IGI Logo

Indian equity benchmarks are likely to open in green tracking positive global cues. Investors await the release of the Economic Survey 2025 in Parliament. Market participants will be eyeing Q3 earnings, with key results expected from companies like IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma, Nestle, ONGC, UPL, PNB, and Vedanta.

Some of the key factors to be watched:

All eyes will be on Economic Survey 2025: The Economic Survey 2024-25 is set to be released later in the day, providing a comprehensive review of India's economic performance over the past financial year. The report, published a day before the Union Budget, will outline key trends in sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services while suggesting policy measures to address economic challenges and drive growth.

Foreign fund outflows: According to provisional data from the National Stock Exchange, foreign portfolio investors stayed net sellers of Indian equities for the 20th straight session on Thursday and offloaded shares worth Rs 4,583 crore.

Gold prices hit a record high: Gold prices hit a record high on Thursday, driven by safe-haven demand amid US tariff threats and focus on a key inflation report for insights into the Federal Reserve's policy. 

Sugar industry stocks will be in focus: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the sugar industry has the potential to increase its share in the GDP to 3 per cent from the current 1-1.15 per cent, and emphasised on the need to raise per acre production of sugarcane.

Stocks of asset reconstruction companies will be in limelight: The rating agency Crisil Ratings said asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) are likely to see the cumulative recovery rate of security receipts (SRs) improve by up to 15 percentage points to 75-80 per cent in the next financial year (FY26). 

On the global front, the US markets ended higher on Thursday as investors digested a stack of key earnings reports, with upbeat comments from Tesla helping to offset a disappointing forecast from Microsoft. Asian markets are trading mostly in green on Friday following Wall Street's overnight gains as investors analysed earnings from major tech companies.

Back home, Indian equity benchmarks exhibited some volatility on the monthly expiry day but managed to end higher for 3rd consecutive day on Thursday as all eyes are now on Union Budget 2025, where investors hope for growth-boosting measures balanced with fiscal discipline. Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 226.85 points or 0.30% to 76,759.81, and the CNX Nifty was up by 86.40 points or 0.37% to 23,249.50.

Some of the important factors for the markets:

Govt launches new credit guarantee scheme for MSME sector: The finance ministry has said that the government launched a new credit guarantee scheme for the MSME sector covering loans up to Rs 100 crore in line with the FY25 Budget announcement.

India needs fiscal policy changes for 6.4% GDP growth rate in 2025: Moody's Analytics said India needs to change its fiscal and monetary policy to achieve a 6.4 per cent GDP growth in 2025 amid a weak rupee, declining foreign investment and volatile inflation.

US Treasury yields slip: U.S. Treasury yields were slightly lower as investors weighed the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate decision of 2025. The US Federal Reserve decided to hold its key interest rate steady, maintaining it in the range of 4.25%-4.5%.

Above views are of the author and not of the website kindly read disclaimer