In the news: Microsoft earnings, JLL on NCR realty market and more

Adani Mining has suspended two major contractors on its $7.4 billion Carmichael coal project in Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, raising fresh doubts about the project's future. Project manager Parsons Brinckerhoff and Korea's POSCO Engineering & Construction Co Ltd, which is also touted as an investor in the final project, were told late last week to stop work on the Carmichael mine, rail and port project, the newspaper said, citing sources.

Property consultant JLL India has advised home buyers to avoid certain locations, including Noida Extension, in the Delhi-NCR real estate market due to delays in projects delivery, oversupply, speculation and lack of infrastructure. JLL India has declared Noida Extension, Greater Faridabad and Delhi's L & J zones as 'high-caution' areas.

Microsoft reported a $3.2 billion quarterly net loss, its biggest ever, as the company wrote down its Nokia phone business and demand fell for its Windows operating system. The company took a charge of $7.5 billion in the fourth quarter related to the restructuring of its Nokia handset business, which it bought last year.

Bill and Melinda Gates are the world's wealthiest couple with a combined net worth of $85.7 billion, a report said. Spanish retail tycoon Amancio Ortega Gaona and his second wife, Flora Perez, took the number two spot on the Wealth-X list with a combined net worth of $70.7 billion.

National carrier Air India will soon raise $300 million through the external commercial borrowing route, with the central government providing guarantee for the loan. The debt-laden airline will mainly utilise the proceeds for maintenance of aircraft and working capital requirements, among others. This is the first time Air India is raising funds through the ECB route.