BUSINESS
Hotels report thriving business as corporate travel gathers speed
Corporate business travel in India rebounded strongly from August, with September showing significant growth in hotel average daily rates, particularly in major metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru. This surge is fueled by the return of conferences and events, alongside India's robust economic growth. Delhi has emerged as a strong hospitality market, with high occupancy rates and revenue growth.
Meta in talks to use Google's Gemini to improve ad business, the Information reports
Meta is reportedly in discussions with Google Cloud to potentially leverage its Gemini models for enhancing its advertising business. Meta employees have suggested fine-tuning Google's Gemini and Gemma models using Meta's ad data to improve ad targeting. This move highlights Meta's challenges in scaling its own AI technology despite significant investments.
Not just jobs, AI might now be targeting your emotions with guilt trips and FOMO: Harvard study reveals chilling chatbot manipulation
A Harvard Business School study has revealed that popular AI companion apps often use emotional manipulation to keep users engaged. Analyzing 1,200 farewell messages, researchers found 43 percent employed tactics like guilt, neediness, FOMO, or even ignoring goodbyes. Tested on 3,300 adults, these methods boosted engagement up to 14 times but provoked unease, anger, and distrust. Experts warn such “dark patterns” risk reinforcing unhealthy attachments, particularly among vulnerable teens and young adults.
ET MSME Awards 2025: 7 reasons why this category is more than just a ‘woman in business’ trophy
The ‘Indian MSME Woman Entrepreneur of the Year’ award takes you from having to prove yourself to being proven.
Top 10 MBA programs in the world: US schools take six spots in QS 2026 rankings, Wharton ranked number 1
American B-schools are still the best for MBA programs. The latest QS World University Rankings show this. Wharton School is number one in the world. It is the first time since 2020. Harvard, MIT Sloan, and Stanford are also top schools. US schools have great resources and alumni. European schools are also in the top 20.
Survivor crew becomes family business as Jeff Probst's niece joins production team
Survivor's production crew has become a family affair with second-generation members joining the show. Jeff Probst's niece Abby Probst and other crew children now work on the CBS reality series after 25 years
- Go To Page 1
Qualcomm showcases new PC chip with features aimed at business market
Qualcomm has revealed its latest PC and phone chips. The Snapdragon X2 Elite chip is for PCs. It includes a new security feature called Guardian. This feature allows IT departments to remotely manage machines. It will work even when the machine is off. Qualcomm plans to pair security with 5G connectivity. This means companies can track devices globally.
Are Trump tariffs finally showing their impact? U.S. business growth slows sharply in September: manufacturing falters, services stall
U.S. business activity slowed in September 2025, with both manufacturing and services showing weaker growth. Tariffs imposed under the Trump administration continue to drive up input costs for many firms. For instance, a report noted a U.S. factory spending over $100,000 more monthly due to tariffs on imports, impacting their operations and reducing their ability to invest and grow.
RBI sees GST reforms, policy measures driving consumption, business ease and growth optimism for H2 FY26
The RBI’s monthly report said tax reforms, GST simplification, and accommodative monetary policy are expected to support sustained consumption, ease of doing business, and investment, boosting growth optimism for H2 FY26 despite US tariff headwinds.
Unacademy cofounder Sumit Jain appointed chief executive of the test-prep business
Jain joined Unacademy after he sold his startup Opentalk to the edtech company. He had also founded real estate listing portal Commonfloor and sold it to Quikr, an online classifieds operator, in 2016.
UAE-India Business Council enters into strategic MoUs to deepen bilateral trade
The UAE-India Business Council has forged strategic agreements to enhance trade and investments between the two nations. These agreements aim to strengthen institutional collaboration, deepen cooperation in key service sectors, and facilitate CEPA implementation at the grassroots level. These initiatives are expected to unlock new opportunities and redefine global trade flows.
Waymo launches corporate robotaxi accounts to court business travel
The move targets recurring corporate travel, giving employers controls over where, when and how staff use autonomous rides, as Waymo broadens commercial uses for its driverless fleet. Waymo said it completes more than 1 million rides a month and that nearly one in six local riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix uses the service to commute.
Landmark GST reforms to boost business, cut prices, drive consumption growth: RBI Bulletin
The RBI Bulletin said the recent GST reforms are expected to boost ease of doing business, lower retail prices, and strengthen consumption. The September 3 GST Council meeting streamlined rates from four slabs to mainly two (5% and 18%), rationalised sectors, addressed inverted duties, and simplified processes like registration, returns, and refunds, benefiting MSMEs, startups, and consumers.
He was called 'replaceable', fired without reason: Company then loses Rs 52 lakh monthly as termination backfires on them
A mid-sized company faced a major financial setback after abruptly firing an employee they assumed was easily replaceable, only to lose their most valuable client contract worth about Rs 52 lakh per month. The dismissed worker, who had managed all projects for the client, was later hired directly by them, leading to a complete transfer of business. The case shows how undervaluing key staff and mishandling dismissals can backfire, damaging both revenue and reputation, while also underscoring that employees who build strong client relationships are far from expendable.
Euro zone business activity hits 16-month high but highlights country divergence, PMI shows
Euro zone business activity saw a 16-month high in September, though growth remained modest due to stagnating new orders. Germany's economy accelerated, contrasting sharply with France, where political uncertainty contributed to a contraction. In Britain, business momentum waned amid concerns over upcoming tax increases, while inflationary pressures eased across the Euro zone.
US business equipment borrowings fall in August, ELFA says
U.S. companies' equipment financing in August saw a 2% year-over-year decrease, but rose 2.8% from July, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. Credit approval rates reached a high of 78.7%, the best since December 2021. The ELFA anticipates an improved financial landscape due to lower interest rates, potentially boosting equipment and software demand in the coming months.
Swiggy incorporates step-down subsidiary to house its Instamart business
The board of directors of the food and grocery delivery company Swiggy, in a meeting held on Tuesday, approved the sale and transfer of its quick commerce business, along with all assets, liabilities, permits, IP, employees, contracts, and other relevant materials to the newly formed subsidiary. This comes after Instamart dropped parent Swiggy from its name in May this year, in a strategic move aimed at carving out a standalone brand identity.
Refex Industries shares soar 17% after board approves green mobility business demerger scheme
Refex Industries' shares experienced a surge following the board's approval of a composite scheme involving the merger of Refex Green Mobility Limited into Refex Industries. Subsequently, the Green Mobility Business will be demerged into Refex Mobility Limited, planned for independent listing on BSE and NSE. Shareholders will receive equity shares in RML in a 1:1 ratio, mirroring their existing shareholding.
Heineken to buy FIFCO businesses for $3.2 billion in Central America push
Heineken is set to acquire Costa Rica's Florida Ice and Farm Company's beverage and retail businesses for $3.2 billion, expanding its Central American presence. The deal, expected to finalize in the first half of 2026, includes the iconic "Imperial" beer and a PepsiCo bottling license. This acquisition will increase Heineken's net debt by 3.
Dhan appoints Ketan Shah as CEO of omnichannel business
Shah comes with over 25 years of experience at Angel One, where he was chief strategy officer and board member. At Dhan, he will spearhead the stock trading and investment platform’s expansion of investing and trading products across both online and offline channels.
GST 2.0: Business as usual for electronics stores as shoppers just browse
Notably, primary sales-from companies to trade-surged by a record 20-30% on Monday compared to an usual day before the festive season last year, with top executives saying they expect to make up for the sales lost in the past month during the GST transition period, based on the orders received so far. "It was business as usual on Monday and no major rush as consumers know low prices are here to stay. So, Monday being a working day, people will come at their own convenience," said Nilesh Gupta, director at Vijay Sales, one of the largest electronics retail chains with presence in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
Google faces antitrust deja vu as US seeks to break up its digital advertising business
Google is facing a new legal challenge over its dominance in digital advertising, following a previous monopoly ruling on its search business. A trial starting in Virginia will examine claims that Google’s ad tech practices harm competition and publishers, with a ruling on market remedies expected later this year.
Tide secures $120 million from TPG, valuation jumps to $1.5 billion
Fintech startup Tide, with a significant presence in India, has secured $120 million in funding led by TPG, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. The funds will fuel expansion in India and Europe, along with investments in AI and product development. Tide aims to bring small businesses into formal financing in India, where it serves 800,000 customers.
Ensure passing of GST cut benefits to customers: Goyal to industry
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged domestic industries to pass on the full GST rate rationalization benefits to consumers starting September 22. He emphasized the government's commitment to promoting ease of doing business and manufacturing through various measures, including a new logistics policy and decriminalization of minor offenses, to strengthen trade ties with India.
China urges US for 'open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment' on TikTok
The ministry highlighted that the country welcomes companies to conduct business negotiations in line with market rules to reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance interests of all parties.
Tripura opposition unhappy with no business in Assembly on Sept 22 'due to PM Modi's visit'
Tripura's opposition legislators voiced their discontent as the Assembly's business for September 22 was cancelled due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to inaugurate the redeveloped Tripureswari temple.
ITC chief for business models which focus on people, planet
ITC Ltd chairman Sanjiv Puri emphasised the necessity of prioritizing people and the planet in business models, highlighting the social responsibility of enterprises. He urged businesses to focus on innovation, sustainability, resilience, and skilling to navigate the challenges of the modern world.
Small businesses face a new threat: Pay up or be flooded with bad reviews
Despite efforts by companies like Google to combat fake reviews, many slip through, prompting calls for stronger moderation and support for affected businesses.
Oman woos Indian businesses to invest in Khazaen Economic City
Oman's Ambassador to India, Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani, has positioned Oman as a cost-effective hub for Indian businesses seeking expansion into the Gulf and Indian Ocean Region. He highlighted Khazaen Economic City as a prime investment destination with clear incentives and readily available land.
Load More
