AI boom drives global VC funding to record $300bn

BENGALURU: Global venture funding hit a record $300 billion in the Jan-March quarter, the highest ever for a single quarter, according to Crunchbase data. The surge, driven largely by artificial intelligence deals, has reignited the debate on whether venture markets are truly recovering or if capital is concentrating in a narrow set of companies.Nearly 80%…

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War in Gulf, layoffs hit discretionary spends

MUMBAI: Consumers seem to be cutting back on discretionary spends, allocating more budgets to essentials and value purchases as a mix of war-driven uncertainty and layoffs have nudged people to tighten their purse strings and save more. Even as the US and Iran agreed upon a two-week ceasefire last week, the prospects of a peace…

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‘If we catch them… ‘: Trump threatens China with 50% tariff if it helps Iran militarily as talks in Pak fail

US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened China with “staggering” new tariffs if Beijing provides military assistance to Iran in the ongoing Middle East conflict.During an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, host Maria Bartiromo asked Trump whether his warning of a 50% tariff on countries aiding Iran was aimed at China.“Yes, China and…

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Gold, silver outlook: US-Iran talks collapse to drive volatility; inflation data, global cues in focus

Gold, silver outlook: Precious metals are expected to remain volatile when markets open on Monday as the breakdown of US-Iran negotiations keeps sentiment fragile, with investors also tracking domestic inflation data and key global cues, analysts said.Apart from developments in West Asia, traders will monitor the US Producer Price Index (PPI), crude oil prices and…

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Stock market outlook: US-Iran talks collapse, oil prices to weigh on sentiment; inflation data, Q4 earnings in focus

The collapse of talks between Iran and the US is likely to weigh on investor sentiment when markets open on Monday, analysts said, with crude oil prices and key macroeconomic data also set to drive trends in a holiday-shortened week, PTI reported.Stock markets will remain closed on Tuesday on account of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti.The…

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Patent filings jump 30% to 1.43 lakh in FY26; domestic share crosses 69%, says Piyush Goyal

Filing of patent applications in India rose 30.2 per cent to 1,43,729 in 2025-26 from 1,10,375 in the previous fiscal, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday, attributing the increase to steps taken to strengthen the intellectual property rights ecosystem.India is currently the world’s sixth-largest patent filer.“Our patent filings soared to a historic…

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