Gold posted a fourth consecutive weekly gain as softer-than-expected U.S. producer price data and a weakening dollar provided more durable tailwinds than geopolitical relief from ceasefire developments. The combination of easing inflation signals at the wholesale level and dollar depreciation lifted bullion even as risk appetite improved on the geopolitical front, suggesting macro factors are currently driving the metal more than safe-haven demand. A soft PPI reading reduces real yield expectations at the margin, making non-interest-bearing assets like gold comparatively more attractive. Dollar weakness compounds this effect by lowering the cost of gold for non-U.S. buyers, broadening demand across global markets. The fact that ceasefire news failed to cap the rally underscores that the bid is structural rather than purely defensive. For investors, the four-week run signals persistent positioning in gold as a macro hedge against disinflation and currency softness rather than crisis hedging. Key variables to track include the trajectory of U.S. producer and consumer prices, Federal Reserve rate expectations, and whether dollar weakness extends into the next trading period.
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.
