Pre-Market 17 March 2026: Markets Rebound; Global Cues Positive

Indian equity markets move into Tuesday’s session after a firm close in the previous trading day. Benchmark indices finished Monday with strong gains, helped by late buying across several large-cap stocks.

The broader mood improved toward the end of the session, allowing the Nifty 50 to reclaim the 23,400 level, even though volatility linked to global tensions remains in the background.

Early signals from derivatives markets suggest a steady start for domestic equities. The GIFT Nifty was trading around 23,455, indicating a premium of roughly 26 points over the previous close of Nifty futures.

Despite the rebound, the conflict in West Asia and the direction of crude oil prices continue to influence risk appetite across global markets.

Global Markets

Wall Street ended Monday on a positive note, driven largely by strength in technology-linked stocks.

• S&P 500 rose 1.01%
• Nasdaq gained 1.22%
• Dow Jones advanced 0.83%

Asian markets also opened higher. Optimism grew after reports suggested more tankers may resume movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.

Futures trading in the region reflected the improvement:

• Hang Seng futures gained 0.6%
• Nikkei 225 futures rose 0.5%
• Japan’s Topix index advanced 1.2%

However, global markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments, and shifts in energy prices could still influence trading behaviour.

Institutional Flows, Rupee and Volatility

Institutional activity continued to show divergence between foreign and domestic investors.

Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of ₹9,365 crore in Indian equities during Monday’s session. In contrast, domestic institutional investors stepped in with purchases of ₹12,593 crore, helping absorb part of the selling pressure.

In the currency market, the Indian rupee slipped by 10 paise and closed at ₹92.4 against the US dollar, marking a fresh record low. The decline came amid continued foreign fund outflows and firm crude oil prices.

Volatility, however, cooled slightly during the session. The India VIX fell 4.6% to 21.60. Even after the drop, the index remains at relatively high levels, suggesting traders are still preparing for larger swings in the market.

Technical Levels to Watch

The recent bounce has improved short-term sentiment, but important hurdles remain ahead.

For the Nifty, the 23,600–23,900 range is currently seen as the first major resistance zone. A sustained move above this band would be needed for the recovery to gather strength.

On the downside, the 22,900–23,000 area continues to act as an important support level. Traders are keeping a close watch on this zone in case selling pressure returns.

Also Read - WPI Inflation Climbs To 2.13% As Price Pressures Build

What to Expect from Today’s Market?

Tuesday’s trading is likely to be shaped by both domestic and global cues. Early signals from the derivatives market suggest a relatively steady start. Even so, the bigger picture remains uncertain, and institutional flows will also be closely watched.

For now, the market mood looks cautious rather than outright optimistic. Global cues have improved somewhat, but geopolitical tensions have not eased. As a result, the day’s trade could remain selective, with activity likely to revolve around specific stocks instead of broad index moves.

Sources:

ET

Mint

Moneycontrol