Ircon International's stock price increased significantly. This happened after the company secured new projects. These projects are in railway, power, and industrial infrastructure. The company won contracts worth over Rs 898 crore in May. Ircon secured a project from Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd. It also bagged a contract from North Eastern Electric Power Corporation.
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Bhavye Khetan, a UC Berkeley graduate, ignited a debate about startup funding by creating a fake founder persona. He secured responses from 27 VCs, with four requesting calls, despite having no product or pitch. Khetan's experiment highlights concerns that pedigree and buzzwords may overshadow substance in venture capital evaluations.
Economist S Mahendra Dev assumes the role of Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), filling the vacancy since November. The council has been reconstituted for two years, retaining full-time members and inducting new part-time members. Dev, a development economist, brings extensive experience from academia and the financial sector.
Suresh Narayanan, retiring CMD of Nestle India, reflected on the 2015 Maggi crisis as a major career challenge. He successfully revitalized Maggi after a nationwide ban due to safety concerns. Under his leadership, Nestle India saw significant growth, expanding its product portfolio and increasing capital expenditure, demonstrating a commitment to manufacturing in India.
Victoria's Secret has postponed its quarterly earnings release following a security breach that disrupted operations and forced its US website offline. The company detected the incident on May 24, initiating response protocols and engaging experts. Preliminary results show $1.35 billion in net sales, exceeding forecasts. The breach, potentially a ransomware attack, impacted in-store services and corporate systems, hindering financial reporting.
IATA forecasts airlines to achieve a combined profit of $36 billion in 2025, a rise from $32.4 billion in 2024. Director General Willie Walsh cautioned against geopolitical disputes affecting airspace and highlighted supply chain challenges. India hosted the AGM for the first time in 42 years, with the next one scheduled for Brazil in 2026.
India's services sector performed well in May. The HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index increased. This indicates growth in activity, hiring, and international demand. Companies hired more staff at a record pace. Export orders surged, especially from Asia, Europe, and North America. Businesses are optimistic about future activity. The HSBC India Composite PMI Output Index was 59.3 in May.
American labour unions are resisting Artificial Intelligence. They want transparency and legal protection for workers. Unions fear job losses due to AI automation. Some unions have secured AI usage agreements. A lawsuit against Google and Character.AI is proceeding in the US. It alleges an AI chatbot's role in a teenager's suicide. This raises concerns about AI accountability.
OpenAI has broadened its AI for Impact Accelerator in India, granting $150,000 in technical assistance to 11 nonprofits. These organizations are developing AI tools for healthcare, education, and agriculture. The program, aligned with IndiaAI Mission, aims to democratize AI access and address socio-economic challenges, with plans for further expansion and initiatives in the region.
The rupee strengthened marginally to 85.80 against the US dollar, supported by easing oil prices and positive domestic equities, reversing a two-day losing streak. Traders are cautious ahead of the RBI's rate decision, with expectations of a potential rate cut looming. The domestic equity market showed positive momentum, with both Sensex and Nifty closing higher.
India's defence budget is set for substantial growth, potentially reaching Rs 31.7 lakh crore by 2047, according to a CII-KPMG report. Defence production and exports are also projected to surge, positioning India as a key global supplier. Increased capital expenditure and R&D investment are expected, alongside a rise in defence's GDP share.