Wednesday, February 4

Business

Toyota launches Land Cruiser 300 in India: A new luxury segment contender
Business

Toyota launches Land Cruiser 300 in India: A new luxury segment contender

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has officially launched its premium SUV, the Land Cruiser 300, in India, available in two variants—ZX and GR-S. Powered by a twin-turbo V6 diesel engine producing 227kW and 700Nm torque, the Land Cruiser 300 is priced at ₹2.31 crore (ZX) and ₹2.41 crore (GR-S) (ex-showroom). With Toyota’s TNGA-F platform and advanced features like Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the SUV is designed to cater to both urban and rugged terrain buyers. The Land Cruiser 300’s entrance into the Indian market reflects rising demand for high-end vehicles as consumer spending patterns shift towards premium segments. Analysts predict strong interest from affluent buyers and off-road enthusiasts, adding competition to India’s luxury SUV segment. With luxury interiors, leather upholstery, a JBL 1...
LIC shares jump 1% after insurer launches Smart Pension Plan; Know 7 key details you should know
Business, News

LIC shares jump 1% after insurer launches Smart Pension Plan; Know 7 key details you should know

LIC Share Price: Shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) rose nearly 1% to ₹765 per share on the BSE on Wednesday, February 19, as the state-owned life insurer on Tuesday launched a single premium Smart Pension Plan that offers a variety of annuity options for single life as well as joint life type of annuity. A joint life insurance policy covers two individuals under one plan, while an individual policy covers only one person. Joint life annuity can be taken between any two descendants/ascendants of the family (i.e. grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren) or spouses or siblings or parents-in-law, LIC said. Single premium insurance is a life insurance plan for which the total premium has to be paid in one go and the policy has to be continued till maturity. ...
GlaxoSmithKline shares upsurge 16% on strong third quarter earnings
Business, News

GlaxoSmithKline shares upsurge 16% on strong third quarter earnings

New Delhi, February 17 Shares of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals jumped nearly 16 percent on Monday as the company reported a five-fold jump in net profit to Rs 229 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024. The stock jumped 15.59 percent to close at Rs 2,332.25 on the BSE. It rose 20 percent to Rs 2,421.30 during the day. It rose 15.90 percent to Rs 2,339 on the NSE. The pharmaceutical company reported a net profit of Rs 45 crore in the October-December quarter of the previous fiscal. Revenue from operations rose to Rs 949 crore in the third quarter as against Rs 805 crore in the same period a year ago, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said in a statement on Friday. Bhushan Akshikar, MD, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said, "Our strong third quarter results refle...
HCLTech has announced the opening of applications for its TechBee early career program
Business

HCLTech has announced the opening of applications for its TechBee early career program

HCLTech has announced the opening of applications for its TechBee early career program, a strategic initiative aimed at supporting India’s skill development and employment policies. Targeting Class 12 graduates from 2023, 2024, and 2025, TechBee offers 12 months of specialized training followed by guaranteed full-time employment. Participants can also pursue higher education through collaborations with BITS Pilani, IIIT Kottayam, SASTRA University, and Amity University Online. TechBee is aligned with the government’s push for digital transformation and employment generation in high-demand fields like cloud computing, AI, and digital engineering. The program caters to students with mathematics or business mathematics backgrounds, preparing them for careers in emerging sectors.  ...
Jaipur home sales to increase 5% in 2024, value up 39%: PropEquity
Business, News

Jaipur home sales to increase 5% in 2024, value up 39%: PropEquity

According to real estate data analytics firm PropEquity, home sales in Jaipur grew only 5 per cent in 2024 to 10,695 units, but in value terms it grew 39 per cent to Rs 8,388 crore. In 2023, home sales in the Rajasthan capital stood at 10,187 units, valued at Rs 6,019 crore, data from PropEquity showed. Sameer Jasuja, founder of PropEquity, attributed the rise in sales value to rising input costs of real estate projects due to increase in land, labour and construction material prices. Also, developers are launching more premium and luxury housing projects, leading to a rise in sales value. PropEquity recently released data for 15 major tier-2 cities, where total housing sales grew 4 per cent to 1,78,771 units in 2024 from 1,71,903 units in the previous year. In terms of val...
Aditya Birla Fashion narrows Q3 loss to ₹51 crore, revenue upsurge 3.3%
Business, News

Aditya Birla Fashion narrows Q3 loss to ₹51 crore, revenue upsurge 3.3%

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) narrowed its net loss to ₹51.3 crore in Q3 FY24 from ₹77.9 crore in Q3 FY23 on the back of improvement in its revenue and profitability. Revenue from operations grew 3.3% year-on-year to ₹4,304.7 crore as against ₹4,166.7 crore last year, enabled by consistent demand across the brand portfolio.EBITDA grew 14.8% to ₹635 crore as against ₹553.2 crore, reflecting improved operating performance. EBITDA margin stood at 14.8% as compared to the same period last year when it was 13.3%, reflecting higher cost efficiency and improved profitability.Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL), which owns brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen and Pantaloons, plans to drive future growth by enhancing its premium and digital-first offerings.On the Nationa...
Toyota Kirloskar Motor pushesgreenmobility at India Energy Week 2025
Business

Toyota Kirloskar Motor pushesgreenmobility at India Energy Week 2025

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) highlighted its commitment to sustainable transportation at India Energy Week 2025, showcasing advanced green mobility solutions to support India’s Net Zero vision. The event, held in Delhi from February 11 to 14, brings together global stakeholders to discuss energy independence and carbon reduction strategies. TKM’s exhibit featured a range of alternative powertrains, including Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEV), Flex-Fuel Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-PHEV), Urban Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). The company also highlighted its locally manufactured e-Drive system, reinforcing India’s shift towards self-reliant automotive manufacturing. Toyota’s green initiatives include achieving 100% renewable ener...
Lux Industries Q3 results: Net profit upsurge 59% to Rs 32 crore, revenue up 23%
Business, News

Lux Industries Q3 results: Net profit upsurge 59% to Rs 32 crore, revenue up 23%

Lux Industries Q3 Results: Lux Industries on Thursday, February 13 reported a 58.63% year-on-year rise in its consolidated net profit for the October-December quarter of the 2024-25 financial year (Q3 FY25) to ₹32.06 crore. The company's net profit stood at ₹20.21 crore in the same period last year. The increase in net profit was due to increase in income and reduction in expenses. Its total income stood at ₹556.87 crore in the third quarter of the financial year 2024-25, a growth of 22.48% from ₹454.65 crore in the third quarter of the 2023-24 financial year (Q3 FY24). The company's revenue from sale of products and services grew 22.2% to ₹549.34 crore during the period under review, as against ₹449.55 crore in Q3 FY2024. Lux Industries' total expenses in Q3 FY2025 stood at ₹514...
Vi eases travel worries with baggage protection for postpaid international roaming users
Business

Vi eases travel worries with baggage protection for postpaid international roaming users

Losing baggage while traveling abroad can be a nightmare, turning an exciting trip into a stressful ordeal. To address this concern, Vodafone Idea (Vi) has introduced a baggage protection service for its postpaid international roaming customers in partnership with US-based Blue Ribbon Bags. For an additional ₹99, Vi users can now claim compensation of ₹19,800 per bag if their luggage is lost or delayed beyond 96 hours. With international travel on the rise, baggage mishandling remains a pressing issue. A 2024 SITA report revealed that over 36 million bags were mishandled worldwide. Vi’s new initiative offers peace of mind, ensuring travelers have a safety net in case of lost or delayed baggage. Customers can activate this service while purchasing their international roaming pack and re...
Assamese action-thriller Sikaar wins the Best International Film-Directors award
Business

Assamese action-thriller Sikaar wins the Best International Film-Directors award

Sikaar, the Assamese action-thriller of 2024, has made history by winning the Best International Film-Directors award at the 11th Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) 2025. The film, which stars Adil Hussain, Urmila Mahanta, and Zubeen Garg, has received praise for its ambitious cinematic execution and compelling plot. Sikaar, which was produced by Sam Bhattacharjee and Mitra Bhattacharya and directed by Debangkar Borgohain, is the highest-budget Assamese film ever produced, bringing the local industry to a global level. Adding to its list of accolades, Sikaar has been selected for the Panorama Film Festival, further cementing its reputation beyond national borders. Speaking about the film’s success, producer Sam Bhattacharjee remarked, “Sikaar has been recognized in many place...