into existing operations.

Cybersecurity is another major part of the agreement. Businesses involved in the partnership will have access to advanced security tools to protect data, systems and AI platforms from threats.

CVC said the partnership would help many of its companies become more technology-driven and competitive. Google Cloud said the deal reflects a growing shift from AI experiments to large-scale practical use in business.

Also Read: Government brings new online gaming rules

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Beyond

Gold falls to ₹1.53 lakh, Silver steady at ₹2.60 lakh

Gold prices in India declined slightly on Thursday, April 23, while silver remained firm near ₹2.60 lakh per kilogram. The fall in gold prices comes amid global market uncertainty, rising crude oil prices and cautious buying by investors.

According to the latest retail rates, 24-carat gold was priced at around ₹1.53 lakh per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold stood near ₹1.40 lakh per 10 grams. The 18-carat variety was trading close to ₹1.15 lakh per 10 grams. Prices may differ slightly across cities due to local taxes and jewellery making charges.

In Delhi, 24-carat gold was quoted at around ₹1.55 lakh per 10 grams, making it one of the costliest markets in the country. The 22-carat rate in the capital was around ₹1.42 lakh per 10 grams. Mumbai and Kolkata saw slightly lower prices compared to Delhi, while Chennai remained among the higher-priced southern markets.

Silver prices stayed strong at around ₹2.60 lakh per kilogram despite recent volatility. Traders said silver continues to move sharply due to industrial demand and changing global market sentiment.

Experts said bullion prices have become volatile this week because of geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a rise in crude oil prices. Higher oil prices increase inflation worries, which usually supports gold demand as a safe-haven asset. However, some investors booked profits after recent record highs, limiting further gains.

Jewellers said customer demand is currently selective, with many buyers waiting for prices to stabilise before making large purchases. Retail demand is expected to improve during the upcoming wedding and festive season if rates ease further.

Also Read: Sensex falls 723 points, Nifty below 24,200

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Corporate

Sensex falls 723 points, Nifty below 24,200

Indian equity benchmarks opened lower on Thursday, tracking weak global cues and cautious investor sentiment ahead of key earnings announcements. The BSE Sensex declined 312 points in early trade to open near 80,210, while the NSE Nifty slipped below the 24,300 mark, indicating a weak start for domestic markets.

Selling pressure was visible across major sectors, with information technology stocks leading the decline. Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Tech and Wipro were among the top losers in early trade as concerns over soft global demand and muted earnings outlook continued to weigh on the sector. Retail major Trent also traded lower amid profit booking.

Banking and financial shares opened mixed. Select private lenders showed resilience, but broader weakness in frontline counters kept benchmark indices under pressure. Reliance Industries traded range-bound in the opening minutes.

Among early gainers, defensive names such as ITC and Hindustan Unilever attracted buying interest. Some pharmaceutical stocks also edged higher as investors preferred relatively safer sectors amid global uncertainty.

Global sentiment remained cautious after a rise in crude oil prices and renewed geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Higher oil prices are seen as a concern for inflation and India’s trade balance, prompting a risk-off mood among investors.

Market participants will closely watch intraday movement in global markets, foreign fund activity and upcoming quarterly earnings for further direction. Analysts said Nifty may find immediate support near 24,200, while resistance is placed around 24,450 in the short term.

Also Read: Zen Tech jumps 11% on licence win

Categories
Leaders

24-year-old builds ₹1 cr startup in 4 months

What began as a rejection has now become a success story for 24-year-old entrepreneur Ujjwal Nargotra, who says he built a ₹1 crore business in just four months after quitting his job.

Like many young founders, Nargotra had hoped to secure investment for his startup. He approached popular YouTuber and investor Tanmay Bhat, expecting financial backing. Instead, he received something else, advice that would change his path.

Rather than investing, Bhat reportedly told him to focus on building an audience through content creation. The message was simple: in today’s digital world, visibility can be as valuable as funding.

Nargotra took that advice seriously. He began sharing his journey online, posting regularly about startup life, lessons, struggles and business growth. Slowly, people started paying attention. In a short time, he says his social media following grew rapidly, helping him connect with thousands of potential users.

That online attention soon translated into business growth. His startup, LinkPlease, is a platform designed to help content creators manage messages, audience engagement and growth more efficiently. Many creators struggle to respond to followers and handle communication at scale, and the startup aimed to solve that problem.

Instead of chasing investors again, Nargotra focused on users. He offered free access to early creators, listened to their feedback and improved the product based on real needs. As word spread, more creators joined the platform.

Within four months, he claims the company crossed ₹1 crore in revenue, a milestone many startups take years to achieve.

His story has resonated widely online, especially among young entrepreneurs. Many see it as proof that rejection does not always close doors. Sometimes it redirects people toward better opportunities.

Nargotra’s journey also reflects a changing startup culture, where founders are no longer relying only on investors or large marketing budgets. Social media, personal branding and community building are becoming powerful tools for growth.

Also Read: Zen Tech jumps 11% on licence win