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US stocks: S&P 500, Nasdaq fall as tech selling resumes, Trump vows to react to downed US helicopter

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes fell on Tuesday as a rebound in technology shares faded and as President Donald Trump said the U.S. must react to Iran's shooting down of a U.S. ‌helicopter. Trump wrote in ⁠a ⁠social media post that Iran had shot down the U.S. Apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight, and vowed to respond, which added to doubts about prospects for a truce in the Middle East war. The Cboe Volatility Index hit its highest level since April 7 during the session as stocks sold off. Technology stocks resumed Friday's selloff following a bounce on Monday. The S&P 500 tech index fell more than 4% before paring losses. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index dropped as much as 8.6% after ⁠rising 3% ‌in early trading. "When the bounce ran its course this morning, the tape came for sale more broadly. There's also a rotation going on ... so part of it is more of ⁠a momentum unwind," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading in Stamford, Connecticut. The Russell 1000 value index outperformed the growth index.Also Read | US stocks: SpaceX IPO demand is approaching four times oversubscribed, source says Trump's post also briefly "created another leg down," O'Rourke said. In addition, investors may be worried ahead of inflation data and a highly anticipated SpaceX IPO later this week. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 20.25 points, or 0.27%, to end at 7,385.48 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 254.47 points, or 0.98%, to 25,675.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 84.28 points, or 0.14%, to 50,857.58. Consumer price data for May could offer fresh clues ‌on how the rise in energy prices, driven by the Iran war, is impacting inflation. The data is due on Wednesday. SpaceX's market debut on Friday could also be a hurdle for U.S. stocks as investors worry ⁠about possible overexuberance among high-growth technology stocks. Elon Musk's SpaceX is aiming to raise $75 billion and targeting a valuation of $1.75 trillion, the most ever for an IPO. Some strategists have said investors are potentially booking profits in the high-flying semiconductor stocks to make room for SpaceX in their portfolios. Technology and AI-linked stocks sold off sharply on Friday after Broadcom's disappointing forecast fueled concerns about high valuations in the sector, particularly in chipmakers, which have rallied sharply this year. The semiconductor index remains up more than 70% for the year so far.

In Trump's crypto 'scrip', family always wins

It was January 2025, crypto fever was raging, and Donald Trump was preparing to return to the White House. So when Fatime Elrgdawy's friend told her about an online message from the United States president-elect hyping the launch of his own crypto coin-"GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW"-she thought: "Oh my God, this is brilliant."The 29-year-old software project engineer in California put $2,000 of her savings into the $TRUMP meme coin. All that remained, she thought, was to sit back and wait for the price to climb.Instead, the price plummeted. At the end of May, her $TRUMP holding was worth less than $120. Meanwhile, the Trump family pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars from the token sales after putting little to none of their own money into the project.Also read | Trump just got caught in a perfect storm. Can he survive it?Four bad bets for invetorsThe $TRUMP meme coin is one of four Trump family crypto projects that have turned into a financial jackpot for the Trumps and a very bad bet for buyers like Elrgdawy. Each of these ventures has followed the same playbook. The Trumps risked little up front. Trump family members-notably, the president's oldest sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr-hyped the venture. They raked in money as investors piled in. And those buyers lost big when, for various reasons, the prices of their Trump-related crypto assets later tanked.A Reuters examination shows that Trump's family has used this template to generate at least $2.3 billion in profit from investors since he retook the presidency. On the other side of that cash bonanza for America's first family: over a million investors whose net losses totaled $2.3 billion at the end of April, as per a Reuters analysis.The Reuters analysis was based on a review of blockchain records, corporate filings, online disclosures by Trump companies, and public remarks by the Trumps and their projects' executives, as well as interviews with executives. The findings were reviewed by over a dozen accounting and crypto experts, all of whom found Reuters' estimates and analysis to be reasonable.The four crypto projects include World Liberty Financial, the Trumps' flagship crypto venture. It has brought the family over $1.4 billion from sales of its governance tokens. The tokens, which give holders a vote on some governance matters, have crashed in value.Also read | India's first class action case goes to arbitrationMeme coinThe Trump brothers have also heralded two publicly listed firms, American Bitcoin and AI Financial Corp, known as ALT5 Sigma until April, as convenient ways to gain exposure to crypto tokens through their shares. The companies' stock prices have collapsed. And there's the $TRUMP token, its poor performance typical of meme coins, whose value reflects the popularity of internet trends or celebrities linked to them.White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, in a statement, replied to Reuters' findings: "All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people." Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr did not respond to requests for comment.All but three of the 27 individual investors interviewed for this article said they knew of Donald Trump's history of bankruptcies, unpaid contractors and failed ventures. Still, most said they believed that his position at the apex of American political power ensured lucrative returns on their investments.

How India is trying to attract foreign capital

As the rupee came under pressure from rising crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and sustained foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows, the government and the Reserve Bank of India rolled out a set of measures over Friday and Monday aimed at attracting foreign capital and strengthening India's external position.The RBI, while keeping the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its June monetary policy review, unveiled a package to boost dollar inflows. Simultaneously, the government followed up with a tax ordinance exempting foreign investors from taxes on investments in government securities. Together, the measures are designed to improve India's balance of payments, ease pressure on the rupee and make Indian debt markets more attractive to overseas investors.Also Read: India scrapping tax for foreign investors in govt bonds aimed at inclusion in Bloomberg index, govt official saysSo, why were policymakers worried?The West Asia conflict and its impact globally is no secret. The ripple effects are real. The rupee had come under pressure in recent weeks trading in the range of ₹95.20 to ₹95.80 against the US Dollar as crude oil prices surged following the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, raising concerns over India's import bill and current account deficit. However, a surprise sprang on Monday when India reported a current account surplus of $7.1 billion in the fourth quarter of FY26. The RBI's package1. Concessional forex swap facility for overseas borrowingsThe RBI introduced a special dollar-rupee swap facility at a concessional rate for public sector entities and banks raising funds overseas. The facility will remain available until September 30.Companies often borrow abroad but must hedge currency risk. Hedging can be expensive. By lowering that cost, the RBI is encouraging more overseas borrowing and, consequently, more dollar inflows into India.2. RBI to bear hedging costs on FCNR(B) depositsOn Monday, the RBI issued detailed guidelines for the FCNR(B) deposit scheme announced during the monetary policy.Also Read: Deposits under RBI's latest foreign currency non-resident bank scheme will carry one-year lock-inUnder the framework, banks can mobilise fresh FCNR(B) deposits with maturities of three to five years between June 8 and September 30 and swap the dollar inflows with the RBI. The swap window will remain available until October 16. The central bank will bear the entire hedging cost, effectively allowing banks to hedge these deposits at par. Banks can also offer leverage against such deposits.The RBI also exempted these deposits from Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) requirements, improving the economics of mobilising foreign currency deposits.To ensure stability of inflows, deposits raised under the scheme will carry a mandatory one-year lock-in period. Banks will not be allowed to cancel swaps undertaken with the RBI before maturity. The RBI further exempted swap positions arising from FCNR(B) deposits from net unhedged foreign exchange exposure calculations.This is the closest India has come since the 2013 FCNR(B) mobilisation scheme launched during the rupee crisis. By eliminating hedging costs, providing CRR and SLR relief, relaxing regulatory treatment and offering a dedicated swap window, the RBI is giving banks a strong incentive to attract dollar deposits from overseas Indians. Why analysts think this scheme could be bigger than 2013Brokerage Jefferies believes the latest package could attract $50-70 billion of foreign currency inflows, substantially higher than the inflows generated under the 2013 FCNR(B) scheme.The brokerage argues that the current framework is more attractive than the one introduced during the rupee crisis more than a decade ago. While banks had to bear hedging costs of around 3.5% under the 2013 scheme, the RBI is now absorbing the entire cost. The deposits are also exempt from CRR and SLR requirements, similar to the earlier programme.A key difference this time is the ability to use leverage. Jefferies noted that the RBI has permitted banks to provide standby letters of credit (SBLCs), potentially allowing depositors to amplify returns through leverage. According to the brokerage, this could significantly improve the attractiveness of FCNR(B) deposits for overseas investors.3. Expansion of the Fully Accessible Route (FAR)The RBI expanded the FAR framework to include all new 15-year, 30-year and 40-year government securities and removed concentration limits for foreign investors.Large global investors, including pension and sovereign funds, prefer long-dated bonds. The move widens the universe of Indian government securities available for unrestricted foreign investment.4. Easier access for non-resident investorsThe RBI broadened investment access for individuals residing outside India and eased certain norms governing non-resident participation in Indian markets.The measure aims to tap a larger pool of overseas capital, particularly from the Indian diaspora.The Government's follow-up Tax reliefAfter the RBI's measures, the government issued the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.5. Capital gains tax exemption on government bondsThe ordinance exempted foreign institutional investors and the Bank for International Settlements from capital gains tax on investments in specified government securities. Earlier, long-term gains attracted a 12.5% tax.1316102436. Interest income tax exemptionThe government also removed taxes on interest income earned by eligible foreign investors from these government securities. Previously, interest income faced a 20% withholding tax.131610254

US, Israel can't hide their differences on Iran

No wonder Donald Trump swore at his supposed friend and ally Benjamin Netanyahu last week. Within days of that June 1 phone call, Israel and Iran were back on track for the kind of military escalation that can no longer be explained away as a ceasefire breach, presenting a potentially fatal threat to the US president’s attempts to end the war.The cause of their dispute is, on the surface, simple. Israel says the April ceasefire between Tehran and Washington did not cover Lebanon, and that its troops would therefore go on fighting Hezbollah so long as the Shiite group posed a security threat to Israeli’s northern border communities. Iran says the deal did cover Lebanon, which is just another front in the same war — and of course it is.It’s precisely because it sees Hezbollah as a tool of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that Israel wanted the war in the first place. Israelis correctly blamed the IRGC for having orchestrated an entire proxy network of militias — from the Houthis in Yemen, to Hamas in Gaza, to Hezbollah in Lebanon — against the world’s only Jewish state. That Iranian strategy contributed directly to the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023.Also Read: US Army Apache helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz, says reportOnly such an Iran-controlled or -inspired network can explain why Hezbollah opened a second front against the Israelis on Oct. 8 of that year, long before it could be described as a response to Israeli military excesses against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Likewise that Hezbollah would join in the fight again when the US and Israel attacked Iran, in February. And it’s why the Houthis chose this weekend to lob a missile at Israel and announce they were closing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Israeli shipping.These last Houthi gestures were largely symbolic. Yet the collective message Tehran seeks to deliver is clear; it is that reports of the death of its so-called Axis of Resistance have been greatly exaggerated. The latest bout of escalation has notably been directed at Israel alone, serving to drive a wedge between it and the US, as it exposed the point at which their interests divide.Tehran on Monday appeared to want to draw a line under spiraling tit-for-tat air and missile strikes, saying it would refrain from further attacks — so long as Israel doesn’t bomb Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut. Netanyahu now faces a painful dilemma: Should he obey Trump by limiting his campaign against Hezbollah in the face of Iranian threats, thus granting them a level of impunity and deterrent power? Or should he ignore Trump and unleash the Israel Defense Forces on the Lebanese capital?Also Read: US carriers spent $6. 5B on fuel in April; global profit forecast is cut nearly in halfTehran’s new leaders understand this. No doubt they see it as a win-win for themselves. They know, too, that Hezbollah has recovered some of the military utility it had lost before the war after acquiring remote-controlled first-person view drones that the IDF seem ill-prepared to counter.This would present a genuine predicament to any Israeli government, because popular support for “finishing the job” in Lebanon is high. Netanyahu faces anger from across the political spectrum over his apparent submission of Israeli security interests to American ones.But this isn’t any Israeli government. Not every Israeli leader would have overseen a decades-long security policy that prioritized the suppression of the Palestinian Authority over Hamas, allowing the terrorist group to succeed beyond its wildest dreams on Oct. 7. Nor would every Israeli leader have refused to draw up a political strategy to accompany the use of force that followed in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon — despite being coerced by Trump into recent talks with its central government.As the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak put it in an article for the liberal Haaretz newspaper on Monday, the story being sold to Israelis — that the IDF could eradicate Hezbollah once and for all if only its hands weren’t tied — is “a dangerous illusion.” The history of previous, painful failed incursions into Lebanon says as much.Nor would every Israeli leader have misled Trump into believing (against the advice of the US military and intelligence community) that assassinating Iran’s supreme leader would swiftly precipitate a collapse of the Islamic Republic as a whole. Nor might they have allowed their country to become quite as diplomatically isolated as it has.It is these strategic failures, amid undoubted military success, that have left Israel with few good options. Netanyahu can hope for a rapid collapse of the regime in Tehran to resolve his dilemma, but that’s unlikely. Alternatively, he can try to persuade the US to join in a long-term mow-the-lawn policy to keep Iran weak, amounting to a forever war. This, too, seems unlikely — or at least not in the interests of the US, its Gulf allies or the global economy.Failing one of these minor miracles, the risk of Israel being forced to accept a peace deal that leaves an enraged and emboldened Islamic Republic in place is real. No doubt Netanyahu, like Trump, believed in February that a short, victorious Iranian war might salvage his dimming political prospects, ahead of the Israeli elections due by October. That was a bad bet.

Kospi surges 5% after 15% rout in three days. What’s fuelling 2026’s top mkt?

South Korean technology stocks staged a strong rebound on Tuesday, mirroring gains on Wall Street, as investors returned to artificial intelligence-related counters following a steep three-day selloff that dragged the KOSPI down more than 15% during the period.Semiconductor heavyweights led the recovery. SK Hynix rose 8%, Samsung Electronics gained 4%, while Seoul Semiconductor surged more than 14%. At the day’s high, Kospi rose 5% to 7,848 or 364 points higher. The rebound followed a positive session in the United States, where chipmakers helped lift broader markets. The S&P 500 advanced 0.3% on Monday, while the technology-focused Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.86%, recovering some of the losses suffered during last week's sharp decline in technology stocks.Investor sentiment also received support from growing excitement around a potential new wave of high-profile AI-related listings. OpenAI recently disclosed that it had confidentially filed for an initial public offering, following a similar step by Anthropic. The development comes just days before SpaceX shares are expected to start trading.The recovery follows a brutal session for South Korean equities on Monday, when the benchmark KOSPI slumped 9% as investors abruptly pulled back from the market's AI-driven rally. The decline highlighted the extent to which the index had become reliant on a small number of semiconductor companies.The benchmark index is now roughly 12.7% below the record high it reached last week. Semiconductor giants bore the brunt of the selloff, with Samsung Electronics dropping more than 6% and SK Hynix falling over 4% on Monday.As investors rushed to book profits, concerns over market concentration became increasingly evident. Much of the KOSPI's rally had been fuelled by a handful of AI-linked stocks, leaving the broader market exposed to a shift in investor sentiment.Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix together account for nearly half of the KOSPI's total weighting and have generated around two-thirds of the benchmark's gains so far this year. Even after the recent correction, the two stocks remain higher by 138% and 196%, respectively, on a year-to-date basis.Despite the sharp pullback, the KOSPI remains the world's top-performing stock indexe in 2026. Driven largely by the surge in semiconductor shares linked to the artificial intelligence boom, the index is still up an impressive 79% this year.Demand for AI infrastructure has accelerated dramatically over the past year as technology companies around the world race to develop advanced AI models and expand computing capacity. That trend has sparked strong demand for high-bandwidth memory chips, prompting investors to pour money into South Korean chipmakers that occupy a critical position in the global AI supply chain.Sensex, Nifty today: Catch all the LIVE stock market action here(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

India's much N-eeded in energy mix

Over the past decade, GoI has expanded investments in solar power, wind energy, transmission infrastructure and pumped hydro storage. Electric mobility initiatives and domestic battery manufacturing programmes are also being promoted as part of a broader strategy to reduce oil dependence.Recent geopolitical developments in the Gulf, which largely supply India's crude and LPG needs, have brought renewed focus to nuclear energy as a stable domestic source for baseload electricity. A milestone in India's nuclear programme was achieved in April, when a prototype fast-breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attained first criticality. Developed indigenously by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), the 500 MWe reactor marks India's formal entry into the second stage of its 3-stage nuclear programme envisioned by Homi Bhabha.Also a welcome development is the latest news of GoI reportedly considering measures that include assured power purchase agreements (PPAs), to attract private sector investments in the nuclear energy sector. It is also reportedly preparing to notify rules under SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Act 2025.India's nuclear strategy has been designed around the country's resource profile. While it has limited uranium reserves, it possesses some of the world's largest thorium deposits. The 3-stage programme was conceived to enable large-scale utilisation of thorium for power generation.Thorium is not a fertile or fissile material, and has to be converted to fissile Uranium-233 in a FBR. The third stage aims to use U-233-based reactors for sustained energy generation. PFBR is important for the eventual thorium utilisation. India's thorium reserves, largely located in coastal monazite sands in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, are seen as a potential long-term strategic energy resource.Another significant development came with the passage of the aforementioned SHANTI Act last December. It modernises India's nuclear legal and regulatory framework, and allows limited private sector participation in nuclear projects.Traditionally, India's nuclear sector has been dominated by state-controlled entities. The Act is intended to streamline approvals, encourage investment, and support domestic manufacturing and technological partnerships. Reforms reflect recognition that achieving large-scale nuclear expansion will require both public and private participation.Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) is developing several advanced reactor designs, including 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), 55 MWe SMR-55, and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) intended for hydrogen production. SMRs are expected to be modular, with modules produced under controlled conditions in a factory and assembled at the site in a short time. They are also expected to be safer, making them acceptable to the public.GoI has indicated that at least 5 indigenously designed SMRs will become operational by 2033. India has set a long-term target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. At present, the country's installed nuclear capacity stands at about 8.7 GW, contributing around 3% of total electricity generation. Coal continues to account for nearly 70% of electricity production. Achieving the 100 GW target would require substantial expansion in infra, manufacturing, financing and human resources.The Strait of Hormuz disruption has reinforced the importance of diversifying India's energy mix and reducing exposure to external supply shocks. The current policy direction reflects a combination of RE expansion, electrification, domestic manufacturing and renewed emphasis on nuclear power.The broad objective of improving energy security through a diversified and domestically supported energy system must remain a central policy priority. RE, along with energy storage required to balance it, remains the major first step. Electricity can substitute fossil fuels in many sectors. Coal can be replaced by nuclear as a baseload supplier.Nuclear projects involve high upfront capital costs and long construction timelines. Land acquisition and public acceptance remain sensitive issues. Waste management, safety regulation and development of skilled technical manpower will require sustained institutional support.Thorium-based technologies, although strategically important for India, have not yet been deployed commercially at scale in the world. Policymakers will need to balance investments across nuclear, solar, wind, storage and grid modernisation to ensure affordability and energy security.SHANTI Act, PFBR, investment in SMRs and increased private participation suggest that nuclear energy may play a larger role in India's long-term energy strategy than anticipated. We need an integrated policy framework to achieve energy aatmanirbharta.Saini is senior research analyst, and Parikh is chairman, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi

WWDC 2026: Apple's new Siri AI is here

Apple has officially unveiled Siri AI, its biggest overhaul of Siri since the voice assistant first launched in 2011.Announced at WWDC 2026, Siri AI is powered by Apple Intelligence and brings a more conversational interface, personal context awareness, visual intelligence and the ability to take actions across apps. Apple says the new assistant can answer questions from the web, understand what's on your screen, surface information from messages, emails and photos, and help users write, edit and complete tasks.Also Read: Apple WWDC 2026: Siri gets an AI makeover, its biggest upgrade since 2011 debutHere's everything you need to know about Siri AI, including supported devices, how to access it and when it will be available.What is Siri AI?Siri AI is a completely rebuilt version of Siri powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence.Unlike the old Siri, which primarily handled voice commands and basic queries, Siri AI can understand personal context, maintain conversations, answer follow-up questions and take actions across apps.For example, users can ask Siri to:Find a restaurant recommendation sent by a friend in MessagesPull up a hotel booking confirmation from an old emailFind photos from a recent tripDraft emails and messagesEdit and share photosAnswer questions about content currently displayed on screenSearch the web for up-to-date information on virtually any topicApple says Siri AI combines personal information, onscreen awareness and web knowledge to provide more useful and contextual responses.How to access Siri AIApple has introduced several new ways to access Siri AI across devices.On iPhoneUsers can access Siri AI by:Saying "Hey Siri"Pressing the side buttonSwiping down from the Dynamic Island to start a conversationUsing the new dedicated Siri appThe dedicated Siri app allows users to revisit previous conversations and continue chats across devices.On MacSiri AI is integrated directly into Spotlight.Users can search for answers, ask questions and access Siri AI from anywhere in macOS. Siri is also integrated into system context menus, allowing users to control-click files, images or text and ask questions about them.On iPadSiri AI is integrated into Spotlight and Visual Intelligence features, including screenshot-based interactions.On Apple WatchUsers can start conversations directly from their wrist, while Smart Stack can suggest continuing previous Siri conversations.What is the new Siri app?One of the biggest additions is a dedicated Siri app.The app stores conversation history using iCloud syncing, allowing users to start a conversation on one device and continue it on another.For example, users can begin chatting with Siri on a Mac and pick up the same conversation later on an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Apple Vision Pro.Siri AI gets Visual IntelligenceApple has significantly expanded Visual Intelligence.On iPhone, Siri AI is integrated directly into the Camera app through a new Siri mode. Users can point the camera at objects and ask questions about what they see.The feature can:Identify objects and placesProvide information about foodOffer nutritional insightsHelp split restaurant bills using Apple CashAnswer questions about visual contentVisual Intelligence is also coming to iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro for the first time.Which devices support Siri AI?Apple Intelligence and Siri AI will only be available on supported hardware.Supported iPhonesiPhone 16 series and neweriPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro MaxSupported iPadsiPad mini with A17 ProiPads powered by M1 chips or newerSupported MacsMac models with M1 chips or newerSupported Apple Watch modelsApple Watch Series 10 and newerApple Watch Ultra 2 and newerApple Watch SE 3 (when paired with a compatible iPhone)Notably, while iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and newer devices, Siri AI itself requires Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware.Also Read: As Apple's WWDC conference kicks off, investors want to know if AI will save SiriWhen will Siri AI be available?Apple says Siri AI is available for developer testing starting now through the Apple Developer Program.A public beta will launch later this year as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27.Initially, Siri AI will be available in English, with support for additional languages rolling out later.

Zepto files updated DRHP for $1 billion IPO

Quick commerce company Zepto on Monday filed its updated draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India for a $1 billion (Rs 9,500 crore) initial public offering, moving closer to one of the most anticipated new-age listings of the year.The IPO will comprise a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 8,010 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 113 million shares by existing shareholders, according to the updated prospectus. The five-year-old company had filed its IPO papers confidentially with Sebi in December 2025 and received the regulator's approval in May.According to people aware of the matter, Zepto is targeting a July listing. That would make it the third quick commerce player in the public market, alongside Blinkit parent Eternal and Instamart parent Swiggy. The IPO will also make Zepto the first standalone quick commerce company to list on Indian stock exchanges.Through the OFS component, early investor Nexus Venture Partners, US-based Contrary Capital and Kaiser Permanente, as well as Dubai-based Razor Capital, plan to sell shares in the company.Zepto was last valued at $7 billion in October 2025, when it raised $450 million from investors including CalPERS, General Catalyst, Goodwater Capital and Lightspeed.The company plans to use proceeds from the fresh issue to expand its dark store network across existing and new geographies, as well as fund lease rentals for existing facilities. As of March 31, Zepto operated 1,139 dark stores. It also intends to invest in technology and cloud infrastructure, besides funding marketing and business promotion expenses.For the January-March quarter, Zepto reported operating revenue of Rs 7,498 crore, up 75% year-on-year. Net loss narrowed to Rs 1,539 crore from Rs 1,832 crore a year earlier.During the fourth quarter, Zepto processed 210 million orders on its platform, compared with 274 million for Blinkit and 113 million for Swiggy's Instamart.Besides Blinkit and Instamart, Zepto competes with Tata-owned BigBasket, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now in India's 10-minute delivery market.The company's founders, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, along with their families and family offices, comprise Zepto's promoter group, which collectively holds a 19.6% stake in the company.Palicha and Vohra, along with US-based investor and Glade Brook Capital founder Paul Hudson, Zepto CFO Ramesh Bafna, Avra founder and former Y Combinator managing director Anu Hariharan, and former Bharti Enterprises chairman Akhil Gupta, comprise Zepto's board of directors. Hudson serves as chairman of the board.Zepto's IPO comes at a time when the quick commerce industry is locked in an intense battle for market share, even as growth at leading platforms has moderated amid a broader push towards profitability. The entry of ecommerce giants Amazon and Flipkart into the 10-minute delivery segment has further intensified competition and sparked a fresh round of price wars.

TCS extends 1.5 mn sq ft Chennai office lease

MUMBAI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has renewed its lease for nearly 15 lakh sq ft of office space in Chennai in a transaction with rental outgo of around Rs 1,420 crore over its total tenure of 10 years, underscoring the country’s largest IT services company’s long-term commitment to one of its key delivery hubs.This ranks among the largest office lease renewals and occupier commitments reported anywhere in India. The transaction assumes significance against the backdrop of growing concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence on employment in the technology sector.Several global and Indian IT companies have highlighted productivity gains from AI-led automation in recent quarters, fuelling debates around potential workforce rationalisation and slower hiring.The lease has been signed for space at Chennai One IT SEZ in Thoraipakkam. The agreement commenced on November 1, and covers a chargeable area of 14.66 lakh sq ft, showed documents accessed through Propstack, a realty data analytics platform.TCS will occupy the first to eighth floors across four towers in Block A (Alpha), along with the first, sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh floors in Block B (Magnum). The leased premises have a carpet area of 11.29 lakh sq ft.The lease has been signed at a starting rental of Rs 70 per sq ft a month, translating into a monthly rental payment of about Rs 10.26 crore. The agreement carries a tenure of 10 years and is backed by a security deposit of Rs 94.64 crore.The lease agreement provides for a 12% escalation in rentals every three years. Based on the contracted rentals and the escalation structure, the total rental commitment over the 10-year tenure is estimated at approximately Rs 1,420 crore.ET’s email query to TCS remained unanswered until the time of going to press.TCS’ decision to retain and renew this nearly 1.5 million sq ft of office space for a decade signals continued confidence in its long-term operational footprint and workforce presence.Chennai continues to remain one of India’s most important technology markets, housing large campuses of domestic and multinational IT companies. The city’s established talent pool, relatively lower operating costs and robust office infrastructure have helped it maintain its position as a preferred destination for technology occupiers. The renewal comes at a time when India's office market continues to witness strong demand from technology firms, global capability centres (GCCs), financial services companies and engineering firms, driving sustained leasing activity across key markets.While artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce strategies and operational models, large occupiers continue to retain and expand their real estate footprints in major business hubs. Long-term lease renewals and large-format transactions have remained a key feature of the market, reflecting occupiers' preference for securing high-quality office assets in established micro-markets with access to talent, infrastructure and business ecosystems.

Govt cuts Ujjwala LPG quota to 4 cylinders

New Delhi, The government has reduced the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders available annually to beneficiaries of its flagship Ujjwala scheme to four, aligning support with average household consumption levels, a senior government official said on Monday.Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women from poor households, beneficiaries were initially entitled to 12 subsidised 14.2-kg cylinders a year. The subsidised quota was reduced to nine cylinders last year and has now been cut further to four.At a news briefing, Praveen Mal Khanooja, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, said the revised entitlement broadly matches the average annual consumption of Ujjwala beneficiaries.To encourage the use of cleaner cooking fuel and improve affordability, the government introduced a targeted subsidy of Rs 200 per 14.2-kg LPG cylinder in May 2022, credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts after every refill is purchased for up to 12 cylinders annually. In October 2023, the subsidy was increased to Rs 300 per 14.2-kg cylinder, with a proportionate benefit extended to 5-kg cylinders.The latest reduction in the subsidised quota follows increases in LPG prices. The price of a 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi has risen by a cumulative Rs 89 over two hikes in the past three months, the latest on June 7, taking the retail price to Rs 942. After accounting for the Rs 300 subsidy, PMUY beneficiaries pay Rs 642 for a 14.2-kg cylinder.He said the revised entitlement broadly reflects the average annual consumption among PMUY households. Beneficiaries effectively receive support of about Rs 1,000 per cylinder when compared to the government's estimated supply cost of around Rs 1,600 per cylinder.Cooking gas LPG prices were raised on June 7 by Rs 29 per cylinder."The increase comes to Re 1 per day," he said, adding that for a family of five, the increase comes to 20 paisa per day.Indian households continue to pay among the lowest prices for cooking gas globally despite a sharp rise in international LPG prices triggered by disruptions in West Asia, he added.Khanooja said the cost of supplying a domestic LPG cylinder has risen to more than Rs 1,600, following a surge in international prices that followed the outbreak of war in West Asia at the end of February.India's LPG import costs are linked to the Saudi Contract Price (CP), the global benchmark for the fuel. The benchmark has risen about 46 per cent since February after disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz tightened supplies from the Gulf region.The government, he said, has provided Rs 52,000 crore in subsidy since 2022.Despite the price hike, oil companies continue to lose about Rs 700 per 14.2-kg cylinder, he noted.Besides LPG, the oil companies are also losing on selling petrol and diesel at rates below cost. On petrol, the under-recovery was Rs 6 a litre, and that of diesel was about Rs 30 per litre."Cumulatively, the oil companies are losing Rs 600-700 crore," he said, giving reasons for the price hikes.Apart from LPG, the oil companies have also raised petrol and diesel prices by about Rs 7.50 a litre each in four instalments last month. CNG rates too have been hiked by Rs 6 per kg.

Government to sell 3% stake in NLC India through OFS, sets floor price at Rs 303

The government on Monday announced an offer for sale (OFS) in state-run NLC India, seeking to divest up to 3% of its stake through a two-day share sale process. The OFS comprises a base offer of 2% equity, equivalent to 2.78 crore shares, along with a greenshoe option of another 1% stake, or 1.39 crore shares, in case of strong investor demand.The government has fixed the floor price at Rs 303 per share, a discount to the stock's previous closing price. Based on the floor price, the government stands to raise about Rs 842 crore through the base offer. If the greenshoe option is fully exercised, the total issue size could increase to around Rs 1,263 crore.The OFS will open for non-retail investors on June 9, while retail investors and eligible employees can bid on June 10. The share sale will be conducted through a separate window mechanism on the BSE and NSE in line with Sebi's OFS framework.The transaction forms part of the government's broader disinvestment programme and comes amid a strong run in PSU stocks over the past few years.NLC India, formerly known as Neyveli Lignite Corporation, is one of India's leading mining and power generation companies. The company operates lignite mines and thermal power stations while also expanding its renewable energy portfolio.The PSU has emerged as a beneficiary of India's rising power demand and the government's focus on energy security. In recent years, the company has diversified beyond lignite mining into solar and other renewable energy projects as part of its long-term growth strategy.The government highlighted NLC India's strong operational and financial performance while announcing the OFS, describing the company as a long-term investment opportunity supported by consistent profitability and dividend payouts.NLC India has maintained a track record of returning cash to shareholders through regular dividends and has benefited from improving plant performance, higher power generation and growth in mining operations.The OFS comes at a time when institutional and retail participation in government stake sales has remained healthy, particularly in profitable PSUs with stable cash flows and attractive dividend yields.Investors will now watch subscription levels closely to gauge demand for the issue, especially given the government's decision to keep a greenshoe option that allows it to sell an additional 1% stake if the offer is oversubscribed.

Private sector banks are the best contrarian bet for the next 3 years, says S Naren

The continued rise in leverage among retail and high-net-worth investors through derivatives and margin trading facilities (MTFs) remains a key concern for the market, S Naren, Executive Director and CIO of ICICI Prudential AMC said at ICICI Securities India Investor Conference 2026.While there has been significant discussion around the sustainability of mutual fund inflows and SIP contributions, Naren believes leverage in the derivatives market poses a much bigger risk than any moderation in mutual fund investments.Also Read | Sensex down over 10K points from Dec peak. Should investors buy the dip, hold positions, or wait on sidelines? "The level of leverage in the derivatives market and the amount of margin trading funding taken from brokers have continued to increase. That is a concern because leverage among retail and HNI investors is rising," he said.According to Naren, even if SIP inflows witness a marginal slowdown, it is unlikely to pose a significant challenge as mutual fund investors are typically long-term participants who invest without leverage. In contrast, derivative traders often operate with borrowed money, increasing risks during periods of market volatility.He noted that margin trading facility exposure is currently at its highest-ever level, highlighting the growing appetite for leveraged market participation.Against this backdrop, Naren sees an interesting contrarian opportunity emerging in segments that have witnessed relentless foreign institutional investor (FII) selling over the last 20 months."If you look for something contrarian today, it would be stocks where FIIs have been persistent sellers over the last 20 months," he said.Among these, private sector banks stand out as one of the most attractive investment opportunities for long-term investors, according to Naren.He believes private banks could emerge as the best-performing sector over the next three years. One key reason is the significant reduction in foreign ownership resulting from sustained FII selling.Also Read | Four mutual funds restrict large inflows into gold ETFs and FoFs; Rs 25 crore cap imposed "FIIs used to have nearly 40% of their India portfolios allocated to private banks. Whenever they wanted to reduce exposure to India, private banks became the natural source of liquidity," Naren explained.As a result, FIIs have consistently sold private banking stocks over the last 20 months, creating a valuation opportunity for long-term investors willing to take a contrarian view.Beyond equities, Naren remains optimistic about India's debt markets following recent policy measures aimed at improving foreign investor participation.According to him, two critical factors that influence foreign investment in debt markets—currency stability and taxation—have both moved decisively in India's favour."In debt, there are two factors: currency and taxation. Both have turned very positive, which significantly improves India's attractiveness," he said.Naren believes these developments improve India's chances of gaining inclusion in global bond indices such as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index and have contributed to a highly optimistic mood in the domestic debt market.He pointed out that bond yields have moved well below policy rates in several segments, particularly in three-year corporate bonds, creating attractive investment opportunities.However, Naren cautioned that the global fixed-income environment today is very different from what prevailed during the 2013 taper tantrum period.At that time, interest rates across much of the developed world were close to zero, making India's bond yields highly attractive to international investors. Today, investors can earn meaningful returns even in developed-market government bonds."US 30-year government bonds are yielding around 5%, and even Japanese government bond yields are at levels not seen for decades," he said.As a result, the yield differential between India and developed markets has narrowed significantly compared with 2013.Also Read | Gold and silver ETFs slip up to 8% amid Israel attack and crude oil spike. What should investors do? While India has strengthened its macroeconomic position considerably over the past decade, global investors now have a wider range of attractive fixed-income options available to them.Naren also highlighted the relatively small size of foreign portfolio investor exposure to Indian debt compared with equities.According to him, FPI debt investments remain only a fraction of FPI equity allocations. In contrast, foreign investors had built substantial equity positions in India during a period when domestic valuations traded at significant premiums to other emerging markets.He noted that Indian equities became exceptionally expensive after 2023 as domestic investors increasingly channelled savings into equities rather than debt."Valuations in India reached levels that were several times higher than markets like China. In such an environment, FIIs logically chose to reduce equity exposure," he said.At the same time, India has historically adopted a cautious approach towards opening its debt markets to foreign investors.Naren believes this measured approach has helped preserve financial stability while gradually increasing foreign participation in government securities.With improving debt market fundamentals, supportive policy measures, and attractive opportunities emerging in sectors overlooked by foreign investors, Naren sees both fixed income and select equity segments offering compelling opportunities for long-term investors.Commenting on the recent correction in Kospi, Naren said that it is a healthy correction but even now I don't think on market cap terms it is cheap.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.

What happens when expertise stops scaling?

How many days can you stay in Europe?

Travellers visiting Europe can now use a new online tool under the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) to check how many days they are still allowed to stay in participating European countries.The tool is offered for non-EU nationals travelling for short stays and helps visitors track their remaining authorised stay under Europe's immigration rules. It also indicates whether a planned entry into an EES country would be permitted.What is the EES online tool?The EES online tool is an authorised stay verification service available on the European Union's EES website. It allows travellers to calculate the number of days they can still spend in countries covered by the Entry/Exit System.When users submit their details, the system provides an "OK" or "not OK" response regarding their eligibility to enter. It also shows how many days of authorised stay remain.The same service is also available through equipment installed at some external border crossing points.What information do travellers need?To use the tool, travellers must provide:The European country they are visiting or plan to visitTheir travel document type, such as a passportPassport numberThe three-letter code of the country that issued the passportDepending on the purpose of the check, travellers may also need to enter:Their intended date of arrivalTheir intended date of departureBoth arrival and departure dates for future travel plansHow does the calculation work?The tool uses information recorded under the Entry/Exit System to determine the number of days a traveller is authorised to remain in participating European countries.Travellers who are planning a future trip can use the calculator to estimate how long they will be allowed to stay. Those already in Europe can check how many days remain before they must leave.The system can also calculate how many authorised days would remain after a planned trip ends.Key points travellers should knowThe European Union has stated that the remaining authorised stay shown by the tool does not include any time spent in the Schengen area that began before April 10, 2026, when the EES became fully operational.The EU has also stated that until October 6, 2026, the "OK" response may not always be reliable for some travellers holding single-entry or double-entry visas if previous visa use between October 12, 2025, and April 9, 2026, was not recorded in the EES.Who can use the tool?The authorised stay verification tool is intended for non-EU nationals travelling to EES-participating countries for short stays.It does not apply to people covered by EU free movement rules, including certain family members of EU citizens and individuals holding specific residence documents.The online calculator gives travellers a quick way to verify their remaining stay period before travelling or while already in Europe. By checking their status in advance, visitors can better plan their trips and reduce the risk of overstaying under the EU's new Entry/Exit System.

The AI trade trap: Why successful tech stocks are triggering a trillion-dollar market meltdown in Korea, Taiwan

An unprecedented concentration crisis in global technology equities has evolved into a structural trap for investors, triggering a violent "Black Monday" unwind that is reverberating across Asian emerging markets, such as Korea and Taiwan. Active portfolio managers are increasingly being forced to dump their best-performing chip heavyweights because these explosive stocks have grown too large for risk compliance limits.This structural anomaly has distorted regional benchmarks, accelerated a massive migration from active to passive funds, and triggered a historic correction.The structural breakdown manifested in extreme volatility across the region's tech hubs. South Korea’s Kospi index plunged more than 8% shortly after the market opened, triggering a mandatory 20-minute trading halt before narrowing its drop as memory giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rebounded from their session lows.Also Read | Kospi crashes 9%, trading halted for 20 minutes, as chip rout deepens; Samsung, SK Hynix worst hitThe Cycle of Forced SellingThe core of the market distortion lies in a mechanical paradox: As tech giants outperform, active funds are legally or structurally required to trim their holdings to manage concentration risks. Just three mega-cap tech firms—Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Samsung, and SK Hynix—now command nearly a third of the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index.The concentration is even more extreme on a national level. TSMC occupies a staggering 41.5% of Taiwan's TAIEX, while Samsung and SK Hynix together comprise 55% of South Korea's KOSPI."We have been forced sellers of TSMC, Samsung and MediaTek," Sam Konrad, investment manager for Asia Equity Income at Jupiter Asset Management, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. His fund must shed these chipmaking stocks despite explosive year-to-date gains of 52% for TSMC, 159% for Samsung, and 184% for MediaTek.This mechanism creates an institutional dilemma where strong performance mandates divestment, artificially capping the upside for active portfolios trying to beat their benchmarks."As equities continue to outperform, funds will find it increasingly difficult to add exposure, reinforcing a cycle of forced selling and enlarging underweight positions even amid strong fundamentals," Herald Van der Linde, head of equity strategy for Asia Pacific at HSBC in Hong Kong, noted in a research report. HSBC data confirms that TSMC has become the largest portfolio underweight among Asian and global emerging-market funds.Emerging Market Exhaustion and Fund OutflowsData from Elara Securities India confirms that the Global Emerging Market (GEM) trade is experiencing its first major phase of sustained exhaustion since its rally began. GEM fund redemptions expanded to $3 billion, the largest outflow since December 2021, marking a clear breakdown in momentum.The capital flight has extended significantly beyond Korea and Taiwan to hit other major emerging markets. China saw foreign investors pull $3.7 billion, the largest single-week redemption in over a year, while South Korea logged six consecutive weeks of foreign outflows, compounded by a record $27.9 billion foreign portfolio rebalancing outflow.The systemic nature of the unwind is visible in the broader indices. Goldman Sachs data reveals that while the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan index is up 27% year-to-date, it is actually down 4% when South Korea and Taiwan are excluded.This regional distortion has accelerated a massive, unprecedented migration from active stock-picking to passive indexing. Over the last five years, Asia's active funds have suffered $269 billion of cumulative outflows. Meanwhile, passive funds have accumulated $510 billion, with a quarter of that volume arriving in just the last six months."The size of recent inflows into the region’s passive funds... has no precedent across the last 10 years," said William Bratton, head of cash equity research for Asia-Pacific at BNP Paribas Securities.This phenomenon mirrors the “Magnificent Seven” dynamic on Wall Street, where tech giants account for about a third of the S&P 500. However, concentration in Asia has unfolded at a faster and more extreme pace, turning regional indices into concentrated bets on just one or two stocks and undermining the diversification benefits of benchmark investing.Broader Trade ImplicationsThe shockwaves from the AI tech unwinding are bleeding directly into structural commodities and the wider electrification ecosystem. Precious metal funds witnessed $2.8 billion of outflows, driven heavily by gold (-$2.1 billion) and silver (-$910 million, a 12-week high redemption), while energy funds recorded their second consecutive week of outflows. These asset classes had operated as indirect beneficiaries of the global AI infrastructure and electrification trade.Furthermore, Wall Street's nine-week winning streak concluded abruptly following a hot jobs report that ignited fears of a hawkish policy pivot by the US Federal Reserve, sending technology stocks into their largest one-day decline.Despite the steep selloffs, which saw South Korean equities slide 12% and Taiwan fall 6% from their record highs, market opinions remain starkly divided on whether this correction marks a peak or a buying opportunity.Some money managers are exploiting the correction to pivot to alternatives further down the supply chain, like mid-sized semiconductor equipment makers, or shifting money toward cheaper domestic themes like robotics. China's CSI Robot Index actually bucked the broader market declines, rising 1.4%.

TCS slips 2%, down 12% in 4 days. What’s behind the drop?

Shares of TCS, India's largest IT services company, plunged 2% to an intraday low of Rs 2,144 on the BSE on Monday as a surge in U.S. bond yields reignited concerns that the Federal Reserve may be forced to raise interest rates later this year. With today's decline, the stock has lost 12% over the last four trading sessions.Higher U.S. bond yields and expectations of tighter monetary policy are generally seen as negative for Indian IT stocks. They tend to compress valuations of growth-oriented companies, raise concerns about slower technology spending by U.S. clients, encourage businesses to focus on cost optimization rather than expansionary IT investments, and can trigger foreign investor outflows from emerging markets.The weakness in TCS also follows a sharp relief rally in IT stocks last week. The sector has remained under pressure through much of 2026 amid growing concerns that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt the traditional software services business model.Should you buy TCS shares?“We recommend avoiding TCS for now as the major trend is bearish,” Sudeep Shah, Vice President and Head of Technical & Derivatives Research at SBI Securities told ETMarkets. According to Shah, momentum indicators have weakened considerably, with the RSI turning lower after nearing the 60 level, suggesting fading bullish strength. He also pointed out that the stock has slipped below the Bollinger Band midline, an important support level often tracked by technical analysts. With the latest decline, TCS has fallen below several key short- and long-term moving averages, indicating a weakening trend.Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS, said the stock's technical setup has shifted from weakness to a test of a potential breakdown. According to him, the 9% decline following a 6.53% rebound in the last week suggests the earlier recovery was merely a dead-cat bounce rather than evidence of fresh buying interest. "When a large-cap stock gives up a relief rally this quickly, the market is not reacting to a single negative headline. It is repricing the entire low-growth IT model," Dasani said.On the upside, he sees the Rs 2,400-2,450 range as a significant supply zone, since the recent recovery attempt stalled in that region. Dasani added that until TCS manages to reclaim this band with strong participation, any rallies are likely to face selling pressure.TCS share price performanceTCS shares have fallen over 32% since the start of the year and about 37% in the last 1 year.TCS reported a 12% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 13,718 crore for the fourth quarter, while revenue from operations increased 10% YoY to Rs 70,698 crore. The company also announced a final dividend of Rs 31 per share.During the quarter, TCS secured three large deals, taking the total contract value to $12 billion for the period. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenue grew 5.4%, while constant currency growth came in at 1.2%, broadly in line with expectations. Operating margin for the January to March quarter stood at 25.3%, up 10 basis points from the previous quarter. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Sensex down over 10K points from Dec peak. Should MF investors pause SIPs?

With the benchmark index - BSE Sensex down by over 10,000 basis points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026, has left many investors wondering whether to continue SIPs and lump-sum investments during the current market decline, hold current positions or wait for greater clarity on market direction?Market experts believe that investors should see this 10,000 point correction as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic.Vishal Dhawan, Founder & CEO, Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors told ETMutualFunds that investors should view this 10,000-point Sensex correction as a long-term buying opportunity as market drawdowns are natural processes that shake out speculative premiums, resetting valuations to fundamentally healthier levels.Also Read | Multicap or flexicap mutual fund for a 20-year SIP? Expert explains what investors should choose “Long-term investors can continue their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and hold current positions firmly. Pausing allocations to "wait for clarity" is a psychological trap that historically locks investors out of the sharpest days of a market rebound.”Dhawan further said that while regular SIPs are key to an investment journey, panic selling must be completely avoided; use this market decline to methodically build an equity baseline designed to reward your patience when economic sentiment inevitably swings back to optimism at some point in the future and it is critical to have a minimum 5-7 year investment horizon whilst investing.Echoing a similar opinion of considering this as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic, Amitabh Lara, Executive Director, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited shared with ETMutualFunds that for long-term investors, this is not the time to stop investing.Amitabh further said that continuing SIPs during a fall can actually work in your favour because the same investment amount buys more units at lower prices and one of the biggest mistakes investors make is stopping SIPs during a correction and returning only after the recovery has already happened.The benchmark index which touched a peak of 84,391 on December 10, 2025, is now down by nearly 10,148 points to a level of 74,243 as of June 6, 2026.As the market becomes volatile, investors as well as the fund managers keep cash in hand and wait for the opportunity to deploy it in the market but with a dilemma whether to deploy cash immediately or stagger investments over time.Amitabh said that if investors have idle cash available then they can go ahead and invest as a lumpsum and funds can be deployed in a staggered manner through tranches, over 6 to 8 weeks. “It also removes the stress of trying to time the exact bottom. If they have SIPs, they can continue it without worrying about the market level and take advantage of rupee cost averaging.”Dhawan said that for investors sitting on cash, a staggered deployment strategy via a 6-month to 12 month Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) is highly recommended as this approach could hedge your principal against intermediate downside volatility.He further said that investors should avoid deploying an absolute lumpsum at current levels, as picking the exact market bottom is a statistical myth and tranche-based buying ensures you average out your entry costs across multiple lower price bands smoothly.“Park your liquid capital in low-duration instruments and systematically route it into equity. This automated execution effectively replaces portfolio anxiety with disciplined benefits. In case you wish to deploy a lumpsum, and not do a STP, an investment in the Balanced Advantage category is suggested.” Dhawan said.How equity categories performedETMutualFunds checked the performance of equity mutual funds since December 10, 2025. Small cap funds have delivered an average return of 6.06% since the date BSE Sensex touched the new peak, followed by mid cap funds which gave an average return of 2.58%.Also Read | Nippon India Mutual Fund limits subscription in Gold BeES and gold savings fund In contrast, the counterparts, large cap funds gave a negative average return of 6.26% since December 10, 2025. Multi cap funds gave an average return of 0.06% whereas flexi cap funds fell 2.95% on an average in the said time period.Out of 10 equity categories, only three gave positive average returns which were small caps, mid caps and multi caps whereas the other categories such as large caps, contra funds, ELSS, flexi, focused, value and large & mid caps gave negative average returns.Which market-cap segment could lead the recovery?Dhawan said that large-cap stocks are typically best positioned to lead the initial recovery wave when domestic and foreign institutional flows return and their robust cash flows, operational scale, and institutional backing provide an essential fundamental moat.He further said that mid-caps may require stock-specific elements to perform, as many names went up significantly during the previous bull cycle; small caps should be approached with high caution and patience, as they remain prone to sharp liquidity outflows during market corrections. “Limit small-cap exposure if you can handle the volatility and have a longer time horizon of 7-10 years for mid and small caps.”Lara said that small caps appear to have the most room for upside when markets recover. Currently, Nifty Smallcap 250 is trading about 17.4% below its fair value, compared with 9.6% for the Nifty Midcap 150 and around 5-9% for large-cap indices. Hence, small caps have corrected more than large caps and mid caps relative to their earnings potential.He further said that investors can have a balanced exposure across market caps, with 55% in large caps and the rest in mid and small caps to be a part of the eventual recovery that will follow in the markets.BSE Sensex: In the last six months, the index was down 13.38% and in the nine months, it was down 8.01%. In the last one year, Sensex was down 8.83% whereas in the last three years and five years it was up 5.74% and 7.33% respectively.Sector allocation becomes particularly important during market corrections as valuation gaps emerge across industries. The question is whether investors should actively target beaten-down sectors or focus on broader diversification.In response to this, Lara said investors should avoid investing in single sectors or making sectoral bets as performance in sectors/themes is highly cyclical. For example, in 2024, the pharma & IT sectors were part of the best-performing sectors, however, they both turned into worst-performing sectors in 2025, which suggest that entry and exit at the right time play a crucial role in making investments in the sectorial/thematic funds.Also Read |HDFC Mutual Fund limits subscription in its gold ETF and FoF. What this means for investors? During such corrections, it would be more beneficial for investors to invest in diversified categories of equity mutual funds to get exposure to all sectors and benefit from their performance, rather than focusing solely on any single sector, Lara further said.Dhawan said to prioritize accumulating high-quality banking and financial services funds as these segments offer good earnings visibility, corrected price multiples, and fundamentally strong underlying balance sheets.He further said systematic accumulation of Information Technology (IT) funds could be attributed to these deep valuation resets as they are cash-rich franchises with low debt. However, they do face business model risk. Conversely, stay away from Utilities and capital goods as valuations look well above their long term averages.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.

SC ruling seen shaping Sebi’s fraud-finding frame

India’s fraud enforcement regime has entered a new phase, with market regulator Sebi resetting the legal bar for what counts as fraud in securities law.The shift draws on the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Reliance Industries vs Sebi case. In this case, the court ruled that demonstration of investor injury is itself sufficient ground to establish fraud.Where no injury or loss can be quantified, wrongful intention must instead be inferred from surrounding circumstances.It is this intent element that Sebi applied in its last week’s ex-parte interim order against Rajesh Exports. While no direct investor loss was established, Sebi held that investors were induced to invest on the basis of a misleading picture of the gold refiner’s financial position.“Going forward, Sebi’s investigations on fraud will be guided by the supreme court’s interpretation,” said a person familiar with the development.Shruti Rajan, partner, financial regulatory, Trilegal, said the court had “crystallised two tenets — where you cannot prove intention, you must prove injury, and where you can prove intention, injury is irrelevant.” With Sebi applying the court’s observations in Rajesh Exports, Rajan said “it is a sign that the regulator is looking to create more consistency in precedent making across its enforcement process.”Sandeep Parekh, managing partner of Finsec Law Advisors, said the court had “reaffirmed that intention and act of injury are necessary ingredients of fraud, and that a breach of position limits is by itself a reporting default and not deceit.” Drawing an analogy, he said driving above the 60 kmph speed limit on a highway does not make it an attempt to murder someone, “specially if no one was hit and even more so when the highway did not even have any pedestrians. Conversely, hitting someone deliberately, even at 30 kmph, could still be murder.”In its Rajesh Exports order, Sebi observed that financial statements of a listed company are the primary documents that investors rely upon to take informed decisions and must be free from any misstatement or misrepresentation — a principle it held Rajesh Exports had breached, with revenues aggregating to 15.15 lakh crore, or 99.80% of total revenue between FY21 and FY25, found to be falsely stated.

OPEC+ increases production quotas for July

Vienna, OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil quotas by a total 188,000 barrels per day for July, in a move analysts said would be unlikely to have an impact on prices sent higher by the Mideast war.Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said ahead of the expected increase that it "means very little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed".He added: "The market is not short of quota announcements; it is short of physical barrels that can actually move. In that sense, the 188,000 barrels per day increase would be more of a policy signal than a real supply boost."The hiked production output was agreed Sunday in a video meeting of oil ministers from key OPEC+ countries Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, a statement from the organisation said.The increase was similar to ones decided in previous months.The OPEC+ statement said the latest agreed hike was "to support oil market stability" but that the seven countries also saw an opportunity "to accelerate their compensation" in a time of historically high oil prices.It added that the ministers "reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments announced in November 2023".Leon, at Rystad Energy, said that OPEC+ was wary in case the Mideast war changes, and Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz eases."When the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the market could move very quickly from fear of shortage to fear of surplus," he said."Returning OPEC+ supply, a stronger US shale response and weaker demand after a period of very high prices could leave the market with a very large oversupply problem," he said.