AI startups may attract larger VC checks as sector funding surged 317% in H1 2026

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.

Investor portfolios may face further pressure if Nifty breaks below 23,800 support

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 Bank shares may stay under pressure until a new CEO is named

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.

Rising oil prices could push up industrial costs across Asian manufacturing economies

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.

Fresh share supply of up to 2% could pressure IRFC stock price near term

The Indian government has launched an OFS in IRFC for non-retail investors on June 29, 2026, with a floor price of Rs 91 per share and up to a 2% stake on offer including the greenshoe option. The sale adds fresh share supply to the market, which could pressure the stock in the near term.

Bajaj Auto shareholders on record today may tender shares at the buyback offer price

Bajaj Auto shares dropped nearly 3% intraday on June 28, 2026, as the company's buyback record date arrived, with the stock opening at ₹9,838 against a prior close of ₹10,025. The decline reflects the standard unwinding of buyback premium once the eligibility cutoff passes.

Retail investors can bid for IRFC shares at a known floor price of Rs 91 today

The Indian government's Rs 2,212 crore IRFC offer for sale opens for retail investors today at a floor price of Rs 91 per share. The institutional tranche was oversubscribed, and a greenshoe option could push total proceeds higher.

Cheaper crude could lower fuel costs and ease inflation pressure in import-heavy economies like India

Brent crude fell to $73.98 and WTI dropped below $70 on Wednesday as 20 million barrels cleared the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours and the US authorised Iranian oil sales.

Lower crude oil may shrink India's import bill and ease pressure on the rupee

India's Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex closed the week higher, marking their longest weekly winning streak in seven months. Falling crude oil prices, rupee-support measures, and the RBI's no-hike signal fuelled gains, with pharma and financial stocks leading.

Continued Fed rate hikes may keep gold prices under pressure through mid-2026

Gold is on track for a fourth consecutive weekly decline as rising U.S. rate-hike bets strengthen the dollar, pressuring the metal's price. A fragile U.S.-Iran agreement and a Strait of Hormuz incident add geopolitical risk but have not been enough to offset the dollar's pull.

Tech-heavy portfolios and Nasdaq index funds may see meaningful losses at open

Nasdaq futures dropped 1.1% on June 26, 2026, as a global technology sell-off resumed amid concerns over high valuations, production cuts, and rising volatility. S&P 500 futures also slid, pointing to a weak open for US markets with tech-heavy portfolios facing the sharpest pressure.

MacBook and iPad buyers may pay noticeably more under the new pricing

Apple shares closed 6.15% lower at $275.15 on the Nasdaq, their worst day in over a year, after the company raised prices on MacBooks and iPads. Investors appear worried the hikes signal cost pressure rather than pricing strength, raising concerns about demand and margins.

Rising AI chip demand could keep memory prices elevated through 2026

Micron Technology's stock surged 18.4% on June 25, 2026, after the chipmaker issued a strong forecast, briefly lifting its market cap to $1.398 trillion and overtaking Meta Platforms.

Retail silver investors may see portfolio values fall sharply if the selloff continues

Silver has fallen 14% this week to a seven-month low as US Fed rate cut expectations fade and bond yields rise. The drop pushes silver below half its January 2026 all-time high, with easing geopolitical tensions removing a second pillar of support.

Jio's IPO could set a new benchmark valuation for Indian tech and telecom stocks

Reliance Jio has filed its DRHP with SEBI for an IPO that could raise Rs 37,700 crore and value the company at Rs 11 to 12 lakh crore, potentially making it India's largest-ever public offering.

IRFC shareholders may see short-term losses while the OFS window remains open

IRFC shares dropped nearly 6% on June 24, 2026, as the government opened an Offer for Sale for non-retail investors at a floor price of Rs 91 per share, a 7.79% discount to the previous close. The discount shifts institutional demand away from the open market, depressing the traded price during the OFS window.

Retirement and index funds with heavy tech exposure could see short-term losses

Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures fell sharply on June 24, 2026, as a global semiconductor sell-off revived doubts about AI investment returns. The decline signals broad pressure on tech-heavy indexes and could compress elevated valuations across the growth sector.

A sustained FII return could lift index levels and improve mid-cap liquidity

FIIs recorded net inflows of Rs 4,859.07 crore on June 19, 2026, buying Rs 31,442.87 crore in equities even as the 12-month net-selling streak holds. A sustained monthly reversal, not a single session, is needed to end the trend.

Memory chip losses could signal weaker near-term demand across the semiconductor sector

The Nasdaq slid on Tuesday as Micron and Sandisk posted sharp losses, dragging the tech-heavy index lower. SpaceX shares rebounded but could not offset the semiconductor selloff.

Jio IPO could trigger fresh foreign fund inflows into Indian equities

Jio and NSE IPOs are moving closer to fruition in a subdued Indian market, while US AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic prepare high-profile listings. Analysts see India's more measured environment as a potential draw for foreign investors seeking valuation discipline.