Business
Consumer tech expansion: Philips to widen India portfolio with global products; focus on male grooming, mother and child care – The Times of India
Philips India is set to broaden its footprint in the domestic market by introducing more global product lines and strengthening its offerings in male grooming and mother and child care, responding to rising consumer demand for premium personal care products.The company, which recently rolled out its rechargeable intimate skin-protect grooming product, OneBlade, aimed at Gen Z consumers, said the premium segment is seeing robust growth, highlighting a shift in Indian consumer preferences, PTI reported.“We will continue strengthening male grooming and mother and childcare with newer and newer innovations, and we continue to get our global categories, which are huge in other markets, into India,” said Smit Shukla, Head of Philips Personal Health India Subcontinent.He added that Philips has a large global portfolio in oral care, and the company is assessing strategies to drive consumer demand before introducing these products in India.According to Vidyut Kaul, Head of Personal Health, Philips Growth Region (JAPAC, ISC, META & LATAM), the non-manual grooming market in India has been expanding at a mid-to-high single-digit growth rate annually over the last five years.In the grooming segment, Philips India enjoys a 50-60 per cent market share, depending on the sales channel, Kaul said, underscoring the brand’s leadership position.He added that while Philips has long been a global innovation leader, the company had earlier avoided introducing premium innovations in India due to perceptions of it being a price-sensitive market. However, he said, “It is not price-sensitive but value-conscious, and we are seeing that premiumisation is fast catching up.”The company’s most premium shaver, launched in April this year, received a strong consumer response, with demand outpacing supply, he said. Philips has witnessed over 75 per cent growth in the premium segment, driven by this shift in consumer sentiment.The male grooming segment continues to be one of the top growth drivers for Philips in India, followed by the mother and child care segment, both of which have performed strongly over the past 2–3 years.“They continue to boost more and more growth and give access to the consumers. In addition, the personal care and personal grooming segments will further accelerate the growth journey there,” Kaul said.He also noted that Philips has enhanced localisation in its manufacturing operations under its ‘local-for-local’ strategy, which has helped shield the company from the impact of rising US tariffs.
Business
Asian stocks today: Markets inch higher mirroring Wall Street gains; Kospi jumps 10%, Nikkei up 1,400 points – The Times of India
Asian stocks inched higher on Thursday, after days of trading in red amid ongoing Middle East tensions. This comes as equities were lifted by a rebound on Wall Street as oil prices paused their recent spike and economic updates painted a more positive picture of the American economy. In South Korea, Kospi hit a pause on its downward rally to add a whopping 10% or 513 points, to reach 5,606. Japan’s Nikkei 225 also climbed 2.7% to 55,713. Hong Kong’s HSI also traded in green, rising 353 points to 25,603 as of 9:10 am. Shanghai and Shenzhen added 0.9% and 1.7% respectively. Gains elsewhere in the region were more modest. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3% to 8,927.20, while New Zealand’s benchmark index moved 0.9% higher. In contrast, US futures indicated a subdued start ahead. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were almost unchanged, while S&P 500 futures ticked up 0.2%. The S&P 500 advanced 0.8% on Wednesday, clawing back much of the decline seen since the onset of the Iran conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 1.3% gain. Globally, market sentiment has remained sensitive to developments in the Middle East, with oil price swings continuing to steer trading direction. Crude prices eased during Wednesday’s session. Brent crude briefly moved above $84 a barrel before settling at $81.40, roughly matching the previous day’s level. US benchmark crude edged up 0.1% to finish at $74.66 per barrel. By early Thursday, however, oil was on the rise again. Brent crude climbed 2.4% to $83.32 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude jumped 2.5% to $76.53 per barrel.
Business
China sets lowest economic growth target since 1991
It is also the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to “around 5%” in 2023.
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Business
World’s Second-Largest Shipping Firm Maersk Suspends Cargo Bookings Across West Asia Amid War
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Maersk has halted cargo bookings to several West Asian ports due to war disruptions. Affected ports include UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, most of Oman, and two in Saudi.

Maersk cited regional conflict and personnel safety as it suspended cargo bookings across West Asia, signalling growing disruption to global trade routes. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Maersk, the world’s second-largest container shipping company that handles a significant share of global trade, said it has suspended cargo bookings to and from several ports in the West Asia region as the ongoing war begins to disrupt global shipping routes.
The company on Wednesday said it will no longer accept cargo bookings involving ports in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, most of Oman and two ports in Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Barron’s.
However, the suspension will not apply to shipments of critical food supplies, medicines and other essential goods, which will continue to move through the region.
Maersk said the decision was part of operational measures aimed at protecting personnel and safeguarding cargo amid the escalating conflict.
“We are taking operational measures to ensure the safety of our personnel, safeguard your cargo and maintain service stability across affected trades in the Middle East,” the company said in a statement accessed by Barron’s.
Maersk had earlier announced that it would reroute vessels bound for the Suez Canal around the southern tip of Africa and suspend all vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate in the region.
The changes mean ships travelling between Asia and Europe may now take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and cost to global shipping, the news agency said in its report.
Financial markets also reacted to the development. Shares of Maersk traded in Denmark fell nearly 2% on Wednesday following the announcement.
The disruption comes as insurance providers pause coverage for vessels operating in parts of the Gulf amid the intensifying conflict.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States Navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, as concerns mount over energy supply disruptions.
Copenhagen, Denmark
March 05, 2026, 02:15 IST
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