Pre-Market 3 July 2026: Sensex Up 579 Points, Nifty Eyes 24,250-24,375 Zone; What To Watch Today

Buying interest remained strong on Dalal Street for a second straight session on Thursday, helping benchmark indices build on the gains seen at the start of July.

The Sensex finished above the 77,500 mark at 77,502.12, while the Nifty 50 closed at 24,175.70.

Why Did Markets Extend Their Rally?

Technology stocks led the charge as investors returned to the IT sector after weeks of weakness.

Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services and HCL Tech featured among the top gainers in the Sensex pack. The Nifty IT index surged 4.64%, aided by short covering and expectations that Indian software exporters will continue to play an important role in enterprise AI adoption.

Broader market participation also improved. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose 0.48%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 1.25%.

The rally coincided with another decline in crude oil prices. Reports indicated that US and Iranian officials completed indirect discussions in Doha on Wednesday, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining one of the key topics. While the talks did not produce a broader peace agreement, lower crude prices supported sentiment in global markets.

The rise in equities lifted the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies to nearly ₹480 lakh crore, up from ₹476.50 lakh crore in the previous session.

The rupee, however, weakened further and closed 24 paise lower at 95.40 against the US dollar.

How Did Global Markets Perform After Indian Market Hours?

US stocks traded mixed on Thursday after a softer-than-expected employment report eased concerns about further interest-rate increases.

On 2 July:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 594.83 points to 52,900.07

• S&P 500 rose 0.01 points to 7,483.24

• Nasdaq Composite fell 207.36 points to 25,832.67

• Asian markets were mixed.

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1,741.81 points to 68,733.15

• Hang Seng rose 123.35 points to 23,004.37

• Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 55.65 points to 5,217.15

European markets traded higher:

• FTSE stood at 10,652.87, up 174.53 points

• CAC traded at 8,474.86, higher by 137.57 points

GIFT Nifty Update

By 21:51 IST on 2 July, GIFT Nifty was trading at 24,343.00, up 85.50 points, or 0.35%.

The futures contract remained well above Thursday's Nifty close of 24,175.70, indicating a positive start for Friday's session.

Key Levels To Watch For Nifty

Support: Analysts identify 24,075 as the immediate support zone.

Resistance: 24,250 and 24,375. A breakout above this zone would put higher levels back on the radar.

Also Read - Market Wrap, 2 July 2026: Sensex And Nifty 50 End Higher

What Could Drive Markets On Friday?

Developments from the US-Iran talks in Doha are likely to remain in focus after the latest round of discussions.

Crude oil prices will be watched closely. The recent decline in oil has been one of the factors supporting sentiment in equities.

From a technical perspective, the 24,075 mark remains important. The Nifty has gained more than 300 points over the last two sessions and traders will be watching whether it can hold on to those gains.