Indian shares set to open higher after four sessions of losses
Indian shares were set for a modestly higher open on Wednesday after four sessions of steep losses, though analysts said any gains were likely to be short-lived as elevated crude prices and persistent foreign outflows kept sentiment in check.
GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 23,435.50 as of 08:14 a.m. IST, signalling that the Nifty 50 could open above Tuesday's close of 23,379.55.
The Nifty and Sensex have each shed about 4% over the past four sessions, as fading hopes of a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran pushed crude prices higher and heightened concerns over the broader economic fallout from the conflict.
Brent crude, up 48% since the Iran war began in late February, hovered near $107 a barrel. [O/R]
"After the recent sharp decline, a pullback move cannot be ruled out, though any bounce is likely to witness selling pressure at higher levels as momentum weakens in the markets," said Nilesh Jain, vice president and head of technical and derivative research at Centrum Finverse.
The rupee remained under heavy pressure, weakening another 40 paisa to around 95.62 and hitting fresh record lows, as worries over India's swelling import bill and pressure on foreign-exchange reserves deepened unease in currency markets.
The Indian government has raised import tariffs on gold and silver to 15% from 6% as part of efforts to curb overseas purchases of the precious metals and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The move comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to avoid buying gold for a year.
Foreign portfolio investors extended their selling spree on Tuesday, taking year-to-date outflows from Indian equities to $23.14 billion, already exceeding the record sales seen in 2025.
Domestic retail inflation edged up to 3.48% in April, government data showed after market hours on Tuesday, but risks from rising energy costs continue to weigh on the outlook.
Broader Asian markets slipped 0.4%, as hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation underscored intensifying price pressures from the Iran war. [MKTS/GLOB]
STOCKS TO WATCH ** Dr Reddy's Laboratories posts a 86% drop in March quarter profit, hurt by pricing pressure and increasing competition in its key U.S. market ** Berger Paints India reports a 27.5% rise in fourth-quarter profit, aided by strong volume growth across key business segments ** Dixon Technologies logs a drop in March quarter profit ** Tata Power posts a 4.5% drop in March quarter profit, hurt by a weakness in the hydro and thermal-power segment due to the shutdown of a key plant in the western state of Gujarat
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