Brands
Experience the ‘Power of Infiniti’ with Licious Infiniti
Mumbai: What would you do with the ‘Power of Infiniti’ at your fingertips, that lets you simply zap your way to your Licious favs, that too, with infinite benefits? Watch how an ardent Licious fan enjoys her newfound superpower of ‘Infiniti’ and effortlessly triumphs at mealtimes with an extensive spread of mutton handi, fish fry, crispy chicken, kebabs and more. All this, ‘cause she’s got the power – of Licious Infiniti. Your most-loved meat and seafood brand, Licious, today announced its Infiniti Program – a rewards-based program that offers infinite benefits upon ordering from the Licious App. The program marks the brand’s 8-year anniversary and aims to gratify consumers for their unwavering love and patronage. As the name suggests, Licious Infiniti offers delights as assured cashback, free delivery and money-back guarantee, with absolutely zero terms and conditions attached. If this doesn’t get your Licious-party started, watch the campaign film here and groove along as you dig into crispy prawns and chicken curry.
Licious VP Santosh Hegde tells us more about the Licious Infiniti program & its film, “Licious has always been a part of celebrations & special occasions with its consumers. With Licious Infiniti we are giving our consumers another reason to engage with the brand as we celebrate our 8-year anniversary. And what could be better than gratifying our consumers’ love & loyalty than with infinite benefits & unconditional meaty offers. Much like the Licious fan in the film, we aim to empower our consumers with the Infiniti program and delight them further with rewards as they zap their way to juicy, delectable Licious products.”
The film opens on our protagonist wondering what she should order from Licious, a scene that perhaps most of us can relate to. As she’s browsing through the App, the playful beckoning of Licious Infiniti entices her to tap on it, and she finds the ‘Power of Infiniti’ on her fingertips, quite literally! The scene suddenly transforms and there is a definite zing in the air. What happens thereon is every Licious fan’s dream come true – she zaps away her Licious favourites, plate after plate, because she’s got the power! From fish fry, crispy chicken to chicken curry & mutton handi – the meaty delights just keep coming, as the rewards from Licious Infiniti go on and on and on. The party continues as the family gathers over the dinner table, digging into the wide spread of choices of meat and seafood delicacies. As a rather bewildered child exclaims “Kya jadoo hain!”, our empowered protagonist reveals the secret source of her newfound power to be Licious Infiniti. Amidst much drool & delight, the film concludes with details of Licious Infiniti and its many benefits.
Brands
Microsoft faces worst quarter since 2008 financial crisis
Cloud giant battles soaring AI costs and fierce competition from nimble startups.
MUMBAI: When the tech titan starts looking a little wobbly, even the Magnificent Seven can feel the tremors because Microsoft is currently starring in its own sequel, “Clouds and Doubts.” Microsoft is on track for its worst quarterly performance since the 2008 global financial crisis, according to Bloomberg, as investors grow increasingly uneasy about rising capital expenditure and intensifying competition from nimble AI firms. The company has been pouring money into AI infrastructure, yet markets are questioning when these hefty investments will finally deliver stronger revenue growth.
At the same time, investors are shifting away from traditional software stocks amid fears that AI startups such as Anthropic and OpenAI are developing autonomous agents capable of replacing established products, including those from Microsoft. Jonathan Cofsky, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, noted growing concern that customers may bypass Microsoft and deal directly with AI vendors, potentially disrupting its core business and putting pressure on pricing and margins.
Microsoft’s stock has tumbled 25 per cent in the first quarter, putting it on course for its largest drop since a 27 per cent fall in the fourth quarter of 2008. It has also emerged as the weakest performer among the so-called Magnificent Seven technology stocks, while a broader index tracking the group has fallen 14 per cent over the same period. The shares slipped a further 1.7 per cent after markets opened on Friday, marking a potential fourth consecutive session of declines.
Cofsky pointed out that Microsoft has become more capital intensive and that improved investor confidence will hinge on assurances that software growth will not slow materially. Despite the sell-off, the stock is now trading at less than 20 times projected earnings over the next 12 months, its lowest valuation level since June 2016. Its valuation remains slightly above that of the S&P 500 Index, although it has recently traded at a discount to the broader benchmark for the first time since 2015.
Bloomberg data shows Microsoft’s capital expenditure, including leases, is expected to surge to $146 billion in fiscal 2026, up around 66 per cent from $88 billion in fiscal 2025. Spending is projected to climb further to $170 billion in fiscal 2027 and $191 billion in fiscal 2028, based on average estimates. Investors are growing cautious about such levels of spending without clearer signs of stronger growth.
Microsoft’s Azure cloud division has reported a slight slowdown in growth compared with the previous quarter, while its Copilot AI product has seen limited user traction, prompting internal changes aimed at improving performance. Ben Reitzes, an analyst at Melius Research, warned in a March note that Microsoft’s upside in Azure could be constrained as the company works to address challenges related to its AI models and Copilot offering, adding that these issues are unlikely to be resolved in the short term.
Of the 67 analysts covering Microsoft, 63 maintain buy ratings, three hold ratings and one a sell rating. The average 12-month price target of $592 implies a potential upside of more than 64 per cent, the highest on record based on data going back to 2009. The stock is also trading below its 200-day moving average by the widest margin since 2009.
Reitzes suggested the dominance of buy ratings may indicate complacency among analysts, while highlighting risks in Microsoft’s productivity and business processes segment as well as its More Personal Computing division. In contrast, Tal Liani of Bank of America reinstated coverage with a buy rating, citing durable multi-year growth prospects across cloud and AI. Jake Seltz, portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments, maintained that Microsoft retains strong long-term value and that its AI strategy is likely to be validated over time, viewing near-term concerns as a potential opportunity for longer-term investors.
The report highlights a growing divergence in market sentiment, with optimism around long-term AI potential weighed against immediate execution risks and investor uncertainty. In the world of big tech, even the mightiest clouds can have silver linings but right now, Microsoft’s investors are scanning the horizon for clearer skies.
