Escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East has triggered a broad risk-off reaction in global financial markets. Over the weekend, the United States conducted targeted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, intensifying the conflict between Iran and Israel. The prospect of further escalation and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supply, injected new volatility into commodity and equity markets.
Global oil markets are under renewed pressure as geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran spark concerns over potential disruptions in energy supply chains. This uncertainty has led to a projected surge in fuel prices across the Philippines, with the Department of Energy and Jetti Petroleum forecasting steep increases starting next week.
The upcoming launch POCO F7 in India signals a pivotal expansion effort by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer targeting budget-conscious consumers. This move is scheduled for June 24 and aims to captivate a market eagerly seeking devices that amalgamate speed, power, and efficiency without imposing a hefty price tag.
The Indian equity market witnessed a broadly subdued performance in the week ending June 13, 2025, as the Nifty 50 index $^NSEI fell by 1.04% to close at 24,718, while Bank Nifty $^NSEBANK retreated by 1.8%, settling at 55,527.35. The decline followed a week of sectoral divergence, where IT (CNXIT) and pharmaceutical stocks outperformed, in contrast to muted action in real estate, autos, FMCG, and metal counters. The weakness extended across broader markets, with mid-cap and small-cap indices both slipping by over 1%, reflecting a risk-off sentiment among retail and institutional investors. Rising bond yields, continued foreign institutional outflows, and mixed global cues contributed to the cautious tone.
Shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation $LMT rallied 2.15% on Thursday, closing at $466.40 USD on the NYSE—up $9.80 from the previous session. The intraday chart displayed a strong upward trajectory from the opening bell, with LMT ending near the session high. This move not only snapped a short-term downtrend but also suggested a potential bullish reversal as investor sentiment shifted back in favor of defense equities. After posting negative returns over five days (-2.39%), one month (-1.36%), and six months (-5.89%), the day’s breakout marked a technical recovery for the stock. It outperformed major indices and defense peers, drawing attention to possible sector rotation amidst rising geopolitical and defense budget tailwinds.
Metsera Inc. $MTSR, a biotech startup targeting obesity, saw a sharp rally in its stock after releasing positive early-stage trial data for its experimental weight-loss therapy, MET-233i. According to the company, the injectable drug enabled patients to lose up to 8.4% of their body weight within just 36 days during a Phase 1 study — surpassing preliminary expectations. Beyond efficacy, the treatment demonstrated prolonged bioavailability, allowing for a potentially game-changing shift from weekly to monthly administration. That differentiator, if validated in later-stage trials, could directly challenge the current market dominance of weekly injectables such as Wegovy by Novo Nordisk A/S $NVO and Zepbound by Eli Lilly & Co. $LLY.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. $LULU, renowned for its premium athletic apparel, has faced disappointing outcomes for two consecutive quarters. This trend has intensified concerns regarding the impact of escalating competition and new tariffs on the company's ambitious growth plans. The retailer's forecast for second-quarter sales ranges between USD 2.54 billion and USD 2.56 billion, which falls short of analysts' average expectations.
Miniso Group Holding Ltd. $MNSO is charting a new course for growth by advancing an initial public offering for its specialty toy subsidiary, Top Toy, on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). The company has brought in leading financial advisors JPMorgan Chase & Co. $JPM and UBS Group AG $UBS to oversee the process, highlighting the scale and global reach of the capital-raising initiative.
Germany's Federal Cartel Office has formally warned Amazon.com Inc. $AMZN over its influence on seller pricing within its marketplace, highlighting potential conflicts with both German and EU competition laws. The antitrust watchdog’s initial review points to Amazon's policies as inconsistent with digital market regulations and fair competition principles.
Apple Inc. is enacting a pivotal shift in its software branding policy, transitioning from sequential version numbers to release year identifiers for all its operating systems. This development, confirmed by individuals privy to confidential company plans, signals an end to the familiar versioning approach in favor of uniformity across the Apple ecosystem. With this strategic move, the next major updates will be labeled as iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Xiaomi Corp. $1810.HK reported revenue of 111.3 billion CNY (15.5 billion USD) for the March quarter, outperforming analyst consensus which stood at 109 billion CNY. This outcome demonstrates the company’s successful dual-focus strategy: intensifying its footprint in China’s electric vehicle (EV) sector while strengthening its legacy smartphone business.
NTPC Ltd $NTPC.NS, India’s largest power producer, released its quarterly results, registering a net profit of 57.8 billion INR ($678 million USD) for the period ending March 31. This result slightly exceeded the consensus estimate of 56.9 billion INR, highlighting operational resilience amid escalating demand for electricity across the country.
