Mixed global cues, Accenture’s Q2 results, Bank of England’s policy stance, and Gift Nifty trends set the stage for a cautious start to Friday’s trading session.
March 21, 2025: The Indian stock market is expected to open on a flat-to-positive note on Friday, March 21, 2025, with Gift Nifty trading around 23,220 — a modest 20-point premium over Nifty futures’ previous close. This follows four straight sessions of gains for Sensex and Nifty 50, both of which rallied over 1% on Thursday.
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Here are 10 key factors that changed overnight and could influence market direction today:
1. Gift Nifty Signals Muted Start
Gift Nifty hovered near 23,220 in early trade, indicating a cautious-to-positive open for Indian benchmarks amid mixed global sentiment.
2. Wall Street Ends Lower
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US indices closed in the red as investors weighed fresh economic data:
- Dow Jones dipped 11.31 points (0.03%)
- S&P 500 fell 0.22%
- Nasdaq declined 0.33%
3. Asian Markets Mixed
- Nikkei 225 rose 0.34%
- Topix gained 0.27%
- Kospi fell 0.16%
- Kosdaq dropped 0.86%
- Hang Seng Futures suggest a weak open
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4. Accenture Q2 Results
Accenture reported:
- 5% YoY revenue growth to $16.66 billion
- Gross margin slipped to 29.9% from 30.9%
- Full-year revenue guidance narrowed to 5–7% in local currency
Shares fell 7.26% post-results.
5. Bank of England Holds Rates
BoE held interest rates at 4.5%, with an 8-1 vote, signaling that rate cuts are not imminent. The move came amid persistent inflation concerns.
6. US Jobless Claims Edge Up
Jobless claims rose slightly to 223,000, matching expectations and pointing to a steady labor market.
7. Japan Core Inflation at 3%
Japan’s core CPI rose 3.0% YoY in February, slightly below January’s 3.2%. The index excluding fuel and fresh food costs also rose, hinting at underlying inflationary pressure.
8. Dollar Strengthens
The dollar index rose 0.41% to 103.80 after the Fed indicated no rush to cut rates. The euro fell 0.44%, and the yen weakened to 148.77 per dollar.
9. US Treasury Yields Ease
Yields saw a slight decline:
- 10-year: 4.237%
- 30-year: 4.5565%
- 2-year: 3.962%
10. Gold Steady Below Record High
Gold remained firm at $3,043.89/oz, just below Thursday’s record $3,057.21/oz. US gold futures were up 0.3% at $3,051.90.
📈 Market Outlook: Analysts expect Indian equities to maintain momentum, backed by strong institutional buying, easing inflation, and resilient macroeconomic data. However, global cues and foreign capital flows may influence short-term trends.
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Indian stock market, Nifty 50, Sensex, Gift Nifty, Wall Street, Accenture Q2, Bank of England, inflation, gold prices, dollar index, treasury yields, stock market today, global market cues, economic data, Asian markets