UK Stocks Plunge to Lowest Levels Since Iran War Began, FTSE 100 Down 9%

• Most U.S. stocks climbed toward the end of a winning week, though tech sector declines left overall market indexes mixed. • The rally followed a government report showing employers added 57,000 jobs last month, significantly missing the 100,000 expected by economists.

• Several key Indian stocks, including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Motors, and Bajaj Auto, are expected to be in focus on July 1, 2026. • Market activity will be driven by significant corporate events, such as Kotak Mahindra Bank's acquisition announcement, Tata Motors' launch of the Sierra EV, and a buyback from Bajaj Auto.

• The U.S. has not renewed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal previously praised by Donald Trump as the "best agreement" ever made. • New economic data from ADP indicates a cooling labor market, with U.S. private payrolls growing by 98,000 in June.

• House prices in the euro area rose by 4.7% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year. • On a broader scale, the European Union saw a slightly higher increase of 5.1% in house prices for the same quarter.

• US stock futures declined on Thursday, July 2, 2026, with E mini S&P 500 contracts down 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 futures dropping approximately 0.6%. • The dip is driven by firm US bond yields, with the 10-year Treasury holding around 4.46% following reports that May job openings hit a two-year high.

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that current prices remain "too high" during a meeting with global central bank leaders. • Powell expressed a desire for the Fed to integrate "new technologies" into futures analysis to more accurately track economic inflation.

• The Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, rebounded to snap a two-day losing streak. • This recovery was driven by positive global market cues and a decline in crude oil prices.

• Asian currencies remained muted while the U.S. dollar strengthened as investors shifted focus toward upcoming U.S. payrolls data. • The South Korean won hovered near 17-year lows, with the USD/KRW pair rising 0.2% despite domestic economic signals.

• Major stock averages ended Wednesday's session lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average erasing an initial 423.46-point gain to close nearly flat. • A defense equipment maker is reportedly struggling to secure investor backing for a valuation exceeding 12 billion euros ($13.7 billion), according to the Financial Times.

• Indian equity markets rebounded on Wednesday, with the Sensex gaining 444 points and the Nifty reclaiming the 24,000 mark after two days of losses. • Market sentiment was bolstered by easing geopolitical tensions, optimism surrounding trade deals, and a decline in global oil prices.

• PayPal shares rose 3.85% to reach $44.82, driven by strong intraday momentum and increased demand from midcap funds following index rebalancing. • The stock is currently experiencing a baseline scenario of sideways movement, though it shows potential for further upside.

• Stock shares experienced a pullback as investors adopted a cautious stance in the lead-up to upcoming economic reports. • Markets are currently anticipating a "beat" in the payrolls data, which serves as a critical indicator of labor market health.