MAM
Nokia livens up festivities for senior citizens with #KhamoshiKhatam
NEW DELHI: HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has joined hands with HelpAge India to roll out a nationwide campaign, #KhamoshiKhatam, that helps take away the loneliness faced by senior citizens during the pandemic and encourages the country’s youth to remember, reconnect and rejuvenate their relationship with the elderly.
As part of the campaign, a surprise virtual concert was organised at six HelpAge India homes on 26 December with a live performance and chat by celebrated singer artist Alka Yagnik, exclusively for the senior citizens.
Over a tete-a-tete after the performance, Yagnik talked with the attending silvers about their love for music, the challenges of living in a lockdown, and how the online concert marked a joyous end to a sombre year for the elderly.
A video that captures the essence of this heart-warming campaign went live on 28 December. With every share it garners across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it will secure a donation from HMD that will go to HelpAge India.
HMD Global head of marketing – India Ruchira Jaitly said, “2020 has been an especially difficult year for senior citizens owing to the pandemic. Unprecedented social distancing and lack of human interactions has increased the silence in our lives. With #KhamoshiKhatam, we hope to bring surprise, cheer and hope in the lives of the senior members of our society, with a beloved artist, Alka Yagnik. Not only this, with every share of the video, we will donate to HelpAge India. I urge people to share this video and show their support to our senior citizens.”
Singer Alka Yagnik said, “It’s a pleasure for any artist to be part of the lives of our senior citizens and to be able to bring festive cheer.”
HelpAge India head communications Sonali Sharma said, “Senior citizens have been the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, not only in terms of it affecting their health and livelihood, but also forcing them to deal with anxiety, depression and a feeling of isolation. Those living in old age homes were virtually cut off from the outside world. HelpAge is happy to associate with HMD Global for bringing back positivity, cheer and happiness into their lives through this initiative. I urge everyone to reach out to the elders in their lives, spend time with them and show them that they are valued and cared for.”
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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.
