Essential drug prices in Iran could rise by 3-5% in the near term as war-related disruptions push up input costs, according to industry estimates. The increase would effectively reverse the gains consumers saw from late-September cuts in GST rates, resetting prices to pre-cut levels. The mechanism is straightforward: supply chain stress on raw material and active pharmaceutical ingredient costs feeds directly into retail drug pricing, with limited ability to absorb margin compression in a sector already operating on thin spreads. Industry expects the price increase to hold for 3-4 months, contingent on when input cost pressures ease. A rollback is factored into the outlook if and when supply conditions normalize. The critical variable is duration: a prolonged conflict would extend the repricing window beyond current forecasts and potentially trigger more structural adjustments in sourcing. Buyers and procurement teams should track input cost indices and any regulatory guidance on price controls, which could cap or defer retail pass-through.
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.
