US equities extended their record run for a second consecutive session Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each posting modest gains as a temporary Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and reports of potential US-Iran diplomatic engagement reduced geopolitical risk premiums. The moves were incremental rather than decisive, reflecting cautious optimism rather than a broad risk-on rotation. Labor market data released during the session came in steady, providing a stable macro backdrop without materially shifting rate expectations. Trading remained choppy throughout, suggesting investors are managing position sizing carefully rather than committing fresh capital at record levels. The key variables to monitor: whether the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holds beyond its temporary mandate, how US-Iran talks develop, and whether upcoming economic releases give the Federal Reserve a clearer path on rate timing. Any reversal in Middle East de-escalation could quickly reprice the geopolitical discount markets are currently extending.
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.
