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Sensex Today: Indian benchmark indices—Sensex and Nifty—are likely to open lower on Thursday
Stock Market
Sensex Today: Indian stock markets opened on a volatile note on Thursday as investors tracked escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, fluctuating crude oil prices, and the approaching deadline for US President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs.
At around 9:30 AM, the BSE Sensex was trading at 81,373, down 72 points or 0.09%, while the Nifty50 slipped marginally by 1 point to 24,810.
In the broader market, performance was mixed. The Nifty MidCap index inched up 0.06%, while the Nifty SmallCap index dipped slightly by 0.02%.
Sector-wise, pressure was seen in public sector and IT stocks. The Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty IT indices declined 0.25% and 0.23%, respectively. On the other hand, auto stocks provided some support, with the Nifty Auto index rising 0.38%.
Global Cues
Asian markets were mostly in the red on Thursday as investors reacted to the Fed’s decision to hold interest rates steady and tracked the deepening crisis in the Middle East. Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.63%, while the broader Topix fell 0.44%. South Korea’s Kospi, after an initial rise, turned negative by 0.18%, while Australia’s ASX 200 was flat with a slight downward bias.
In the US, President Donald Trump held a second round of meetings with his national security team in the White House Situation Room, fuelling speculation about a possible military response to Iran in light of recent Israeli airstrikes.
Fed Holds Rates, Eyes Cuts Later in 2025
As expected, the US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% for the fourth consecutive meeting. The Fed reiterated a cautious stance, noting that although economic uncertainty has eased, it remains watchful of inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks. Policymakers projected two rate cuts in 2025, with only modest changes anticipated through 2026 and 2027.
Harsimran Sahni, EVP & Head – Treasury, Anand Rathi Global Finance, “The Fed kept the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.50%, citing solid economic growth, a strong labour market, and “somewhat elevated” inflation. While projections indicated that two additional rate cuts are likely in 2025, rising concerns about inflation have made officials more cautious. Powell highlighted risks of tariff-driven inflation and maintained a wait-and-see approach. Considering the impact of this, the Indian 10-year yield is expected to trade around 6.30%–6.40% in the near term. Additionally, commodity prices across the board have started to trend higher due to geopolitical uncertainties and could bring back a second wave of elevated inflation in the second half of the year. As suggested by a Fed Governor, inflation could once again become a disruptive force and may rain on central banks’ parade.”
Market participants will remain cautious, closely tracking macroeconomic cues and central bank commentary for further direction, Sahni added.
Wall Street Mixed, Eyes on BoE
US equities ended on a mixed note overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.10%, the S&P 500 edged down 0.03%, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.13%.
Investors are now awaiting the Bank of England’s rate decision, due later today, for further direction on global monetary policy trends.
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Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
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