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Rupee falls 6 paise to 90.62 against US dollar in early trade

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Rupee falls 6 paise to 90.62 against US dollar in early trade
The rupee depreciated 6 paise to 90.62 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions and dollar demand from importers weighed on investor sentiments.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.56 against the US dollar, then lost some ground to touch 90.62, registering a loss of 6 paise over its previous close.

In the initial trade, the rupee also touched 90.46 against the American currency.

On Tuesday, the rupee pared initial losses and settled on a positive note, higher by 10 paise at 90.56 against the US dollar.

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Forex traders said that while markets initially welcomed the India-US trade deal, fresh concerns have emerged after the White House released its fact sheet.


The fact sheet highlights key terms of the agreement, including that India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products.
This includes dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum, tree nuts, and fresh and processed fruit. Certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products, and India has committed to buy more American products and purchase over USD 500 billion of US energy, information and communication technology, agricultural, coal, and other products. “The US document goes a step further than the February 6 joint statement by explicitly mentioning tariff reductions on additional American agricultural products, including certain pulses. This is a sensitive area for India – both politically and economically,” CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said in a note.

Pabari said, “In the near term, the 90.00-90.20 zone continues to act as a strong support for the rupee. As long as this area remains intact, USD/INR could slowly move higher, with the 91.00-91.20 range emerging as the next potential upside zone in the coming sessions.”

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.14 per cent lower at 96.66.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.78 per cent higher at USD 69.34 per barrel in futures trade.

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For India, as a major oil-importing country, higher crude prices mean a heavier import bill. And a heavier import bill almost always translates into pressure on the rupee, even if the impact is gradual, Pabari said.

On the domestic equity market front, Sensex rose 141.21 points to 84,415.13 in early trade, while Nifty advanced 51.95 points to 25,987.10.

On Tuesday, foreign institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 69.45 crore, according to exchange data.

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PM Inaugurates Thailand’s Chinese New Year Festival 2026

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PM Inaugurates Thailand's Chinese New Year Festival 2026

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026, marking 51 years of Thai-Chinese relations. Celebrations include events in Bangkok and other provinces, promoting tourism nationwide.


Key Points

  • Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 at Government House, celebrating 51 years of Thailand-China diplomatic relations. The event marked the beginning of nationwide festivities, featuring notable attendees like the Chinese ambassador and tourism officials.
  • A lion dance performance highlighted the occasion, alongside the presentation of an auspicious ceremonial horse to the prime minister. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in partnership with various agencies, will organize the festival across key locations.
  • Festive lighting in Bangkok, themed “Ride the Fortune, Share the Future,” will adorn Yaowarat Road from February 7 to March 1, with major activities at Siam Paragon from February 14 to 18. Additional celebrations are planned in Hat Yai and provinces like Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri, aiming to boost holiday travel.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has presided over a publicity event for the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 at Government House to commemorate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. The event, held at Command Building 1, signaled the start of nationwide celebrations.

The event was attended by the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, the minister of tourism and sports, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and senior officials from relevant agencies. A lion dance performance was presented to promote the upcoming festival, and an auspicious ceremonial horse was offered to the prime minister as part of the occasion.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in coordination with partner agencies, will stage Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 events at major locations. In Bangkok, festive lighting under the theme Ride the Fortune, Share the Future will illuminate Yaowarat Road from February 7 to March 1, while main festival activities are scheduled at Siam Paragon from February 14 to 18. Additional celebrations will take place in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, from February 17 to 20.

Chinese New Year events are also being supported in provinces known for long-established traditions, including Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri, as well as other activities organized nationwide by government and private partners. Officials said the celebrations are expected to encourage travel during the holiday period, with more information available through the national tourism hotline and official festival platforms.

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An Activist Investor Enters Wall Street Banks’ Cozy Club

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An Activist Investor Enters Wall Street Banks’ Cozy Club

An Activist Investor Enters Wall Street Banks’ Cozy Club

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Secretive AI chip start-up Olix raises $220m and plans to expand Bristol presence

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The tech company was founded less than two years ago by then-23-year-old entrepreneur James Dacombe

An aerial view of Bristol city centre

An aerial view of Bristol city centre (Image: Getty Images)

A UK AI chip start-up has raised $220m in a Series A funding round and is planning to expand its presence in Bristol, it has confirmed. London-based Olix was founded by 25-year-old James Dacombe in 2024 and is targeting the development of technology that it claims will be faster and cheaper than Nvidia’s.

The company was valued at £1bn following the raise, with Hummingbird Ventures – a backer of Revolut and Deliveroo – leading the round. Other investors include Plural, Vertex Ventures, LocalGlobe, Entrepreneurs First, Fundomo and Transition.

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The round brings total capital raised by Olix – formerly known as Flux Computing – to $250m.

Jonathan Heiliger, general partner at investor Vertex Ventures, and former Facebook infrastructure executive, said: “One of the biggest constraints in AI today is the compute required to run these models at scale.

“Today’s GPU-based approach forces a compromise between speed and cost. Olix is taking a radically different approach designed to deliver a step change in both and it has huge promise.”

Mr Dacombe dropped out of school at age 16 to work as a software engineer at a start-up and then left that to build his brain healthcare company CoMind. In 2022, he secured a $200,000 grant from the Thiel Foundation – a two-year programme established by technology entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel for young people who want to build new things.

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Mr Dacombe launched his semiconductor business Olix in March 2024. That same year he was named by the Sunday Times as one of the most inspiring people under the age of 30 in the UK.

Following the latest funding round, Olix is currently hiring for a number of roles – in the US, Canada, London and Bristol. According to a statement on its website, Olix is “an in-person” company and claims to employ “some of the best minds” in photonics, systems, and compute.

“It is difficult to overstate the impact a step change will have, not just for AI, but for society as a whole,” a statement on its website reads.

“Life at Olix is high-velocity and high-stakes. We don’t believe in ‘grinding’ for the sake of it, but we do believe in dedication to the mission.

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“This isn’t work you leave at the door; it’s work that matters enough to command a space in your life. You’ll be making a tangible impact alongside people just as excited as you are.”

The company is offering visa sponsorship, including for dependents and a £24,000 annual top-up for living near the office. The Bristol role advertised on the site is for a senior/staff digital design engineer, with a pay packet of between £125,000-£180,000.

The announcement comes just a day after UK chip start-up Fractile confirmed it would invest £100m in its UK operations, in London and Bristol, and the government urged British tech entrepreneurs to “take bold risks” with the development of AI.

“By investing in British tech innovation, just as Fractile is doing today, we can reinforce our leadership in AI and boost our influence on the global stage,” the AI minister said on Tuesday.

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Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally amid weak beer demand

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Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally amid weak beer demand

Heineken said Wednesday it plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally and expects slower profit growth in 2026 as the beer industry grapples with weak demand.

The reductions represent nearly 7% of the Dutch company’s approximately 87,000 employees worldwide. The beer giant said the cuts are part of a broader strategy aimed at strenghtening its operations while continuing to invest in growth.

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“To fuel the growth and the profit, we are stepping up productivity initiatives and [making] changes to our operating model,” Heineken Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek told investors on a call announcing the company’s annual earnings results. “We are moving to a simpler, leaner Heineken centered on empowered operating companies.”

HEINEKEN’S NYC SOCIAL EXPERIMENT PROVES CONNECTING SOCCER FANS WILL BE EASY AHEAD OF FIFA WORLD CUP

Bottles of Heineken beer

Heineken announced Wednesday its intent to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters / Reuters)

Van den Broek said between 5,000 and 6,000 roles will be eliminated over the next two years.

“Timelines will vary by market, and we will support impacted colleagues with care, respect and appropriate assistance,” van den Broek said. 

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“These actions are designed to deliver 400 million [euros] to 500 million [euros] of annual gross savings and allow us to continue investing in our brands and capabilities while supporting healthy operating profit growth.”

HOW REAL AMERICAN BEER AIMS TO FULFILL LATE FOUNDER HULK HOGAN’S GOAL OF TOPPLING BUD LIGHT, RIVALS

Heineken employee walking crates

“These actions are designed to deliver 400 million [euros] to 500 million [euros] of annual gross savings,” Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek told investors. (Freek van den Bergh/ANP/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Some of the job cuts will be concentrated in Europe and non-priority markets, as well as at the company’s headquarters and within its supply network, Reuters reported.

Heineken expects profit growth this year of 2% to 6%, down from the 4% to 8% range it projected for 2025. Rival Carlsberg last week issued a similar forecast, according to Reuters.

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The beer industry has been grappling with slowing sales amid tight household budgets, increased competition from alternative beverages, and growing health warnings related to alcohol consumption.

FORMER BUD LIGHT CONSULTANT SPEAKS OUT ON HOW BRAND LOST ITS WAY

Beer in a distribution hall at Heineken brewery

The cuts come amid Heineken’s hunt for a new CEO. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters / Reuters)

The cuts also come as Heineken searches for a new chief executive after Dolf van den Brink unexpectedly resigned last month. 

Van den Brink is set to step down in May. 

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Heineken did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

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Angus Taylor quits, to contest leadership

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Angus Taylor quits, to contest leadership

Angus Taylor has resigned from the coalition’s front bench this evening, and is set to challenge Sussan Ley for the leadership.

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Simpli unveils regeneratively grown products

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Simpli unveils regeneratively grown products

The Regenerative Organic Certified products include oils, beans, lentils and a grain. 

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U.S. Economy: Housing Is Going Nowhere In 2026

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U.S. Economy: Housing Is Going Nowhere In 2026

U.S. Economy: Housing Is Going Nowhere In 2026

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XX-XY Athletics sales triple after viral Super Bowl weekend ad campaign

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XX-XY Athletics sales triple after viral Super Bowl weekend ad campaign

The activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics saw a year-old ad explode in viewership over Super Bowl weekend, leading to sales tripling compared to a normal weekend for the brand. 

The “real girls rock” ad, which premiered in February 2025, was the brand’s second full-length commercial, and initially garnered traction when it was shared on social media by “Harry Potter” author and women’s rights activist, J.K. Rowling. 

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XX-XY Athletics Instagram advertisement (XX-XY Athletics on Instagram)

But then, this past weekend, founder Jennifer Sey and the company decided to recirculate the ad, and it went viral again, increasing its total combined views on X to more than 40 million, and was among the highest-trending topics on X for Super Bowl Sunday. 

Sey, a former marketing executive for Levi’s and U.S. champion women’s gymnast, credited Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for being one of the figures to help re-circulate the ad during its viral resurgence.

“That was a big difference-maker,” Sey told FOX Business of Cruz. “He made a huge difference… and we could see it differently, even in terms of traffic to our website.” 

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The ad itself portrays the brand’s ambassadors, who have stood up for women’s sports, facing vulgar hate comments and witnessing liberal media outlets berate them as “transphobic.” It featured appearances by OuKick host Riley Gaines and former University of Nevada volleyball player Sia Liilii.

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Sia Liilii

Sia Liilii appears in the XX-XY Athletics “Real Girls Rock” advertisement. (Courtesy of XX-XY Athletics / FOXBusiness)

“It’s the proudest one I’ve ever made in my life,” Sey said. “I’ve made a lot of ads in my life, I was the chief marketing officer at Levi’s for eight years, I’ve made Super Bowl ads… but for sure, this one I’m most proud of. I think the message is just so deeply resonate and I think it really moves people to stand up for this cause.” 

Despite the company’s rapid growth since it launched in 2024, Sey said she doesn’t aspire to ever run one of her ads during the Super Bowl, insisting that the prestige of getting that time slot has waned. 

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“I think that the Super Bowl ads having prestige is sort of a thing of the past,” Sey said. “I don’t think anybody cares anymore, I think people leave the room and get food, I don’t think people tune in for the ads anymore. And from a business perspective, I don’t know how you generate a positive return when it costs $10 million just to secure the medium.”

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Sey criticized the quality of this year’s crop of Super Bowl ads in particular. 

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“They were just relying on jamming as many celebrities into the ad as they could,” Sey said. “That doesn’t really work.” 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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LITP: Global Lithium Demand Doesn't Support Fundamentals

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LITP: Global Lithium Demand Doesn't Support Fundamentals

LITP: Global Lithium Demand Doesn't Support Fundamentals

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Why the largest U.S. auto dealer isn’t interested in Chinese cars

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Why the largest U.S. auto dealer isn't interested in Chinese cars

Nio cars are seen displayed at Nio House, at the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker’s manufacturing hub in Hefei, Anhui province, China April 2, 2025.

Florence Lo | Reuters

DETROIT — The largest U.S. auto dealer isn’t interested in selling vehicles from China-based brands domestically right now, its CEO said Wednesday.

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But it’s not necessarily because of politics, logistics or potential consumer backlash, according to Lithia Motors CEO Bryan DeBoer. His company already has at least 10 stores selling vehicles from three Chinese companies in the United Kingdom.

DeBoer, who has grown Lithia exponentially in recent years, said the potential cost, return-on-investment and needed infrastructure, largely due to franchise rules in the U.S., are the biggest hindrances right now.

“We’re quite excited that we’ve got that opportunity in the United Kingdom, but there’s a big fundamental difference,” DeBoer told investors Wednesday, citing “dueling of franchises” practices in the U.K. that allow Lithia to offer brands from different companies in the same showroom if they’re deemed competitors.

DeBoer said the dealer can be allowed to put vehicles from a company such as China’s Chery Automobile, which is growing in Europe, into an existing showroom in the UK, and it would cost less than $100,000.

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That’s not the case for the U.S., where franchised dealer laws are strict, vary by state and companies can have more influence in, if not rules against, such decisions.

His comments come as Chinese automotive brands are increasingly exporting and expanding outside of their home market.

Global market share for Chinese brands has jumped nearly 70% in five years, and many experts see a threat to U.S. automakers, including the anticipated entrance of Chinese brands into America. There have been China-produced vehicles on sale in the U.S. from brands such as Buick and Volvo, but none are from Chinese brands such as BYD, Nio or others.

In the U.S., Lithia would need to establish new retail locations and service operations to support sales of Chinese brands, which would mean having to make completely new investments. He noted that roughly 50% to 60% of the company’s profits come from service and parts.

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“I think we would probably not be early adopters when it comes to the United States or possibly even Canada, primarily because we’re usually not in a dual franchise situation,” he said.

China’s most recent announced expansion is to Canada, a relatively small vehicle market that removed 100% tariffs on imported vehicles from China amid a trade dispute with the Trump administration.

But DeBoer said the Oregon-based company isn’t completely shutting the door, as Chinese brands continue to grow globally.

“We do have building relationships with a number of Chinese brands,” he said. “We’ll keep our minds open and look at what the opportunities that present us in the future.”

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DeBoer comments occurred on the company’s call to discuss its fourth-quarter and year-end earnings, which included annual increases of 4% in revenue and 3.1% in gross profit.

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