🧊 No Hormuz, No Problem

🌅 Good morning, Masala Crew!

It’s Monday—and the week’s already coming in hot. Oil’s on edge, markets are jittery, and airlines are flying through both literal and metaphorical turbulence. From spy thrillers in startup land to mega discounts on Paris flights, this isn’t just any week—it’s one where every headline could move the needle.

So grab that strong cup of chai and dive in. Here’s what’s brewing this Monday morning 👇

☕ Chai Shots

• 🛢️ India Says 'No Panic' on Oil Supply Despite Strait Threat: As Iran inches toward closing the Strait of Hormuz, India’s petroleum minister reassured citizens that the country’s diversified oil routes and weeks of reserves have it covered. More in the Big Brew 👇

• 🛫 Air India Trims 5% of Domestic Flights: The airline is also scaling back its narrow-body operations, suspending three international routes and reducing service on 19 domestic ones until July 15 due to ongoing technical snags and safety inspections.

• 🏦 RBI Deepens Governance Oversight: Following the IndusInd Bank derivatives fiasco, the RBI is turning up the heat on bank boards. Through its supervisors, it’s making it clear that rubber-stamping won’t cut it anymore—real accountability and improved oversight are the new standard.

• 🧪 Amazon Enters At-Home Testing Game: Amazon India has launched ‘Amazon Diagnostics’ in 6 cities, bundling lab test bookings with its Pharmacy and Clinic services. Partnering with Orange Health, they promise sample pickup within 60 minutes.

📈 Market Masala

• 📊 Friday Recap- Markets Bounce Back on RBI Boost and Oil Dip: Sensex and Nifty jumped 1.3% on Friday, snapping a 3-day losing streak. The rally was fueled by easing provisioning norms from the RBI, cooling crude prices, and optimism about upcoming Q1 results.

• ✈️ Air India Slashes Global Airfares Amid Crisis Response: In the wake of a tragic crash and shaken passenger confidence, Air India is offering record-low fares on key international routes—like Delhi–Paris for ₹21,785 and Delhi–NYC for under ₹29K—as it works to rebuild trust and fill seats during a difficult time.

• 📉 SEBI Fines India Asset Growth Fund ₹29L: The market regulator penalized six entities for serious lapses in AIF disclosure, valuation methods, delayed filings, and investor grievance redressal—highlighting that sloppy governance in the alternative investment space won’t be tolerated.

• 📅 Looking at the Week Ahead:

  • Eyes on Middle East developments as oil volatility and geopolitical jitters persist.

  • Technical indicators show Nifty may push toward 25,350 if 24,850 holds.

🌍 Global Masala

• 🛢️ Oil Chokepoint on the Brink: Iran’s Parliament has approved closing the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. airstrikes. While India says it’s safe thanks to diversified routes, the global shipping world is on high alert, especially as VLCC and gas carrier freight rates surge.

• 🚢 Shipping Threats Escalate: Bimco, the largest global shipowners group, says risks in Red Sea and Arabian Gulf are rising. Merchant ships face drone and missile threats, and marine insurance premiums have spiked 60%—especially for traffic near Iran.

• 💸 Investors Brace for Volatility: Wall Street expects a rocky open Monday as investors react to the U.S.–Iran strikes. Equities are shaky, bond demand is rising, and oil prices are forecasted to spike further.

• 💻 Bitcoin Cracks Below $100K: Crypto markets bled over the weekend as Bitcoin fell to $98.9K and Ether dropped 10%. Over $1B in long positions were liquidated amid geopolitical panic and traders running for cover.

• 📅 Looking at the Week Ahead:

  • Markets will closely track Iran’s next move after U.S. strikes on nuclear sites.

  • Oil price volatility will set the tone for global inflation and central bank policy.

  • Key U.S. data releases include PCE index, business activity, and consumer confidence.

🧠 The Big Brew 🇮🇳 India’s Oil Gameplan Is Working—Just in Time

As the world panics over Iran’s potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, India’s oil ministry isn’t breaking a sweat—and for good reason. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says India has built enough buffers to ride out this storm.

• 🔁 Diversified imports: India now buys more oil from Russia than all its Middle Eastern suppliers combined. Russian volumes are at a two-year high, and U.S. imports have jumped 56% in just one month.

• 🛢️ Bypassing Hormuz: Much of this new supply—like Russian and U.S. crude—avoids the Strait altogether, reducing direct exposure to the flashpoint.

• 📦 Strategic reserves + flexible refining: Oil companies have weeks of stock, and Indian refiners can process a wide mix of crudes, giving India room to pivot if Gulf supplies tighten.

• ⚠️ Still, short-term risks remain: A temporary blockage or shipping disruption could still lift global prices and impact freight costs. But a full blockade? Unlikely. Even Iran depends on Hormuz for its own exports.

🔎 What does this mean?

• For India: Years of energy hedging are now paying off.

• For markets: India’s playbook could become a model for other oil importers.

• For your wallet: No panic buying needed—but keep an eye on the petrol meter.

🚀 Startup Scoop

• 🕵️‍♂️ Rippling-Deel Spy Drama Deepens: Star witness Keith O’Brien says strange men are tailing him in black SUVs—and his wife is terrified. He's confessed to spying for Deel and is now testifying against them in Rippling’s high-stakes legal showdown.

• 📲 Cluely Raises $15M to Help You Cheat (Literally): The viral AI startup that helps users ‘fake it till they make it’ in interviews and sales calls has raised $15M from a16z. Founded by two suspended Columbia students, Cluely is profitable—and highly controversial.

• 🚛 Delhivery Enters the On-Demand Delivery War: With Delhivery Direct, customers can book pickups in 15 minutes across Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru. It's a direct shot at unicorn Porter, Uber Courier XL, and Rapido’s bike courier service.

• 🧠 LinkedIn AI Tool Isn’t Catching On: CEO Ryan Roslansky says users don’t trust AI-generated post drafts—because getting “called out” on LinkedIn feels like sabotaging your résumé in public.

🤯 Chai Break Trivia

🚇 Did you know that India is home to the world's highest railway bridge?

Yup—the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir stands taller than the Eiffel Tower! At 359 metres, it spans the Chenab River and is part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail link.

It’s not just a marvel of engineering—it’s also a quiet flex from Indian Railways that says: we build bridges where even birds hesitate to fly.

🔮 What’s Brewing Next

• 📉 Oil, crypto, and equity markets set to open volatile Monday morning

🫱🏽‍🫲🏽 That’s all for today!

If this Monday already feels like a geopolitical cliffhanger, you’re not alone. Whether you’re watching oil tickers or just planning your next grocery run around airfare drops, one thing’s certain—this week won’t be quiet.

Stay sharp, stay caffeinated, and we’ll be right here decoding it all.

— ☕ Team Masala Chai