Business

Against the glowing silhouette of the Howrah Bridge, the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour closed its 2025 edition with a craft story that blended emotion, heritage and market ambition. On a barge anchored in the Hooghly River, designer Anamika Khanna’s AK|OK collection unfolded like a tribute to generations of artisans, featuring deconstructed zardozi, chikankari and mirror-work reimagined through futuristic cuts and metallic finishes. Actor Ishaan Khatter, arriving dramatically by speedboat, became the face of a message that craftsmanship can leap beyond tradition into a global conversation. Inside The Bengal Paddle vessel, guests discovered the Riverine Museum’s maritime artefacts and installations tracing the Hooghly’s legacy; an immersive backdrop that connected memory, heritage and...

The Indian stock market closed with mild losses during Wednesday's session, December 24, as sharp losses in IT stocks capped gains, and a lack of fresh triggers and thin year-end trading volumes also weighed on sentiment, with investors looking to the upcoming third-quarter earnings season for a confidence boost. Overseas investors resumed their selling trend, remaining net sellers over the last two trading sessions after a brief pause, also keeping the sentiment weak. The Nifty 50 ended the session with a decline of 0.13% at 26,142, while the S&P BSE Sensex shed 0.14% at 85,408. Broader markets were mixed, with the Nifty Midcap 100 index falling 0.%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 0.3%. Sector-wise, Nifty Oil and Gas shed 0.76%, while Nifty Chemicals declined b...

Leading telecom operatorVihas announced a partnership with travel banking fintech Niyo to offer Zero Markup Forex Card delivery for customers travelling abroad this holiday season. Vi said this is the first such partnership by a telco in India, enabling customers travelling for holidays, business or higher education to receive a Niyo Zero Forex Markup Card at their doorstep within 24 hours. The new partnership strengthens Vi’s travel portfolio, which already includes Truly Unlimited international roaming (IR) packs, discounted IR packs for families, lounge access, travel insurance and baggage protection. Customers can request the Niyo Forex card through the Vi app, after which a Niyo executive will provide KYC verification, card setup and a trial transaction. Users can submit their name a...

Britannia NutriChoice has unveiled a new campaign centered on the idea that “one good choice makes the next one easier,” featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan as the face of the brand. The initiative seeks to spark everyday conversations around mindful choices, using relatable moments like deciding whether to skip sugar in tea. Conceptualised by Lowe Lintas, the TVC films showcase how one small decision can set off a chain of better choices. The campaign blends humour and simplicity through slice-of-life scenes highlighting Aamir Khan’s effortless screen presence. Alongside the campaign, Britannia NutriChoice launched its latest variant – 100% Millets Apple Cinnamon cookies*, crafted with millet flour and led by jowar. The product contains foxtail and ragi millet flour and follows a phi...

On December 19, Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) announced it has acquired a 20% stake in Shriram Finance through a preferential allotment of shares, in a transaction valued at $4.4 billion (Rs 39,600 crore), marking the largest foreign direct investment in India’s financial sector. MUFG will have the right to appoint two nominee directors to Shriram Finance’s board. The floor price for the preferential issue has been set at Rs 840.83 per share, with MUFG acquiring 47.11 crore equity shares. This $4.4 billion deal surpasses previous large investments in India’s financial services sector, including Emirates NBD’s Rs 26,850-crore investment in RBL Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s Rs 14,043-crore stake in Yes Bank. Shriram Finance, with assets under management e...

HDFC Life has released its latest research-based study, the ‘Ready for Life’ Index 2025, highlighting a significant gap between how financially prepared urban Indians believe they are and their actual level of readiness. According to the report, India’s actual Ready for Life Index stands at 59, while perceived readiness is much higher at 85, showing a 26-point gap. The study examines financial preparedness across four areas — financial planning, emergency preparedness, health and well-being, and retirement strategy. The findings are relevant for cities like Shillong and the wider eastern region, where financial discipline is visible but long-term protection planning remains limited. The report notes that retirement planning is the weakest area, with nearly two out of three individuals ...

Oriflame, the leading Swedish beauty and well-being brand, marks thirty years of its journey in India. The brand entered the country in the early 1990s and has progressively shaped a distinct position within a rapidly evolving beauty market. Over the past three decades, the brand has built a strong presence in the country, shaped by science-backed innovation, consistent product quality and a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurship. Rooted in its Swedish heritage, Oriflame has developed a wide and trusted product portfolio of more than 500 offerings across skincare, wellness, colour cosmetics, haircare, personal care and fragrance, including icons such as its Tender Care balm and Milk and Honey Body Creams. Tender Care, originally one of the brand’s most recognised global product...

Telecom operator Vi has rolled out India’s first recharge-linked handset theft and loss insurance plan for prepaid customers, offering much-needed protection for smartphones lost or stolen. The move is expected to benefit a large number of mobile users in Meghalaya, where prepaid connections dominate the telecom market. The new insurance facility is available for both Android and iOS devices and comes bundled with select prepaid recharge packs. Under the plan, customers can claim insurance coverage of up to ₹25,000 in case of handset loss or theft. This is significant, as traditional handset insurance policies usually cover only accidental damage and often exclude theft or loss. Smartphones are widely used for education, digital payments, office work and daily communication. Student...

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea, has expanded its advanced metering infrastructure portfolio by introducing Smart Gas Metering solutions for City Gas Distribution companies. The announcement marks a major step in modernising utility services as India sees rapid growth in natural gas consumption. Officials said the solution is based on Narrowband IoT technology, which helps gas operators monitor leakage, theft, and manual billing errors. The move is expected to support CGD companies by reducing unaccounted gas and improving billing efficiency. With demand for natural gas rising, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has projected the CGD industry to become the largest consumer by the end of the decade. Vi Business said the upgraded system will help companies ma...

Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA; and hereafter referred to as "Cipla") has announced the launch of Yurpeak® (tirzepatide), a one-weekly injectable therapy for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)—two of the country’s most pressing health challenges. Cipla has the rights to distribute and promote Yurpeak®—the second brand of Lilly’s tirzepatide in India, after Lilly received DCGI approval. Commenting on the launch, Achin Gupta, Global Chief Operating Officer, Cipla Limited, said: “The launch of Yurpeak® marks a transformative moment in the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, two of India’s chronic conditions with a heavy burden. Cipla is entering this space with the same depth of expertise and scientific commitment that define our leadership in chr...