Maharashtra’s off-budget guaranteed liabilities totalled ₹1.81 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, accounting for 16.4% of its estimated debt stock. The Comptroller and Auditor General criticised reliance on borrowings outside the budget, saying it understates the state’s true debt and fiscal deficit and reduces transparency. Two cooperative sugar factories controlled by politicians received government-backed loans totalling ₹139.88 crore. The state’s debt-to-GSDP ratio has moved beyond the FRBM ceiling of 25%, raising concerns over fiscal sustainability.

Starbucks is developing its own AI system to replace Microsoft’s inventory management platform and an IBM tool used for equipment maintenance, with a rollout possible as early as late 2025. The initiative is part of the company’s $2 billion cost-cutting plan and includes a comprehensive review of existing software contracts. Starbucks has cut about 2,300 jobs, including many technology roles, and is opening new tech offices in Nashville and India. The shift has fueled concerns that demand for large enterprise software could weaken, sending IBM, Salesforce and ServiceNow down 3%-4% in premarket trading.

US gasoline prices have started to fall after the US and Iran reached an interim peace agreement that reopened the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears over crude supply and pulling WTI lower. But gasoline inventories remain low and refiners’ restocking needs are keeping fuel costs elevated. Gasoline futures are still more than 80 cents a gallon above prewar levels and the national average pump price is holding around $4.06 a gallon, leaving experts doubtful of a quick return to $3 gasoline. Some analysts say a move back toward prewar prices may not come until late 2026.

On June 29, rising tensions between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz pushed international crude oil prices higher, stoking inflation worries and reinforcing expectations of further U.S. Federal Reserve rate hikes. Spot gold fell 0.8% to $4,057.77 per ounce, marking a fourth consecutive monthly decline. In India, 24K gold was priced at about ₹1.43 lakh per 10 grams, while silver held at ₹2,193.50 per 10 grams.

Micron Technology is set to report earnings after the close, with its shares up about 4% in premarket trading after a 13% drop the prior session. TD Cowen analyst Joshua Buchalter said pricing has been stronger than expected and demand for AI computing continues to outstrip supply, easing concerns over margins. The setup is being watched as a near-term catalyst for semiconductor stocks, with potential spillover to Micron and parts of the AI hardware chain.

Investors are selling technology shares worldwide as worries grow over whether AI-driven spending will translate into enough profits to justify current valuations. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.3% in the previous session and the S&P 500 also closed lower, while an Asian technology stock index dropped as much as 5% to end an eight-session winning streak. In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 0.92% in early trading, and Brent crude fell below $77 per barrel, a move tied to risk sentiment rather than supply and demand.

The article argues that escalating tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty around US-Iran talks are increasing India’s exposure through crude imports, while leaving the current account deficit (CAD) highly vulnerable to external shocks. It highlights structural demand drivers across oil, gold and natural gas, and calls for faster deepwater oil exploration to reduce import dependence. It also urges a broader gold mobilisation push, including temple gold purchases and a pilot for banks to hold gold as reserves. On gas, it proposes expanding piped networks and using LNG as a transition fuel for heavy trucks.

This consumer buying guide compares copper-coil split air conditioners and offers tips on what to look for when shopping. It lists nine 1.5-ton models from brands including O General, Whirlpool and Lloyd, highlighting copper’s heat-transfer efficiency, durability and repairability. The article repeatedly contrasts copper with aluminium coils and says copper performs better over time. It also references Amazon as the platform for cited buyer feedback.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. told long-term buyers to resume lifting crude from its Das and Zirku island ports inside the Persian Gulf from April 27, warning that failure to pick up cargoes would breach lifting obligations. The company linked the move to the recent US-Iran deal and expectations of uninterrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC has sold at least 30 million barrels via tenders and is accelerating a Fujairah pipeline to expand export capacity that bypasses Hormuz, according to Bloomberg.