Gold surged past $4,840 and silver crossed $80 as precious metals posted sharp gains driven by a weakening dollar and easing Iran-related geopolitical risk. The move came on hopes of renewed US-Iran dialogue, which simultaneously pulled crude oil sharply lower as supply-disruption fears receded. The rupee, however, remained under pressure despite the broader dollar softness, suggesting localized currency stress independent of the metals rally. The dollar's decline reduced the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold and silver, a well-established transmission mechanism that amplifies metals demand during periods of currency weakness. Traders will now watch whether US-Iran talks produce a formal framework, which could further suppress oil prices and redirect capital flows. Silver's move above $80 is notable given its dual role as both a monetary hedge and an industrial input, making it sensitive to shifts in both risk appetite and manufacturing demand. The next directional catalyst will likely be Fed commentary on rate trajectory and any concrete diplomatic developments on the Iran front.
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.
