Category: Corporate

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Corporate

Sensex up 174 points, Nifty above 25,700

The benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 174 points, settling around 83,450, while the NSE Nifty50 closed near 25,700, extending gains for the second consecutive session. The markets erased early weakness on Tuesday to finish with broad‑based gains, reflecting renewed investor confidence after a tentative start.

Sector performance: Information Technology and PSU bank stocks led the rally, with notable gains in TCS, HCL Tech, and SBI. Conversely, FMCG and pharma shares saw profit‑booking, with Nestlé, Hindustan Unilever, and Sun Pharma among the laggards. Midcap and smallcap indices also participated in the upswing, though with less intensity.

Early weakness was driven by negative signals from GIFT Nifty, which traded below the previous close, hinting at cautious risk appetite. Global cues remained subdued as Asian markets traded with thin volumes, and commodity prices such as gold eased on a stronger US dollar.

Market breadth improved as investors returned to equities after recent volatility, supported by stronger valuations in financials and optimism around corporate earnings.

Also Read: Anthropic launches Bengaluru office, expands India partnerships

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Corporate

Sensex slips 100 pts, Nifty near 25,700

Indian benchmark indices staged a strong recovery on Tuesday. The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty opened on a weak note, tracking profit booking and mixed global cues. The indices slipped in early trade, with the Nifty briefly moving below the 25,700 level and the Sensex falling over 100 points. However, a steady recovery in technology stocks during the second half of the session trimmed the losses and pushed the benchmarks into a narrow range by the close.

IT majors Infosys, TCS and HCLTech were among the top gainers on the Nifty. The sector saw value buying after last week’s sharp correction, and sentiment improved following deal-related optimism in the artificial intelligence space. The Nifty IT index ended as the top sectoral performer.

In contrast, index heavyweight Reliance Industries declined and capped the upside. Financial stocks also remained under pressure, with ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank among the key laggards. Weakness in metal stocks, including Tata Steel, further weighed on the market.

In the broader market, mid-cap and small-cap indices outperformed the benchmarks, indicating continued stock-specific buying. Defence-linked Cochin Shipyard surged after emerging as the lowest bidder for a major contract, boosting sentiment in capital goods stocks.

Shares of newly listed AI-focused Fractal Analytics saw a muted trend after a weak debut, reflecting valuation concerns despite strong interest in the artificial intelligence theme.

Also Read: KPMG partner fined for AI ethics cheat

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Corporate

KPMG partner fined for AI ethics cheat

A senior partner at KPMG Australia has been fined A$10,000 (around US$7,000) for using artificial intelligence to cheat on an internal AI ethics course, highlighting the tricky balance between technology and professional responsibility. The partner reportedly fed the mandatory training questions into a generative AI tool to generate answers, breaking company rules and raising concerns about integrity in AI use.

The breach, which occurred in July 2025, was detected through KPMG’s internal monitoring system, designed to ensure employees follow proper procedures while using AI. As part of the disciplinary action, the partner must retake the training and will face a reduction in future pay. The individual has also reported themselves to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, which is investigating the case.

The case drew attention during an Australian Senate inquiry into industry oversight. Greens senator Barbara Pocock called current regulations “toothless,” noting that professional misconduct often goes unreported unless individuals come forward. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been notified but will await the accounting body’s findings before taking further action.

KPMG revealed that this incident is part of a larger trend: so far this financial year, 28 staff members, from junior employees to managers, have misused AI to bypass mandatory training tests. KPMG’s chief executive, Andrew Yates, acknowledged the difficulty of policing AI misuse, given its rapid adoption in workplaces, and stressed that the firm is refining its policies and education programs to prevent future incidents.

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Corporate

Kwality Wall’s opens lower, shares fall 26% on first day

Shares of Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd, the ice cream business recently spun off from Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), made a cautious debut on Indian stock exchanges on February 16, 2026, settling at a notable discount to its indicative price.

The stock opened at ₹29.80 on the NSE and ₹29.90 on the BSE, down about 26 % from the adjusted reference price of ₹40.20, reflecting investor caution over the standalone valuation of the company. The listing placed the market capitalisation of Kwality Wall’s at roughly ₹7,000–₹7,350 crore.

The demerger, effective December 1, 2025, allowed HUL shareholders to receive one share of Kwality Wall’s for every HUL share held as of the December 5 record date. This made Kwality Wall’s the first publicly listed pure-play ice cream company in India, aiming to operate independently and focus on growth in the frozen desserts sector.

In conjunction with the listing, The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. and associated entities launched an open offer to acquire up to 61.08 crore shares from the public at ₹21.33 per share, under the supervision of Kotak Mahindra Capital.

The listing is part of HUL’s broader strategy to streamline its portfolio, letting its ice cream business operate with greater flexibility. Market observers noted the subdued debut as investors evaluate the company’s prospects amid seasonal demand fluctuations and competition in the Indian ice cream market.

Also Read: Blackstone backs Neysa’s $1.2 bn AI cloud expansion

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Corporate

Blackstone backs Neysa’s $1.2 bn AI cloud expansion

Indian AI cloud platform Neysa is set to receive $1.2 billion from private equity firm Blackstone and other investors. The funding includes $600 million in equity and plans for $600 million in debt.

Founded in 2023 by Sharad Sanghi, Neysa provides GPU‑based AI infrastructure for enterprises, government bodies, and research labs. The new capital will help expand its GPU network across India, supporting AI development while ensuring data sovereignty.

Participating investors include Teachers’ Venture Growth, TVS Capital Funds, 360 ONE Assets, and Nexus Venture Partners. Blackstone will become the majority shareholder once the deal closes.

The funding strengthens India’s AI ecosystem, enabling local organisations to train and deploy AI models domestically. Neysa plans to scale its GPU capacity significantly, serving startups, hyperscalers, and large enterprises more efficiently.

Sanghi said the move aligns with India’s broader AI goals, offering secure, cost-effective compute solutions. Blackstone views the investment as part of its strategy to back critical digital infrastructure in growing AI markets.

Prior to this round, Neysa had raised around $50 million from early investors including Matrix Partners India and Nexus Venture Partners.

Also Read: Fractal Analytics IPO opens softly, lists 3% below price

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Corporate

Sensex rises 650 points, Nifty tops 25,680

Markets rebounded sharply on Monday, the BSE Sensex surged 650.39 points to close at 83,277, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 211.65 points to settle at 25,683, marking a strong recovery in key benchmark indices.

The rally was largely led by banking, energy, and realty stocks, which drew significant buying interest. Private and public sector banks, including HDFC Bank and SBI, emerged as the top gainers, along with Reliance Industries and NTPC in the energy segment. In contrast, some sectors, including automobiles and media, recorded muted gains or small losses, with Maruti, Tata Motors, and Zee among the top laggards.

Analysts attributed Monday’s rebound to a combination of value buying after recent declines, positive sectoral movements, and improved investor sentiment.

Sectoral performance was broad-based, with FMCG, healthcare, and select industrial stocks also contributing to the market upswing. Power and realty stocks saw meaningful gains, reflecting renewed confidence among investors following a two-day slump.

The strong close added roughly ₹3 lakh crore to overall market capitalization, signaling a recovery in investor confidence. Broader markets mirrored this trend, with mid-cap and small-cap indices also ending the day in positive territory.

Global cues were mixed during the session, but domestic buying interest dominated trading sentiment, helping the markets snap their recent downward trend.

Also Read: Sensex falls over 100 points, Nifty slips below 25,450

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Corporate

Fractal Analytics IPO opens softly, lists 3% below price

Fractal Analytics, one of India’s leading AI and advanced analytics companies, saw its shares enter the market on a subdued note on Monday, February 16, 2026. The stock opened at ₹876 on the NSE, around 3% below its ₹900 IPO price, while the BSE listing remained nearly flat.

The company raised ₹2,834 crore through its IPO, combining a fresh issue of ₹1,023 crore and an offer for sale of ₹1,810 crore from existing shareholders. Though the IPO was 2.66 times subscribed, most interest came from institutional investors, with retail participation being modest.

Market experts say the soft listing reflects caution over high valuations for AI-focused firms. While short-term gains may be limited, analysts see long-term potential for investors betting on the global growth of AI and analytics.

Founded in 2000, Fractal Analytics serves global clients across consumer goods, retail, healthcare, technology, and finance. In FY25, it reported revenue of ₹2,765 crore and a net profit of ₹220.6 crore, bouncing back from previous losses.

Proceeds from the IPO will fund U.S. expansion, R&D, debt repayment, and strategic growth initiatives, supporting the company’s ambition to strengthen its global footprint.

Also Read: OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joins OpenAI

 

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Bengaluru gets Nothing’s first India flagship outlet

Consumer technology brand Nothing has strengthened its presence in India with the launch of its first flagship retail store in Bengaluru, signalling a clear shift towards offline expansion in one of its most important global markets. The store, located at Indiranagar’s 100 Feet Road, was inaugurated by co-founder and CEO Carl Pei along with India president Akis Evangelidis.

The Bengaluru outlet is the company’s second flagship store worldwide after London and has been designed as a large experiential space where customers can explore and interact with the brand’s full product ecosystem. Spread across two floors, the store allows visitors to try out Nothing smartphones, audio devices, CMF products and accessories through dedicated demo zones.

Moving beyond the traditional retail format, the space focuses on community engagement and immersive product experience. It features areas for content creation, product personalisation and merchandise, reflecting the brand’s digital-first identity and strong creator-led marketing strategy. The store’s industrial design, inspired by assembly lines, uses raw textures and bold visual elements to mirror Nothing’s transparent and minimalist product philosophy.

The opening saw enthusiastic response from fans, with long queues and strong footfall on day one. The outlet will be open to customers throughout the week, offering hands-on support, service assistance and exclusive merchandise.

India continues to be a key growth market for Nothing, both in terms of sales and manufacturing. The company has been steadily expanding its retail footprint through partners and is now investing in flagship spaces to build deeper connections with its user community. The Bengaluru launch is part of a broader global plan to open similar stores in major cities.

Also Read: Big Tech like ‘East India Company’, says Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu

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Big Tech like ‘East India Company’, says Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder of Zoho, has raised concerns over the growing technological and financial power of global Big Tech companies, saying their control over digital infrastructure now rivals that of sovereign nations and requires an urgent strategic response from countries like India.

His remarks came after Alphabet raised nearly $32 billion through a bond sale, including ultra-long 100-year debt. Vembu pointed out that such large and long-term capital mobilisation, typically associated with governments,  allows hyperscalers to invest aggressively in artificial intelligence, global cloud regions, subsea cable networks and large-scale data centres.

According to him, companies such as Google and Meta have moved beyond being software providers to become core digital infrastructure operators. Their platforms today support communication, enterprise applications, digital advertising, developer ecosystems and AI workloads used by startups, corporations and even public sector projects.

Vembu said this creates deep structural dependence as businesses build their products on foreign cloud and AI stacks, making switching difficult due to high migration costs, data gravity and platform lock-in. He added that while India contributes significantly in terms of engineering talent and data generation, a large share of the economic value is captured by overseas platform owners.

Calling for “technology sovereignty,” he stressed the need for long-term investments in domestic cloud infrastructure, AI capabilities, semiconductor ecosystems and globally competitive SaaS products. Owning the technology stack, he said, is critical for ensuring innovation, retaining economic value and maintaining strategic autonomy in the digital economy.

Vembu’s broader message is that in the AI-driven era, control over compute, data and digital platforms will define economic power, and nations that fail to build indigenous capabilities risk remaining dependent consumers in the global technology value chain.

Also Read: Press Note 3 review to speed up minor FDI deals

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Sensex falls over 100 points, Nifty slips below 25,450

The equity benchmarks opened lower on Monday as the BSE Sensex slided over 100 points in early trade, while the NSE Nifty50 dipped below the 25,450 mark.

The weak start came despite mixed global cues. Asian markets traded cautiously, and Gift Nifty signalled a muted opening, keeping traders on edge at the start of the week.

Gainers provide limited support, where select banking and auto stocks managed to trade in the green, helping limit deeper losses. On the gaining side, Power Grid and HDFC Bank featured among the top performers, providing some support to the broader market. However, buying interest remained selective, indicating cautious market participation.

Heavyweights in the IT sector were among the top losers in early trade. Infosys and ICICI Bank were among the top losers in morning trade, dragging the indices lower. Energy and select consumer stocks reeled under the selling pressure as investors continued to book profits after last week’s sharp correction.

Last Friday, the Nifty had dropped more than 300 points, driven by weakness in IT, energy, and consumer sectors. Monday’s soft opening suggests that investors are still assessing global trends and domestic triggers before taking fresh positions.

Unless strong buying emerges, markets may continue to trade in a narrow range with high volatility.

Also Read: Apple’s 6th India store to open in Borivali on Feb 26