RAPID COMMERCE
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.
Online festive sales miss estimates; Munjal steps down as Unacademy CEO
Happpy Thursday! Online festive sales grew, but fell short of expectations amid weak smartphone demand.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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.
Quick commerce delivers huge festive triumph for D2C brands
Beauty brand Pilgrim and healthy snacks brand Open Secret both doubled their sales year-on-year (YoY) during the festive period, driven by purchases on quick-commerce platforms.
Qcomm’s Diwali boost; Energy startups attract funds
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce powered a strong festive season for D2C brands. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Shyam Prakash Pal: Building the Next Generation of Digital-First Consumer Brands
Shyam Prakash Pal articulates the importance of fostering consumer brands within the rapidly changing digital landscape. He underscores the necessity of creativity, discipline, and collaborative effort in both professional and personal health. For effective leadership, maintaining physical health and mental clarity is paramount. Pal advocates for establishing consistent wellness practices, positioning health as integral to achieving long-lasting success in the business realm.
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China's trade surplus surpasses $1 trillion for a 2nd straight year, as exports surge 35%
Exports in October surged 35.2% from a year earlier, the customs agency said. Exports have grown rapidly this year, supported by high-tech goods like semiconductors and autos.
How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
India’s product landscape is changing: Which products are setting the benchmark across technology, finance, and consumer markets?
The ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 showcase India's rapidly growing product ecosystem by honoring groundbreaking innovations across diverse sectors such as enterprise technology, financial services, and consumer markets. These awards place emphasis on products that have made a significant market impact, gained customer adoption, and demonstrated exceptional innovation, motivating companies to present their tangible successes and contributions to the industry.
China’s high-tech ports push raises global trade ambitions, sparks security concerns
China is expanding its global maritime influence through AI-powered automated ports, smart shipping technologies and digital infrastructure. While these innovations promise greater efficiency, Western governments fear growing dependence on Chinese systems could create security vulnerabilities, geopolitical leverage and risks to critical global supply chains and international trade networks
China's trade surplus surpasses USD 1 trillion for 2nd straight year, as exports surge 35 per cent
China's trade surplus has surpassed USD 1 trillion for the second consecutive year as exports continue to rise significantly. Imports increased sharply in October, contributing to a narrowing of the monthly surplus. The trade situation presents challenges as domestic demand remains sluggish while foreign competition intensifies. Trade discussions are anticipated between the leaders of the US and China amid ongoing global trade tensions.
Claude Fable 5.2, Claude Mythos 5.2: Anthropic unveils new AI models, check features, speed, price, release date
Claude Fable 5.2 targets coding, reasoning and AI agent tasks, while Claude Mythos 5.2 targets approved cybersecurity and life-sciences research applications.
Fed’s Barkin urges rate policy caution, Goolsbee warns of inflation concerns as AI risks loom
Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin emphasized the need for caution in managing inflation and its policy risks. He mentioned that inflation continues to pose the biggest challenge for the Federal Reserve's objectives. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee highlighted the rapid AI investments potentially overheating the economy and exacerbating inflation. Policymakers are considering rate increases at the upcoming December meeting to address these inflation concerns.
When wars and AI cast a shadow, India has pressed a power reset
India’s renewable energy expansion is reshaping its energy security, cutting dependence on imported coal and natural gas as wars, oil supply disruptions and AI-driven electricity demand put pressure on power markets. An International Energy Agency report says clean energy saved India over $100 billion in fuel imports between 2011 and 2025, with cumulative savings potentially reaching $240 billion by 2030.
Honasa Consumer shares climb 5% as Jefferies raises target price after Q2 show. Why is the brokerage bullish?
Honasa Consumer, the firm behind Mamaearth, saw a remarkable boost in its shares after revealing impressive quarterly earnings. The company recorded a nearly 87% increase in consolidated net profit for the September quarter compared to the same period last year. This surge in revenues marked the greatest growth since Honasa’s market debut. Jefferies has also upgraded its target price for the company, citing strong performance and promising future profitability.
Diwali rush lifts rapid delivery orders for last-minute shopping, gifting
Platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes revamped their apps for Diwali, introducing interactive interfaces, gamified rewards and other features to drive consumer engagement and orders.
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.
How China's clean-tech machine is reshaping the global climate fight
In 2024, China took the lead as the top investor in global clean technology, directing $132 billion to developing nations to aid carbon reduction efforts. This unprecedented infusion of resources could potentially reshape the landscape of international climate finance.
Tech billionaires in Democrats’ crosshairs: Who could face congressional probes? Here’s the hit list
Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech leaders could face congressional investigations as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in 2027. Their scrutiny could focus on ties to Donald Trump, political influence, AI development, data center expansion and the industry's impact on American jobs and communities.
US polls hit tech stocks; Qcomm’s Dhanteras gold rush
US technology stocks took a major beating days after the Democratic Party took control of both chambers of the Congress. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
A new era of LPG convenience with Indane ‘XtraLite Now’ and ‘Indane Chhotu’
IndianOil is revolutionizing the LPG market with the introduction of Indane XtraLite Now and Indane Chhotu tailored for contemporary consumers. The 10-kg Indane XtraLite Now features a lightweight and durable design, perfect for stylish kitchens. Meanwhile, the 5-kg Indane Chhotu is ideal for individuals or small households, catering to their modest gas needs.
Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.
Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.
Google voluntary buyouts: What's the exit package, which teams qualify and how many employees are eligible after Microsoft's similar offer?
Google Voluntary Exit Programme Details: Google has expanded its voluntary buyout programme to selected employees in five countries. The offer comes as Microsoft rolls out a similar voluntary exit scheme covering around 60,000 employees. Here's a look at Google's severance package, eligible teams and the number of employees who could opt for the offer.
China's 'Lipstick King' touts AI tokens in first for Singles' Day festival
The launch is the first time AI token packages have been offered as a significant consumer product category during Singles' Day, the world's largest shopping festival originally held on November 11 each year.
From bikes to billions: Rapido’s gross order value quadruples in two years to $4 billion
The Bengaluru-based company is averaging around 8.3 million orders a day across its services, making it one of India’s largest consumer internet platforms by transaction volumes. Ride-hailing continues to comprise more than 95% of the company’s daily average orders.
Learjet plane crash in Florida kills Adam Robinson, technology entrepreneur who created marketing platforms, wife Helen Sharp, children, old 'X' tweet goes viral
Adam Robinson's old post on 'X' has gone viral after he along with his family was killed Learjet plane crash in Florida.
STT Global’s India biz on the block; micro occasions power qcomm
KKR, Singtel, and the Tatas are preparing to sell STT GDC India, a major data centre platform. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Micro occasions fuel demand surge across quick commerce, beauty services
On Myntra Now, overall orders rose about 70% on October 29 compared to regular days. “We saw intent for Karva Chauth starting from October 28, with demand spanning ethnic wear, beauty, and accessories,” said a Myntra spokesperson, adding that in the two days leading up to the festival, demand for kurtas, kurta sets and sarees rose 2.5 times, while red lipsticks saw a 2.1x increase across Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
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