Brands
ITC Fiama launches its first Sandalwood Oil & Patchouli Gel Bar with Rashmika Mandanna
Mumbai: Sandalwood has been an integral part of bathing rituals across various cultures globally. The refreshing and relaxing scent of sandalwood is known to enhance positivity. ITC’s Fiama, amongst the leading personal wash brands in India, continues to disrupt and innovate in the wash segment, with the recent launch of the unique Fiama Sandalwood Oil and Patchouli Gel Bar. ITC Fiama gives the sandal soap a modern twist. The traditional opaque sandal soap category will witness an innovative experience with sandal in a transparent Gel Bar format. In addition, Patchouli as an ingredient with sandalwood oil brings in a fresh olfactive sensorial experience while preserving the traditional aspects that make sandal soaps special – its fragrance!
The unique amalgamation of sandalwood oil and patchouli evokes a warm, earthy and exotic sensory experience that blends harmoniously to create a captivating and alluring long lasting fragrance. The Gel Bar’s fragrance enlivens, energizes and true to the brand ethos, uplifts the mood.
The emotion of the Fiama Sandalwood oil and Patchouli gel bar is epitomized by the vivacious, young and spirited new star of Indian cinema, Rashmika Mandanna. As the new brand ambassador, Mandanna brings in her youthful, free-spirited, happy-go -lucky attitude that vibes well with Fiama’s cheerful and vibrant brand repertoire.
ITC Ltd. divisional chief executive (Personal Care Products Business Division) Sameer Satpathy said, “Fiama Sandal disrupts the segment with its innovative gel bar format and a unique ingredient mix which is modern yet preserves tradition. We are delighted to have Rashmika Mandanna on board. The product promises a new experience and this, coupled with Rashmika’s infectious energy makes Fiama Sandal a must try.”
Conceptualized by Ogilvy, the launch film, further captures this refreshingly new vibe in the sandal soap segment. Morning routines are different for different people and almost everybody mark the beginning of a fresh new day with an invigorating and fragrant shower! Often, the daily rigor adds to the lack of a restful sleep leading one to hit the snooze button one time too many. Rashmika as the protagonist embraces a new day with renewed energy. The background score, Rashmika’s playful energy and the unique Fiama Sandal gel bar evokes a delightfully retro yet modern sensibility that is fresh, a lot of fun and presents a must try vibe.
Mandanna added, “Since childhood, I have always seen sandal soaps in a certain ritualistic and ancient way, more so owing to my Coorgi roots. Fiama Sandal and the way it is being presented breaks every set notion of a typical sandal soap. I am proud to be a part of this exhilarating journey to redefine the emotion, promise and perception of a sandal soap.”
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.
