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Informist, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026

By Adhithya Aji

MUMBAI – Benchmark indices are expected to open lower Friday as a rise in crude oil prices is likely to dampen investor sentiment. The US bond yield above 5% has been weighing down on domestic equities. Analysts said crude oil prices will be the key factor to monitor for market direction ahead. Globally, most Asian indices opened lower and Wall Street indices ended mixed overnight.

The November futures of Brent crude oil hovered around $106 per barrel. The ongoing war in West Asia has continued to create supply risks, which is leading to a rise in prices, with no solid signs of a breakthrough in peace talks. "Iran did not start the war, it is the US who should choose to end it," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview with Fox News. As per a New York Times report, Iran has proposed a seven-day plan to end the war, which also includes reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A response from Washington is still awaited. 

Elevated crude oil prices are expected to weigh on investor sentiment and impact foreign investors' participation in the domestic market, according to analysts. Moreover, markets are also facing a potential tariff threat from the US due to India's Russian oil purchases. However, the upcoming September quarter earnings do not seem to be affected by high crude oil prices, according to the head of research with a domestic broking firm. Crude oil prices remained higher at the current level in the June quarter as well, and the companies still reported better-than-expected results. The companies have passed on most of their higher input costs to customers.

At 0755 IST, the September futures of GIFT Nifty were 0.2% lower at 23069.50 points, indicating a subdued open for the Nifty 50, which closed at 23,063.10 points. "The chart structure remains negative as long as the index trades below the 23500–23600 spot zone on a closing basis," Vipin Kumar, senior technical and derivatives analyst at Globe Capital Market, said. The support for the 50-stock index is placed at around 23100-23000 and a decisive close below this zone would be considered as a negative development, which could push the index towards 22500-22400, Kumar added.

Foreign institutional investors were net sellers of Indian shares Thursday. They sold shares worth INR 50.27 billion after buying Wednesday. Meanwhile, domestic investors continued their active participation and bought stocks worth INR 43.01 billion.

"Economic activity saw marginal moderation in the first fortnight of September," Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities, said in a note. Motor vehicle registrations and unified payments interface volumes improved from the previous fortnight and remained above the six-month average run-rate, according to the brokerage. Credit growth improved to 19.1% on year as of Aug. 31.  End

US$1 = INR 95.95

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

Edited by Shubhayan Bhattacharya

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