Businesstoday

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is preparing to transition to plastic (polymer) banknotes, marking one of the most significant makeovers in the history of Indian currency. • To facilitate this shift, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has issued a global Expression of Interest (EOI) to establish a polymer substrate manufacturing facility within India. • This move aims to enhance currency durability and security while reducing the environmental impact and costs associated with replacing worn-out paper notes.

• EY India launched Cyber Performance Management (CPM) on July 9, marking a strategic shift from traditional advisory services toward proprietary technology platforms. • The new platform integrates cyber intelligence, risk quantification, and business decision-making to help organizations combat threats amplified by Artificial Intelligence. • This move is driven by the fact that AI is lowering the barriers for cyberattacks, necessitating more automated and data-driven defense mechanisms.

• Global stock indices show divergent trends, with Japan's Nikkei and Taiwan's TAIEX maintaining strong uptrends. • In contrast, Hong Kong's Hang Seng has turned bearish, and South Korea's Kospi is experiencing a sharp intermediate correction. • India's Nifty 50 remains indecisive and range-bound between 22,200 and 26,200, though midcap strength supports a "buy-on-dips" strategy.

• South Korea's KOSPI index experienced a sharp correction, tumbling 11% over five trading sessions. • The decline was primarily driven by heavyweight semiconductor stocks as investors worry that AI-related rallies have outpaced actual market fundamentals. • This trend extended across Asia, with significant drops in Japan's Nikkei 225 (-2.04%), Taiwan's Taiex (-2.31%), China's Shanghai Composite (-1.26%), and Hong Kong's Hang Seng (-0.51%).

• Several high-profile stocks, including HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Pru Life, are expected to be in the spotlight on Friday, July 6. • Other companies likely to see significant market activity include YES Bank, IndusInd Bank, NBCC India, PTC India, and NTPC Green Energy. • This focus highlights potential volatility or trading interest in the banking and energy sectors as investors react to current market trends.

• Investors are increasingly prioritizing political stability and capital protection over high-growth returns due to global geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation. • Singapore has emerged as the only non-European nation to rank in the top 10 safest countries for investors heading into 2026. • This shift highlights Singapore's enduring reputation as one of Asia's most stable and secure financial hubs during periods of economic uncertainty.

• Several high-profile stocks, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, YES Bank, and Afcons Infra, are expected to be in the spotlight on Tuesday, June 30. • Other companies likely to see increased market activity include RITES, Concor, SW Solar, KEC International, and SJVN. • These stocks are being monitored by investors as key drivers of market sentiment and trading volume for the day.

• An analyst from Anand Rathi has issued a cautious outlook for ICICI Bank, noting the formation of a "shooting star" candlestick near the resistance zone. • Technical indicators, including a negative RSI divergence, suggest that bullish momentum is weakening and a short-term price pullback is likely. • The stock is expected to potentially retrace toward a key support zone between Rs 385 and Rs 390, with immediate resistance holding at Rs 415.

• China is intensifying a low-cost AI price war, highlighted by Z.ai's launch of GLM-5.2, which offers performance comparable to Anthropic's systems at roughly 25% of the cost per token. • Analysts from Bernstein and Jefferies suggest this "DeepSeek moment" underscores a shift where the AI race is defined by both technological innovation and strategic autonomy. • The trend exposes India's vulnerability and heavy reliance on foreign AI models, signaling a critical need for India to develop its own indigenous, cost-effective AI infrastructure.

• India is seeing a surge in the microdrama market as platforms adapt a successful commercial model originally developed in China. • The sector is attracting significant investment from venture capitalists, former Hollywood studio executives, and major entertainment companies. • Despite the boom in content creation, companies are struggling with profitability and the challenge of gaining visibility in a crowded market.

• The South Korean Kospi index plunged 8%, triggering a trading halt due to extreme market volatility. • The crash is attributed to the introduction of leveraged funds linked to blue-chip stocks last month, which have amplified price swings. • High market concentration is a key driver, with the top five stocks making up nearly 70% of the index, including Samsung and SK Hynix.

• Global companies are investing billions of dollars into India's AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and data centers, reflecting strong confidence in the nation's digital expansion. • Despite this trend, HSBC Private Bank's latest Asia investment roadmap prioritizes high-conviction bets on China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore over India. • This divergence highlights a gap between long-term infrastructure growth in India and the immediate strategic investment preferences of major global financial institutions.

• Antique has maintained a 'Buy' rating for ICICI Bank, setting a target price of Rs 1,622 for 2026. • The target price represents a potential upside of 17% compared to the current trading price of Rs 1,387.70. • This valuation is driven by two near-term triggers expected to catalyze an earnings rerating for the bank.

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum on Saturday that the Trump administration will prioritize cooperation with "model allies" in Asia. • Hegseth praised these regional partners as being the most capable and clear-eyed in their readiness to defend their interests. • The strategy aims to strengthen security ties with key Asian allies while simultaneously working to maintain stable diplomatic and military relations with China.