Business
AI shift: SoftBank sells Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion; focuses on OpenAI after tripling first-half profit – The Times of India
Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp has sold its stake in US chipmaker Nvidia for $5.8 billion, signalling a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence investments, particularly in OpenAI, the company said on Tuesday, AP reported. The tech conglomerate also reported that its profit nearly tripled in the first half of the current fiscal year, driven by strong returns from its Vision Funds.The Tokyo-based firm said the Nvidia shares were sold in October as part of Chairman Masayoshi Son’s broader plan to redirect resources toward next-generation AI ventures. SoftBank’s net profit for the April–September period surged to about 2.5 trillion yen (roughly $13 billion), while sales rose 7.7 per cent year-on-year to 3.7 trillion yen ($24 billion).SoftBank’s earnings tend to fluctuate sharply due to its exposure to multiple high-growth and high-risk ventures. However, its tech-heavy portfolio has seen a rebound in 2025 amid the global AI boom.Earlier this year, Son joined US President Donald Trump, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Oracle’s Larry Ellison in announcing Project Stargate — a proposed $500 billion mega-initiative to develop AI infrastructure and computing power.SoftBank has already invested tens of billions of dollars in OpenAI and plans to expand AI services in Japan through the collaboration. The sale of its Nvidia stake marks a deliberate reallocation of capital — locking in gains from Nvidia’s meteoric rise while freeing funds for direct AI ventures.Nvidia recently became the world’s first $5 trillion company, fuelled by soaring demand for AI chips. The company has also announced a $100 billion investment in OpenAI to build at least 10 gigawatts of new AI data centres to boost computing capacity.While SoftBank no longer holds Nvidia stock, it maintains ties through various portfolio companies that use Nvidia technology in AI and robotics. SoftBank also holds stakes in Arm Holdings and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), both of which have benefited from the AI-driven surge in chip demand.SoftBank’s stock has nearly doubled over the past year, rising 2 per cent in Tokyo trading on Tuesday. Nvidia shares slipped 1.3 per cent in premarket trading after climbing 5.8 per cent on Monday.The company’s latest move cements Masayoshi Son’s aggressive shift toward becoming a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence — a bet that echoes his early vision for the future of computing.
Business
Indian electronic firms seek PLI 2.0, eye 30–35% share in global mobile production by FY31 – The Times of India
With the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme now over, India’s electronics industry has pitched a fresh expansion plan, seeking continued government support as it eyes a strong jump in manufacturing and exports over the next five years. During discussions with the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), the industry said that by FY31, India could capture 30–35% of global mobile production. This would take annual output to $110–130 billion, with exports estimated at $55–70 billion. At present, according to ET, India accounts for about 15% of global mobile phone production, with manufacturing output exceeding $64 billion. Industry executives said the current production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has played a key role in this growth. With the scheme set to end on March 31, companies are pushing for a new version to keep the momentum going. Talks are underway on a proposed PLI 2.0 scheme, which is likely to run from 2026 to 2031. Government officials said a new incentive programme is being considered, though details have not yet been finalised. The industry has also shared a roadmap with the government to meet production and export targets by FY31. “With a strong foundation, we have an opportunity to achieve 30-35% of global mobile production in the next five years,” Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told ET. “To realise this ambition, it is critical to sustain the current momentum and continue investments. We are actively engaging with the government to shape the next phase of this growth journey.” Industry players said increasing India’s global share would help strengthen the supply chain, deepen the manufacturing ecosystem and support research and development at scale. One executive said scale is more important than value addition alone for long-term sustainability. The government is also examining how much domestic value addition should be required for incentives and how exports can be increased without breaching World Trade Organization norms. Experts said the growth in production will depend largely on exports, as domestic demand is expected to weaken. India’s smartphone market could shrink by more than 13% this year due to rising memory costs, which may push device prices up by 15–40%, according to an earlier report. Data from the commerce ministry showed smartphone exports rose 47.4%, from $20.44 billion in 2024 to $30.13 billion in 2025. The United States accounted for $19.7 billion, or 65% of total exports. Meanwhile, China’s smartphone exports fell from $132.6 billion to $120.6 billion during the same period, with shipments to the US declining sharply due to fentanyl-related tariffs. India’s tariff advantage in the US market has narrowed after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. China continues to have an advantage due to its strong supply chain and advanced manufacturing capabilities, while India is still developing these.
Business
Duty on diesel exports hiked from Rs 21.5/L to Rs 55.5 – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Govt on Saturday significantly increased export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to dissuade oil refiners from exporting these fuels and to ensure adequate availability in the domestic market amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The ministry of finance issued a series of notifications hiking the export duty on diesel by more than 150% – from Rs 21.5 per litre to Rs 55.5 per litre – with immediate effect. The levy on ATF, or jet fuel, was increased from Rs 29.5 per litre to Rs 42 per litre. The export duty on petrol continues to be nil. Under the revised structure, the special additional excise duty on high-speed diesel has been raised to Rs 24 per litre, while the road and infrastructure cess now stands at Rs 36 per litre, which means a large chunk will now flow to the Centre. Govt said these duties are not meant to boost revenue, but to stop fuel exporters from taking undue advantage of price differences. The Centre had, on March 27, imposed an export duty of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on ATF in a bid to check windfall gains, as fuel was in short supply in international markets due to a squeeze on energy supplies amid the military conflict and export curbs imposed by China. It had also slashed excise duty on diesel and petrol to shield consumers and oil companies from the impact of high crude prices. Retail prices of automobile fuels in India have not increased despite high volatility in the international crude market, while only a small part of the international price pressure has been passed on to domestic flights. The windfall tax on exports of diesel and ATF helps the Centre partly offset the impact of the excise duty cut. On March 27, govt had estimated revenue gains from export duties at around Rs 1,500 crore in a fortnight. The further hike in export duties is likely to lead to higher revenue gains. In a statement, the ministry of petroleum had said, “At a time when international diesel prices have surged sharply, the levy is designed to disincentivise exports and ensure that refinery output is directed first tow-ards meeting domestic demand.“
Business
NI fuel protesters ‘stand in solidarity’ with Irish counterparts
A convoy of vans, lorries, tractors, and even a limousine took part in a slow moving protest around the town centre on Saturday afternoon.
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