The benchmark Indian equity indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a positive note on Tuesday, supported by stronger Asian markets and encouraging signals from Gift Nifty.
However, investors remain cautious as geopolitical tensions in West Asia continue to influence crude oil prices and global market sentiment. Market participants are expected to track developments related to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has entered its third week.
Apart from geopolitical developments, traders will also closely monitor global market trends, currency movements and commodity prices for further direction.
Gift Nifty was trading around the 23,500 mark in early trade, suggesting a likely gap-up opening for domestic benchmark indices. Earlier data also showed SGX Nifty trading at 23,458, up 72.5 points or 0.31%, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of the market opening.
The early trend indicates that Dalal Street could begin the session on a firm note after gains in the previous trading session.
In the previous session on March 16, Indian benchmark indices ended the day in positive territory as buying interest emerged across several sectors.
The BSE Sensex climbed about 1.26% to close at 75,502.85, while the Nifty 50 gained approximately 1.11% to settle at 23,408.80.
Asian markets moved higher on Tuesday, providing supportive cues for global equities.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose about 0.75%, while the broader Topix index gained more than 1%. South Korea’s Kospi surged roughly 2.94%, and the small-cap Kosdaq index advanced around 1.53%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also edged higher by about 0.27%.
Geopolitical tensions in West Asia remain elevated as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its eighteenth day. Investors are closely watching developments in the region, as any escalation could disrupt energy supplies and influence global markets.
The situation has already contributed to rising crude oil prices, which may have broader implications for inflation and economic growth worldwide.
Global markets are also awaiting the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, which begins on March 17, with the policy announcement expected on March 18.
The key interest rate currently stands in the range of 3.5%–3.75%. Investors will closely analyse the central bank’s commentary and policy outlook for clues on the future path of interest rates.
Wall Street ended the previous session in positive territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 0.83% to close at 46,946.41.
The S&P 500 gained around 1.01% to end at 6,699.38, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced approximately 1.22% to settle at 22,374.18.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of six major currencies, was trading about 0.5% lower at 99.86 on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, the Indian rupee weakened slightly by 0.04% to close at 92.42 against the US dollar on March 16.
Crude oil prices moved higher in early Tuesday trading amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose roughly 2.70% to about $96.05 per barrel, while Brent crude gained around 2.57% to trade near $102.45 per barrel.
Read More: Nifty 500 Stocks That Rose Up to 19% Despite Market Selloff Triggered by Middle East Conflict!
Foreign institutional investors remained net sellers in the Indian equity market on March 16, offloading shares worth approximately ₹9,366 crore. This marked the largest sell-off since October 28, 2025.
In contrast, domestic institutional investors provided support to the market by purchasing equities worth around ₹12,593 crore during the session.
Indian markets are expected to begin the day on a positive note, supported by firm Asian cues and gains in Gift Nifty. However, geopolitical developments in West Asia, crude oil price movements and the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting could play a crucial role in shaping market sentiment in the coming sessions.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Mar 17, 2026, 8:13 AM IST
Team Angel One
We're Live on WhatsApp! Join our channel for market insights & updates
Get the link to download the App
EN