Indian stock indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open higher on Monday, supported by easing geopolitical tensions following a ceasefire declaration between India and Pakistan, and renewed optimism surrounding the US-China trade agreement.

Asian markets were broadly positive, and US stock futures climbed as investors anticipated further details on the trade negotiations.

This week, market investors will keep a close eye on several key drivers, including upcoming Q4 earnings reports, domestic macroeconomic indicators, retail inflation data, updates on the India-Pakistan ceasefire, foreign investment trends, and global market signals.

On Friday, Indian markets closed lower, weighed down by heightened India-Pakistan tensions and investor caution amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Domestic Market Recap

On Friday, Indian indices closed in the red, following the rising border tensions:

• Sensex slumped by 880.34 points (-1.10%) to close at 79,454.47
• Nifty 50 moved lower by 265.80 points (-1.10%) to settle at 24,008

Gift Nifty

Gift Nifty was trading near 24,550, around 485 points higher than the previous Nifty futures close, hinting at a positive start for Indian markets.

Wall Street Performance

US indices saw a broad decline on Friday:

• Dow Jones: 119.07 pts (-0.29%) to 41,249.38
• S&P 500: 4.03 pts (-0.07%) to 5,659.91
• Nasdaq closed flat at 17,928.92

Gold Prices

• Spot gold slipped by -1.1% to $3,286.86/oz 
• US gold futures slumped by 1.6% to $3,291.60

Crude Oil Prices

• Brent crude rose by 0.17% to $64.02/barrel
• US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude: +0.28% to $61.19/barrel

Major Global Events Driving Sentiment

1. India-Pakistan Ceasefire: India and Pakistan have reached a mutual agreement to suspend cross-border firing and military operations both on the ground and in the air. Air Marshal AK Bharti confirmed that Operation Sindoor successfully met its strategic objectives, with over 100 terrorists eliminated across nine targeted locations. The DGMOs stated that the mission’s outcomes are visible to the global community.
2. US-China Trade Talks: Trade discussions between the US and China concluded on an optimistic note, with US officials highlighting progress toward narrowing the trade deficit. Chinese officials announced that an “important consensus” had been reached and that a new economic dialogue forum would be launched. Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang noted that a joint statement would bring “good news for the world.”
3. Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Hopes: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for a full, albeit temporary, ceasefire with Russia starting Monday. He also stated plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkiye for direct negotiations.
4. US-Iran Nuclear Discussions: The US and Iran wrapped up a fresh round of negotiations in Oman focused on resolving disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme. While no breakthroughs were announced, both sides agreed to continue discussions, even as Tehran reiterated its commitment to ongoing uranium enrichment.

The future of investing is here!
Unicorn Signals leverages advanced AI technology to provide you with powerful market predictions and actionable stock scans. Download the app todayand 10x your trading & investing journey!