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AI robots are coming, and they'll be made in Asia

OVER THE PAST year, I've noticed an overwhelming theme emerge when Asian tech leaders look at what comes next for artificial intelligence.

A haze of institutional weakness

Policies that are localised and reactive will solve none of India's air pollution problems

Riksbank cuts rate by 25 bps, Brazil cenbank raises outlook

SWEDEN'S RIKSBANK ON Thursday lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points and signaled its easing campaign is likely to be wrapping up with one cut left to deploy.

US Congress has two days to avert shutdown after Trump rejects Bill

THE US CONGRESS has two days to avert a partial government shutdown after Republican President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan deal late on Wednesday and demanded lawmakers also raise the nation's debt ceiling before he takes office next month.

Powell signals Fed's focus is back on inflation

FEDERAL RESERVE OFFICIALS capped 2024 with a third-straight interest-rate cut and a strong signal that inflation concerns are back in the fore.

BoJ holds rates too

THE BANK OF Japan kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday and its governor offered few clues on how soon it could push up borrowing costs, sending the yen and bond yields tumbling on fresh doubts over the near-term chances of a rate hike.

BoE keeps rates steady, but members split on decision

BANK OF ENGLAND policymakers voted 6-3 to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday, a bigger split than economists had predicted as officials disagreed over how to respond to a slowing economy that remains beset by inflation pressures.

Bought for billions, selling for peanuts

M&A DEALS SLOWLY PICKING UP Annual tally tops $3 trillion again as bankers eye fresh boost from Trump

Stocks, bond prices on slippery slope

BUSY 24 HOURS FOR CENTRAL BANKS

Dalal Street joins global sell-off

JOINING THE GLOBAL equity sell-off following the US Federal Reserve's hawkish surprise of fewer rate cuts in 2025, benchmark indices fell 1% on Thursday, marking their fourth consecutive session of decline.

Re breaches 85 mark

● Barclays strategist sees it falling further to 87 by next year end

Re breaches 85 mark

● Barclays strategist sees it falling further to 87 by next year end

Silver lining for Dr Reddy's

● Share prices jump over 4% on upgrade by Nomura FE BUREAU New Delhi, December 19

Currencies tumble, few attempt rebound

THE DOLLAR SLIPPED on Thursday, a day after surging to a two-year peak after the Federal Reserve rocked markets by signaling a much slower pace of rate cuts in 2025, while the yen slid after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) stood pat on rates.

Micromax partners Taiwan firm

HOMEGROWN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS company Micromax has entered into a joint venture with Taiwan-based Phison to design and manufacture storage chips or solid-state drives (SSDs) in the country.

AI orders 34 trainer aircraft

AIR INDIA HAS placed an order for 34 trainer aircraft for its upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra.

Auto Expo: Missing brands to return

INDIA'S PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE event, the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, will begin on January 17 with a record-breaking lineup of brands, including several returning participants.

Zetwerk's GMV rises 35% to ₹17,564 cr

CONTRACT MANUFACTURING STARTUP Zetwerk on Thursday said it has achieved a gross merchandise value (GMV) of ₹17,564 crore in FY24, reflecting a 35% growth from the ₹13,050 crore GMV recorded in the previous fiscal.

Kia unveils Syros, aims to raise market share to 20%

KIA INDIA ON Thursday introduced the Syros, a new sub-4-metre SUV, which the company expects will increase its market share in the compact SUV segment from 15% to 20%.

Accenture lifts FY25 growth forecast; Q1 revenue up 8%

• Wipro, Infosys ADRs trade up

JSW Infra outlines ₹30K-cr capex plan

● Leveraging Navkaro acquisition, says company

Nestle: Swiss withdrawal of MFN status to not affect ops

NESTLE INDIA HAS clarified that the suspension of the most favoured nation (MFN) clause granted to India by Switzerland will not affect its operations.

IPO-bound Rebel Foods raises funds from KKR

IPO-BOUND CLOUD kitchen firm Rebel Foods said on Thursday that global investment firm KKR has acquired a stake in the kitchen operator. The deal, which is part of an extended Series G funding round, sees $60-70 million come in at a flat valuation of $1.4 billion, according to sources.

MTNL to get BSNL support for assets

● Services in Delhi & Mumbai to be managed by BSNL

CCI conducts raids on liquor majors AB InBev, Pernod

THE COMPETITION COMMISSION of India (CCI) has raided some offices of alcohol giants Pernod Ricard and Anheuser-Busch InBev as it investigates accusations of price collusion with retailers in Telangana, sources familiar with the matter said.

Push for local solar cells may raise project costs

THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION to include solar cells in the Approved Lists of Models and Manufacturers — though will be implemented from June 1, 2026 — may in the short term inflate delivered costs of domestic modules, drive up the capital cost of projects, and affect timelines, analysts say.

First big trade data review since 2011 likely

IT COULD BE a throwback to 2011 for the commerce ministry as it is having a relook at gold import data for November.

DoT asked to diversify revenue streams

The Standing Committee on communications and information technology has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to diversify its revenue streams from the telecom sector to increase the government's revenue without burdening the industry excessively.

Road assets in InvITs to soar 70% in FY26

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT (AUM) of infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) in the road sector are poised to surge to ₹3.2 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26 from ₹1.9 lakh crore in September this year, according to a report by Crisil Ratings.

No sugar exports for now: Official

● Industry urges govt to allow 2 MT of shipments