Category: Corporate

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Corporate

Dr Reddy’s eyes March launch of low-cost Ozempic copy

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is preparing to roll out a more affordable version of semaglutide in India as early as March, aiming to bring down the cost of one of the world’s most talked-about diabetes and weight-loss treatments.

The Hyderabad-based drugmaker has applied for the trademark “Obeda,” a name widely seen as the likely brand for its generic rival to Ozempic. The timing is significant. Semaglutide’s patent in India expires in March, opening the door for local pharmaceutical companies to launch cheaper alternatives for the first time.

If priced aggressively, the new injection could cost up to 60% less than the original product. That would make the therapy accessible to far more patients in a country that has one of the world’s largest diabetes populations and a rapidly growing obesity burden.

People familiar with the company’s plans say Dr Reddy’s is gearing up for a day-one launch and has already built manufacturing capacity. The company is targeting sales of millions of pre-filled pens in the first year itself, signalling how big the opportunity could be.

So far, semaglutide has remained out of reach for most Indian patients because of its high price and limited availability. A lower-cost version could change that almost overnight, not just for diabetes care but also for weight management, where demand has surged globally.

The launch will also intensify competition in India’s fast-growing market for metabolic drugs. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which pioneered semaglutide, and US-based Eli Lilly, whose Mounjaro has already gained strong traction, are both expanding their presence in the country.

Also Read: Users report fraud after Yes Bank’s BookMyForex breach

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Corporate

Users report fraud after Yes Bank’s BookMyForex breach

A major data breach at BookMyForex has left many customers dealing with unauthorised transactions on their prepaid forex cards, raising fresh concerns over the safety of digital payment systems.

Several users reported that money was deducted in foreign currencies from their cards for purchases made in countries they had never visited. In most cases, the cards were still with the customers, indicating that their details had been compromised rather than physically stolen.

The forex cards were issued in partnership with Yes Bank, which has now blocked the affected cards to prevent further misuse. The bank has asked customers to immediately report any suspicious transactions and has started processing chargeback requests for the disputed amounts.

BookMyForex said the breach appears to be linked to a third-party system and not its main platform. The company has begun informing impacted users and is working with the bank and payment network providers to investigate the issue and strengthen security.

Many customers, however, said they received alerts only after the fraudulent transactions had taken place. Some also claimed the cards were used internationally even though overseas usage had been disabled, pointing to possible gaps in safeguards.

Such fraud usually happens when card details , such as the number, expiry date or CVV, are leaked or accessed through vulnerable systems. They advise users to switch off international usage when not required, set spending limits and check statements regularly.

The incident has highlighted the growing risks in the fast-expanding fintech and travel card segment, which is widely used by students and international travellers.

Both BookMyForex and Yes Bank have assured customers that eligible losses will be compensated after verification and said steps are being taken to prevent a repeat of the breach.

Also Read: NSE IX opens global investing route for Indians

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Corporate

Sensex rises 200 points , Nifty at 25,550

On  Thursday, the BSE Sensex touched 82,440 at the start of trade, while the NSE Nifty 50 opened around 25,552, slightly higher than Wednesday’s close of 25,482. Early trading was supported by GIFT Nifty futures, which signaled firm demand, and by gains in Asian markets following strong performances from US tech stocks.

Among the early movers, Bajaj Auto, HCL Technologies, Tata Steel, Shriram Finance, and TCS saw buying interest, helping lift the market. At the same time, heavyweight counters such as Reliance Industries, State Bank of India (SBI), and Adani Ports faced mild selling pressure, which kept the overall gains in check.

Sector-wise, metals, autos, and IT led the upside, while financials and energy stocks lagged. Traders noted that volatility remained, especially among large-cap stocks, as participants weighed domestic economic cues against global developments.

Analysts said the market remained range-bound, with selective buying supporting the rally but broader participation cautious. They emphasized that the direction in the coming sessions will depend on global trends, domestic macroeconomic data, and sector-specific movements.

Also Read: Tata Sons puts off Chandrasekaran reappointment call

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Corporate

Sensex at 82,405, Nifty near 25,510, markets trim early gains

Equity benchmarks pared early gains on Wednesday as the BSE Sensex was trading around 82,405, nearly 700 points below its intra-day high. The Nifty 50 hovered near 25,510, slipping from levels above 25,600 touched earlier in the session.

Markets opened higher, supported by buying in information technology and banking stocks. Among the key gainers were Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra and HCL Technologies, which rose up to 2–3% during the day. Private banking shares also contributed to the early rally.

However, gains were capped as selling pressure emerged in select auto and mid-cap counters. Analysts said profit booking after recent gains and cautious global cues weighed on sentiment. Foreign institutional investors were also seen trimming positions, adding to volatility.

Traders are watching the 25,400–25,600 range on the Nifty as a key near-term zone. Despite the pullback from day’s highs, broader market breadth remained relatively stable.

Also Read: Sensex rises 560 points to 88,200, Nifty climbs to 25,580

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Corporate

Meta–AMD seal AI chip deal

Meta has signed a major long-term agreement with semiconductor firm AMD to supply advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for its growing data-centre operations, marking a significant shift in the social media giant’s hardware strategy. The deal is expected to reduce Meta’s heavy dependence on Nvidia, currently the dominant supplier of AI processors.

Under the partnership, AMD will provide its latest AI accelerators and supporting infrastructure, which will be used to train and run large-scale AI models across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The move comes as the company rapidly expands its AI capabilities for content recommendations, advertising, generative AI tools and its metaverse projects.

Meta has been investing billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, and chip costs have become one of its biggest expenses. By diversifying its suppliers, the company aims to improve efficiency and gain stronger bargaining power in a market where demand for high-performance AI hardware has surged.

For AMD, the agreement represents a major opportunity to challenge Nvidia’s dominance in the fast-growing AI chip sector. The company has been positioning its latest processors as a competitive alternative, focusing on performance, energy efficiency and open software ecosystems that allow customers greater flexibility.

The announcement comes at a time when investors are closely watching whether the massive spending on AI infrastructure will translate into long-term revenue growth.

The deal is expected to roll out over several years, with AMD’s chips gradually integrated into Meta’s global data-centre network. Both companies said the partnership would help accelerate innovation and support the next generation of AI-driven services.

Also Read: Paramount enters Warner Bros. deal race against Netflix

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Corporate

Canva buys two startups to boost AI, animation

Design platform Canva has bought animation specialist Cavalry and AI advertising startup MangoAI to deepen its presence in advanced content creation and marketing technology.

Cavalry is known for its 2D motion design software used in advertising, gaming and digital media. Its tools will be integrated into Canva’s professional design suite, Affinity, allowing users to produce high-end animations alongside photo editing, vector graphics and layout work without switching platforms. The move is expected to simplify workflows for designers and creative teams.

MangoAI, which focuses on improving video advertising using reinforcement learning and performance data, will help Canva strengthen its marketing capabilities. Its technology enables brands to create ads, analyse results and automatically improve future campaigns. MangoAI co-founder Nirmal Govind, a former executive at Netflix, will join Canva as its first Chief Algorithms Officer to lead AI-driven personalisation and optimisation efforts.

These deals add to Canva’s earlier investments in marketing tools and reflect its broader goal of becoming a single platform where users can design, publish and measure content performance. By combining creative production with real-time analytics, the company aims to help businesses produce campaigns faster, cut costs and gain clearer insights into what works.

The acquisitions also support Canva’s push into the professional design market, where demand for motion graphics and video content is growing rapidly. As digital advertising becomes more video-focused, brands are looking for tools that can handle both creative development and performance tracking in one place.

With hundreds of millions of users and billions of AI-generated designs already created on its platform, Canva is moving beyond its image as a simple design tool.

Also Read: Berkshire Hathaway VC buys ₹85-cr apartment in Gurugram

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Corporate

Paramount enters Warner Bros. deal race against Netflix

Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to evaluate a fresh takeover proposal from Paramount, intensifying its ongoing deal process with Netflix and setting up a major contest in the global entertainment sector.

Warner had earlier moved ahead with a deal involving Netflix, but the new and improved offer from Paramount has forced the company to reconsider its options. The board will now examine whether the revised proposal delivers greater value to shareholders.

Paramount’s bid is seen as an attempt to take control of the entire company, while the Netflix agreement is focused mainly on Warner’s studio and streaming assets, including HBO. By making a stronger financial offer and adjusting its terms, Paramount is trying to position itself as the more attractive partner.

The development is significant for the media and streaming industry because Warner owns some of the world’s most valuable film, television and digital content businesses. Any change in ownership could alter the balance of power among major entertainment companies.

If the Netflix deal goes through, it would strengthen the streaming giant by adding a massive content library and well-known franchises to its platform. On the other hand, a merger between Paramount and Warner would create a much larger traditional media and streaming player capable of competing more aggressively on a global scale.

The possible transactions are also likely to face close scrutiny from regulators concerned about competition and market concentration. Industry groups and creative communities are watching the situation carefully due to fears of job cuts and structural changes in content production.

For now, Warner has not taken a final decision and will review Paramount’s improved bid before moving ahead.

Also Read: Nvidia plans AI laptop chips launch in 2026

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Corporate

Sensex rises 560 points to 88,200, Nifty climbs to 25,580

The markets rebounded sharply on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, after a steep decline in the previous session. The BSE Sensex surged 560 points to 88,200, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 130 points to 25,580, recovering losses from Tuesday’s sell-off.

Investor interest was strongest in IT stocks, with TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, and Tech Mahindra climbing 2–3%, driving much of the upside. Blue-chip names in energy and finance, including Power Grid, Reliance Industries, and SBI, also contributed to the rally.

However, market gains were uneven. Solar exporters faced heavy pressure after the US imposed a preliminary 126% import duty on Indian solar equipment, pushing Waaree Energies and Premier Energies down by up to 14%. Financials and consumer names such as Bajaj Finance, Maruti Suzuki, and Asian Paints showed limited movement, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.

Tuesday’s sharp losses had pushed the Sensex down over 1,000 points and the Nifty below 25,450, triggered by selling across IT, banking, and auto sectors. Analysts noted that Wednesday’s recovery was aided by positive global cues from Asian markets and Wall Street, alongside bargain buying in beaten-down technology stocks.

Despite the rebound, market watchers caution that Nifty faces resistance near 25,800, and volatility may continue amid domestic and international uncertainties.

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Corporate

Anthropic lets employees sell up to $6 bn in shares

AI company Anthropic has launched a major share sale for its employees and former staff, allowing them to sell up to $5–6 billion worth of company stock. The move lets workers access some of the value they have helped create without waiting for an IPO or company sale.

The share sale is based on a valuation of around $350 billion, close to the level from Anthropic’s recent $30 billion funding round, which valued the company at roughly $380 billion. This reflects strong investor confidence in the company’s AI technology and growth.

Only employees who have worked at Anthropic for at least a year can participate. The shares will be sold to outside investors, not the company itself, and the total amount sold will depend on how many staff choose to take part.

This type of secondary stock sale is increasingly common among high-value tech startups. It allows employees to cash out some of their equity while keeping the company private. Similar plans have been used by companies like Stripe, SpaceX, and OpenAI to reward employees and retain talent in competitive AI and tech markets.

Anthropic has grown rapidly, attracting major investments and expanding its AI products and customer base. By letting employees sell shares now, the company gives them an early opportunity to benefit financially from their work, something usually only possible after a public listing or company acquisition.

Company officials have not publicly commented on the details of the share sale, and the final terms may change as the process continues.

Also Read: Amazon opens second-largest Asia office in Bengaluru

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Corporate

Sensex falls over 1,000 points, Nifty slips below 25,450

Stock markets fell sharply on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with the BSE Sensex dropping 1,050 points to close near 84,300 and the Nifty 50 slipping below 25,450. The decline reflected weak global cues, especially from the US and Asian markets, and domestic caution ahead of weekly futures and options expiry.

The sell-off was broad-based but concentrated in technology and metal stocks. Major IT firms, including Infosys and TCS, fell up to 6%, while metals companies like Tata Steel and JSW Steel also saw sharp losses. High-beta and cyclical sectors bore the brunt of investor selling, as market sentiment remained risk-averse.

On the upside, some defensive sectors provided relief. Energy and gas stocks, led by BPCL, Reliance Industries, and ONGC, gained amid positive sector-specific news and strong domestic demand expectations. These stocks cushioned the overall impact on the indices but could not offset the heavy losses from the broader market.

Analysts said a combination of global macroeconomic uncertainties, concerns over US trade policies, and mixed domestic economic signals contributed to the decline. Market participants also noted that volatility is likely to persist, with investors closely watching corporate earnings, policy updates, and upcoming economic data for cues.

The trading session highlighted a clear sectoral divide: while cyclical and tech-heavy stocks faced intense pressure, energy and commodity-related names attracted selective buying. Investors were seen rotating funds into defensive areas, reflecting caution in the current market environment.

Also Read: Sensex rises 480 pts, Nifty tops 25,700