
Stock market news: The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to see a bout of short-covering on Thursday after witnessing a sharp selloff in the previous session, triggered by escalating tensions in the US-Iran conflict and a surge in crude oil prices.
Asian markets traded higher on Thursday, while the US stock market ended mixed overnight as investors assessed the latest developments in the Middle East.
On Wednesday, Indian equities witnessed broad-based selling after the escalation of the US-Iran war heightened geopolitical concerns and pushed crude oil prices higher.
The BSE Sensex plunged 1,677.12 points, or 2.15%, to close at 76,503.60, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 516.65 points, or 2.12%, to settle at 23,882.05.
The US military launched fresh strikes on Iran aimed at keeping the strategic Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping, hours after President Donald Trump declared that the interim agreement to end the conflict was "over," escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Minutes from the US Federal Reserve's June policy meeting showed that some officials saw a case for raising interest rates, citing elevated inflation risks stemming from the Middle East conflict. With the labour market remaining resilient, "a few participants commented that, in light of these developments, there was a case for raising the target range for the federal funds rate," according to the minutes, as reported by AFP.
Crude oil prices extended gains after the US launched fresh strikes on Iran, fuelling concerns over potential disruptions to energy supplies from the Middle East. Brent crude futures rose 1.03% to $78.82 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude advanced 0.98% to $74.24 a barrel.
Gold prices slipped after touching a one-week low in the previous session as renewed concerns over persistent inflation and higher interest rates weighed on sentiment. Spot gold fell 0.3% to $4,066.24 per ounce, while US gold futures for August delivery eased 0.1% to $4,077 per ounce. Spot silver also declined 0.3% to $58.13 per ounce.
The Gift Nifty Live Chart shows a positive start for the Indian stock market today. By 8:16 AM, the Gift Nifty was trading around the 23,976.5 level, a premium of 64.3 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close of 23,912.20.
Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said that Indian equity markets are expected to trade with a cautious undertone as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have escalated further. Investor sentiment remains under pressure after the United States launched fresh strikes on Iran, with US President Donald Trump stating that the ceasefire is "over." The renewed military action has heightened concerns over regional stability and raised fears of potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
Crude oil prices remain elevated amid supply disruption concerns, with Brent crude currently trading in the $74–75 per barrel range after extending its recent rally.
Meanwhile, the Indian Rupee has weakened to a one-month low, currently trading near the 95.5 level against the US Dollar, as rising crude oil prices and heightened global risk aversion continue to weigh on the domestic currency.
Speaking on the outlook for the Nifty 50 today, Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President, Research at Religare Broking, said the Nifty 50 has slipped decisively below the key support zone of 24,000–24,150 and fallen beneath its major moving averages, weakening the near-term technical structure. The next crucial support is placed in the 23,650–23,800 zone, while any rebound is likely to face stiff resistance in the 24,150–24,300 region.
On the outlook for the Bank Nifty today, Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, believes the Bank Nifty continues to trade with a weak near-term bias, reflecting sustained selling pressure after slipping below key support levels. From a technical perspective, the index must first reclaim the 57,200 level to stabilize the prevailing weakness. A sustained move above this mark, followed by a decisive breakout above the 57,600 resistance zone, could improve sentiment and pave the way for a recovery towards the 58,000 psychological level.
On the downside, the 56,600–56,500 region remains the immediate support zone. A decisive break below this band could accelerate selling pressure and drag the index towards the 56,100–56,000 support region. Overall, the near-term technical outlook remains bearish, with sustained buying above 57,600 required to signal a meaningful recovery.
Regarding stocks to buy today, market experts — Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking, Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager — Technical Research at Anand Rathi, and Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager — Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, recommended these eight buy-or-sell stocks for intraday trading: FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd (Nykaa), Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC), Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX), Gail (India) Ltd, Ather Energy Ltd, and Anant Raj Ltd.
Buy Nykaa in cash at ₹318; SL at ₹307; TGT at ₹342
Buy Jammu & Kashmir Bank in cash at ₹166; SL at ₹160; TGT at ₹179
Buy ONGC at ₹247; sl ₹238; tgt at ₹256
Buy MCX at ₹2,742; sl ₹2,680; tgt ₹2,840
Buy Gail at ₹169; sl ₹164; tgt ₹175
Buy Ather Energy cmp: ₹1,200; Target: ₹1,250; Stop loss: ₹1,172
Buy Anant Raj cmp: ₹544.75; Target: ₹574; Stop loss: ₹530
Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Dhanya Nagasundaram works as a Content Producer at LiveMint, specializing in news related to financial markets, stocks, and business. With over eight years of experience in journalism and content creation, she has honed her skills in data-driven reporting and market analysis. Her focus is on monitoring stock trends, initial public offerings (IPOs), corporate news, policy shifts, and larger economic trends that affect investors and market players. <br><br> At LiveMint, Dhanya consistently writes and produces articles that make complex financial topics accessible to readers. She keeps a close eye on equity markets, commodities, and macroeconomic indicators, assisting audiences in comprehending how global and domestic events influence investment perspectives. Her stories frequently underscore emerging trends within sectors, the IPO market, company earnings results, and market strategies pertinent to both retail and institutional investors. <br><br> Before her tenure at LiveMint, Dhanya accumulated a wealth of professional experience at various companies, including MintGenie, Informist, Cogenics, Chary Publications, KPMG, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. These positions allowed her to establish a solid foundation in financial research, reporting, and content creation. <br><br> Throughout her career, she has explored numerous subjects such as trading strategies, commodities, IPOs, wealth generation, corporate profits, and macroeconomic indicators. Her background in both financial journalism and corporate settings has given her the ability to tackle stories with analytical rigor while ensuring clarity for her audience. Through her contributions, Dhanya strives to deliver insightful, trustworthy, and investor-centric financial content.
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