Pre-Market Report: Indian Markets Eye Cautious Start After Thursday’s Bloodbath; GIFT Nifty Signals Flat Opening

Global Market Cues

• U.S. markets ended lower on Thursday as investors grappled with heightening geopolitical risks between the U.S. and Iran, alongside fading hopes for immediate Fed rate cuts.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 267.50 points (0.54%) to 49,395.16, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.31%.
• Walmart's cautious full-year guidance further dampened sentiment, weighing on retail and consumer stocks despite a top-line beat.
• Asian markets are trading mixed on Friday morning; Japan's Nikkei 225 is down over 1%, while South Korea's Kospi is showing resilience with a 1% gain.
• Crude oil prices have surged to their highest levels since August, with WTI rallying above $66 on fears of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

GIFT Nifty and Domestic Cues

• GIFT Nifty is currently trading around the 25,415 level, indicating a flat to marginally positive start (up ~0.04%) for the Nifty 50 compared to its previous close.
• On Thursday, the BSE Sensex plummeted 1,236 points (1.48%) to close at 82,498.14, and the Nifty 50 crashed 365 points (1.41%) to end at 25,454.35, marking the worst single-day fall in over two weeks.
• The India VIX jumped 10% yesterday to 13.32, signaling increased volatility and heightened investor anxiety on Dalal Street.
• Technical analysts suggest that the 200-day EMA near 25,200 is now a crucial support zone for the Nifty, while resistance is placed at 25,650.

Key Stocks in Focus

• Reliance Industries: Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced a massive ₹10 lakh crore investment plan aimed at revolutionizing artificial intelligence and green energy infrastructure.
• ABB India: The company reported an 18% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to ₹432.85 crore for the December quarter.
• CIE Automotive India: Reported a 10.4% rise in consolidated net profit at ₹204.3 crore and declared a dividend of ₹7 per share.
• Zydus Lifesciences: Launched India's first Aflibercept biosimilar for ophthalmic care; the company also received "nil" observations from the USFDA for its Ahmedabad facility.
• RailTel & Texmaco Rail: RailTel secured a ₹35.6 crore signalling project, while Texmaco Rail executed a JV pact with RVNL to expand its global rail EPC footprint.
• Waaree Energies: The company is reportedly in talks for an ₹8,000 crore greenfield battery manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.

Key Events to Watch Today

• AI Impact Summit: The five-day global summit in New Delhi concludes today, with a highly anticipated keynote address from Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
• US Economic Data: Global investors are awaiting the release of the Core PCE Price Index (the Fed's preferred inflation gauge), GDP figures, and Manufacturing PMI data later today.
• Geopolitical Developments: Any further escalation or military movement regarding the US-Iran situation will remain the primary driver for crude oil prices and safe-haven assets.

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

Tags: Pre-Market Stock Market Nifty Sensex Market Update