Gift Nifty Today: Indian Markets Likely to Open Cautiously as Oil Prices, Global Cues Weigh on Sentiment

Gift Nifty Today: Gains remain limited as higher crude oil prices, rising US Treasury yields and weak Asian markets kept investors cautious.

Rapid Read

Summarized by AI.

+

More Rapid Read

Like this summary?

Share Your Feedback

Got Question about the News?

Gift Nifty Today.

Gift Nifty was trading at 24,314.5 in early trade on Friday, August 21, 2026, up 17 points or 0.07%, as of 7:55 am, indicating a mildly positive opening for the Indian stock market. However, the gains remained limited as higher crude oil prices, rising US Treasury yields and weak Asian markets kept investors cautious.

The Gift Nifty reading comes a day after Indian benchmark indices snapped their recent losing streak. The Nifty 50 ended Thursday at 24,231.85, gaining 153.55 points or 0.64%, while the Sensex rose 628.04 points or 0.82% to 77,537.72.

Global markets remain under pressure

Asian markets were largely subdued on Friday as investors continued to monitor stress in global bond markets and rising oil prices. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell around 0.8%, taking its weekly losses to more than 4%, while other major Asian markets also remained under pressure on a weekly basis.

US Treasury yields resumed their rise after a brief relief following a surprise intervention by the US Treasury earlier this week. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose to 4.71%, while the 30-year yield moved back to around 5.25%.

Higher bond yields can put pressure on stock valuations because they increase borrowing costs and reduce the relative attractiveness of equities.

Crude oil rises as Iran tensions escalate

Crude oil remains a major concern for Indian markets. Brent crude climbed to a one-month high of $94.71 per barrel before easing, while it was last trading around $93.12. US West Texas Intermediate crude was around $86.18 a barrel.

Oil prices have risen amid renewed concerns over tensions involving Iran and uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.

For India, higher crude prices are particularly important because the country imports a large share of its oil requirements. A sustained rise in crude can increase inflationary pressure and put pressure on the rupee and corporate margins.

Gold, meanwhile, remained above $4,500 an ounce, reflecting continued demand for safe-haven assets amid concerns over global economic and geopolitical risks.

What Ponmudi R expects from Nifty today

Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said Indian equities could remain cautious despite Thursday’s recovery. “Indian equity markets are expected to remain cautious despite breaking their recent losing streak, as elevated crude oil prices and renewed global risk aversion continue to weigh on sentiment,” Ponmudi said.

He noted that the relief from lower bond yields seen earlier was short-lived, with US equities coming under pressure as Treasury yields reversed their decline.

According to Ponmudi, Nifty 50 is likely to maintain a range-bound bias after ending its seven-session losing streak. The index is still below key short-term moving averages, indicating that stronger buying is required to confirm a sustained recovery. “The 24,200–24,300 region remains the immediate resistance zone. A sustained breakout above 24,400 could strengthen the recovery and open the way toward 24,500 and higher levels,” he said.

On the downside, 24,100-24,150 is the immediate support zone, followed by the crucial 24,000 level. “A decisive break below 24,000 could revive the short-term bearish structure and expose the index to lower support levels,” Ponmudi said.

Key Questions Answered

Powered by

Ask News18

Rising oil prices are expected to increase Indian inflation, with some estimates suggesting that every $10 rise in crude oil prices could add 55-60 basis points to India’s headline inflation. This is because India imports a significant portion of its energy needs, making its inflation trajectory sensitive to global oil shocks. Higher oil prices can lead to increased input costs for industries and weaker consumer demand.

Global bond market stress, particularly rising US Treasury yields, could impact Nifty’s recovery by making investors cautious, leading to foreign outflows, and weakening the rupee. This pressure on Indian equities is also influenced by higher crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions.

The Nifty 50 is expected to face resistance in the 24,500–24,600 zone. A sustained move above this range could lead to the next levels of 24,700–24,800.

Powered by

Ask News18

About the Author

Mohammad HarisDeputy News Editor (Business)

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis…Read More

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google.

Check RBI MPC Meeting 2026 Live Updates, Repo Rate Today.

Original source: https://www.news18.com/business/markets/