Category: Business

Mumbai, July 7: Indian equity markets ended their four-session winning streak on Tuesday, with the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closing lower amid broad-based selling in metal and realty stocks.

Market sentiment remained subdued as investors booked profits following the recent rally, while weakness in metal and real estate counters dragged the key indices into negative territory. Selling pressure in select heavyweight stocks further weighed on overall market performance.

Despite the decline, analysts noted that the broader market remained resilient, with investors closely tracking global market trends, commodity prices, and upcoming domestic and international economic developments.

Market participants are also awaiting key macroeconomic indicators and corporate earnings, which are expected to provide further direction to equity markets in the coming sessions.

The day’s trading reflected cautious investor sentiment, bringing an end to the benchmark indices’ four-day gaining streak after a sustained period of positive momentum.

New Delhi, July 7: India is strengthening its global partnerships to ensure a secure and stable supply of critical minerals by collaborating with 35 countries, marking a significant step towards enhancing resource security and supporting future industries.

The initiative focuses on developing reliable and diversified supply chains for minerals essential to key sectors, including clean energy, electric mobility, semiconductor manufacturing, defence technologies, and advanced industries.

Through strategic international partnerships, India aims to improve access to critical mineral resources, encourage investments, promote technology exchange, and support sustainable exploration and processing capabilities.

Officials highlighted that securing critical mineral supplies is vital for India’s long-term economic growth and its transition towards a technology-driven and sustainable industrial ecosystem.

The government is working with partner countries to strengthen cooperation, reduce supply chain risks, and create a resilient framework to meet the growing demand for critical minerals in the years ahead.

Progressing with purpose: Building on a fast track record of success at PPDS, Jonas Fjeld takes on expanded responsibilities to accelerate growth and strengthen relationships with customers and partners across the Nordic countries.

Amsterdam, July 07: PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jonas Fjeld to Business Manager Nordics.

Part of a broader organisational realignment designed to support future growth and deliver more localised, tailored service and support to partners and customers, Jonas has been appointed to the newly created role after joining PPDS in August 2025 as Country Sales Manager for Philips Professional Displays in Norway.

With more than 15 years of top level AV/IT sales and management experience under his belt, including a decade working at two of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors, Jonas has consistently demonstrated the leadership and expertise required to support the company’s continued growth across both local and international markets and through all verticals.

Reporting to Jae O Choi Park, EMEA Commercial Head at PPDS, Jonas’ expanded role now covers Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, and the Baltics. He will be responsible for leading the sales and commercial strategy across all products and solutions – including Philips LED and Videowalls, Signage, ePaper and interactive displays, professional and hotel TVs, and solutions – driving growth and strengthening brand presence in each country.

Working closely with his team, including Lilly Janson, Sales Manager Finland and Baltics, Peter Bystrom, Sales Manager Sweden, and Peter Thurner, Sales Manager Sweden, Jonas will also focus heavily on further strengthening and expanding channel relationships with distributors, system integrators, AV/IT partners, designers and architects, ensuring PPDS remains at the forefront of future project tenders.

Commenting on his appointment, Jonas said: “Since joining PPDS, I have believed strongly in what we can achieve with our portfolio and talented team. We have built strong momentum in Norway, and I am proud to now take on this expanded role. There are significant opportunities ahead across the Nordics, and together we will continue to strengthen PPDS’ position in the market.”

Jae added: “Jonas has demonstrated strong leadership and a clear ability to develop and execute strategies that deliver results. His deep understanding of the Nordic region made him the natural choice for this role. On behalf of PPDS, I wish him every success.”

New Delhi, July 7: Gold and silver prices witnessed a decline of up to 2% on Tuesday, tracking weak global cues and subdued investor sentiment in the precious metals market.

The fall in international bullion prices impacted domestic markets, with both gold and silver coming under selling pressure. Market analysts attributed the decline to a stronger US dollar, shifting expectations on global interest rates, and cautious investor participation.

Gold prices remained under pressure as traders assessed the outlook for monetary policy and key economic developments. A firm dollar and higher interest rate expectations often weigh on demand for non-yielding assets such as gold.

Silver prices also moved lower, following weakness in global markets and reduced demand from investors. However, analysts noted that precious metals could find support from ongoing economic uncertainties and changing market dynamics.

Going ahead, bullion prices are expected to remain influenced by global currency movements, central bank policy decisions, inflation trends, and broader market sentiment.

New Delhi, July 7: Delhi-NCR recorded its highest-ever quarterly uptake of flexible workspace solutions in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting strong demand for agile office spaces among businesses across sectors.

The surge in flex space adoption has been driven by the growing preference for flexible leasing models, expansion plans of companies, and the increasing need for ready-to-use, scalable workplace solutions. Startups, enterprises, and multinational companies are increasingly turning to managed workspaces to improve operational efficiency and support evolving work models.

Industry experts said the record performance highlights the changing dynamics of commercial real estate, with businesses prioritising flexibility, cost optimisation, and employee-focused work environments.

The growth of flexible office spaces in Delhi-NCR also underscores the region’s expanding business ecosystem, strong infrastructure, and growing attractiveness for domestic and global companies.

With hybrid work models becoming more prominent and businesses seeking adaptable workplace solutions, the flexible workspace segment is expected to maintain its growth momentum in the coming quarters.

Automakers say the batteries that power electric vehicles could provide a new way to store energy to help meet the growing electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, transportation electrification and manufacturing reshoring.

Last month, Ford Motor Co.’s stock surged after it announced a plan to repurpose electric vehicle, or EV, batteries as energy storage systems for electric utilities and data centers. General Motors later followed suit with plans to develop a new type of battery that could support data centers and increase vehicle-to-grid capabilities. 

Virginia Tech engineering experts Ali Mehrizi-Sani and Samji Samira explain how EV batteries could help power data centers and support the ever-increasing energy demands.

Why are EV batteries attracting so much attention in the power space right now?

“AI training and inference require far greater computational resources than traditional cloud computing and therefore much more electricity,” said Mehrizi-Sani, director of the Power and Energy Center at Virginia Tech. “Repurposed EV batteries offer a potentially lower-cost and already-available way to deploy energy storage.” 

He added, “While an older battery may no longer meet the performance requirements of a vehicle, it can still provide valuable storage capacity in stationary applications. For data centers, these batteries can help shave peak demand and smooth large load variations.”

What makes lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries ideal for power generation?

“Batteries enhance both reliability (preventing downtime and data loss) and resilience (enabling continued operation during power disruptions), making them an essential component of modern data centers,” said Samira, assistant professor of chemical engineering.

These batteries are ideal for use in data centers because they are efficient, have a high-energy density, a long lifespan, and have operational advantages over traditional lead-acid batteries.

“Lithium-ion batteries can store more data in a smaller footprint, and they have a long lifespan and high cycle life,” Samira said. “Think about a cell phone: An iPhone battery typically lasts four to six years before needing replacement. From a data center perspective, this reduces replacement frequency and maintenance costs.”

However, current lithium-ion technology is approaching its practical performance limits, particularly in terms of energy density, Samira added.

“The current generation of lithium-ion batteries has been extremely enabling for our society, which resulted in the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for its inventors,” he said.. “Given the insatiable need of humanity and data centers to store more energy per unit mass, we will need to move beyond them.”

Chennai, July 7: The Tamil Nadu government has announced a revamp of its free Pongal dhotis and sarees scheme for 2027, with a focus on improved fabric quality, new colour options, and updated designs.

The upgraded garments will be provided to beneficiaries as part of the annual Pongal welfare initiative, aimed at ensuring better quality products while continuing support for eligible families across the state.

Officials said the changes are being introduced to enhance beneficiary satisfaction and modernise the traditional festive scheme. The government is also working on production and distribution arrangements to ensure timely supply ahead of Pongal 2027.

The initiative continues Tamil Nadu’s efforts to combine welfare support with encouragement for the textile sector through large-scale garment production and distribution.

July 7: The Adani Foundation has joined hands with the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s P4 (Public-Private-People Partnership) initiative to support livelihood enhancement and promote inclusive development across the state.

The partnership aims to strengthen community-based development by bringing together government support, private sector expertise, and public participation to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities.

Under the initiative, the Adani Foundation will contribute towards programmes focused on improving income opportunities, enhancing skills, and supporting social and economic empowerment. The collaboration is expected to help communities gain better access to resources, training, and opportunities for sustainable growth.

The P4 initiative is designed to encourage collective participation from different stakeholders to address development challenges and accelerate progress at the grassroots level. By combining government efforts with corporate social responsibility initiatives, the programme seeks to create a stronger support system for communities.

The partnership reflects the growing role of public-private collaborations in driving inclusive development and strengthening livelihood opportunities for people across Andhra Pradesh.

New Delhi, July 7: Industrialist Anand Mahindra has said that India has the potential to emerge as the world’s “connector economy” by leveraging its strategic position, economic strength, and ability to bridge global markets.

Speaking on India’s evolving role in the global economic landscape, Mahindra highlighted the country’s growing importance as a link between major economies, businesses, and supply chains. He emphasised that India’s demographic advantage, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and innovation ecosystem could help it play a larger role in global trade and commerce.

He noted that as global businesses look to diversify supply chains and explore new growth opportunities, India is well-positioned to attract investment and strengthen its position as a trusted economic partner.

Mahindra also underlined the importance of continued focus on infrastructure development, skill enhancement, technological advancement, and policy reforms to support sustainable economic growth.

The comments come amid India’s increasing engagement with global markets and its efforts to establish itself as a key player in international trade. A stronger role as a connector economy could provide new opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, and industries across sectors.

With its expanding market, growing innovation capabilities, and strategic global position, India is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of the global economy.

New Delhi, July 7: The Centre has rolled out a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen India’s seafood export sector under the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), aiming to enhance global market access and improve the competitiveness of Indian seafood products.

The new strategy focuses on expanding export opportunities, promoting value-added seafood products, improving supply chain efficiency, and ensuring compliance with international quality and safety standards. The initiative is designed to help exporters tap into emerging markets and strengthen India’s position in the global seafood trade.

The government has highlighted the need for greater adoption of modern technologies, sustainable aquaculture practices, improved processing facilities, and stronger infrastructure to support long-term growth in the sector.

India’s seafood industry plays a crucial role in generating foreign exchange earnings, supporting livelihoods in coastal regions, and contributing to the country’s export economy. The roadmap aims to provide exporters with better support systems and create an enabling environment for sustainable growth.

Through the TEPA framework, the Centre is working towards deeper trade engagement, improved market opportunities, and enhanced competitiveness for Indian seafood exporters in international markets.

The initiative is expected to further strengthen India’s seafood export ecosystem and contribute to the country’s broader goal of expanding its global trade footprint.