Pre-Market Report: Indian Market Poised for Cautious to Mildly Positive Start

Global Market Cues

Overnight, US stock markets closed mixed on July 3, 2025, in a holiday-shortened session ahead of Independence Day. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices achieved new record highs, advancing by 0.5% and 0.9% respectively, driven by a strong US jobs report and optimism surrounding trade deals, including a U.S.-Vietnam agreement and expectations of a U.S.-India trade deal. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a slight decline of 0.02%. Technology, Energy, and Materials sectors showed strong performance, while the Healthcare sector lagged. US markets are closed for the full day on July 4th.

Asian markets are displaying a mixed trend in early Friday trade as investors remain cautious due to the looming July 9th deadline for potential US tariffs. Japan's Nikkei 225 saw a modest gain of 0.1%, while South Korea's KOSPI index fell 2%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined by 0.8%, but the Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.2%.

In the commodities market, crude oil prices edged lower. Brent crude futures for September delivery slipped 0.2% to $68.66 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dipped to $65.51 as of late July 3rd. This dip is attributed to the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, which is expected to announce an increase in production, and new US sanctions on Iran. Gold prices, however, rose to $3334.07 USD/t.oz on July 4, 2025, reflecting a 0.23% increase from the previous day, driven by safe-haven demand amid US fiscal concerns and tax reforms. The Indian Rupee strengthened against the US Dollar, gaining 16 paise to close at 85.39 on July 4th, buoyed by trade optimism and a weaker dollar.

GIFT Nifty and Domestic Cues

GIFT Nifty is signaling a flat to mildly positive opening for the Indian market on July 4, 2025. It was trading around the 25,526 level, indicating a premium of approximately 18 points from the Nifty futures' previous close. Another report suggested a flat opening for the Indian market.

On the domestic front, provisional data for July 3, 2025, showed that Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the cash segment, offloading equities worth ₹1,481.19 crore. Conversely, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) remained net buyers, injecting ₹1,333.06 crore into the equity market. The India VIX, a measure of market volatility, eased lower by 0.57% to 12.32 points.

Recent domestic news includes the Defence Ministry clearing 10 capital acquisition proposals totaling ₹1.05 lakh crore through indigenous sourcing, and Aegis Logistics commissioning an LPG Cryogenic Terminal. Procedural changes in India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) system are set to begin in July 2025, aimed at enhancing transparency and preventing fraud.

Key Stocks in Focus

Investors will be watching stocks that gained significantly on July 4th, including Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Bank, HCL Tech, Ultratech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, and Larsen & Toubro. Conversely, stocks like Trent, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Eicher Motors, Indusind Bank, and SBI Life, which saw declines, may remain in focus. Several stocks like SML Isuzu Ltd, Choice International Ltd, NACL Industries, and Zota Healthcare scaled new 52-week highs on July 4th, indicating strong positive momentum. Meanwhile, Dreamfolks Services hit a new 52-week low.

Key Events to Watch Today

• US Markets Closure: US equity and bond markets are closed today for Independence Day, which could lead to reduced trading volumes and potentially higher volatility in other global markets.
• OPEC+ Meeting: An OPEC+ meeting is scheduled for the weekend, with expectations of an announcement regarding increased oil production for August. This could influence crude oil prices.
• US Tariff Deadline: The July 9th deadline for potential US tariffs continues to be a key geopolitical event, creating caution in Asian markets.
• Q1 Earnings Season: The beginning of the Q1 earnings season will shift market focus towards corporate results and outlooks.
• Indian Economic Data: Key economic indicators expected from India today include the Bank Loan and Deposit Growth Rate and Foreign Reserves USD.

TAGS: Pre-Market, Stock Market, Nifty, Sensex, Market Update

Tags: Pre-Market Stock Market Nifty Sensex Market Update