Indian shares poised to open higher on easing geopolitical jitters
Indian shares are set to edge higher on Friday, tracking Asian peers as geopolitical jitters over Greenland eased, though persistent foreign outflows and a mixed earnings season kept sentiment cautious at home.
Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,336.5, as of 7:50 a.m. IST, indicating that the Nifty 50 could start the session above Thursday's close of 25,289.90.
Both the benchmark Nifty and Sensex gained about 0.5% each on Thursday, snapping a three-session losing streak, after U.S. President Donald Trump walked back on threats to impose tariffs on European countries and ruled out the use of force to seize Greenland.
They are still down about 1.6% each so far this week, as tepid earnings from heavyweight stocks, such as Reliance, ICICI Bank, and sustained foreign selling have also weighed.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have offloaded Indian shares worth $3.5 billion in January, after a record $19 billion withdrawal in 2025.
"While Indian markets staged a rebound (on Thursday) following reassuring comments by Trump on Greenland and tariffs, sentiment still remains guarded to weakness in the rupee, a mixed earnings season and persistent foreign selling," Bajaj Broking Research said in a note.
Other Asian markets opened higher on Friday, rising 0.5% ahead of the Bank of Japan's latest policy meeting, at which it is widely expected to keep rates on hold.
Wall Street equities extended gains overnight, while the U.S. dollar held near its weakest level of 2026 after posting the biggest drop in six weeks. [MKTS/GLOB]
Among Indian stocks, IT company Mphasis and airline IndiGo will be in focus as investors react to their quarterly results.
Mphasis met third-quarter revenue estimates of analysts, helped by resumed spending on technology by banking and financial services clients.
IndiGo warned of higher costs after mass flight cancellations hit its quarterly profit.
STOCKS TO WATCH
** Bandhan Bank posts about 52% year-on-year drop in net profit in the December quarter
** DLF reports 14% Y/Y rise in consolidated net profit in the third quarter
** Ashoka Buildcon wins an order worth 3.07 billion rupees ($33.5 million) for the construction of a bridge in Daman
($1 = 91.5800 Indian rupees)
