Ajay Koundinya

Emerging US-Iran deal details spark alarm among hawkish Republicans, who expected Iranian collapse. Instead, Iran appears strategically intact, having demonstrated leverage by disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and surviving US-Israel military pressure. This outcome has exposed fractures within Trump's coalition and emboldened Tehran's negotiating stance.

The exuberance of Indian investors has pushed valuations so high that MNCs as well as PE/VC funds are seizing the opportunity to exit

Gold prices are expected to remain steady this week, influenced by US-Iran talks and upcoming US economic data. Silver, however, may continue to outperform due to geopolitical tensions and high crude oil prices. Investors await signals on the Federal Reserve's next policy move amidst shifting statements from Washington and Tehran.

Mark Zuckerberg's goodbye memo to 8,000 fired Meta employees on May 20 doubled as a message to the 70,000 staff still standing. The Meta CEO made two promises: no further company-wide layoffs in 2026, and better communication after weeks of internal anxiety. The memo lands as Meta funnels $125-145 billion into AI infrastructure, shifts 7,000 staff to AI projects, and cancels 6,000 open roles.

Mumbai Indians concluded their disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with a loss to Rajasthan Royals, finishing ninth. Batting coach Kieron Pollard acknowledged that skipper Hardik Pandya's leadership did not unfold as hoped, but emphasized the season's failure was a collective one. The franchise will now assess the reasons for their downfall before making future decisions.

Trump, naturally, is the undisputed grandmaster of presidential profanity. His political rhetoric often sounds less like a State of the Union and more like a man yelling at a handyman who has messed up hanging the curtain rods