Market Bizzz

US unemployment claims saw a sharper-than-expected drop last week, signaling continued labor market strength. Despite this positive sign, a rise in continuing claims suggests employers are cautious about hiring, potentially impacting job seekers, especially recent graduates facing competition from AI. The median unemployment duration has also lengthened, indicating a tougher job search for many.

The US economy showed stronger growth than initially thought in the first quarter, reaching an annual rate of 2.1 percent. This upward revision was largely due to a decrease in imports, which positively impacts GDP calculations. Key drivers of this expansion included investments, exports, government spending, and consumer spending, with the booming Artificial Intelligence sector playing a significant role.

Tokyo’s core inflation surged in June, driven by rising energy costs stemming from the Middle East conflict. This acceleration signals broadening price pressures, prompting the Bank of Japan to consider further interest rate hikes. While some economists express caution about the extent of these pressures, the central bank is closely monitoring the situation as it navigates policy normalization amidst global economic uncertainties.

SK Hynix shares surged as much as 12% after the memory chipmaker unveiled plans for a $29 billion US listing, boosting hopes of higher valuations and greater foreign investor participation. The company plans to use the proceeds to expand capacity and acquire advanced chipmaking equipment. Rival Samsung also gained after Micron issued a strong sales forecast, lifting Korea’s Kospi index.

Brent crude has slipped below $73 a barrel for the first time since February 27, 2026. It had hit a high of $126 per barrel on April 30 and is down 42% from those levels.

The Rs 30.24 crore IPO, which comprised entirely a fresh issue of 14.54 lakh shares, witnessed overwhelming investor interest during the three-day bidding period. The issue was subscribed 385.32 times, driven by robust participation across all investor categories.

The Rs 88.51-crore IPO was subscribed 2.70 times during the three-day bidding period. The issue saw strong institutional interest, with the qualified institutional buyers (QIB) portion subscribed 20.32 times and the non-institutional investor (NII) category booked 5.10 times. However, the retail portion remained undersubscribed at 0.84 times.

The IPO will remain open until June 26. It is a book-built issue with a price band of Rs 147-155 per share. The issue comprises a fresh issue and an offer for sale, with the company seeking to raise funds for growth and existing shareholders partially monetising their holdings.

Retail investors can bid for a minimum of 1,200 shares, requiring an investment of Rs 2.54 lakh at the upper end of the price band. The minimum application size for HNI investors is 1,800 shares, amounting to Rs 3.82 lakh.

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