Author: Staff Writer

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Beyond

Petrol, diesel up by 90 paise again

The fuel prices have gone up once again across the country, with petrol and diesel becoming costlier by nearly 90 paise per litre on Tuesday. The increase comes less than a week after a previous hike, making this the second revision in a short span and raising concerns among consumers and businesses.

With the latest increase, people in major cities will now have to pay more at fuel stations. In Delhi, petrol prices have crossed ₹98 per litre, while diesel prices have also moved higher. Similar increases were seen in cities including Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

The fresh revision is expected to have an impact beyond vehicle owners. Fuel prices play a key role in the overall economy, and any increase usually affects transportation and logistics costs. Over time, this can lead to higher prices for goods and services, as businesses may pass on additional expenses to consumers.

For many households, repeated fuel price hikes can put added pressure on monthly budgets. Daily commuters, transport operators and businesses that depend heavily on road transport are likely to feel the effect more immediately. Rising fuel costs can also influence the prices of essential goods, including food and consumer products.

The latest increase comes at a time when oil companies are dealing with pressure linked to global crude oil prices and market conditions. International developments and changes in crude prices often influence domestic fuel pricing decisions.

It is expected that the fuel prices will continue to depend largely on global oil trends and international developments in the coming weeks. Consumers and businesses are now watching closely to see whether prices stabilise or if further revisions follow.

Also Read: Gold slips to ₹1,56,210, Silver climbs to ₹2.9 lakh

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Beyond

Gold slips to ₹1,56,210, Silver climbs to ₹2.9 lakh

Gold and silver prices moved in different directions on Tuesday, offering mixed signals to investors and buyers in the domestic market. Gold prices witnessed a minor drop, while silver continued its upward movement, supported by steady demand and changing market sentiment.

Gold prices slipped by ₹10 to ₹1,56,210 per 10 grams, marking only a marginal decline. The fall was small and did not indicate any major shift in market direction. Analysts believe gold is currently trading in a relatively stable range as investors wait for stronger cues from global markets.

Silver, however, registered fresh gains. Prices rose by ₹100 and reached around ₹2,90,100 per kilogram, extending its recent positive trend. Compared to gold, silver has been showing stronger movement in recent sessions.

Experts say the current movement in precious metals is being influenced by several global factors, including international economic developments, currency fluctuations, inflation expectations, and investor sentiment. Gold traditionally attracts investors during uncertain periods because it is considered a safer investment option. However, stable financial markets and expectations around global economic policy have kept major price swings limited.

Silver behaves slightly differently from gold because its demand comes from both investors and industries. Apart from being used as an investment asset, silver has wide industrial applications in electronics, renewable energy projects, and manufacturing sectors. This additional demand often creates stronger price movement.

Traders are now closely monitoring international market trends and economic signals for further direction. Any major development in global financial markets or changes in commodity prices could influence bullion prices in the coming days.

Also Read: Sensex gains over 300 points, Nifty holds above 25,000

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1 Minute-Read

HDFC AMC reports cybersecurity incident

HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC) has reported a cybersecurity incident involving its IT systems and said it has activated containment measures. The company stated that it immediately responded after detecting potential unauthorised access and initiated internal security protocols along with external expert support.

HDFC AMC said preliminary findings suggest the incident is contained and is unlikely to affect its operations or investor services. Core functions, including fund management, continue to run normally.

The company is conducting a detailed investigation to assess the impact and has not confirmed any data breach so far. Further updates are expected after the review is completed.

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Corporate

Prudential to buy 75% stake in Bharti Life Insurance

Prudential plc from UK has agreed to acquire a 75% stake in Bharti Life Insurance for around ₹3,500 crore, marking a major expansion move in India’s life insurance sector.

The stake will be purchased from Bharti Life Ventures and 360 ONE Asset Management, giving Prudential majority ownership and operational control of the company. Following the deal, Bharti Group will retain a 25% stake, while 360 ONE Asset Management is expected to exit the venture completely.

The acquisition is part of Prudential’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in high-growth markets, particularly in Asia. India is seen as a key focus area due to its large population, rising middle class and relatively low insurance penetration, which offers significant long-term growth potential.

According to Prudential, the deal will help it expand its product offerings across life insurance and savings solutions. The company also plans to improve distribution by leveraging multiple channels, including digital platforms, agency networks and banking partnerships.

Prudential said India remains central to its long-term growth plans as it looks to deepen its footprint in emerging markets. The company already operates in several Asian and African countries, and this acquisition further strengthens its regional strategy.

Bharti Life Insurance, backed by the Bharti Group, has been steadily growing in India’s competitive insurance sector. The partnership with Prudential is expected to bring additional capital, global expertise and product innovation to the business.

Also Read: Swatch stores shut after Royal Pop watch launch

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1 Minute-Read

Swatch stores shut after Royal Pop watch launch

Swatch has temporarily closed several stores worldwide after the launch of its “Royal Pop” watch led to huge crowds and chaotic scenes. The limited-edition collaboration with Audemars Piguet saw demand far exceed supply, with customers lining up for hours across major cities.

In places including New York, London, Paris and Milan, overcrowding forced stores to shut for safety reasons. Some locations also reported disorder and police intervention as crowds surged.

Swatch urged customers to avoid rushing stores and said the collection would remain available. The watch is already being resold online at significantly higher prices due to strong demand.

Categories
Beyond

China April growth slows as data misses forecasts

China’s economic growth slowed in April 2026 as key indicators including retail sales, industrial production and investment came in weaker than expected, according to official data, raising concerns about the strength of its recovery.

Industrial output rose 4.1% year-on-year in April, down from 5.7% in March and below market expectations. The slowdown suggests weaker manufacturing activity, reflecting softer domestic demand and uncertain global conditions affecting exports and production.

Retail sales, a key indicator of consumer spending, increased just 0.2% in April, sharply lower than the previous month and significantly below forecasts. The weak reading points to continued caution among households, with spending remaining subdued despite earlier signs of recovery.

Fixed-asset investment also disappointed, contracting 1.6% in the first four months of the year. Economists had expected more stable performance, and the decline highlights ongoing weakness in infrastructure, real estate and private investment activity.

Despite the slowdown in monthly data, China’s economy still grew around 5% in the first quarter of 2026, broadly in line with government targets. However, economists warn that maintaining this pace could become increasingly difficult without stronger domestic demand.

Experts believe policymakers may consider additional stimulus measures if economic momentum continues to weaken. Possible steps could include support for household consumption, infrastructure spending and measures to stabilise the property sector.

Exports have remained relatively resilient compared to domestic demand, but they are not enough to fully offset internal weaknesses. This imbalance is contributing to concerns about the sustainability of the recovery.

Also Read: Innovaccer lays off 340 employees during AI shift

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Leaders

Salesforce plans $300mn Anthropic AI spend, says CEO

Salesforce will spend around $300 million on Anthropic’s AI “tokens” in 2026, CEO Marc Benioff said, highlighting the company’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence for software development.

Benioff said Salesforce is increasingly using AI coding agents to write and improve software, reducing the need for traditional manual coding. He added that these tools are now playing a major role across engineering and operations, helping speed up development and cut costs.

Tokens are the units used by AI models to process and generate responses, and large-scale usage reflects heavy enterprise adoption of generative AI tools.

The Salesforce CEO said the shift is part of the company’s move toward an AI-first model, where humans will focus more on supervising AI systems rather than writing code themselves. He suggested that AI is already handling a significant share of internal technical work.

The development reflects a wider trend in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly integrating AI into core operations. While it boosts productivity, it has also raised questions about the future of software engineering jobs and entry-level roles.

Also Read: Innovaccer lays off 340 employees during AI shift

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1 Minute-Read

Innovaccer lays off 340 employees during AI shift

Healthtech unicorn Innovaccer has laid off around 340 employees across India and the US as it restructures its business to focus more on artificial intelligence. The company said the move is part of its shift toward becoming an AI-first organisation and improving efficiency.

The job cuts span multiple teams, though exact details were not shared. This is one of several rounds of layoffs at the company in recent years, reflecting ongoing changes in its structure and strategy.

Despite the reductions, Innovaccer says it will continue investing in its AI healthcare platform and core services.

Categories
Corporate

Sensex falls over 800 points, Nifty slips below 23,400

Indian stock markets witnessed a volatile trading session on Monday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opening sharply lower amid weak global cues and rising crude oil prices. Investor sentiment remained cautious throughout the day due to concerns over international market uncertainty and energy price pressures.

In early trade, the Sensex fell over 800 points while the Nifty slipped below the 23,400 level, reflecting broad-based selling across sectors. The decline was largely driven by heavyweight stocks, which pulled the indices lower.

Among the major losers, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank were the key drags on the market. Selling pressure in banking, financial services and energy stocks added to the overall weakness, as investors reacted to global risk factors and rising oil prices.

Despite the sharp fall, the market managed to recover part of its losses later in the session. Select buying in defensive and pharma stocks helped stabilise sentiment and prevented a deeper correction.

ITC and Sun Pharma were among the stocks that provided some support to the market. Their gains helped cushion the impact of broader selling and improved sentiment in the latter half of trading.

Market experts said that rising crude oil prices and global geopolitical uncertainty continued to weigh on investor confidence. India’s dependence on imported oil makes markets sensitive to any sharp movement in global crude prices, which can affect inflation and corporate earnings.

Also Read: Gates Foundation ends Microsoft era with $3.2 bn sale

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Corporate Uncategorized

Gates Foundation ends Microsoft era with $3.2 bn sale

The Gates Foundation has officially ended its long financial association with Microsoft by selling its remaining shares in the company, worth around $3.2 billion. The sale marks the end of a relationship that has lasted for more than two decades and is closely linked to the fortune created by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

According to reports, the foundation sold its final 7.7 million Microsoft shares, completing a gradual reduction of its stake over the past few years. At one point, Microsoft had been among the foundation’s largest investments, with holdings worth billions of dollars.

The move, however, is not being viewed as a sign of reduced confidence in Microsoft or its business prospects. Instead, reports suggest that the sale is part of the foundation’s larger financial plan as it prepares to increase spending on global charitable work.

The Gates Foundation has been expanding its work in areas such as healthcare, education and poverty reduction. It reportedly plans to increase annual grant spending to around $9 billion, which requires greater cash availability for long-term projects and programmes.

The decision also carries symbolic importance because Microsoft played a central role in building Bill Gates’ wealth. Over the years, Gates gradually moved away from day-to-day involvement in the company and shifted much of his attention toward philanthropy and global development efforts.

Despite the foundation’s complete exit, Bill Gates personally still holds Microsoft shares. The sale therefore appears to be more about financial planning and supporting future philanthropic goals rather than any concerns about the company itself.

Also Read: Meta staff brace for May 20 layoffs