CinemaCon, the annual Las Vegas convention targeting theater owners and studio executives, anchors this week's Hollywood calendar alongside the return of the Netflix series Running Point. The event draws studio presentations, talent appearances, and first-look footage designed to build exhibitor confidence ahead of major releases. CinemaCon functions as a critical sales channel: studios use it to secure screen commitments from theater chains by previewing upcoming slates, making it a leading indicator of theatrical distribution momentum. Running Point's return adds a streaming counterpoint to the week's live-event activity. Beyond these headliners, the week includes additional premieres, parties, and openings across the entertainment sector. For industry observers, the tone and attendance levels at CinemaCon carry forward-looking weight, strong exhibitor turnout and enthusiastic studio presentations typically signal broader confidence in the theatrical release pipeline for the coming months.
HDFC Bank's board has approved Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner and financial services secretary, as its Part-time Non-Executive Chairman from June 30, 2026. His chairmanship still requires RBI approval, but the move ends the bank's prolonged search for a permanent board leader.
Indian startups raised $1.1 billion across 16 deals in the week of June 21-26, 2026, up 2.5 times from the prior week, with CRED's $900 million Series H led by Meta accounting for most of the total. Square Yards became India's 131st unicorn after closing a $95 million round.
Jet fuel costs dropped sharply after a US-Iran interim peace deal, but airlines are expected to use the savings to rebuild margins rather than cut fares. Tight capacity, aircraft delivery delays, and weak budget carriers give major carriers unusual pricing power heading into the second half of 2026.
Meta is investing $900 million in CRED at a $4.5 billion valuation, the largest Indian startup round of 2026, as founder Kunal Shah moves to a global leadership role at WhatsApp. Miten Sampat takes over as interim CEO, and a major employee stock buyback is expected within weeks.
