Gift Nifty Suggests Lower Opening for Indian Stocks; Gold Hits New High

On the institutional front, FIIs were net buyers, purchasing Rs 3,936.42 crore worth of shares, while DIIs net sold Rs 2,512.77 crore on April 16, 2025.

Pre-Market Update at 8:00 AM: Indian stock market indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open lower, as indicated by a 90-point drop in the Gift Nifty compared to the previous close. 

This is influenced by weak global cues, particularly from the US, where markets saw sharp declines. The Dow Jones dropped 1.73 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 2.24 per cent, and the Nasdaq lost 3.07 per cent. These declines followed comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, signaling concerns over the US economy’s slowing growth and indicating no immediate changes to interest rates.

US-China trade tensions worsened as China imposed new tariffs on US exports, raising them to 245 per cent, up from 145 per cent. In economic data, US retail sales rose by 1.4 per cent in March, exceeding expectations, while manufacturing output grew by 0.3 per cent for the same month.

Asian markets showed a mixed trend, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi posting gains, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index indicated a weaker start.

In India, equities closed higher on April 16, marking their third consecutive day of gains. The Sensex rose by 309 points to 77,044.29, and the Nifty 50 gained 108.65 points, finishing at 23,437.20. Gold prices continued their upward momentum, reaching a new all-time high of USD 3,357.40 per ounce. 

On the institutional front, FIIs were net buyers, purchasing Rs 3,936.42 crore worth of shares, while DIIs net sold Rs 2,512.77 crore. Stocks banned for trading in the F&O segment on April 17 include Birlasoft, Hindustan Copper, Manappuram Finance, IREDA, and NALCO.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.