🏨 Marriott’s New India Gameplan, Bitcoin’s New Peak 💰

Happy Friday, folks!

The weekend is peeking around the corner, and while the heat may have skipped a beat thanks to some surprise showers, the business world is still piping hot. From RBI clearances and defence-tech surges to AI-fueled ad stacks and a surprising noodle-hotel link, we’re here to wrap your week with everything that mattered—and what’s brewing next. Time to stir up your dose of Masala Chai! ☕️

☕ Chai Shots

• 🚀 Ola Electric shifts gears with Rs 1,700 crore debt raise: As it begins deliveries for its electric bike Roadster X, Ola Electric has secured board approval to raise Rs 1,700 crore through NCDs and other instruments. The move comes amidst falling market share and growing regulatory pressure, as the company works to stabilize its finances post-IPO.

• 🏨 Marriott plugs the midscale gap: The hospitality giant has inked a deal with The Fern's parent company to bring over 100 hotels under a new "Series by Marriott" brand. It marks Marriott's first equity move in India, aimed squarely at Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

• 🚗 FLY91 salutes soldiers with sky-high gratitude: Regional carrier FLY91 is offering a 50% base fare discount plus 5kg of bonus baggage for armed forces personnel and their families. The offer, available on all routes, is a heartfelt nod to those guarding our borders.

• 💿 Bitcoin breaks all records: The world’s top crypto smashed through the $111,000 mark, driven by institutional demand, a friendlier U.S. regulatory outlook, and global concerns over rising debt. More on this crypto comeback in the Big Brew ↓

📊 Market Masala

• 📉 Markets melt as global winds shift: The Sensex tumbled 645 points to end at 80,952, and the Nifty slipped below 24,610. Weak global cues, U.S. fiscal fears, and expiry-day volatility dragged down the mood across D-Street.

• 🌀 Sectoral slide: IT, auto, FMCG, and oil & gas stocks bore the brunt, with most indices down over 1%. Even resilient midcaps and smallcaps couldn’t dodge the dip.

• ⚖️ BSE rejig alert: In a high-profile shakeup, fashion retailer Trent and defence PSU Bharat Electronics (BEL) will join the BSE Sensex on June 23, replacing IndusInd Bank and Nestlé India. The reshuffle reflects rising investor interest in consumer retail and defence manufacturing, while removing two underperformers.

• 💵 Colgate-Palmolive takes a bite out of earnings: A weak Q4 showing and muted urban demand shaved over 6% off Colgate's stock as sales dipped to Rs 1,452 crore, missing analyst expectations.

• 🎓 Celebi battles back in court: Turkish-origin ground handling firm Celebi NAS is challenging the government’s abrupt revocation of its security clearance in both Delhi and Bombay High Courts. The government cites national security concerns, arguing Celebi’s access to sensitive airport and VIP flight data justifies the move. Celebi, in its legal defence, claims the decision was taken without due process, and is fighting for reinstatement amid potential operational setbacks.

• 🏛️ RBI eyes capital unlock for urban co-op banks: The central bank has floated a discussion paper to allow listing of securities like shares and bonds issued by urban co-operative banks. If implemented, this could create new funding avenues and bring SEBI-style transparency and investor protection to the sector.

🌎 Global Masala

• 🚨 U.S. fiscal fears spook global markets: Investors are on edge after Trump’s new tax-and-spend bill passed the House, with concerns it could add nearly $4 trillion to U.S. debt. Treasury yields spiked, and Wall Street turned cautious.

• 🚫 Dimon dreads stagflation: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned that high inflation and slowing growth are no longer a remote risk—they’re on the table. He also critiqued the Fed's "wait and watch" stance.

• 🌐 Europe's tariff troubles grow: Barclays' CEO said new U.S. import tariffs are pressuring EU nations to stretch their fiscal limits while also ramping up defence budgets. Inflation and slow growth loom large.

• 💊 Sun Pharma doubles down on specialty drugs: The pharma major will invest $100 million to push its specialty drug pipeline in the U.S., with plans to launch newly approved treatments for alopecia and cancer. Specialty products already power a significant chunk of Sun's growth, and this move is set to deepen its global footprint.

🍵 The Big Brew: Bitcoin’s New Peak, Same Old Risks

Bitcoin has shattered its previous record, climbing past $111,000 and thrusting crypto back into the mainstream financial spotlight.

• 📈 What’s behind the rise? A mix of institutional buying, regulatory tailwinds, and concerns over U.S. debt levels. The GENIUS Act's Senate progress and Coinbase’s S&P 500 inclusion boosted sentiment, while JPMorgan’s decision to offer bitcoin to clients signaled a shift in Wall Street’s stance.

• 🔍 Why now? Investors are eyeing alternatives to traditional currencies as government deficits balloon and Treasury yields rise. Bitcoin’s fixed supply makes it an attractive hedge against fiat uncertainty.

• 🧠 The fundamentals: ETFs have absorbed $8B+ this month. Public companies now hold about 15% of all bitcoin. The asset has jumped 45% from April lows.

• 🛑 But tread carefully: Crypto remains volatile, subject to regulatory, technological, and geopolitical shifts. While analysts point to a possible $150K target in 2025, price swings can be brutal.

What does this mean?

Crypto is gaining institutional legitimacy and policy traction, but that doesn’t erase its inherent risks. The surge may continue—but as always, caution is key.

🚀 Startup Scoop

• 📦 Shuru bags Rs 29 Cr: The location-based social network raised fresh capital from Krafton and Omidyar Network, clocking a post-money valuation of Rs 135 Cr. The app now serves 2M+ users in 600 cities.

• ✨ Promethean Energy fuels up with $2M: The cleantech startup makes high-efficiency heat pumps and has set its sights on decarbonizing 1,000 factories by 2027. Clients include HUL, SAIL, and Godrej.

• ⚖️ Titan Capital launches defence-tech vertical: The early-stage VC firm will invest in startups working on aerospace, cybersecurity, and dual-use hardware. A strategic pivot aligned with India's Aatmanirbhar push.

• 🏦 Getepay gets RBI greenlight: The digital payments startup has received final Payment Aggregator authorization from the RBI. The Jaipur-based firm plans to bring 10M+ small merchants into the formal economy.

• 💥 Titan Capital fires up defence tech bets: The seed-stage VC firm has launched a new vertical to fund startups innovating in aerospace, cybersecurity, advanced hardware, and dual-use manufacturing. With India raising its defence budget and boosting homegrown innovation through initiatives like iDEX, Titan is aligning its founder-first philosophy with national strategic priorities.

• 🧐 InMobi goes big on AI pre-IPO: With a global rollout across 140 countries in the works, InMobi is investing heavily in Glance AI and a new generative AI advertising stack. Backed by Google and Softbank, the platform aims to personalize commerce experiences at scale.

🧠 Chai Break Trivia

🧠 Did you know the world’s largest religious monument is in Cambodia? The majestic Angkor Wat temple complex covers more than 400 acres and was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu before gradually transforming into a Buddhist site.

☕ What's Brewing Next?

• 🚧 IndusInd Bank needs to nominate a new CEO by June 30 amid mounting scrutiny.

Until next time...

Take a breath, sip some chai, and remember: even when markets tumble, your weekend plans shouldn’t. See you tomorrow for another shot of spicy, insightful news. Stay caffeinated and curious! ☕️🌐