Overnight Shifts in Indian Stock Market: Gift Nifty, US Fed, and Tech Earnings

The Indian stock market’s benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to experience a lower opening on Thursday. This trend is attributed to mixed signals from global markets and the anticipation of the Economic Survey 2025-2026 release later today. Asian markets exhibited mixed performances, while the US stock market showed modest gains following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates.

Mixed Global Market Influences

Asian markets reflected varied movements on Thursday as traders reacted to the US Federal Reserve’s policy. Notably:

• The Nikkei 225 rose by 0.18%.
• The Topix fell by 0.57%.
• South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.09%.
• The Kosdaq increased by 2.69%.

Stock Market Performance

In Wednesday’s trading session, the Indian stock market closed with substantial gains, propelled by optimism surrounding an India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA). Key market indicators for the day included:

• Sensex up 487.20 points, closing at 82,344.68.
• Nifty 50 up 167.35 points, settling at 25,342.75.

Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, indicated that positive sentiment could continue in the market, influenced by the India-EU FTA discussions and the upcoming budget presentation.

Key Economic Releases and Events

The Economic Survey for 2025-2026 is being tabled today by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of the Union Budget 2026 scheduled for Sunday, February 1.

Global Market Updates

On the US front, stock market indices closed the previous day mostly higher, with the S&P 500 index crossing the 7,000-point threshold temporarily. Specifically:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 12.19 points to 49,015.60.
• S&P 500 eased by 0.57 points, closing at 6,978.03.
• Nasdaq Composite increased by 40.35 points to 23,857.45.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain steady interest rates, in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, came amid global market fluctuations.

Sector-Specific Updates

Recent earnings reports reveal notable developments among major U.S. corporations:

• Tesla reported a 61% decrease in fourth-quarter profits due to lower auto sales, totaling $840 million.
• Microsoft’s total sales grew by 17% to $81.27 billion, surpassing analyst expectations.
• Samsung Electronics saw operating profits more than triple, forecasting strong demand for chips.

Commodities Update

Gold prices continued their upward trend, nearing $5,600 per ounce, driven by geopolitical tensions and investor demand for safe-haven assets. Specific statistics include:

• Spot gold pricing increased by 2.1% to $5,511.79 per ounce.
• Spot silver rose by 1.3% to $118.061 per ounce.

Crude oil prices also surged, reaching a four-month high amid warnings from U.S. President Trump regarding Iran:

• Brent crude oil climbed by 1.23% to $68.40 per barrel.
• U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 0.47% to $63.51.

As the market navigates global cues and domestic economic releases, investors remain vigilant in their strategies.