Pre-Market 19 June 2026: US-Iran Interim Deal Lifts Markets, Nifty Ends At 24,168; What To Expect Today

Indian equities head into Friday's session after benchmark indices finished higher for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday, even as investors weighed the US Federal Reserve's hawkish commentary against improving global sentiment following the US-Iran agreement.

The Sensex gained 254 points to close at 77,410 on 18 June, while the Nifty 50 added 82 points to settle at 24,168. The rally lifted the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies by ₹2.57 lakh crore to ₹477.69 lakh crore.

The latest gains came after the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement extending their ceasefire, while a sharp decline in crude prices provided additional support to risk assets worldwide.

What Happened In Thursday's Session?

Dalal Street remained volatile through the day but managed to end in positive territory.

Market participants balanced two competing developments. On one hand, the Federal Reserve's commentary reinforced concerns that interest rates could stay elevated for longer. On the other, the signing of the interim US-Iran agreement and a fall in crude prices improved risk appetite.

Brent crude dropped about 2.1% to $75.9 per barrel after Washington and Tehran formalised an interim arrangement that extends the ceasefire for another 60 days while negotiations on a final agreement continue.

Global Markets

Wall Street opened higher on Thursday as investors welcomed the extension of the US-Iran ceasefire and bought semiconductor stocks.

On 18 June:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 72.15 points, or 0.14%, to 51,564.70

• S&P 500 gained 80.48 points, or 1.08%, to 7,500.58

• Nasdaq Composite advanced 496.28 points, or 1.91%, to 26,517.93

IT stocks may be under watch after a weak session for global technology services firms. Infosys' ADR dropped nearly 10%, and Wipro's ADR fell as much as 9% intraday on Thursday after Accenture lowered the upper end of its annual revenue growth guidance. The announcement weighed on the broader sector, with Cognizant, IBM and Capgemini also ending sharply lower.

Asian markets ended mixed.

• Japan's Nikkei 225 Index stood at 71,053.49, up 1,151.24 points

• Singapore's Straits Times Index traded at 5,212.84, higher by 36.38 points

• Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was at 23,924.81, down 387.35 points

European markets also showed mixed trends.

• FTSE closed at 10,399.70, down by 1.04%

• CAC 40 closed at 8,467.98, up by 0.44%

GIFT Nifty Update

By 19:57 IST on 18 June, GIFT Nifty was trading at 24,080.50, down 112 points, or 0.46%.

The contract slipped below Thursday's Nifty close of 24,168 after market hours, pointing to a subdued start for Friday's trade if global cues remain unchanged.

Key Levels To Watch

Technical analysts remain positive on the broader trend after Nifty formed a bullish candle on the daily chart.

Support zones:

• 24,060

• 24,000

Resistance zones:

• 24,300

• 24,375

As long as the index stays above the 24,000 mark, the current uptrend remains intact. On the upside, traders will be watching whether Nifty can extend its move towards the 24,300-24,375 zone.

Also Read - Market Wrap, 18 June 2026: Sensex, Nifty End In Green

What Should Investors Expect Today?

The signing of the interim US-Iran agreement has given markets a fresh reference point, and investors will be watching for any updates on how the deal progresses. Investors are also evaluating the Fed's latest stance on inflation and rates.

Domestic investors are also keeping an eye on bond markets, rainfall trends and sector-wise opportunities heading into Friday's session.

Sources:

Mint

Reuters

Moneycontrol