Latest news with #GauravArora
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jagran New Media unveils TheDailyJagran.com
HighlightsJagran New Media has launched a rebranded English news platform called aimed at enhancing its digital presence and serving English-speaking audiences both in India and globally. The new platform integrates advanced technology, using 14 and Tailwind CSS to improve speed, performance, and user experience, while focusing on delivering credible journalism. introduces new content verticals such as CricDaily for live cricket updates, AstroDaily for horoscopes, and redesigned finance tools to provide a richer, personalized user experience. Jagran New Media , the digital arm of Jagran Prakashan , has announced a significant rebranding and strategic revamp of its English news platform, has launched as TheDailyJagran .com. This move marks a pivotal step in strengthening the group's independent digital presence and enhancing its offering for English-speaking audiences in India and globally. The newly unveiled platform, carrying the tagline "From the House of Trust, Comes a New Daily," aims to build on Jagran's legacy of credible journalism while embracing a fresh, modern identity. is designed to cater to readers seeking verified news, insightful perspectives, and a reliable take on current affairs. Gaurav Arora , chief operating officer of Jagran New Media, emphasised the forward-looking nature of this transition. " represents a forward-looking shift in how we serve our English-speaking audiences," he stated. "While the platform carries forward Jagran's trusted legacy, it brings with it a renewed editorial focus, stronger design sensibilities, and sharper storytelling. Through we're building a destination that is youthful, bold, and credible." The revamp isn't just about a new name and look. has also been built with cutting-edge technology, leveraging 14 and Tailwind CSS to deliver enhanced speed, performance, and a seamless user experience. This focus on technological innovation is aimed at ensuring faster loading times and improved Core Web Vitals. The platform will offer a comprehensive mix of content, including real-time breaking stories, in-depth features, and multimedia journalism. In a bid to provide specialized content and a richer user experience, Jagran New Media has introduced new verticals such as: CricDaily: Dedicated to live cricket updates, scores, and match schedules. AstroDaily: Offering daily horoscopes and astrological insights. Finance Tools: A redesigned suite of utility calculators covering EMI, SIP, PPF, and BMI, among others. Furthermore, personalisation is a key focus, with features like Single Sign-On (SSO), a personalised "MyFeed," and smart content discovery tools designed to deliver tailored content and elevate user engagement. This strategic transformation underscores Jagran New Media's commitment to innovation and content integrity. By creating a standalone, premium digital destination, is positioned to capture a growing segment of digitally savvy English-speaking readers, both within India and across international borders. The move aligns with Jagran New Media's broader strategy of expanding its offerings into different languages and reaching a wider audience.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
When AI becomes your intern (and your partner on the pitch)
HighlightsArtificial Intelligence (AI) functions like an ever-ready intern, generating numerous ideas quickly but still requiring human input to refine and ensure cultural relevance. The role of creatives is shifting from being doers to decision-makers, emphasising the importance of asking better questions and curating AI-generated content. While AI enhances the creative process by providing initial drafts and ideas, the true essence of storytelling and connection with the audience hinges on human creativity and insight. By Gaurav Arora Let's be honest: if AI were a team member, it would be that intern who never sleeps, never complains, and always has a 'first draft' ready in three seconds. Sure, the tone might be off, the headline might be a bit too clever for its own good, and the meme reference could be stuck in 2021 - but it's learning. Fast. In the agency world, we often joke: 'Need 100 campaign names by morning?' Today, the answer might be: 'Cool, I'll ask ChatGPT.' But here's the catch: AI might be brilliant at volume, but not always at value. And that's where the human magic comes in. The AI-Intern Era Is Here We have all been there—the late nights spent crafting pitch decks, sweating over that one big idea. Now, with AI in the loop, your whiteboard sessions are suddenly way more productive. The difference? The shift in how we approach creative work. AI doesn't replace thinking; it just clears the clutter so you can think deeper. Picture this: Your AI intern churns out 50 ideas in the blink of an eye. Your job? Sift through, select, and refine the gems that actually matter. Whether you're writing taglines, scripting videos, or planning influencer campaigns - AI provides breadth. It can pump out ideas like a machine gun. But the nuance, tone, and cultural context? That's still human turf. AI might give you 50 options, but it's the human who knows when a message clicks with the audience, or when it just falls flat. The New Creative Deck: 50% Prompt, 50% Gut Gone are the days when the creative pitch deck was a labour-intensive masterpiece. Now, it's more like a co-pilot system. Here's how it works: You feed the AI some insights. It spits out ten possible territories, themes, or even taglines. You review, provide feedback, and refine. It's like a tug-of-war with a machine—but somewhere in the digital back-and-forth, the concept sharpens into something fresh. 'A good deck used to take sweat. Now it takes prompts, patience, and perspective.' AI gives you scaffolding, but the soul of the story? That still comes from your gut. In the past, every pitch was like writing a book. Today, with AI as your co-pilot, it's like building a first draft, then editing it into something worthwhile. The hard part is still the same—turning an idea into something that resonates with the audience—but now, it's faster, cleaner, and more refined. The Culture Shift: From 'Doers' to 'Deciders' What AI changes most in agencies isn't the work itself—it's the roles. In a world where AI handles much of the grunt work, the value now lies in the human touch. Writers are becoming editors. Designers are becoming curators. Strategists are becoming orchestrators of logic, language, and storytelling. 'The real job now? Asking better questions, not just writing better answers.' In this new age, AI frees up the creative process, but it also requires a mindset shift. Creatives are no longer doing everything themselves. They're now decision-makers, curating the AI's output to craft something meaningful. The human creative is a director, guiding the AI like an orchestra conductor. So What Now? What does this all mean for the future of agencies and creatives in a world where AI is the intern that never leaves? Here's how to make the most of it: Embrace AI as your infinite intern. Use it to generate ideas, craft drafts, and streamline your creative process. It's like having a brainstorming partner who's always ready to when to override the algorithm. AI is fast, but it's still just a tool. There will be moments when you need to step in and add the human touch, refining a draft, adjusting tone, or ensuring the message aligns with the the deck human at the heart. While AI might generate the first line, only you know how the story ends. Your instincts, knowledge of culture, and understanding of the audience are what turn raw ideas into something that truly connects. At the end of the day, AI might be able to create at lightning speed, but it's your creativity, empathy, and expertise that make the difference between a good idea and a great one. (The author is the co-founder at Social Panga.)
Business Mayor
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Rising gold prices to dent organised retailers' volumes by 9-11% in FY26
Representative Image New Delhi: Organised gold jewellery retailers are expected to see a 9-11% decline in sales volume in FY26 as retail gold prices hit record highs. However, revenues are set to grow 13-15% due to higher prices and realisations, according to a Crisil Ratings analysis of 60 jewellers, accounting for a third of the sector's revenue. This follows four consecutive years of over 20% revenue growth, which has expanded the industry 2.5x since FY21, even as volumes remained subdued amid elevated prices and constrained consumer budgets. 'Despite rising prices, we expect another year of strong revenue growth, supported by premium realisations, continued formalisation, and deeper penetration in Tier 2 and 3 cities,' said Himank Sharma, Director, Crisil Ratings. 'However, ticket sizes are likely to remain constant, leading to lower caratage and grammage.' Retailers are increasingly relying on promotions to offset slowing demand. Yet, jewellery is still being sold above purchase and making costs, leading to inventory gains and a projected 30-40 basis points improvement in operating margins. This would reverse the declining margin trend of the past two fiscals and bring profitability closer to the seven-year average of 7.8-8.0%, according to Crisil. In FY25, volume dipped 4-5% as gold prices surged ~25% on-year. As of mid-April 2025, prices are already 20% higher than the FY25 average, and even a modest rise from current levels would result in a 22-24% increase for FY26. The high price environment will push up working capital requirements, particularly for stocking existing and new stores. However, the industry's leverage will remain manageable, supported by stronger cash flows. 'Despite the increase in debt for inventory, the capital structure remains comfortable,' said Gaurav Arora, associate director at Crisil Ratings. 'Median interest coverage is expected to stay above 6 times in FY26, indicating healthy debt protection.' As per Crisil's findings, revenues for the organised jewellery sector are projected to touch ₹4.5–5 lakh crore in FY26. The sector continues to benefit from formalisation drivers like GST and BIS hallmarking, which are steering consumers toward branded players. That said, analysts caution that volatility in gold prices, regulatory changes, and shifts in consumer sentiment remain key risks to monitor.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rising gold prices to dent organised retailers' volumes by 9-11% in FY26
New Delhi: Organised gold jewellery retailers are expected to see a 9-11% decline in sales volume in FY26 as retail gold prices hit record highs. However, revenues are set to grow 13-15% due to higher prices and realisations, according to a Crisil Ratings analysis of 60 jewellers, accounting for a third of the sector's revenue. This follows four consecutive years of over 20% revenue growth, which has expanded the industry 2.5x since FY21, even as volumes remained subdued amid elevated prices and constrained consumer budgets. 'Despite rising prices, we expect another year of strong revenue growth, supported by premium realisations, continued formalisation, and deeper penetration in Tier 2 and 3 cities,' said Himank Sharma, Director, Crisil Ratings. 'However, ticket sizes are likely to remain constant, leading to lower caratage and grammage.' Retailers are increasingly relying on promotions to offset slowing demand. Yet, jewellery is still being sold above purchase and making costs, leading to inventory gains and a projected 30-40 basis points improvement in operating margins. This would reverse the declining margin trend of the past two fiscals and bring profitability closer to the seven-year average of 7.8-8.0%, according to Crisil. In FY25, volume dipped 4-5% as gold prices surged ~25% on-year. As of mid-April 2025, prices are already 20% higher than the FY25 average, and even a modest rise from current levels would result in a 22-24% increase for FY26. The high price environment will push up working capital requirements, particularly for stocking existing and new stores. However, the industry's leverage will remain manageable, supported by stronger cash flows. 'Despite the increase in debt for inventory, the capital structure remains comfortable,' said Gaurav Arora, associate director at Crisil Ratings. 'Median interest coverage is expected to stay above 6 times in FY26, indicating healthy debt protection.' As per Crisil's findings, revenues for the organised jewellery sector are projected to touch ₹4.5–5 lakh crore in FY26. The sector continues to benefit from formalisation drivers like GST and BIS hallmarking, which are steering consumers toward branded players. That said, analysts caution that volatility in gold prices, regulatory changes, and shifts in consumer sentiment remain key risks to monitor.
Reuters
23-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Tariff turmoil casts pall over European banks' 2025 earnings power
LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - With international trade ties in tatters and confidence in the global economy plumbing fresh depths, Europe's leading banks are confronting a possibility that their strongest quarter of 2025 may already be behind them. The promise of a banner year for lending and investment banking activity soured in April after the U.S. said it would impose double-digit tariff hikes on dozens of trading partners, sparking mayhem in financial markets and sending global recession risks sharply higher. The first-quarter European bank reporting season - which continues with France's BNP Paribas ( opens new tab on Thursday and culminates on May 2 - might represent the year's peak earnings for some of the region's top names. Investors and analysts are predicting slower revenue growth and a deeper push into higher risk lending, with possible implications for dividends, share buyback programmes, and provisions against future loan losses. "While uncertainty persists, we do not expect a repeat of the stellar Q1 but do believe European banks can continue to grind out relative outperformance, particularly given discounted valuations," William Howlett, financials analyst at Quilter Cheviot, told Reuters. "We believe this environment tends to favour the higher-quality banks which typically generate higher profitability as measured by return on tangible equity," he added. Beyond business volumes, concerns about credit quality are also emerging. In its March Default Report published on April 17, Moody's Ratings upped its baseline global default rate for end-2025 to 3.1% from 2.5%. This figure almost doubles to 6% under its most pessimistic modelling. One senior banking industry executive told Reuters European banks were already under pressure to set aside cash against loan losses as the probability of more negative economic scenarios increases. In a replay of events that saw banks collectively take billions of dollars in provisions during the COVID-19 era, some lenders may take action this quarter in conjunction with revised guidance, the person said. U.S. banks JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), opens new tab, Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab and Morgan Stanley (MS.N), opens new tab all reported higher first-quarter profits boosted by hopes of a golden age for dealmaking and corporate growth earlier in April, but executives warned of rocky times to come. Gaurav Arora, head of global competitor analytics at Coalition Greenwich, said a surge in client demand for portfolio rebalancing would likely drive sales and trading revenues across the sector, but growth in transaction banking, advisory, and underwriting revenues would be more subdued. Forecasts for European investment banks are already being lowered. Goldman Sachs this month cut its estimate for BNP's 2025 global banking revenue by 7%. KBW analysts, in a note titled "The calm before the storm", estimated that a mix of slower loan growth, falling rates, rising provisions and reduced fees would lower European investment bank earnings by around 20%. Some lenders are shrugging off the volatility. Finland's Nordea ( opens new tab last week reiterated full-year guidance despite the economic uncertainties. SIGNS OF STRESS Indexes tracking European credit market conditions are showing signs of stress, underscoring the challenges banks face to support vulnerable borrowers. The five-year credit default swap spread on the iTRAXX Europe Crossover index, which reflects the cost of insuring against the risk of default for 75 of the most traded sub-investment grade companies, rose 7 basis points to 373 bps on Tuesday, S&P data showed. Although down from the 427 bps recorded on April 9, that figure has surged from 301 bps on March 25. The IMF, holding its annual meeting in Washington this week, repeated calls to financial institutions to ensure they hold enough liquidity to weather potential credit blow-ups and geopolitical risks. It also flagged worries that bank balance sheets might look safer than they actually are, pointing to a "wide variation in RWA (risk weighted asset) densities across banks, even among those with broadly comparable business models and overall risk profiles". April has brought the wildest swings on global stock markets since the COVID pandemic of 2020. Share price declines for Europe's biggest banking names include Asia-focused Standard Chartered (STAN.L), opens new tab and HSBC (HSBA.L), opens new tab, both down around 5%, Deutsche Bank ( opens new tab, down 2.5%, and UBS (UBSG.S), opens new tab, down nearly 10%, suggesting investors are paring exposures until more stable times return.
