India’s Stock Market Set for a Quiet Start Amid Mixed Signals
On Thursday, Indian shares are expected to have a quiet opening. Concerns about a potential U.S. rate hike have eased following the latest inflation data, but stalled peace efforts in the Middle East are casting a shadow over market sentiment.
Investors will likely focus on individual stock movements as MSCI announced its index rebalancing, coinciding with the ongoing earnings season for companies.
As of 7:18 AM IST, GIFT Nifty futures stood at 24,446 points, suggesting a mild start for the Nifty 50, which closed at 24,435.95 on Tuesday.
In the U.S., consumer prices saw little change in July, making it less likely for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next month, especially after recent soft job data.
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific shares, excluding Japan, rose 1%, mainly driven by a 4.4% increase in South Korean stocks following the inflation report. Lower interest rates in the U.S. could benefit emerging markets like India by attracting foreign investors, as they often seek higher returns when U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar decline.
In India, retail inflation rose to 4.45% in July, according to data released after market hours on Wednesday; however, this increase is not expected to push the central bank towards rate hikes in the near term.
Oil prices dropped by 1% on Thursday, as projections for global oil demand in 2026 were downgraded due to disruptions caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. However, supply constraints from the conflict have helped stabilize the market.
Reports indicate that the U.S. and Iran are still at odds over pursuing a lasting peace agreement in the Gulf, with no significant progress detected in recent talks about the interim deal established in June.
Despite Brent crude falling slightly below $89 per barrel, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to keep energy markets on edge, according to Hariselvan Radhakrishnan, CEO of HST Wealth.
On a positive note, MSCI is set to add Laurus Labs, Lenskart, Adani Energy Solutions, and Groww to its main index as part of their routine review.
Stocks to Watch
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Bank of America plans to acquire up to a 49.9% stake in the non-bank lending wing of Jio Financial Services for about 182.68 billion rupees (approximately $1.92 billion).
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Apollo Hospitals Enterprise announced a 34% increase in quarterly profits, driven by strong demand for complex treatments in its healthcare services.
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Tata Motors reported a higher profit for the first quarter and anticipates consistent demand in the coming months, fueled by higher-payload trucks, electric vehicles, and a robust government order book.
Reporting by Vivek Kumar M; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips
