Category: Corporate

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Corporate

Data firm Palantir shifts HQ to Miami

Palantir Technologies, the data-analytics firm known for its work with governments and enterprises, has officially moved its headquarters from Denver, Colorado, to Miami, Florida. This relocation marks another milestone in a broader trend of companies seeking the financial and operational advantages offered by the Sunshine State. Over the past few years, Miami has become increasingly attractive to tech firms and executives, drawn by lower taxes, fewer regulations, and a vibrant business environment.

Founded in California in 2003, Palantir initially operated from Silicon Valley before moving to Denver in 2020. Its decision to relocate to Miami follows several high-profile corporate moves to Florida, including Tesla, Blackstone, and Citadel, reflecting a growing migration of talent and capital away from traditional tech hubs like California and New York. Florida’s governor and local business leaders have actively promoted the state as a destination for innovation, emphasizing the absence of personal income tax and a strong pro-business climate.

Palantir employs more than 4,000 people worldwide, including a significant number in the US., and its Miami headquarters is expected to strengthen the company’s operations and talent acquisition. Analysts say the relocation may also influence other tech startups to consider Florida, contributing to the city’s ambition to become a global technology hub.

While Miami is not yet on par with Silicon Valley in terms of startup ecosystem depth, venture funding, or established tech infrastructure, the city’s momentum is evident. Entrepreneurs, executives, and investors are increasingly exploring Miami for its combination of business incentives, lifestyle appeal, and connectivity to Latin America. Palantir’s move is seen as a significant endorsement of this emerging trend, underlining Florida’s potential to reshape the US tech landscape.

Also Read: Cigarette stocks jump up to 12% on sharp price hikes

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Corporate

Sensex tumbles 1,236 pts, Nifty ends below 25,500

The equity markets fell sharply on Thursday, 19 February 2026, erasing nearly ₹8 lakh crore in investor wealth as widespread selling pressure dominated trading. The BSE Sensex plunged 1,236 points to 82,498, while the Nifty 50 slipped below 25,500, ending at 25,454, breaking a three-day rally.

Analysts attributed the sell-off to a combination of global and domestic factors. Escalating US-Iran tensions sparked fears of potential military action this weekend, driving investors away from emerging markets like India into safer assets. Meanwhile, Brent crude surged above $70 per barrel on concerns over Middle East supply bottlenecks, intensifying inflation worries and pressuring the Indian Rupee.

Investors also engaged in profit booking after the Sensex and Nifty had recorded gains over three consecutive sessions, particularly following major domestic events such as the Union Budget and RBI policy announcements. Adding to the pressure, uncertainty over US Federal Reserve policy and a “higher-for-longer” interest rate outlook strengthened the US Dollar, prompting Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) to reduce exposure to Indian markets.

Local technical factors compounded the decline, including a clearing holiday in India for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti that limited liquidity, as well as thin foreign participation due to Lunar New Year closures in key Asian markets.

Among the top gainers, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd and HDFC Life Insurance Co Ltd rose over 5 %, along with modest gains in Wipro Ltd. On the other hand, Trent Ltd, Adani Enterprises Ltd and InterGlobe Aviation Ltd fell 1–2 %, while Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Asian Paints Ltd and Jio Financial Services Ltd also ended lower, dragging the broader market down.

Also Read: Gold nears ₹1.53 lakh, silver tops ₹2.35 lakh

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Corporate

Cigarette stocks jump up to 12% on sharp price hikes

Shares of major cigarette makers, including ITC, Godfrey Phillips India, and VST Industries, surged sharply this week, with some rising up to 12%, following a wave of price hikes aimed at offsetting recent tax increases.

The jump comes after the government’s excise duty hike in January had raised concerns about profitability and volume pressures across the sector. Investors had feared that higher taxes would significantly impact earnings. However, companies have acted quickly, passing most of the additional cost to consumers through price increases across their product lines.

Godfrey Phillips led the rally, with its Marlboro Compact sticks now priced at around ₹11.5, up from ₹9.5 earlier. ITC, meanwhile, raised prices across premium brands, some by as much as 41%, while moderating increases in more price-sensitive segments to balance sales volumes.

Brokerage firm UBS welcomed these moves, saying the pricing action could limit the hit to earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to just around 2%, far below earlier estimates of 8–15%. The firm maintained a “Buy” rating on ITC, with a target price of ₹395, signaling strong upside potential.

Analysts say this carefully calibrated strategy demonstrates the sector’s pricing power and ability to protect margins despite regulatory pressures. Tobacco contributes over 40% of ITC’s revenue, so margin preservation is crucial for the company’s overall earnings outlook.

The market rally also reflects renewed investor confidence after recent corrections, with traders betting that demand for established cigarette brands remains resilient. Strong pricing and the ability to pass on taxes quickly have reassured the market that the sector can weather the new tax regime without major disruptions.

Also Read: Trump’s first Japanese investments under $550 bn trade pact

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Corporate

Ola Electric shares jump 5% after HC relief to CEO

Shares of Ola Electric rose about 5% on Tuesday after the Bombay High Court stayed a bailable arrest warrant issued against its CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, offering much-needed relief to the company and its investors.

The stock, which had been under heavy selling pressure in recent sessions, witnessed strong buying during the day and climbed to an intraday high of around ₹29. This comes after it had fallen to a record low in the previous trading session, reflecting the sharp volatility in the counter.

The legal case originated from a consumer complaint filed before the South Goa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The commission had issued a bailable warrant against Aggarwal after he did not appear before it in connection with the matter despite receiving summons.

However, the High Court, while granting interim relief, observed that the consumer forum had gone beyond its jurisdiction under the Consumer Protection Act while passing the order. Following the court’s decision, the company informed exchanges about the development and advised stakeholders to take note of the updated legal status.

The court’s intervention eased concerns about possible leadership uncertainty and legal overhang, which had weighed on investor sentiment. The positive development also led to a surge in trading volumes, indicating renewed interest in the stock.

Despite the sharp single-day recovery, Ola Electric’s shares remain significantly lower compared to their earlier levels. The company has been facing pressure due to weak financial performance, including a notable decline in revenue in the December quarter and widening losses. These factors have contributed to the stock’s underperformance against the broader market so far this year.

The latest relief from the High Court has provided a temporary breather for the electric vehicle maker. However, the consumer dispute is yet to be fully resolved, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming months.

Also Read: AI will transform science, medicine, states DeepMind CEO

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Corporate

Sensex dips 100+ points, Nifty slips under 25,800

The markets opened lower on Thursday, 19 February 2026, after early optimism faded into profit-booking and cautious trading. The BSE Sensex fell over 100 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped under 25,800, dragged down by weakness in select IT and industrial stocks, even as metal and consumer segments showed resilience.

Tech Mahindra led the gainers with a roughly 2% rise, followed by Netweb Technologies and MCX, which benefited from strong demand in commodities. On the other hand, IndiGo and construction stocks such as NCC saw declines amid sectoral pressures and regulatory concerns. Broader market sentiment remained cautious, with retail investors gradually shifting funds from traditional bank savings into higher-yielding instruments like liquid funds.

Sectorally, metal stocks continued to outperform, with the BSE Metal Index rallying over 13% in the past three months, reflecting higher commodity prices and tight supply. Consumer and financial stocks contributed to early gains, while IT shares struggled, limiting overall upside.

Global markets presented a mixed picture. Asian benchmarks traded higher, with Nikkei 225 futures up 0.6% and Topix rising 1%, while European indices remained largely flat. Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday, lifted by gains in technology and AI-related stocks, including Nvidia and Amazon.

Meanwhile, the dollar strengthened ahead of key U.S. inflation data, and oil prices eased as investors monitored U.S.-Iran diplomatic developments.

Also Read: Sensex surges 283 points, Nifty climbs above 25,800

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Corporate

Sensex surges 283 points, Nifty climbs above 25,800

The stock market ended Wednesday, on a positive note, with benchmark indices rising on strong sectoral support. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 283 points to 83,734, while the Nifty50 closed above 25,800 at 25,819, extending a short-term recovery seen over recent sessions.

Investor optimism was driven by gains in metal producers, public sector banks, and select consumer stocks, which offset weakness in other sectors. Financial and metal shares led the upside, supporting a broader market rally. Both midcap and smallcap indices also ended higher, showing wider market participation.

Among the top performers, Tata Steel stood out with a notable rise, while PSU leaders like State Bank of India (SBI) and ITC posted solid gains. Axis Bank and Mahindra & Mahindra also saw healthy buying interest, reflecting renewed confidence in cyclical and industrial names.

However, gains were tempered by weakness in the IT sector. Stocks such as Infosys, Tech Mahindra, and HCL Technologies faced selling pressure, keeping the IT index below the broader market. Analysts noted that concerns over global growth and profit-taking in technology shares contributed to this underperformance.

The day began with a flat opening, but sectoral rotation helped indices pick up pace as the session progressed. Global markets provided mixed cues: Asian equities traded higher, while U.S. futures indicated modest gains. Crude oil prices and rupee movement kept traders cautious, prompting selective buying rather than broad-based exuberance.

Commodity movements also influenced specific sectors, with gold prices rebounding and select midcap stocks seeing intraday recoveries. Analysts said the market may consolidate near current levels in the coming sessions, with attention focused on sector-specific trends and global developments.

Also Read: YouTube faces global outage, millions affected

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Air India–Lufthansa deal to make Europe trips smoother

In good news for travellers, flying between India and Europe is set to become easier and more seamless. Air India and the Lufthansa Group have joined hands to deepen their partnership, a move that will eventually allow passengers to access more destinations, better-timed flights and hassle-free connections under one coordinated network.

The plan is simple in intent but significant in impact: give passengers more choice, shorter travel times and smoother transfers. Once the agreement receives regulatory approvals, the two airline groups will be able to align flight schedules, coordinate routes and sell seats together — allowing travellers to book their entire journey on a single ticket even when flying across multiple airlines.

The collaboration brings several European carriers into closer cooperation with Air India, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways.

For travellers, this could mean better-timed connections, fewer separate bookings and more flexibility in choosing routes. Someone flying from a smaller Indian city to a European destination, for instance, may soon be able to move between flights within the same network without the usual hassle of multiple check-ins and baggage reclaims.

The two groups already share flights on a large network linking several Indian and European cities, and this is expected to grow further as demand rises for tourism, education, business and family travel.

For Air India, the agreement supports its ongoing transformation and global expansion. With new aircraft on order and more long-haul routes planned, the airline is rebuilding its international presence. For Lufthansa Group, India remains one of its most important and fastest-growing long-haul markets.

Also Read: Adani Ports ties up with Marseille Fos for IMEC corridor

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Corporate

Adani Ports ties up with Marseille Fos for IMEC corridor

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd has signed an MoU with Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen cargo connectivity between India and Europe and support the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The partnership links India’s largest private port operator with France’s biggest maritime gateway and is aimed at creating faster, more reliable supply chains for bilateral and global trade. By improving port-to-port coordination, the two sides plan to reduce transit time and enhance cargo movement for Indian exporters entering European markets.

The agreement covers logistics integration, digital port solutions, knowledge exchange and joint efforts in sustainable shipping. Both ports will also explore projects in decarbonisation, alternative fuels and energy-efficient operations as the global maritime sector moves towards greener standards.

For Adani Ports, the pact strengthens its international network and positions it as a key player in the emerging IMEC trade route, which will connect India to Europe through the Middle East using a mix of sea, rail and logistics infrastructure. The corridor is expected to diversify supply chains and offer an alternative to traditional trade routes.

Marseille Fos, a major Mediterranean hub, provides direct access to southern and central Europe, making it a strategic entry point for Indian cargo. The collaboration is also seen as part of the broader India–France push to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, clean energy and resilient trade systems.

Also Read: Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres

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Sensex drops 100 pts, Nifty slips below 25,700

As the markets opened on Wednesday, the BSE Sensex fell over 100 points while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped below the 25,700 mark in a volatile session dominated by sector-specific action. Weakness in frontline technology stocks such as Infosys, TCS and HCLTech weighed the most on the indices, reflecting persistent concerns over the sector’s growth outlook amid the rapid shift towards artificial intelligence-led business models.

However, losses were partially capped by strong buying in metal counters. Tata Steel and JSW Steel emerged among the top gainers after positive global cues linked to steel and aluminium tariffs improved sentiment for the sector. Gains in banking stocks, led by State Bank of India, also helped prevent a sharper fall.

The broader market mirrored the cautious mood, with mid-cap and small-cap indices trading on a flat-to-negative note. Most sectoral indices ended in the red, highlighting the lack of broad-based momentum.

Global cues remained mixed. Asian markets traded with mild gains, while investors continued to track the US interest-rate trajectory and movements in global technology stocks. The uncertainty kept domestic traders from taking large directional positions.

Stock-specific action continued in the infrastructure and capital-goods space on the back of fresh order wins, while select FMCG and tobacco stocks saw buying interest after price hike expectations.

Also Read: Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres

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Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres

The Adani Group announced a $100 billion investment to build AI-ready data centres across India by 2035, a move aimed at creating a sovereign AI and computing infrastructure powered entirely by renewable energy. Following the announcement, shares of Adani Enterprises jumped over 2%, reflecting strong investor confidence in the group’s long-term technology vision.

The plan will expand Adani’s existing 2-gigawatt (GW) data centre capacity to 5 GW, positioning it among the world’s largest integrated AI and cloud computing networks. These centres will handle high-density workloads including artificial intelligence, large language models, and cloud services, giving India a strategic advantage in next-generation technology.

Adani’s strategy combines renewable energy generation, storage systems, transmission networks, and high-performance computing hardware into a single ecosystem. The project complements the group’s ongoing 30 GW solar and wind initiative at Khavda, Gujarat.

The rollout will include global tech partnerships, with Google setting up a major AI campus in Visakhapatnam, Microsoft establishing facilities in Hyderabad and Pune, and talks underway with other international firms to expand AI campuses nationwide.

According to the Adani Group, nations that control both energy and compute resources will lead the next wave of innovation, and this investment positions India as a creator and exporter of AI technology, strengthening economic growth and job creation.

Also Read: India team to visit US to finalise trade pact