ONLINE SHOPPING
Chinese man gets a 2BHK flat for Rs 155 after placing the highest bid first in an online auction, plans to spend winter holidays there
2BHK flat for Rs 155: A Chinese shopper has bought a 732 sq ft, two-bedroom apartment for just Rs 155 during the Double 11 shopping festival. The auction attracted 1,677 bidders, while the apartment's estimated market value is Rs 5.6 lakh. The buyer will additionally pay around Rs 28,000 in taxes to complete the ownership transfer.
Festive online sales hit Rs 1.4 lakh crore, up 17%, but miss forecasts
The season had been expected to hit a record Rs 1.50-1.55 lakh crore in GMV, up 25-29% from last year. GMV is total value of goods sold by marketplaces before discounts and returns. The festive sale period started on October 8 with the flagship events of Amazon and Flipkart followed by multiple micro-events until Diwali, which fell on November 8.
Dhanteras gold rush stretches quick commerce delivery fleets, stores
Heavy demand across platforms such as Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto also led to dark stores in multiple pincodes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru temporarily pausing services on Friday due to a paucity of delivery executives.
Global markets broadly rise on AI chip demand despite Wall Street's retreat on inflation data
Global equity markets witnessed an upward trend after unexpected US inflation data for October was released. Taiwan's markets surged notably, fueled by a strong demand for AI chips as noted by TSMC. Japan’s stock index and South Korea's Kospi also rose, despite challenges for SoftBank. However, inflationary pressures continue to spark concerns about impending interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this December.
Quick commerce emerges beyond Diwali shopping panic to breathe on the necks of e-commerce giants
Quick-commerce platforms in India are increasingly including fashion, beauty, and gifting items for Diwali shopping. Myntra and Amazon are experiencing significant growth in orders and customer engagement during the festive season. Quick-commerce is projected to account for a larger share of online retail, boosting convenience for consumers. The demand for immediate shopping solutions is prompting a shift in purchasing behaviours.
Horoscope Today, November 7, 2026: Libra Reconsiders Relationships, Scorpio Embraces Change and Sagittarius Seeks Fresh Inspiration
The Moon moves from Virgo into Libra by afternoon, bringing a shift in planetary focus toward personality, privacy, social connections, and career responsibilities. The planetary influences highlight the 12th house of foreign connections and subconscious activities for Libra, the 11th house of gains and social networks for Scorpio, and the 10th house of career and public standing for Sagittarius. The Moon subsequently moves into Libra's 1st house, Scorpio's 12th house, and Sagittarius's 11th house.
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Gold coin discount on Dhanteras 2026: Check Instamart and Blinkit discount offers on pure gold coins
Dhanteras 2026 Gold coin discount offers: Festivals like Dhanteras and Diwali often lead to a surge in gold purchases, especially gold coins. Renowned jewelers such as Tanishq, Malabar, GRT, and Joyalukkas have different pricing for 24 karat gold. Consumers can also explore online services like Instamart and Blinkit that offer gold coin options with included discounts.
Bengaluru woman calls customer care to seek Rs 441 refund for ill-fitting clothes, loses Rs 1.05 lakh
A Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.05 lakh while trying to get a Rs 441 refund for ill-fitting clothes after contacting a fake customer care number found online. In a separate incident, another woman lost Rs 98,000 while seeking a replacement for a damaged curd packet ordered through Blinkit.
Retailer Zalando launches AI shopping agent as margins squeezed
Zalando has launched its inaugural AI shopping agent, aiming to refine its online retail experience significantly. This innovative platform enables users to shop across various online stores using intelligent AI assistants. Although shares dropped by 5%, the company saw a revenue uptick of 5.1% in Q3. However, the gross profit margin decreased due to heightened investment in technology and infrastructure as competitors embrace AI amid rapid industry transformation.
India's urban shoppers spend 13% more on FMCG but shop less often
India's urban shoppers are increasing grocery spending while making less frequent trips, reflecting higher prices' impact. Online sales are rising sharply, driven by new households entering the market and increased shopping occasions. In contrast, traditional kirana stores still hold a significant market share despite a slight decline. Personal care products are the fastest-growing category with notable value sales increases.
New-age beauty brands enjoy revenue glow-up
New-age beauty and personal care brands in India demonstrated impressive revenue growth in fiscal year 2026. Companies like Foxtale and Innovist achieved significant increases, doubling and tripling their sales figures. In contrast, older brands such as Sugar Cosmetics experienced revenue declines due to intensified competition and a lack of product innovation. Many newer brands focus on niche market segments and specific consumer problems to attract customers.
45.6% of Indian households use digital channels for at least one purchase: Report
Around 45.6 percent of Indian households currently utilize online shopping and digital payments for various purchases. Despite this growth, 54.4 percent still prefer traditional payment methods for their transactions. Digital adoption varies significantly across categories, with consumables and services leading at 39.68 percent. The report shows that higher Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure correlates with increased online shopping.
AI is changing online ads, and brands have a new fight on their hands: Report
As consumers increasingly use AI for product discovery and comparisons, brands must adjust their advertising strategies. Research shows that many users still conduct further research after receiving AI recommendations from standalone apps. Advertising platforms are introducing new tools to engage consumers within existing searches and social media.
AI is finding software flaws faster, and so are hackers: Inside the PHP scramble
Governments and companies across Europe and Asia have taken services offline while they patch two vulnerabilities that researchers discovered with AI models, as exploitation attempts rise into the millions.
7 discount, cashback credit cards for online festive shopping in 2026: One of them is lifetime free
Most of us will engage in festive shopping, making credit cards an appealing choice for discounts and cashback offers. But before choosing a card, analyse fees, rewards, and conditions on cashback. Check these 7 credit cards that are offering up to 10% cashback on online shopping, among other offers. These cards also have a low joining fee and one of them is lifetime free.
More bugs out there: PHP2Shell is just the tip of the internet’s old-code iceberg
On Wednesday, critical vulnerabilities in PHP were publicly revealed, impacting a vast number of websites. The discovered flaws pose serious security risks, prompting urgent updates from website administrators. Many organizations swiftly shut down their services to mitigate potential breaches from the vulnerabilities. Experts emphasized the importance of identifying PHP versions and applying necessary patches immediately. They also recommended increased funding for PHP development to prevent future risks and ensure security.
Apple iPhone sale: Planning to buy new phone? Check Apple’s new checkout policy that puts a limit
Apple has implemented a buying limit on its official online store for iPhones to manage sales during the festive season. Shoppers can now purchase only two iPhones, whether they're identical models or different ones. If users try to check out with a third unit, they will receive a warning that halts the transaction.
Reel deal: The next big thing in online shopping is playing on your screen
E-commerce platforms in India are leveraging video content to enhance product discovery and customer engagement. Creator-led videos provide a new shopping experience, combining entertainment with direct purchasing options. Consumers in tier 2 cities are particularly benefiting from this innovative approach to shopping. Companies like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra are adopting these technologies to boost sales. This shift may result in a significant increase in online shoppers in the coming years.
Explained: What is PHP and why did it take government websites offline?
The developers of PHP said on Wednesday they would release patches for two critical vulnerabilities, and EU cybersecurity officials warned organisations unable to apply the fixes to take affected websites offline. Here is what you need to know:
How an AI model discovered critical safety flaws in government websites
A significant number of websites, including those managed by the French government and Wikimedia, faced downtime due to identified vulnerabilities in PHP, a popular web development language. Cybersecurity experts from Wiz and Calif employed AI to pinpoint these urgent flaws. In response, PHP developers swiftly issued patches, urging users to promptly update their systems.
Eternal’s Q2 revenue jumps 78% on quick commerce growth; profit misses estimates
The growth was driven largely by rapid expansion of the Gurugram-based company’s quick commerce business, which reported a 79% YoY increase in net order value (NOV) to Rs 20,940 crore. During the September quarter, Blinkit continued to aggressively add dark stores and expects to exceed its March 2027 target of 3,000 stores by 500.
Glance to be integrated by default on Android TVs in US, India, Japan in partnership with Google
Under the collaboration, Glance will transform idle TV screens into interactive shoppable storefronts across fashion, travel, food, wellness, and other lifestyle categories.
India’s online retail market to cross $90 billion in 2026, grocery to overtake mobiles: Redseer
India's online retail landscape is on a fast track, expected to hit USD 90 billion by 2026. The surge in demand is primarily for grocery, beauty, and home essentials, reflecting changing consumer priorities. While mobile sales are projected to decrease from 19% to 16% of the market, electronic sales seem to be recovering early in 2026 due to various positive factors and tax decreases.
India braces for first Diwali after Gulf war with tighter budgets
As households prepare for Diwali, rising food prices and travel expenses are impacting festive budgets significantly. Increased costs for essential items like vegetables and sweets are leading to reduced discretionary spending. E-commerce platforms have seen lower sales compared to last year, indicating a shift in consumer behaviour.
Horoscope Today, October 18, 2026: Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius Navigate Emotional Changes, Meaningful Connections and New Possibilities
As the Moon transitions from Sagittarius to Capricorn, your focus shifts toward structured budgeting, clear communication, and steady financial planning. While the Sun and retrograde Venus in Libra ask you to review personal commitments, debilitated Mars urges patience at work. Today highlights clear contracts for Libra, careful asset management for Scorpio, and grounded optimism for Sagittarius.
Diwali Sale 2026: Buying fridge, AC, or washing machine online? Here’s how to get the best deal on big appliances and save more
Online sales of big appliances are growing at 25% as the festive sales begin. The Kagan 2026 Asia-Pacific Consumer Insights survey by S&P Global Market Intelligence, conducted in June 2026 among 1,000 internet adults each in China, South Korea and India, shows that most Indian respondents still primarily make retail purchases from stores.
Ecommerce firms sell goods worth Rs 24,000 crore in first two days of festive sales: Redseer
Players like Amazon and Flipkart are using their quick commerce arms for sales and increasing their salience on the platform, which saw 4 to 5 times higher GMV than the BAU daily average.
E-commerce festive sales touch Rs 24,000 crore in first two days, mobiles lead
E-commerce companies in India sold about Rs 24,000 crore in the first two days of festive sales. Mobile phones accounted for the largest share of sales, representing nearly 40 percent of total revenue. Fashion and electronics also saw significant growth, with contributions from Tier 2 cities and rural shoppers. Approximately 60-65 million shoppers participated in these initial sales, with first-time shoppers noticeably increasing.
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