A US jury has found Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation guilty of operating an anticompetitive monopoly, a verdict that could expose the entertainment giant to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The ruling marks a significant courtroom defeat for the world's largest live entertainment company, which controls ticketing, venue management, and artist promotion across much of the US market. Live Nation acquired Ticketmaster in a controversial 2010 merger that regulators approved with conditions, and antitrust scrutiny has followed the combined entity ever since. The jury's finding of anticompetitive conduct now opens the door to substantial financial liability, and potentially structural remedies that courts can impose following monopoly verdicts. Plaintiffs in such cases can seek treble damages under US antitrust law, which would multiply any base award threefold. Investors and industry observers should watch whether this verdict accelerates Department of Justice or state-level action pushing for a breakup of the combined entity, as well as any appeal strategy Live Nation pursues to limit its exposure.
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.
