abplive61d ago
<p>Indian equity benchmarks started Wednesday’s session on a cautious note, with mixed signals emerging in the pre-open trade amid renewed geopolitical uncertainty.</p> <p>The BSE Sensex opened trading below 78,900, taking a hit of more than 350 points and the NSE Nifty50 rang the opening bell under 24,500, slipping almost 100 points, around 9:15 AM. </p> <h2><strong>GIFT Nifty And Pre-Open Trading</strong></h2> <p>Early indicators suggested a weak undertone for the markets, with GIFT Nifty hovering at 24,442, down 143 points. At around 9 AM, the Sensex was trading higher by 396.65 points, or 0.50 per cent, at 79,669.98. In contrast, the Nifty slipped 102.30 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 24,474.30, indicating a muted and volatile start to the day.</p> <p>The decline reflects rising caution among investors after fresh developments in the US-Iran conflict dampened hopes of a near-term resolution.</p> <h2><strong>US-Iran Tensions Back In Focus</strong></h2> <p>Geopolitical concerns resurfaced after the latest round of negotiations between the United States and Iran failed to produce a concrete outcome. </p> <p>Although Washington has announced an extension of the ongoing ceasefire, uncertainty persists as the move appears to be unilateral, with no clear confirmation of participation from Tehran. </p> <p>Further adding to the uncertainty, scheduled talks between the two sides did not take place, with reports indicating that Iran declined to attend. </p> <p>Meanwhile, the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit corridor, remains a critical concern for markets, given its implications for global energy supply. </p> <h2><strong>Global Markets Trade Mixed</strong></h2> <p>Asian markets were largely under pressure in early deals, mirroring the cautious sentiment.</p> <p>Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.11 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.54 per cent. Japan’s Nikkei 225, however, bucked the trend and advanced 0.83 per cent. </p> <p>Overnight in the US, key indices ended lower, with the S&P 500 declining 0.63 per cent, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones also posted losses. </p> <h2><strong>Oil Holds Near $100 Amid Supply Concerns</strong></h2> <p>Crude oil prices remained elevated, hovering close to the $100 per barrel mark as uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz persisted.</p> <p>Brent crude edged lower by 0.45 per cent to $98.04 per barrel in Asian trade, but prices continue to stay well above pre-conflict levels, sustaining concerns around inflation and global growth. </p> <h2><strong>Safe-Haven Demand Lifts Gold, Silver</strong></h2> <p>Amid the uncertainty, investors turned to safe-haven assets. Gold futures rose 1.07 per cent, while silver climbed 1.54 per cent, reflecting a cautious market stance. </p> <h2><strong><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Previous Session: Markets Extended Gains</span></strong></h2> <p>In the previous session on Tuesday, domestic markets had extended their rally for a third straight day, supported by easing crude prices and optimism around potential progress in US-Iran talks.</p> <p>The Sensex had climbed 753.03 points to settle at 79,273.33, while the Nifty rose 211.75 points to close at 24,576.60. </p>
