Pre-Market 18 September 2026: GIFT Nifty Hints At Flat Start Today; Fed Rate Hike In Focus

Indian equities are set to begin Friday’s session after a subdued close on Thursday, with the aftermath of the Fed’s rate hike, softer crude prices and global market moves likely to shape trading sentiment.

Indian Markets Recap

The Nifty 50 edged higher, and the Sensex ended almost unchanged on Thursday. The Nifty 50 gained 53 points, or 0.23%, to close at 23,270.60 on Thursday. The Sensex ended at 74,314.59, down 21.86 points, or 0.03%. The broader market held up better, with buying seen across several sectors. Nifty Pharma rose 1.66%, while Nifty Media and Nifty Healthcare gained 1.19% and 1.56%, respectively.

Brent crude has eased from this week’s highs but remains above $100 a barrel, trading around $104. Prices have softened as Saudi Arabia increased shipments through Oman and worked to restore its East-West pipeline. Meanwhile, the rupee closed near 95.94 against the US dollar after briefly weakening past the 96 mark.

Global Markets Update

Wall Street closed higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%. The Fed rate hike is the first since 2023. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.61% to 51,778.04. The S&P 500 gained 1.14% to 7,637.76, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.69% to 26,418.30.

European markets also finished higher. The FTSE 100 jumped 1.19% to 10,816.14 and the CAC 40 rose 0.57% to 8,186.93.

Asian markets were mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.33% to 64,136.25, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 2.56 points to 6,715.41.

GIFT Nifty Today

At 7:33 am on 18 September, GIFT Nifty was trading at 23,344.50, up 11.50 points or 0.05%, hinting at a muted opening for Indian equities.

Nifty 50 Technical View

Nifty 50 remains below the 23,600 level, which is the immediate hurdle in the technical setup. The 23,100-23,000 zone remains the key support area.

A move above 23,600 could change the near-term trend, while a break below 23,100-23,000 could increase selling pressure.

What Could Shape Friday's Trade?

With the Fed’s rate decision now out of the way, markets will turn their attention to how global equities, bond yields and currencies respond to the updated policy outlook. Expectations of another US rate hike later this year could keep monetary policy firmly in focus.

For Indian markets, crude and the rupee will remain important alongside fresh developments in the Middle East. The NSE IPO, which opened for subscription on Thursday, is another domestic event to track as bidding continues. The issue had received about 42% subscription by 5:00 pm on the opening day.

Also Read - Tata Trusts Reject Chandrasekaran Reappointment, Call Tata Sons Board Move ‘Legal Nullity’