Nifty Flatlines As Sensex Gains At Pre-Open Pointing To Mixed Start

Mumbai, September 21: Indian shares diverged at pre open signalling a mixed start for benchmarks as Asian shares ticked up and oil prices eased but remained elevated as Middle East continued to simmer. 

Nifty 50 dipped 0.04% while Sensex rose 0.3% at pre open.  

Indian equities enter the new week after the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex extended their losing streak to six consecutive weeks, marking their longest run of weekly declines in six years. Investors will also track activity in the primary market as the $2.3 billion National Stock Exchange of India IPO enters its final day for subscription.  

Foreign institutional investors turned buyers on Friday, purchasing Indian equities worth Rs 600 crore, according to provisional exchange data. The buying came after six consecutive sessions of net selling. 

Despite Friday’s inflow, foreign investors have remained heavy sellers in September, offloading $2.20 billion worth of Indian shares so far this month. Their cumulative outflows from Indian equities have reached $26.26 billion in 2026, keeping foreign selling pressure a key overhang for the market.  

Welspun Enterprises has secured orders worth ₹350 crore from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for rehabilitation work on two existing sewer lines.  

Nestle India said its products comply fully with applicable regulations, following legal action initiated by India’s food regulator over its infant nutrition products.  

Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust, backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, is likely to sell around a 1.7% stake in eyewear retailer Lenskart for approximately ₹2,047 crore through a block deal, according to media reports. 

Asian Markets 

Asian stocks advanced, with technology shares leading the gains as continued demand for data supported chipmakers. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.8%, while South Korea’s tech-heavy Kospi gained 1.5%. China’s blue-chip CSI 300 index advanced 0.4%. 

Japan’s Nikkei was closed for a holiday, although Nikkei futures rose 0.2%. Trading volumes across the region remained relatively thin due to the Japanese market holiday. 

The strength in Asian technology stocks could provide positive cues to Indian IT and technology shares at the open, particularly after global software and semiconductor stocks remained resilient. However, broader gains in the region remained tempered by concerns over higher interest rates and geopolitical risks. 

US, European Futures 

US stock futures traded higher, with S&P 500 futures gaining 0.04% and Nasdaq futures rising 0.3%, as investors continued to assess the Federal Reserve’s hawkish policy signals and the prospect of another interest-rate increase later this year. 

In Europe, EUROSTOXX 50 futures rose 0.5%, while DAX futures gained 0.4%. FTSE futures were up 0.3%, indicating a positive start for major European benchmarks. 

Oil Prices 

Crude oil prices eased as investors assessed signs of improving supplies despite the continuing conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude fell 2.2% to $101.6 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 2.3% to around $98 a barrel. 

Data showed Saudi Arabian oil exports had recovered in September, while US officials also pointed to increased flows of crude, cargo and liquefied natural gas. 

The decline in oil prices offers some relief to India, one of the world’s largest crude importers, as lower energy costs can ease pressure on inflation, the rupee and corporate margins. However, Brent remains above the $100-a-barrel mark, keeping elevated crude prices a key risk for Indian equities. 

Source

•  Exchanges