Pre-Market 29 April 2026: What To Expect After Sensex Drops 417 Points; Global Markets Mixed, GIFT Nifty Signals Weak Start

Indian equity markets head into Wednesday after ending lower in the previous session.

The Sensex fell 416.73 points to close at 76,886.91, while the Nifty 50 dropped 97 points to settle at 23,995.70 on 28 April 2026.

What Happened In Tuesday’s Session?

Markets saw choppy movement through the day. Early losses were bought into, helping the Nifty move closer to its 50-day average. But the recovery did not hold. Selling returned later in the session, pulling the index back below the 24,000 mark.

Banking stocks remained under pressure and weighed on the benchmarks. Among individual stocks, ONGC and Adani Enterprises shares were among the key gainers. Axis Bank and Maruti Suzuki shares, on the other hand, saw notable declines.

Broader markets showed strength. The Nifty Midcap 100 index moved to 60,419.40, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index crossed the 17,900–17,970 range and closed higher.

Global Cues After Market Hours

Global markets showed a mixed trend after Indian trading hours.

In the US, indices declined. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25.86 points, or 0.05%, to 49,141.93. The S&P 500 declined 35.11 points, or 0.49%, to 7,138.80, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 223.30 points, or 0.90%, to 24,663.80.

The Nasdaq underperformed, as investors reassessed growth expectations in technology stocks. Geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran continue to remain in focus, adding to uncertainty during the earnings season.

Asian markets were weak. Japan’s Nikkei fell 619.90 points, or 1.02%, to 59,917.46, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 245.87 points, or 0.95%, to 25,679.78.

European markets saw mixed trends. The FTSE 100 rose 11.70 points, or 0.11%, to 10,332.79, while the CAC 40 fell 37.83 points, or 0.46%, to 8,104.09.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty was around 24,038, down 62 points (0.26%) as of 28 April 2026 at 20:30 IST. The move is mild but points to a slightly weak start.

Technical Levels To Watch

The Nifty index is now near important levels after slipping below 24,000.

• Immediate support is seen in the 23,850-23,800 zone

• A break below this could drag the index towards 23,650 and 23,500

• On the upside, resistance is placed in the 24,200–24,250 range

The Nifty index attempted a recovery but failed to hold higher levels, suggesting some loss of momentum in the near term.

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What Should Investors Expect Today?

The session could open a bit on the weaker side, in line with global cues. Sentiment is still cautious. The US–Iran situation and Q4 FY26 earnings updates are on investors’ radar.

After the recent fall, the market may move within a range. The focus will be on whether the Nifty holds above support or slips lower.

Sources:

Reuters

CNBC TV18