Absolut vodka maker

Pernod Ricard

RI

7.94%

increase; green up pointing triangle and Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman BF.B 5.63%increase; green up pointing triangle are in talks to combine as alcohol companies contend with slowing sales. 

Pernod, based in Paris, oversees a portfolio of 200 spirits brands, including Jameson Irish whiskey and Beefeater London gin, and has a market value of around $17 billion.

The security feature called “Lockdown Mode” is almost four years old, and Apple has recently claimed that it has prevented all kinds of spyware attacks on devices where it is enabled.

This specific feature is an opt-in one found in the device’s settings, and it switches off certain features that bad actors mostly use to get into devices, helping stop the threat before it even gains access.

Apple’s Lockdown Mode Prevented All Kinds of Spyware Attacks

According to a report by TechCrunch, Apple spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke told the publication that Apple’s Lockdown Mode has prevented all kinds of spyware attacks on devices that have it turned on.

O’Rourke said that the company was not able to detect and record any kind of “mercenary spyware attacks” against devices that have Lockdown Mode enabled.

The Cupertino tech giant reaffirmed how effective and powerful their Lockdown Mode is, and according to TechCrunch, this is the company’s second time claiming the usefulness of the feature since it was launched.

The report shared that Amnesty International’s head of security lab, Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, also backed Apple’s claims, saying that he and his colleagues did not see any evidence that Lockdown Mode-enabled devices were compromised by this kind of attack.

Lockdown Mode Is Available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac

It was revealed that Apple has accepted the fact that their devices can be hacked, and the company has been notifying affected or targeted customers over the years. With this, Lockdown Mode was born, specifically as the company prioritizes privacy and security for their devices, something which they have prided themselves on over the years.

The security feature was made available to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, and this feature could be turned on in the Settings app. Lockdown Mode will turn off several device features that may be exploited or hacked, taking down potential points of entry before bad actors get a chance to attack.

Apple previously claimed that it can also protect users from government spyware made by the likes of Intellexa, NSO Group, and Paragon Solutions.

Originally published on Tech Times

India’s metabolic therapy landscape is undergoing a structural shift following the patent expiry of semaglutide, triggering a rapid transition from a premium, innovator-led market to a highly competitive, volume-driven segment. Historically constrained by high prices and limited access, the category is now witnessing a sharp inflection in demand, supported by significant price erosion of nearly 85–90% and a surge in product launches.

The addressable opportunity remains substantial. With an estimated 75–80 million obese individuals and a large proportion suffering from co-morbid conditions, the need for structured obesity management is becoming increasingly evident. GLP-1 penetration, which remained low due to patent protection, is now expected to rise meaningfully as affordability improves and distribution expands. Over the next 3–5 years, the market could scale to INR34–67 billion, driven by rising patient adoption and chronic therapy demand.

A key growth driver is the expanding prescriber base. While endocrinologists and diabetologists remain primary stakeholders, adoption is increasingly being supported by cardiologists, gastroenterologists, gynaecologists, and other specialists due to the multi-system impact of obesity and metabolic disorders. This broadening ecosystem is expected to accelerate awareness, referrals, and prescription volumes, reinforcing long-term demand visibility.

However, the sector faces structural challenges. The entry of over 10–15 players has intensified competition, leading to rapid market fragmentation and pricing pressures. Despite a large volume opportunity, individual revenue gains are likely to remain modest, with low single-digit contribution to overall sales for most participants. Limited prescription bandwidth—where physicians typically engage with only a handful of brands—further constrains market share potential, increasing the need for aggressive marketing and elevating promotional costs.

Pricing dynamics also reflect a clear stratification, with premium, mid-tier, and mass-market strategies co-existing. While this enhances accessibility, it accelerates commoditisation, weighing on margins across the value chain. Additionally, companies risk diverting focus from established portfolios amid heightened competition in this segment.

An emerging structural trend is the rising preference for next-generation therapies. Even as semaglutide drives awareness and category expansion, newer molecules with superior efficacy are witnessing faster uptake and stronger physician preference, indicating a potential shift in long-term market leadership.
Overall, the GLP-1 segment in India presents a compelling volume-led growth opportunity underpinned by strong demand fundamentals. However, the combination of pricing pressure, intense competition, and limited differentiation suggests that value capture may remain constrained, making scale and execution critical in navigating this evolving landscape.

Ajanta Pharma: Buy| Target Rs 3400

Ajanta Pharma is preparing to launch generic semaglutide post patent expiry of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic/Wegovy in India, while continuing to expand its portfolio in high-growth segments such as dermatology, pain management, and nephrology. Ajanta Pharma’s long-term growth is driven by its expanding presence in branded generics across India, US, Africa, and Asia, with a focus on chronic therapies and new launches supporting sustained demand and deeper penetration in high-growth markets. Management expects mid-teens revenue growth with EBITDA margins around 27%, supported by expansion in Asia and Africa, a strong US product pipeline, and strategic addition of medical representatives to drive execution.

Sun Pharma: Buy| Target Rs 1940

Sun Pharma’s Innovation momentum remains a key growth pillar, with specialty and novel therapies scaling up meaningfully. USD1b+ innovative sales (ex-milestones) provide resilience against US pricing pressure, while strong domestic formulation execution, consistent market share gains, and ROW/EM stability underpin diversified, sustainable growth drivers. In 3QFY26, SUNP delivered in-line adjusted revenues and EBITDA 6% ahead of estimates, supported by robust DF growth and favorable mix. Margin expansion reflected execution strength, partly offset by continued weakness in US generics due to regulatory headwinds at select sites. We estimate EM+ROW revenues to reach INR230b over FY25-28 at 12% CAGR, while specialty sales grow 11% CAGR to USD1.7b. Sustained DF outperformance, rising innovative R&D intensity, and steady pipeline launches support earnings visibility.

(The author is Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research – Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services)

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Dalal Street has seen massive downswings but not equally sharp upwings as conflict erupted in the oil-rich Middle East and pushed oil prices as high as $110 per barrel. Analysts sounded alarms over what impact the prolonged rally in oil prices may have on India’s macroeconomics.

However, as bears reigned over markets and wiped out significant amounts from investors’ portfolios, valuations may have quietly improved. The market correction since the beginning of the war has brought Nifty’s valuations down to fair levels, said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments. He added that Nifty is now trading at about 19 times, which is lower than the last 10-year average of 22.4 times.

Aakash Shah, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking, also said that the ongoing correction in Nifty 50, largely triggered by geopolitical tensions and a spike in crude oil prices, has indeed cooled off valuations from previously elevated levels.

Has Nifty hit its bottom?

Aakash Shah however noted that it is premature to conclude right now that the market has hit a durable bottom. “The Nifty has corrected approximately 12-14% from its recent highs…The index continues to trade below its short-term moving averages, indicating that the trend remains fragile and lacks strong bullish confirmation,” he said.

Ajit Mishra, SVP Research at Religare Broking, also said that it would be premature to conclude that the Nifty has formed a durable bottom or is at a “perfect buying level”. “The lack of meaningful cooling in volatility also indicates that the market has not yet transitioned into a stable phase,” he added.

Why caution is warranted

Vijayakumar from Geojit Investments cautioned that in case India’s macros take a hit due to this energy crisis, valuations may again decline, factoring-in the feared hit to earnings growth in FY27. “The Indian economy is strong enough to absorb the shock if the war ends, crude cools down and gas availability becomes normal. But if the war prolongs, crude remains elevated for months together, and gas availability constraints continue, the stress on India’s macros will be significant and the market will discount that. In brief, everything boils down to how long the war will last,” he said.“While valuations have turned fair, it is still premature to call a definitive bottom. Technically, the market is in a corrective phase with intermittent pullbacks. Strategy-wise, investors should avoid aggressive buying and adopt a staggered or wait-and-watch approach, as the current phase appears to be consolidation rather than a confirmed bottom formation,” said Shah from Choice Equity Broking.

Stock markets crashed on Friday, with the Sensex plunging nearly 1,700 points and Nifty closing below 22,850. The decline followed a strong two-day rally of over 3.5% in the benchmarks. A record-low rupee, along with fading hopes of a de-escalation in the Iran–US conflict, weighed on sentiment and brought bears back to Dalal Street.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)