Pre-Market 13 October 2026: GIFT Nifty Hints At A Positive Start; Crude Oil, CPI Inflation Data And Global Cues In Focus

Indian markets head into Tuesday after Monday’s early gains faded and both benchmark indices closed in the red. Higher crude oil prices and persistent foreign investor selling continue to weigh on sentiment.

Indian Markets Recap

On Monday, both indices gave up their opening gains as selling pressure returned. The Sensex declined 547.65 points, or 0.76%, to settle at 71,924.68 on Monday. The Nifty 50 fell 157.10 points, or 0.70%, to close at 22,363.35.

The decline came as Brent crude rose amid fresh geopolitical tensions, while foreign institutional investors continued to reduce their exposure to Indian equities. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth ₹3,568.90 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

The broader market did not move in the same direction across the board. The Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 1.42%, while the Nifty Midcap 100 edged up 0.08%.

The rupee, meanwhile, strengthened against the US dollar after the Reserve Bank of India introduced measures aimed at curbing dollar demand in the spot and derivatives markets. It rose around 1% to ₹95.77 per dollar.

Global Markets Update

In the US, investors are weighing the effect of energy costs ahead of inflation data and quarterly results from major banks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 51,850.55, up 0.38%. The S&P 500 fell 0.06% to 7,807.24, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.44% to 27,245.90.

European markets finished higher. The UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.99% to 10,656.28, while France’s CAC 40 gained 0.38% to 7,832.88.

Asian markets had a weaker session. South Korea’s KOSPI fell 3.65% to 6,384.24 on Monday, extending its recent decline as semiconductor and technology stocks came under pressure. Japan's Nikkei 225 was closed on Monday due to a national holiday.

GIFT Nifty Cues

At 7:22 am on 13 October, GIFT Nifty was trading at 22,407.50, up 37 points, or 0.17%, pointing to a potentially positive start for Indian equities on Tuesday.

Nifty 50 Technical View

The Nifty 50 faces immediate resistance at 22,610, followed by a stronger hurdle at 22,800. A decisive move above both levels could open the way towards 22,900.

On the downside, the 22,200–22,180 zone is the key support area. A break below it could leave the index vulnerable to further weakness.

What Could Shape Tuesday’s Trade?

Brent crude’s rise above $106 a barrel is a concern for India, which relies heavily on oil imports. The surge followed deadly strikes at Riyadh’s international airport, raising fears of supply disruption in the region.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a Russia-Ukraine agreement to halt attacks on energy facilities capped some gains, but uncertainty remains over whether the arrangement will hold. Sustained high oil prices could add to India’s import bill, put pressure on the rupee and make it harder to bring inflation down.

The focus at home will be on CPI inflation data. The retail inflation rate in India rose to 5.54% in September, its highest level this year under the current series. It has now stayed above the RBI’s 4% target for four straight months, although it remains within the central bank’s 2%-6% tolerance band.

The reading was also above economists’ forecast of 5.4%, strengthening expectations of tighter monetary policy as the effects of the Iran war and price pressures linked to a weak monsoon feed through the economy.

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