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Technology

Alphabet raises $32 billion via bonds for AI push

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has raised nearly $32 billion through a series of global bond sales, marking one of the largest corporate debt offerings in recent years. The funds will primarily support the company’s aggressive expansion in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud infrastructure and data centres.

The fundraising was completed in less than 24 hours and included bonds issued in multiple currencies, such as US dollars, British pounds and Swiss francs. A notable highlight was the issuance of a rare 100-year sterling bond, a maturity that is uncommon for technology companies. The long-dated bond reportedly drew strong investor interest, reflecting confidence in Alphabet’s long-term business outlook.

The bond sale builds on a $20 billion US dollar issuance earlier and forms part of Alphabet’s broader financing strategy to meet rising capital expenditure needs. The company has significantly increased its investments in AI infrastructure as competition intensifies among global technology giants.

Investor appetite for high-quality corporate debt remains strong, particularly for companies with solid balance sheets like Alphabet. Market participants view the company as financially stable, with robust cash flows from its core advertising and cloud businesses. This strength enabled Alphabet to attract heavy demand across different maturities.

Several major tech firms are increasing spending to stay competitive in generative AI and advanced computing, leading to higher capital requirements.

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Corporate

Alphabet breaks $400 bn revenue barrier in 2025

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has achieved a historic milestone by recording annual revenues exceeding $400 billion in 2025 for the first time. The landmark performance reflects strong momentum across its core businesses, supported by rising demand for artificial intelligence, digital advertising, video streaming and cloud services.

In its full-year earnings statement, Alphabet reported revenues of about $403 billion, representing around 15 per cent growth compared to the previous year. The company also delivered a robust final quarter, generating nearly $114 billion in revenue, comfortably beating analysts’ expectations and underscoring steady business expansion through the year.

Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said the results demonstrate the strength of Alphabet’s long-term strategy, particularly its focus on AI-led innovation. He noted that artificial intelligence is now deeply integrated across Google’s products, improving performance, user engagement and monetisation.

Google’s search and advertising business continued to be the biggest contributor to revenues, helped by better ad targeting and the rollout of AI-powered search features. YouTube also posted solid gains, with advertising and subscription income together crossing $60 billion during 2025. Growth was driven by higher viewer engagement, strong demand for premium subscriptions and sustained interest from advertisers.

Google Cloud emerged as another major growth engine, as enterprises increasingly adopted cloud infrastructure and AI-based tools. The cloud division recorded sharp revenue growth during the year and continued to improve margins, strengthening its position in a highly competitive market.

Alphabet’s push into generative AI has been a key highlight. Its Gemini AI platform has rapidly scaled, attracting hundreds of millions of monthly users. The company said Gemini is being embedded across multiple services, from search and productivity tools to cloud offerings, helping unlock new revenue opportunities.

The strong revenue growth was matched by a rise in net profit, supported by higher scale and operational efficiencies. Looking ahead, Alphabet announced plans to significantly step up capital expenditure in 2026, with major investments planned for data centres, chips and AI infrastructure to support future demand.

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Corporate

Alphabet expands Bengaluru offices, adds thousands of AI jobs

Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google, is planning a major expansion in India, with a focus on Bengaluru, one of the country’s top tech cities. The company is leasing a new office tower in the Whitefield tech corridor and is considering two more buildings, creating a massive new campus for its growing workforce.

If Alphabet occupies all three towers, the new space could accommodate up to 20,000 employees, more than doubling its current staff in India, which is around 14,000. The first office is expected to be ready in the coming months, with the other two set to open next year.

A company spokesperson confirmed Alphabet’s strong presence in Bengaluru and other Indian cities, while highlighting that the new tower lease reflects its long-term plans in the country. The company, however, did not comment on the total number of employees or future expansion plans.

Experts say the expansion is partly due to tighter U.S. visa rules, which have made it harder for American tech companies to bring talent from abroad. With these restrictions, India is emerging as a key hub for global tech and AI talent, and companies like Alphabet are increasingly investing in local growth.

Bengaluru, already known as India’s Silicon Valley, is quickly becoming a global centre for artificial intelligence. Several AI companies are setting up shop here, and local talent is gaining worldwide recognition. For Alphabet, this expansion is not just about more office space—it’s a bet on India’s growing role in shaping the future of technology.

Industry insiders see this as a long-term commitment, showing that global tech giants are not just outsourcing to India, they are building major operations here. For Bengaluru, it’s another step in solidifying its place on the world’s technology map.

With more jobs, more innovation, and a growing focus on AI, Alphabet’s plans are set to strengthen India’s position in the global tech ecosystem, while giving thousands of professionals a chance to be part of cutting-edge technology projects right at home.

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Technology

Alphabet beats Apple to become No. 2 company

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has overtaken Apple Inc. to become the world’s second-most valuable company. The rise reflects strong investor confidence in Alphabet’s growth, especially in artificial intelligence (AI).

On January 8, 2026, Alphabet’s market value reached about $3.89 trillion, slightly above Apple’s $3.85 trillion. Alphabet’s shares continued to rise after this, while Apple’s slipped, confirming Alphabet’s new position in global rankings.

Despite Alphabet’s gain, Nvidia remains the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalization of over $4.4 trillion, driven by its AI hardware and data center business.

Alphabet’s climb is largely due to its success in AI, including the Gemini 3 model and custom AI chips called TPUs. These technologies have helped Google expand from search and ads into cloud computing and AI services, attracting more investors. In 2025, Alphabet’s stock was one of the top performers among major tech companies.

Apple’s valuation has lagged because its AI efforts are slower, and investors are cautious about leadership changes. While Apple is adding AI features to its products, it has not yet matched Alphabet’s AI-driven growth.

AI is now a key factor in determining company value, and companies that lead in AI are attracting more investor attention. Alphabet’s new position highlights the importance of innovation in shaping the world’s biggest companies.

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Corporate

Alphabet nears $4 trillion market on AI gains

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, is racing toward a $4 trillion market valuation as investor enthusiasm grows around its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and cloud business. Shares of the company recently surged over 5% to $315.90, giving it a market capitalization of roughly $3.82 trillion, a record high for the company.

This year, Alphabet’s stock has risen nearly 70%, outperforming other major tech players, including Microsoft and Amazon. Analysts attribute the strong rally to the company’s renewed focus on AI, particularly the positive reception of its Gemini 3 AI model, which has reinforced confidence in Alphabet’s ability to lead in the fast-evolving AI sector.

The company has also seen improvements in its cloud division, which has boosted revenue growth and added to investor optimism. Further support came from prominent investors like Berkshire Hathaway, whose purchases of Alphabet shares signaled confidence in the company’s long-term potential.

If Alphabet crosses the $4 trillion mark, it will join a small group of tech giants,  including Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia,  that have reached such a milestone. This surge reflects the growing impact of AI on global markets, highlighting how the technology is driving valuations and reshaping competition in the tech sector.

While the rally has excited investors, some experts caution that stock prices may be rising faster than earnings, echoing concerns seen in previous tech booms. Regulators are also closely watching the growth of Big Tech, but Alphabet’s latest performance demonstrates that innovation and market confidence remain strong drivers of company value.

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