Pre-Market 16 April 2026: What To Expect After Nifty Gains 389 Points; Oil Eases, GIFT Nifty Stable

Indian equity markets head into Thursday after a strong close in the previous session. Global cues were firm, and sentiment improved on expectations of progress in the US–Iran talks.

The gains were broad-based. Buying was seen across sectors through the day.

The Sensex rose 1,263.67 points (1.64%) to 78,111.24, while the Nifty 50 added 389 points (1.63%) to close at 24,231 on 15 April 2026.

What Happened In Wednesday’s Session?

Markets remained firm through the session. All sectoral indices ended higher. IT stocks led the gains, with the Nifty IT index rising 2.8%.

Broader markets performed better than the benchmarks. Midcap and smallcap indices rose more than 2%, indicating wider participation.

The Nifty moved past the 24,200 mark and stayed there till the close. This extends the recovery seen over the past few sessions.

Global Cues After Market Hours

Global markets were mixed after Indian trading hours.

In the US, indices were largely steady. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 0.15%, while the S&P 500 edged higher by 0.80%. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.59%.

The moves came as investors tracked developments around US–Iran talks. US President Donald Trump said the conflict could end soon, pointing to possible progress in negotiations. At the same time, US forces continued to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports, adding to uncertainty around supply routes.

Asian markets were firm. Japan’s Nikkei rose by 1.85%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up by 0.77%. China’s Shanghai Composite was also marginally higher.

Oil And Commodities In Focus

Brent crude traded near $95 per barrel. The decline followed expectations of renewed talks between the US and Iran.

Gold prices edged higher. Spot gold moved above $4,800 per ounce, helped by a softer dollar.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty was around 24,303.50, up 54 points (+0.22%) as of 15 April 2026. This points to a steady start for domestic markets.

The index remains above the 24,300 level, which may act as an important near-term zone.

Technical Levels To Watch

Markets are approaching key levels after the recent upmove.

• Immediate resistance is seen around the 24,250–24,300 range

• A move above this zone could push the index towards 24,750–24,800

• On the downside, support is placed near 23,500

Nifty has moved above key averages, indicating improving sentiment in the near term.

The India VIX has also dropped to 18.76, indicating a lower level of near-term risk.

Also Read - Post-Market, 15 April 2026: Markets React Positively To Global Cues

What Should Investors Expect Today?

The session may start on a steady note, in line with global cues.

Focus will remain on developments around the US–Iran talks. Fresh updates could move both sentiment and oil prices.

After the recent rally, the market may slow down. Some consolidation is possible. The key will be whether the index stays above important levels.

Sources:

Reuters

Mint

CNBC TV18