Indian Stock Market Today: 6 Key Overnight Cues from Gift Nifty to Trump’s Tariff Threats

Markets eye a positive open as global cues improve and Gift Nifty shows an early uptick; investors remain cautious amid Trump’s tariff uncertainty and soft U.S. consumer data.

March 26, 2025: The Indian stock market is set for a positive start on Wednesday, March 26, backed by strong global cues and a steady performance by U.S. equities overnight. Both the Sensex and Nifty 50 ended marginally higher in Tuesday’s volatile session, extending their winning streak to seven consecutive sessions.

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As market sentiment remains upbeat, here are the six key factors influencing the opening bell:

1. Gift Nifty Points to Green Start

Gift Nifty was trading around 23,757, indicating a 50-point premium over Nifty futures’ previous close. This signals a positive start for benchmark indices.

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2. Asian Markets Inch Up

Stocks in Tokyo and Sydney opened higher, while Hong Kong futures hinted at mild gains. The positive tone followed a late rally on Wall Street, despite weak U.S. consumer confidence data.

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3. Wall Street Edges Higher

The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, notching its longest winning streak in seven weeks. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq also gained modestly. Gains were supported by investor optimism around tech stocks and selective risk-on sentiment.

4. Trump’s Tariff Threats Cause Jitters

President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff rhetoric—including a proposed 25% “secondary tariff” on nations importing oil from Venezuela (like India and China)—has introduced fresh global economic concerns. Despite the volatility, some relief may come from potential tariff relaxations for India.

5. Gold Prices Climb Amid Uncertainty

Gold surged to $3,021.88/oz on safe-haven demand. With tariff tension brewing, inflation concerns are leading investors to hedge via precious metals, potentially diverting some attention from equities.

6. Dollar Index Softens Slightly

After peaking at 104.46, the U.S. Dollar Index dipped slightly to 104.19, providing some respite for emerging market currencies, including the INR, which recently halted a nine-day rally but remains strong overall.