Indian Stock Market: Key Overnight Developments Impacting Today’s Trade

Market poised for a cautious start as Gift Nifty signals a negative opening, while Asian markets trade higher and US markets remain closed for President’s Day.

February 18, 2025: Indian Stock Market Outlook: Key Overnight Developments

The Indian stock market is expected to open on a tepid note on Tuesday, with Gift Nifty trading around 23,006, indicating a 20-point discount from the Nifty futures’ previous close.

Also Read: India’s Economic Growth Steady at 6-8% Amid Inflation Control: Ashwini Vaishnaw

On Monday, Indian equities ended their eight-day losing streak, closing with modest gains. The Sensex rose by 57.65 points (0.08%), closing at 75,996.86, while the Nifty 50 gained 30.25 points (0.13%), settling at 22,959.50.

Key Global Market Cues for Sensex & Nifty Today

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1. Asian Markets

• Asian markets traded higher on Tuesday, tracking gains in European markets.
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.28%, while the Topix index rose 0.37%.
• South Korea’s Kospi was marginally up, while the Kosdaq fell 0.18%.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index indicated a positive opening.

2. Gift Nifty Signals Weak Opening

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• Gift Nifty traded at 23,006, down 20 points from the previous close, suggesting a negative start for Indian indices.

3. US Markets Closed for President’s Day

• Wall Street remained shut on Monday (February 17) in observance of President’s Day, marking the birth anniversary of George Washington.

4. Xi Jinping Assures Policy Stability

• China’s President Xi Jinping met with private sector business leaders, promising policy stability to revive economic growth amid post-pandemic challenges, regulatory crackdowns, and a real estate crisis.

5. Crude Oil Prices Steady

• Brent crude oil eased 0.03% to $75.20 per barrel.
• US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 0.71% to $71.24 per barrel.
• Prices remained stable as OPEC+ considered delaying output restoration.

6. Gold Prices Rise Amid Global Trade War Concerns

• Spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,898.99, driven by safe-haven demand.
• US gold futures advanced 0.4% to $2,912.60 amid rising geopolitical tensions.

7. US Dollar Index Holds Steady

• Dollar index remained flat at 106.76 after falling 1.2% last week.
• Dollar fell 0.58% against the yen at 151.44.
• Euro eased 0.1% to $1.0482, while Sterling rose 0.1% to $1.2596.

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Market Outlook

Given the mixed global cues, higher gold prices, stable crude oil prices, and Gift Nifty’s negative bias, the Indian stock market is expected to trade cautiously. Investors should watch for domestic triggers, including corporate earnings, FII flows, and global trade updates, to gauge market direction.

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Tags:

Indian Stock Market, Sensex, Nifty 50, Gift Nifty, Asian Markets, US Stock Market, Xi Jinping, Crude Oil Prices, Gold Prices, US Dollar, Global Markets