Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler signaled she may further reduce her projections for interest rate cuts this year, citing inflation progress that has become 'less favorable' in recent months. The shift reflects a broader recalibration inside the Fed as policymakers reassess the pace of disinflation and the timeline for easing monetary policy. Kugler's comments add to a growing body of Fed communication suggesting the committee is in no rush to resume cutting rates, with officials increasingly sensitive to any stalling in the downward path of inflation. The practical consequence is a higher-for-longer rate environment that continues to pressure borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike. Markets tracking Fed rate expectations will likely treat this as a further signal that the first cut of 2025, if it materializes, is being pushed out. Investors and analysts should watch upcoming inflation prints and Fed meeting minutes for any shift in the committee's median rate projections.
Indian startups raised $5.2 billion across 501 deals in H1 2026, down 9% in value but up 7% in deal count year-on-year, per the Inc42 Indian Tech Startup Funding Report. The drop is driven by fewer mega-rounds, while AI funding surged 317% and growth-stage deal activity hit a multi-year high.
The BSE Sensex fell 893 points and the Nifty 50 shed 279 points on June 30, 2026, wiping out roughly Rs 6 lakh crore in investor wealth in a single session. Both indices dropped 1.16%, closing at 76,200.68 and 23,824.10 respectively.
Kotak Mahindra Bank shares fell nearly 3% to Rs 397.6 after CEO Ashok Vaswani announced plans to exit the bank. Investor concern now centres on succession timing and whether the bank's ongoing digital and deposit-growth strategy will stay on track.
South Korea's Kospi dropped 3% at Monday's open while Japan's Nikkei fell 1%, as escalating US-Iran conflict triggered a broad risk-off move across Asian markets. South Korea's heavy reliance on Middle East oil imports makes it especially vulnerable to geopolitical shocks of this kind.
