16, Apr 2026
Muted Global Steel Demand Through 2026, Strong Recovery Expected Led by India
Pic Credit: Pexel
New Delhi, Apr 16 (BNP): Global steel demand is expected to remain subdued in the near term, with meaningful recovery likely only in 2027, according to a recent report by Centrum citing estimates from the World Steel Association.
The report projects global steel demand growth of just 0.3% in 2026, reflecting continued weakness in key markets. China, the world’s largest steel consumer, is expected to remain the primary drag on demand, with consumption forecast to decline by 1.5% year-on-year in calendar year 2026 and remain flat in 2027.
In contrast, India is emerging as a major growth driver. The report highlights that India’s steel demand is expected to grow by 7.4% in 2026 and accelerate further to 9.2% in 2027, positioning the country as a key contributor to the global demand rebound.
Despite muted demand conditions, steel prices have risen across major markets. Input costs have shown mixed trends, with iron ore and non-coking coal prices moving higher, while coking coal prices have softened compared to the previous month.
Among non-ferrous metals, aluminium continues to outperform, with prices remaining firm. Meanwhile, other metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel have witnessed marginal declines, reflecting uneven trends in the broader commodities market.
The report underscores that while near-term challenges persist due to weak global demand, particularly from China, India’s strong growth outlook offers a positive signal for the steel sector’s recovery in the coming years.
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- By Neel Achary
16, Apr 2026
Indian Equity Markets Surge on Easing West Asia Tensions
News Delhi, Apr 16 (BNP): Indian equity markets recorded a strong rally today, driven by improved global sentiment as geopolitical tensions in West Asia showed signs of easing. Benchmark indices posted notable gains, with the Nifty rising by 500 points and the Sensex advancing 0.7%.
The positive momentum was supported by renewed investor confidence, as concerns over potential disruptions in global markets and energy supplies began to recede. Easing tensions contributed to stability in crude oil prices, further encouraging buying across sectors.
Gains were broad-based, with key sectors such as banking, information technology, and energy leading the upward movement. Market participants responded positively to the reduced uncertainty, increasing exposure to equities.
Experts suggest that while the current trend reflects optimism, investors should continue to monitor global developments and macroeconomic indicators that may influence market direction in the coming weeks.
16, Apr 2026
Neurored and CHAMP Cargosystems expand partnership to enable ONE Record with 1Neo-Connect and eAWB solutions
Frankfurt, Apr 16: Neurored and CHAMP Cargosystems have announced the next phase of their strategic partnership, aimed at delivering advanced digital solutions to the air cargo industry. Building upon their successful history of collaboration in electronic Air Waybill (eAWB) integration, the two companies are now expanding their joint capabilities to support ONE Record through CHAMP’s innovative 1Neo-Connect solution.
The air cargo sector is poised for a digital step-change as the industry rethinks data standardization and exchange to increase operational efficiency and transparency. ONE Record, an IATA initiative and the preferred standard for data sharing since January 2026, aims to create a single, standardized data-sharing model for the air cargo supply chain. Adopting ONE Record will replace fragmented legacy processes with a unified, high-efficiency data ecosystem.
Neurored and CHAMP have taken a significant step towards this reality by working together to streamline eAWB processes, enabling seamless electronic documentation and data exchange for freight forwarders, airlines, and logistics providers in line with ONE Record standards. This partnership has empowered customers to reduce manual paperwork, improve compliance, and accelerate shipment processing while futureproofing for a new standard.
By integrating the capabilities of 1Neo-Connect, CHAMP’s dedicated ONE Record adoption solution, with Neurored, stakeholders will be able to access, share, and update shipment information in real-time, fostering greater collaboration and visibility across the industry.
This expanded integration allows Neurored’s customers to leverage their existing eAWB workflows while gaining the enhanced functionality of ONE Record, ensuring maximum value with minimal operational disruption. 1Neo-Connect provides secure, real-time access to critical shipment data, which improves communication between global partners and reduces the risk of data entry errors. Furthermore, the solution is designed to be both scalable and flexible, adhering to strict industry security standards while adapting to the evolving technological requirements of organizations of all sizes.
The ongoing partnership combines CHAMP’s deep expertise in cargo management systems with Neurored’s strengths in cloud-based logistics solutions. Together, they provide a robust suite of tools that help customers navigate the complexities of global supply chains, including the efficient ONE Record adoption and digitalization.
Ricardo Medem de la Torriente, CEO at Neurored said,
“This next phase of our partnership with CHAMP brings practical value to customers by extending existing eAWB workflows with ONE Record capabilities. It helps freight forwarders, shippers, and carriers improve collaboration, efficiency, and real-time visibility with minimal operational disruption.”
Ed Dorr, VP eCargo Portfolio at CHAMP said,
“Our collaboration with Neurored has consistently delivered cutting-edge digital solutions to the air cargo community. By introducing our dedicated ONE Record adoption solution, 1Neo-Connect, we are providing our customers with the essential tools they need to thrive in a more connected and transparent digital world.”
16, Apr 2026
EDII Announces National Entrepreneurship Summer Camps for Youth & Children for 2026
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New Delhi, Apr 16: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, a pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship development, education, and training, has been organising national summer camps since 1992. These unique summer camps, organised for children in the age group of 12–16 years and youth aged 16–22 years, aim to imbibe winning skills in them, alongside building an entrepreneurial mindset at an early stage.
This year, the 46th and 47th editions of the camps on ‘Entrepreneurial Stimulation for Children’ will be held from May 3–8 and May 24–29, respectively, at the institute’s campus. Similarly, the 49th and 50th editions of the camps on ‘Entrepreneurial Adventures for Youth’ will be held from May 11–20 and June 1–10, respectively.
- Over the last three decades, through the national summer camps on ‘Entrepreneurial Stimulation for Children’, EDII has provided a platform to help children understand their strengths and weaknesses, develop a growth perspective, and imbibe in them, learning that fosters winning skills. So far, 45 camps have groomed 3,228 children. Participants develop a strong ‘spirit of enterprise and achievement’, enabling them to aim for higher-order success. After the camp, parents receive a comprehensive report on their ward, highlighting personality traits and suggesting future developmental directions.
- Similarly, through its national summer camps on ‘Entrepreneurial Adventures for Youth’, EDII has been developing entrepreneurial traits among youth across the country. A total of 2,100 youth have been trained so far. Participants discover their hidden potential and build capabilities to face future challenges by acquiring entrepreneurial traits such as risk-taking, creative thinking, conflict management, effective communication, teamwork and problem solving. Career counselling is also extended during the camps.
Interactions with achievers and field visits to observe classroom learnings in practice leave a lasting impact on participants of both the camps.
With such focussed, competency-based training, the participants have evolved into high-achieving individuals.
Dr Pankaj Bharti, Faculty at EDII, is the camp leader and can be reached at pbharti@ediindia.org / camps@ediindia.org.
16, Apr 2026
Tendo Marketplace Hits One Million Vouchers Purchased, Establishing the Standard for Price-Transparent, High-Quality Care
Accelerating adoption signals a market-wide shift toward employer and consumer-driven, bundled healthcare
Philadelphia, PA — (April 16, 2026) — Tendo, a healthcare technology company committed to putting quality at the center of every care decision, today announced that its Tendo Marketplace has surpassed one million vouchers purchased nationwide, a major milestone in delivering more accessible, high-quality, and price-transparent care.
The Tendo Marketplace serves the needs of individual consumers, navigators, employers, and healthcare providers by bringing together trusted provider networks, quality insights, procedure bundling, claims management, and transparent, all-inclusive pricing into a single shoppable care experience.
Through Tendo Marketplace, consumers, employees, and navigators can search for procedures, compare provider quality, view upfront bundled pricing, and secure care through a simple voucher purchase, eliminating surprise billing and reducing friction at every step of the care journey. Healthcare providers can create and list bundled procedures, analyze and set procedure pricing, and manage claims and payment processes without the challenges typically associated with things like pre-authorizations, claims denials, and payments to ancillary providers.
“One million vouchers purchased tells us something fundamental is changing,” said Jennifer Goldsmith, CEO and Co-founder of Tendo. “Employers are taking ownership of how their dollars are spent, demanding quality care at a transparent and predictable cost. Consumers are making care decisions the same way they make every other major purchase – with information, intention, and choice. And providers are freed from the administrative burden of pre-authorizations and claim denials, receiving timely, predictable payment for the quality care they deliver. That’s a structural shift, and it’s only accelerating.”
Patients across the country are already seeing the impact. Testimonials highlight both financial relief and improved access to care, with one user sharing, “It was a life-changing moment… the voucher program helped my family tremendously,” another noting savings of more than 50% on an MRI through the marketplace, and another patient describing: “This is the future of medicine in the U.S., I was able to get long-overdue testing without insurance. It was easy to set up. I’ve been telling all my newly uninsured friends about it—this is the wave of the future.”
The shift toward employer-driven and consumer-led healthcare is accelerating, and the demand for solutions that deliver quality, affordability, and transparency has never been greater. Recognition on TIME’s 2025 World’s Top HealthTech Companies list underscores Tendo’s position at the forefront of that transformation — redefining how care is discovered, evaluated, and accessed. With the Tendo Marketplace, the company is delivering on a simple but powerful promise: every healthcare decision is informed by cost and quality, without compromise.
16, Apr 2026
Epson Earns AAA in MSCI ESG Ratings for the Third Consecutive Year
SYDNEY, Apr 16 – Epson has been awarded a AAA rating, the highest rating in the MSCI ESG Ratings, for the third consecutive year in 2026. MSCI ESG Ratings is a global ESG investment index provided by MSCI. MSCI researches and analyses a company’s response to ESG-related risks and opportunities and assigns one of seven ratings ranging from AAA at the top to CCC at the bottom.
Epson facility at Yennora, NSW
Epson has implemented initiatives to enhance transparency in raw material procurement, as well as measures to strengthen human rights and human capital.
The company believe these initiatives were instrumental in helping to maintain the AAA rating for the third consecutive year.
Epson has been selected as a constituent of the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN), as well as all other ESG indices covering Japanese equities adopted by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).
The Epson Group purpose statement is “Our philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world.” To fulfill Epson’s purpose in society, the company will continue to evolve our sustainability management initiatives that both resolve societal issues and drive corporate growth.
The FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index, FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index, MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index, S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index, MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN), Morningstar Japan Ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt Index (GenDi) (current as of April 2, 2026).
16, Apr 2026
Monash University Malaysia to Host Strategy Session for SMEs on Navigating 2026 Business Shifts
Businesses operating in Malaysia and across ASEAN will get a timely roadmap for 2026 at an upcoming strategy session hosted in collaboration with Monash University Malaysia. The event will bring together industry leaders to unpack policy shifts, talent strategies, and growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Scheduled for April 23, 2026, at EQ Kuala Lumpur, the session is designed for both Australian SMEs operating in Malaysia and local enterprises preparing to scale. Organisers say the programme will focus on delivering practical insights, regulatory clarity, and actionable strategies that businesses can immediately implement.
Industry Leaders to Share Insights
The session will feature a strong lineup of speakers offering perspectives across policy, finance, talent, and technology:
- Ong Kian Ming will discuss how businesses can remain competitive amid shifting dynamics in the ASEAN region.
- Surin Segar will address evolving SST regulations and the financial strategies SMEs need to prioritise.
- Ibrahim Sani will explore ways to unlock Malaysia’s talent pool and build future-ready teams.
- Low Choy Huat will highlight the role of resilient organisational culture and AI-driven talent strategies.
- Karen Khaw will focus on bridging the skills gap through industry–academia collaboration.
Additional academic perspective will be provided by Meera Sivasoathy, Professor of Practice in Digital Media and Communication.
Focus on Practical Outcomes
The session aims to go beyond theory, equipping attendees with clear, actionable guidance on navigating regulatory changes, leveraging talent, and embedding technology into business strategy. With ASEAN markets undergoing structural shifts, the event positions itself as a critical touchpoint for companies seeking to stay competitive.
Event Details:
- Date: April 23, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM
- Venue: EQ Kuala Lumpur
Seats are limited, and organisers are encouraging early registration. Participation is subject to acceptance of the event’s data privacy policy.
With a strong emphasis on strategy, talent, and policy alignment, the session is expected to offer valuable direction for businesses preparing for the challenges and opportunities of 2026.
16, Apr 2026
AAEON Looks to Break New Ground in AI Robotics Development with the Release of the CEXD-INTRBL
Available for preorder on the company’s e-commerce platform, the CEXD-INTRBL provides an all-in-one system for AI-optimized robotics development.
Taipei, Taiwan – Apr 16: Leading-edge AI platform provider AAEON (Stock Code: 6579) today announced the release of the CEXD-INTRBL, an open robotics development system from its Embedded Computing Business Unit. Featuring an Intel Core Ultra X7 Processor 358H CPU, an integrated Intel Arc B390 GPU, and NPU 5.0, the CEXD-INTRBL provides up to 180 TOPS of AI performance. As such, AAEON has noted the product is designed to target emerging AI development segments such as humanoid robotics and autonomous vehicle platform building.
The CEXD-INTRBL’s I/O lends itself to the system’s target market, with a notable feature being its two FAKRA connectors, which offer support for up to eight GMSL camera inputs. Other interfaces for peripheral device installation include four USB Type-C ports for the LiDAR, infrared, and depth sensors required for robotics, as well as a 22-bit GPIO through a HAT 40. Elsewhere, the system hosts four 2.5GbE LAN ports with IEEE 1588 PTP (Precision Time Protocol) alongside an external CANBus port.
For OS support, the CEXD-INTRBL is compatible with Windows 11 (64-bit) and Ubuntu 25.04, or Ubuntu 24.04 and later.
“We pride ourselves not only on how quickly we are able to leverage new technologies, but also on our dedication to building unique, creative solutions to address the needs of our customers,” said Kevin Chiu, Vice President of AAEON’s Embedded Computing Business Unit and Design Support Division. “From the outset we were confident we could create an all-in-one development system with the potential to usher in the next generation of advanced robotics, and with the CEXD-INTRBL, we feel we have succeeded in doing so.” Chiu added.
16, Apr 2026
Auctor Raises $20M Led by Sequoia Capital to Build the AI System of Action for the Enterprise Software Implementation Market
Enterprise software implementations fail because of fragmented institutional knowledge and tools. Auctor fixes that with one unified system built for the work itself.
New York City, New York – Apr 16; Hundreds of billions are spent on software implementation each year, yet 50 percent of projects fail to meet deadlines, and one out of every six exceeds budgets by over 200 percent.
Today, Auctor, the AI-native system of action for the entire software implementation lifecycle, emerges from stealth. It enables professional services teams and system integrators to deliver faster, more consistently, and smarter with every project.
Auctor has raised a total of $20 million, including a Series A led by Sequoia Capital with participation from M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund, HubSpot Ventures, Workday Ventures, OneStream, Y Combinator, Tercera, and Dig Ventures.
William Sun, the Co-Founder and CEO of Auctor, said, “Enterprise software has transformed how every industry operates, but it only creates value when it’s actually implemented well. That’s why we built Auctor: one system for the entire lifecycle, so humans can focus on the high-judgment work clients need, while Auctor handles the rest.”
Professional services and implementation teams still rely on a patchwork of meetings, spreadsheets, documents, and internal knowledge to manage discovery, scoping, solutioning, and delivery. As a result, requirements, decisions, and context are fragmented across systems and stakeholders, with no single source of truth. This fragmentation leads to misalignment, rework, margin erosion, and delayed time-to-value for customers.
“As HubSpot moves upmarket, faster and smarter implementations aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential. Auctor is built specifically to solve that problem, giving system integrators and services teams an AI-native platform that brings together critical project context and turns weeks of manual work into minutes. We’re excited to support a team that’s creating an entirely new category and solving a problem that matters for our partners and customers,” says Adam Coccari, Managing Director at HubSpot Ventures.
Auctor’s AI-native system of action is purpose-built for how implementation work actually runs in practice. It curates execution-ready artifacts like rough orders of magnitude, resource plans, process flows, user stories, and more – already aligned and ready for delivery.
As a result, users and teams always know what was decided, why it was decided, and how it impacts the rest of the engagement. Most importantly, Auctor helps companies standardize what great looks like, turning their best work into repeatable, reusable practices across every project.
Auctor is already seeing top teams across leading software ecosystems fundamentally change how they run implementations. Customers are driving upwards of 80% efficiency gains across discovery and design, improving margins and even shifting toward fixed-fee models.
“The improvement in collaboration and delivery quality has been immediate. As we continue to scale globally, Auctor is becoming a core enabler of how we operate,” said Dan Buffham, CIO of Valiantys, Atlassian’s largest global partner, which serves 65 Fortune 500 companies.
The results extend across the entire implementation lifecycle. One team used Auctor to respond to an RFP (request for proposal) over a single weekend with just one person, secured the opportunity, and closed it within two days — work that previously required weeks and multiple team members. Separately, a principal consultant at a large enterprise software company produced a comprehensive manufacturing scoping guide in roughly 10 minutes, replacing a three-week manual effort.
The market dynamics driving Auctor’s growth are structural.
Implementation firms are caught between a talent model that doesn’t scale and a competitive environment that won’t wait. Senior consultants are spread too thin. Junior staff lack institutional knowledge. Mid-project swaps mean someone is always ramping up. The firms that figure out how to run leaner without sacrificing quality will take market share from those that don’t.
For system integrators stuck in margin-constrained models where delivery costs scale linearly with headcount, the math is straightforward: Auctor can unlock multiple points of EBITDA margin by fundamentally changing the way of operating.
Julien Bek, partner at Sequoia Capital, who recently wrote a viral thought leadership piece (Services: The New Software), says, “For every dollar spent on software, six are spent on services. Auctor is building the agentic operating system for software implementation to go after those six dollars.”
16, Apr 2026
Robinhood Targets 1 Million Learners Through Classroom Financial Education by 2030
Robinhood Markets, Inc. has announced an ambitious commitment to expand financial literacy, aiming to reach one million individuals through classroom-based education programmes by 2030. The pledge was highlighted during a policy panel on Capitol Hill, where Senior Director of International Government and External Affairs Chloe Barz outlined the company’s evolving strategy.
The initiative will extend across a wide spectrum of learners, including school and college students, educators, athletes, community leaders, and nonprofit partners. The company said its approach is designed to support individuals at key financial transition points, equipping them with practical knowledge to manage change and plan effectively.
A cornerstone of the effort is Robinhood’s flagship Money Drills™ programme, which now partners with 18 universities across the United States. New additions to the network in 2026 include the University of Arizona, Boise State University, and University of Wisconsin–Madison. These courses are designed to deliver essential financial skills in an accessible format while offering academic credits that contribute toward graduation.
Building on this foundation, the company plans to launch a new phase of the programme—Money Drills: Readiness—later this year. The initiative will specifically target active-duty military personnel, helping them navigate financial decisions as they transition to civilian life.
“Accessible financial education has always been central to our mission, and we are now significantly scaling our reach,” said Chloe Barz. “This commitment allows us to expand existing programmes while introducing new, tailored learning opportunities that meet people where they are.”
The push aligns with findings from the World Economic Forum, which highlight experiential learning—or “learning by doing”—as the most effective way for individuals to build investment knowledge. The research also indicates a strong preference for financial institutions as trusted sources of education, ahead of traditional media, social platforms, and formal schooling.
The announcement coincides with Robinhood’s second annual Financial Education Summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together policymakers, educators, athletes, and nonprofit leaders. The event features workshops, panel discussions, and specialised sessions aimed at strengthening collaboration and expanding access to financial literacy resources, particularly for underserved communities.
With this expanded push, Robinhood is positioning itself at the forefront of classroom-based financial education, combining in-person learning with its existing digital tools to help build long-term financial confidence among the next generation.
