Indian stock market: 10 key things that changed for market overnight - Gift Nifty, US-Iran war, gold rate to oil prices

By Admin

20 Mar, 2026

The Indian stock market is set for a dynamic session today, with several global and domestic triggers reshaping investor sentiment overnight. After Thursday’s sharp sell-off, markets are now eyeing a potential rebound, supported by short covering and mixed global cues.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the 10 key factors influencing the Indian stock market today:

1. GIFT Nifty Signals a Positive Start

GIFT Nifty was trading around 23,177, at a premium of nearly 122 points over the previous close of Nifty futures.

This indicates that Sensex and Nifty 50 may open higher, offering some relief after the previous session’s heavy losses.

2. Market Rebound Likely After Sharp Fall

On Thursday, Indian markets witnessed a massive sell-off, breaking a three-day winning streak.

• Sensex fell 2,496.89 points (3.26%) to 74,207.24
  
  

• Nifty 50 dropped 775.65 points (3.26%) to 23,002.15
  
  

This sharp correction has triggered short-covering expectations, which could support today’s opening.

3. Volatility Remains High

Market expert Siddhartha Khemka highlighted that markets are currently in a fragile phase, driven by geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices.

Investors should expect continued volatility in the near term.

4. Asian Markets Trade Mixed

Asian markets showed mixed performance after global weakness:

• MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.3%
  
  

• South Korea’s Kospi gained nearly 1%
  
  

• Kosdaq rose 0.94%
  
  

• Hong Kong futures संकेत weak opening
  
  

• Japan markets remained closed (holiday)
  
  

This mixed trend reflects uncertainty in global sentiment.

5. Wall Street Ends Lower

US markets closed in the red amid inflation concerns:

• Dow Jones fell 0.44%
  
  

• S&P 500 declined 0.27%
  
  

• Nasdaq slipped 0.28%
  
  

Major stocks:

• Nvidia ↓ 1.02%
  
  

• Apple ↓ 0.39%
  
  

• Tesla ↓ 3.2%
  
  

• AMD ↑ 2.91%
  
  

The decline was largely due to rising oil prices impacting inflation expectations.

6. US-Iran War Escalates Tensions

Geopolitical risks intensified as Iran attacked oil and gas facilities in response to Israeli strikes.

• US President Donald Trump warned of strong retaliation
  
  

• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu took a firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions
  
  

This conflict is impacting global energy markets and investor confidence.

7. Central Banks Stay Cautious

European Central Bank (ECB)

• Kept interest rates unchanged at 2%
  
  

• Warned of risks to growth and inflation due to the conflict
  
  

Bank of England (BoE)

• Held rates steady at 3.75%
  
  

• Warned inflation may rise to 3.5%
  
  

Global central banks are adopting a wait-and-watch approach, adding to uncertainty.

8. China Keeps Lending Rates Steady

China maintained its benchmark rates:

• 1-year LPR: 3.0%
  
  

• 5-year LPR: 3.5%
  
  

This marks the 10th consecutive month of unchanged rates, indicating stable but cautious economic policy.

9. US Jobless Claims Surprise Positively

US jobless claims fell unexpectedly:

• Claims dropped to 205,000
  
  

• Forecast was 215,000
  
  

This indicates resilience in the US labour market, which could influence Fed policy expectations.

10. Gold and Oil Prices Drive Market Sentiment

Gold Prices

• Trading at $4,640.85/oz
  
  

• Down nearly 8% this week (biggest drop in 6 years)
  
  

Crude Oil Prices

• Brent crude: $107.57/barrel (-1.01%)
  
  

• WTI crude: $93.89/barrel (-1.74%)
  
  

Despite the slight dip, oil remains elevated, keeping inflation concerns alive and influencing equities.

Final Takeaway

The Indian stock market is entering Friday’s session with a positive opening bias, but underlying risks remain elevated.

Key Themes to Watch:

• Geopolitical tensions (US-Iran conflict)
  
  

• Crude oil price movements
  
  

• Global central bank signals
  
  

• Volatility and investor sentiment
  
  

While short-term recovery is possible, markets are likely to remain volatile, and traders should proceed with caution.