Economic Times

• Indian benchmark indices closed marginally lower on Friday following the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to maintain current interest rates. • Market sentiment was dampened by the RBI's updated economic outlook, which included raised inflation projections and lowered growth forecasts. • Continued selling by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and volatility in US and European markets are creating downward pressure on Dalal Street.

• The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. • The demonstration centers on grievances regarding the NEET 2024 paper leak and alleged irregularities within the CBSE One Mark Question (OSM) system. • Activist Sonam Wangchuk supported the movement, emphasizing that systemic change is required across all Indian institutions, not just within education.

• China is implementing restrictive economic policies and "fortress" measures to prioritize national security amid rising global tensions. • These shifts signal the end of the "Chimerica" era of seamless capital and technology flow between China and the United States. • A key example of this trend is Beijing's recent blocking of Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of Manus, an AI company founded by Chinese engineers.

• Indian stock markets traded cautiously on Thursday during the weekly expiry, with analysts noting a lack of clear direction for the Nifty index. • Major companies including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Vedanta, and Maruti Suzuki are currently in focus due to regulatory developments and business updates. • Market experts are analyzing the strategic acquisition trends of industry giants like Reliance and L&T, as well as China's financial influence via dollar bond sales in Saudi Arabia.

• Indian equities closed largely unchanged as persistent tensions in West Asia dampened investor risk appetite and caused market oscillations. • Broader markets showed resilience and outperformed despite recent corrections, signaling strength in specific segments. • Market analysts have identified 23,500 as a critical resistance level, with key support established between 23,200 and 23,300.

• U.S. stock markets, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones, are expected to experience volatile trading on Thursday, with a focus on semiconductor stocks like Broadcom, Micron, and Qualcomm. • Investors are awaiting weekly jobless claims data, which serves as the final economic indicator before Friday's monthly employment report. • The data is critical for new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh ahead of his first policy meeting, especially as consumers face price pressures linked to the Iran war.

• Veteran investor Vikas Khemani stated at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit that current concerns regarding Indian equities are driven by "recency bias" rather than a decline in market fundamentals. • Khemani highlighted that India has consistently outperformed other emerging markets over a long-term horizon of 10 to 15 years. • The analysis suggests that investors should prioritize structural growth drivers over short-term market volatility to maintain a balanced perspective.

• Morgan Stanley's Chetan Ahya reports that a China-driven supply realignment has cut gas imports by 45% and oil by 30%, adding 7.5 million barrels daily to global markets. • This shift is neutralizing energy price fears and fueling an "industrial supercycle" characterized by a broad-based capex boom in AI, energy, defense, and industrial sectors across Asia. • The trend signifies a major economic pivot where Asian industrial growth is outpacing Western trends, potentially reshaping global trade and energy dynamics.

• The OECD has warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could significantly slow global economic growth and increase uncertainty. • Key risks include the potential for a global recession and rising inflation if the war continues into next year. • Asian nations are expected to be the most severely impacted due to their heavy reliance on energy supplies from the Middle East.

• Foreign investors are shifting capital away from India and toward North Asian markets, specifically South Korea and Taiwan. • This trend is driven by the global AI investment boom and extraordinary earnings growth in sectors tied to AI-driven capital expenditure. • While India maintains strong long-term growth prospects and healthy earnings, it is currently being sidelined by the immediate global focus on AI infrastructure.

• India's data centre industry is entering a multi-year growth phase driven by accelerating digitalization, cloud adoption, and the rising demand for artificial intelligence. • This surge has powered nine specific stocks linked to data centre infrastructure, power, and hardware, with some seeing gains of up to 477% as of 2026. • While India currently lags behind markets like South Korea and Taiwan in direct semiconductor exposure, this infrastructure-led AI theme is creating a new domestic investment momentum.

• Indian benchmark indices closed higher following a volatile session, with the Sensex gaining 382 points and the Nifty closing above 23,480. • Market sentiment was primarily lifted by late buying in heavyweight IT stocks, though investors remain cautious. • Key factors influencing upcoming stock action include monsoon progress, inflation trends, liquidity conditions, and the RBI's policy outlook.

• South Korea's stock market has overtaken India's to become the world's sixth-largest, fueled by a massive AI boom and the success of its semiconductor giants. • India's market performance is currently hindered by a lack of direct AI exposure and the negative impact of a weakening rupee. • This shift highlights a growing gap in technological leadership between the two nations, as AI-driven hardware demand boosts South Korean valuations.

• Indian stock markets plummeted on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling over 400 points and the Nifty dropping below 23,250. • The downturn was driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and persistent selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), causing declines of over 1% in the Auto, Realty, and Consumer Durables sectors. • Despite the broader crash, Nifty IT gained nearly 2%, while 1,650 stocks on the NSE declined compared to 887 that advanced.

• Rising Middle East tensions are pushing oil prices higher, sparking concerns over potential stagflation and economic growth disruptions. • Arnab Das warns that markets may have underestimated the risk of supply chain shocks, particularly regarding potential disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. • Despite these geopolitical risks, the AI revolution remains the primary long-term driver for equity markets, outweighing short-term volatility.

• SoftBank Group plans to invest up to $87 billion (€75 billion) in France to develop 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity. • The project's first phase involves a $45 billion investment to establish 3.1 gigawatts of capacity by 2031. • This initiative, driven by diplomacy between SoftBank's founder and President Macron, aims to position France as a leading European hub for AI infrastructure.

• The benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices declined for a fourth consecutive session, driven by rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions. • Market breadth remained weak with bearish technical indicators, though specific stocks like Wockhardt and NMDC Steel bucked the trend to hit fresh highs. • This downward trend highlights persistent selling pressure across the broader market, impacting investor sentiment ahead of Tuesday's trading.

• Asian stock markets rose on Monday, driven by strong demand for semiconductors and AI technology, which helped offset risks stemming from Middle East tensions. • Key indices saw significant gains, with Japan's Nikkei rising 0.5% following a 5% surge last week, while South Korea and Taiwan also posted strong growth. • The market trend is critical as investors balance AI optimism against volatile oil prices and the Federal Reserve's outlook on interest rate hikes.

• Tehran has suspended negotiations with the United States, citing recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon as the primary reason for the breakdown. • The escalation threatens to reignite direct military exchanges and risks destabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. • This diplomatic collapse jeopardizes President Trump's political standing and could trigger economic instability through fluctuating energy markets.

• Indian banks expect a decline in asset quality starting in the second quarter due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. • The regional instability is driving up fuel prices, which is expected to curb consumer spending and increase input costs for corporations. • Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing significant financial pressure, leading lenders to become increasingly cautious about providing credit to this sector.

• A diverse range of new movies and shows are launching this Friday across major streaming platforms including Netflix, JioHotstar, Prime Video, and ZEE5. • Key releases include the Tamil thrillers *Kara* and *Leader*, the Malayalam family drama *Cousins & Kalyanams*, and the courtroom comedy *Jolly LLB 3*. • Genre-specific highlights feature a unique superhero experience with *Spider-Noir* and a biographical look at tennis star Rafael Nadal in the project *Rafa*.

• Indian equity markets closed sharply lower on May 29, driven by broad-based selling, rising volatility, and MSCI-driven fund flows. • Technical indicators currently suggest a bearish bias for the markets, placing a critical focus on key support zones. • Investor sentiment for Monday's session will be heavily influenced by global cues, the current monsoon outlook, and overall market breadth.

• Global markets are focusing on critical geopolitical developments, specifically the U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. • Investors are awaiting key economic indicators, including U.S. employment data and inflation figures from the euro zone, to gauge global financial health. • Regional volatility is expected as Colombia holds national elections and the Indian rupee faces significant downward pressure.

• Indian equity benchmarks closed marginally lower for the second straight session, as declines in the energy, IT, and financial sectors outweighed gains in auto stocks. • Technical analysts, including Vatsal Bhuva of LKP Securities, note that the Nifty 50 recently broke out above the 23,800 congestion zone, suggesting improving market momentum. • Market experts expect the Nifty to remain range-bound for Friday's session, identifying immediate support at 23,800 and resistance between 24,000 and 24,100.

• Major Indian streaming platforms, including JioStar and Amazon, are heavily investing in "microdramas"—short, vertically shot melodramas designed for quick consumption. • These bite-sized shows have evolved from simple filler content into a core strategic tool for discovering new stories and testing potential future franchises. • The shift reflects a broader battle for viewer attention in a competitive digital market where short-form, mobile-first content is increasingly dominant.

• Britain and its allies are facing a significant cyber threat from Russia, targeting critical infrastructure, elections, and public trust. • A top UK spy chief has warned of the urgent need for action from all parties, including businesses and individuals, to counter this threat. • The rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have created a narrow window for Britain and its allies to stay ahead of rivals like China and Russia in the cyber arena.

• The Indian government has notified new rules to establish a National Sports Board and a National Sports Tribunal to overhaul sports governance. • These new bodies are designed to regulate sports organizations and provide a streamlined mechanism for resolving legal and administrative disputes. • The initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability within India's sports ecosystem, reducing delays in dispute resolution.

• Zee Entertainment Enterprises is nearing a deal to secure the broadcast and streaming rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. • The agreement becomes likely after competitor JioStar withdrew from the bidding process for the tournament. • This strategic move highlights Zee's commitment to expanding its sports content portfolio to attract a wider audience.