Crude oil prices surged to $120 per barrel on April 30, reaching their highest point since mid-2022. The move was driven by growing fears over a prolonged U.S. blockade on Iranian oil exports and stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iran is a significant oil producer, and any extended cut to its exports tightens global supply. The current disruption shows no clear end point, with analysts linking a price reversal to a broader diplomatic deal that remains out of reach for now. Tighter supply with steady or rising demand typically pushes prices higher, and the $120 level has reignited concerns about fuel costs feeding into broader inflation. Energy-intensive sectors like aviation, shipping, and manufacturing face direct margin pressure. Watch for any movement in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks as the key trigger that could ease supply fears. Until then, the market is likely to price in continued disruption, keeping crude elevated.
Nayara Energy has reduced petrol prices by ₹5 per litre and diesel by ₹3 per litre after global crude costs fell on easing West Asia tensions and the reopening of a key maritime shipping route. The move raises pressure on state-owned fuel retailers to follow with their own price cuts.
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.
