Business

War-related disruption in Iran is expected to push essential drug prices up by 3-5%, erasing recent GST-cut savings for consumers. The industry projects the increase will last 3-4 months, with a rollback tied to input cost stabilization. Duration of supply chain stress remains the key variable.

Warner Bros. and Legendary unveiled the first extended look at Digger, a dark comedy starring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, at CinemaCon. The reveal ends a period of deliberate secrecy around the project's title and premise, with Iñárritu describing Cruise's performance as "another kind of fearless.

Tom Cruise debuted the first trailer for 'Digger' at CinemaCon, appearing physically unrecognizable as an eccentric Southern billionaire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The role marks a sharp break from Cruise's action-franchise image and suggests an awards-oriented release strategy. No public trailer or relea

PolyPeptide has drawn buyout interest as its operational turnaround gains traction with potential acquirers. The development signals improving confidence in the contract peptide manufacturer's stability, with the peptide CDMO sector under heightened strategic attention due to GLP-1 drug demand. Whether a formal sale pr

The Hindu Group and WorkL have launched the Best Places to Work Awards 2026, grading employers on employee feedback rather than policy or management submissions. The format shifts reputational weight toward actual workforce sentiment, affecting how companies position themselves in talent and employer-brand markets.

WWE has launched Club WWE, a paid membership program whose annual price has not yet been disclosed. The rollout comes as fan backlash over live event ticket costs is already elevated, putting the program's reception at commercial and reputational risk. Membership pricing and early sign-up volume will be the key metrics

EltaMD is launching its first acne-treatment sunscreen, combining SPF protection with active correction in a single formulation. The move extends the brand into treatment-oriented sun care, a growing multifunctional skincare segment with higher margin potential and closer regulatory scrutiny.

One company is paying employees up to $8,000 per year as a voluntary incentive to work from the office, bypassing mandatory RTO mandates. The approach reframes in-office attendance as a compensated choice rather than a requirement, potentially reducing attrition risk seen at firms enforcing hard return policies. The mo

A new framework outlines eight operational priorities for Japan's pharmaceutical industry as it contends with demand shifts, supply vulnerabilities, and digital disruption. The priorities target structural gaps in forecasting, resilience, and manufacturing adaptation. Execution speed against these priorities will deter

India's auto sector posted record sales in FY26, with passenger vehicles up 8% and exports jumping 24%, per SIAM. Tax cuts, revised income tax slabs, and lower interest rates combined to lift both affordability and financing conditions. Geopolitical risks and input cost pressures remain the primary variables industry l

CEOs of Toyota, Honda, and Ford have publicly warned their companies may not survive intensifying competition from Chinese automakers. The threat centers on China's structurally lower EV production costs, enabled by subsidies and integrated supply chains, which compress margins for legacy players in export markets. Inv

MinebeaMitsumi is evaluating Cambodia as a strategic base for US-bound exports, according to the Japanese precision components maker. The move reflects broader manufacturer efforts to route production through lower-tariff ASEAN locations amid elevated US trade barriers on China-origin goods.

Handset prices surged across brands in April, driven by input cost inflation, supply disruptions, and currency pressures, triggering a 30% drop in dealer-reported sales volumes. The broad-based price increase has made consumers cautious, with purchase deferrals concentrated in price-sensitive mid-range segments. Sustai

Slate Auto raised $650 million in a Series C led by TWG Global's Mark Walter and Thomas Tull. The Jeff Bezos-backed startup targets a mid-$20,000 electric pickup truck with deliveries expected this year. The company was valued at $1.2 billion as of January 2025.

Slate Auto announced a $650 million funding round Monday, funding production of its entry-level electric pickup truck targeting mid-$20,000s pricing. The raise sharpens a direct competitive challenge to the Ford Maverick XL, currently the cheapest new pickup in the US. The elimination of the federal clean vehicle tax c

LIC's board has approved a 1-for-1 bonus share issue, creating over 632 crore new shares worth approximately ₹6,325 crore via capitalisation of reserves as of December 31, 2025. The move doubles the share count without cash outflow, improving secondary market liquidity while compressing per-share earnings metrics. A re

The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the amalgamation of Nirmal Lifestyle Realty into Oberoi Realty, with the former to be dissolved without winding up. The merger simplifies Oberoi Realty's group structure, consolidating assets and reducing parallel compliance burdens. Post-merger disclosures on balance shee

L&T's heavy engineering division is targeting a 3x revenue increase over five years, tied to India's nuclear capacity expansion from 8.8 GW to a stated government target of 100 GW by 2047. The company, a long-standing supplier to India's nuclear programme, is positioning for large-scale manufacturing and localisation c

Moro Power Company and PowerChina signed a deal to develop a 100MW hybrid wind-solar project in Jhimpir, Sindh, the first under Pakistan's CTBCM B2B wheeling policy. The project will supply industrial consumers at Rs25 per kWh via the Sindh Transmission and Despatch Company, establishing a replicable model for direct