The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open higher on Wednesday despite mixed overnight signals from global markets.

Asian markets traded in positive territory, while the US stock market closed on a mixed note overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average marking its third straight record finish.

Moreover, on Tuesday, the Indian stock market continued its upward momentum for a third consecutive session, driven primarily by strong gains in auto and metal stocks.

Domestic Market Recap

On Tuesday, Indian indices closed in the green:

• Sensex gained by 208.17 points (0.25%) to close at 84,273.92
• Nifty 50 moved up by 67.85 points (0.26%) to settle at 25,935.15

Gift Nifty

Gift Nifty was trading near 26,056, around 70 points higher than the previous Nifty futures close, hinting at a positive start for Indian markets.

Overnight Wall Street Performance

The US stock market closed on a mixed note on Tuesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed to its third consecutive record finish. Investors weighed weaker-than-expected retail sales data and awaited a crucial labour market report for further direction.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained by 52.27 points (0.10%) to close at 50,188.14.
• S&P 500 shed up by 23.01 points (0.33%), ending at 6,941.81.
• The Nasdaq Composite slumped by 136.20 points (0.59%), finishing at 23,102.47.

Gold Prices

• Spot gold was trading 0.3% higher at $5,038.73 per ounce.
• The US gold futures soared by 0.6% at $5,060.60.

Crude Oil Prices

• Brent crude gained by 0.3% to $69.03/barrel
• US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading 0.4% higher at $64.19/barrel

Overnight Major Global Events Driving Sentiment

1. US Retail Sales: US retail sales remained unexpectedly flat in December after rising 0.6% in November. The data, which mainly captures goods and is not adjusted for inflation, fell short of market expectations.
2. MSCI Rejig: MSCI added Aditya Birla Capital and L&T Finance to the MSCI Global Standard Index in its February 2026 review, while removing Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) from the index.

Ready to invest like a pro? Tradz by EquityPandit app equips you with 100+ Free tools and knowledge you need to succeed. Download the Tradz by EquityPandit app and gain access to daily stock lists and insightful market analysis and much more!