Global Market Cues

The global market sentiment turned cautious on Wednesday as major US indices retreated from their recent highs. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the decline, falling 1.1%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.5% and 0.8%, respectively. Investors appeared to rotate out of expensive technology megacaps despite December inflation data (CPI) coming in at 2.7%, largely in line with expectations. Geopolitical tensions involving Iran and uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's independence under the current US administration also weighed on investor confidence.

• US markets: Dow Jones (-0.80%), S&P 500 (-0.53%), Nasdaq (-1.10%).
• Asian markets: Early trends on Thursday show a mixed to weak start; Nikkei 225 is down 0.7%, while the Hang Seng opened marginally lower by 0.1%.
• Commodities: Oil prices fell roughly 1.7% to $61 per barrel (WTI) following comments from President Trump regarding Iran. Gold and silver remain near record highs but saw slight profit-booking.

GIFT Nifty and Domestic Cues

The Indian equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty 50, will not see any domestic trading activity today, January 15, 2026, as both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are closed for the Maharashtra municipal elections. Trading across all segments, including equities, derivatives, and commodities, is suspended. Consequently, the weekly F&O expiry for Nifty was advanced to Wednesday, January 14.

Despite the domestic holiday, the GIFT Nifty is active and currently trading around the 25,815 level, up approximately 0.50% from its previous close. This suggests that while global markets are under pressure, the offshore derivative indicator for the Indian market remains resilient, potentially setting the stage for a steady reopening on Friday.

Key Stocks in Focus

While the market is closed, several stocks will remain in the spotlight due to overnight corporate developments and earnings reports:

• Infosys: The IT giant reported a strong set of Q3 results on Wednesday with sequential revenue growth and robust deal wins totaling $4.8 billion.
• Tata Elxsi: Shares may see volatility in the next session after the company reported a 45% year-on-year decline in net profit for the December quarter, hit by one-off expenses.
• NLC India: The PSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government for renewable energy projects worth ₹25,000 crore.
• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB): The bank has announced a 5 basis points cut in its overnight MCLR, effective from today.
• TCS & HCL Tech: These IT majors will be in focus as they approach their ex-dividend date on January 16.

Key Events to Watch Today

Investors will track international data releases today to gauge the global economic trajectory:

• United States: Initial Jobless Claims and the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index for January.
• United Kingdom: Monthly GDP data and Industrial Production figures for November.
• China: Liquidity updates from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) following their 900 billion yuan reverse repurchase operation.

TAGS: Pre-Market, Stock Market, Nifty, Sensex, Market Update

Tags: Pre-Market Stock Market Nifty Sensex Market Update