Indian Markets Likely to Open Soft; GIFT Nifty Dips, Nikkei Down 0.9%, Key Sectors to Watch
Indian markets likely to open soft as GIFT Nifty dips; global cues, crude oil, and key sectors like metals, IT, and infrastructure to shape trading today, August 20, 2025.
GIFT Nifty down at 24,974 as Indian equities open cautiously on August 20, 2025, tracking global market trends.
According to early indications from the GIFT Nifty, Indian stocks are anticipated to begin Wednesday's session cautiously, opening at 24,974, down 0.15%. Currency fluctuations, crude oil movements, and overnight US trends will all have an impact on market direction. During the first few hours of trading, industries like IT, infrastructure, and metals are probably going to be the focus.
Recap of the Previous Day's Market
Indian equity benchmarks ended Tuesday's trading session higher, with the Nifty edging nearer to the 25,000 mark. The Nifty gained 103.70 points (0.42%) to close at 24,980.65, while the Sensex increased 370.64 points (0.46%) to settle at 81,644.39.
August 20, 2025: Global Market Cues
Markets in Asia:
On Wednesday, Asian indices had a weak start. The overall Topix fell 0.31%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.93%. The Kosdaq fell 1.77% and the Kospi fell 1.52% in South Korea. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia fell 0.24%.
- US Markets: Tuesday's closing of US markets was mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crept up 0.02% to 44,922.27, setting a new session high, while the S&P 500 fell 0.59% to 6,411.37 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.46% to 21,314.95.
- Crude Oil: In early Wednesday trading, oil prices increased marginally. Brent crude rose 0.30% to $65.99 per barrel, while WTI crude rose 0.43% to $62 per barrel.
- FII & DII Activity: On Tuesday, foreign investors withdrew ₹634 crore from Indian stocks, remaining net sellers. On the other hand, provisional exchange data shows that domestic institutional investors made significant purchases, totalling ₹2,261 crore.
- Gold Rates Today: Early trading saw an easing of the price of gold. The prices of 10 grammes of 24-carat gold, 22-carat gold, and 18-carat gold are ₹1,00,740, 92,340, and 75,550, respectively.
Tuesday's Sector Trends:
- With an 8% increase, aquaculture led gains.
- Auto ancillaries and plastics both increased by 3%.
- Sugar counters closed higher by 2%, and infrastructure stocks increased by 2.6%.
Top Movers: Top and Poorest Performers
- Anil Ambani Group (+5%), Jaypee Group (+4.2%), Garware (+3.2%), Aarti Group (+2.9%), and Indiabulls Group (+5.4%) were the winners.
- Nagarjuna Group (-3.9%), Manipal (-1.9%), Patodia (-1.2%), and Muthoot Group (-0.8%) were the losers.
Investors are advised to track global cues, sectoral trends, and FII activity before making trading decisions as markets open today.
