Markets are gearing up for a positive start today, with early signals from Gift Nifty pointing upwards. Global factors, including Wall Street trends and key economic updates, will set the tone for the day. On March 17, Indian stock markets ended on a strong note, with the Sensex rising 0.46% to 74,169.95 and the Nifty gaining 0.50% to close at 22,508.75.
Key global and domestic cues to know on March 18, 2025
Asia Markets
Asian markets opened on a positive note on Tuesday, taking cues from Wall Street’s overnight gains as US retail sales data eased fears of an economic slowdown. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.34%, with the broader Topix index up 1.26%. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.76%, while the Kosdaq inched up 0.38%. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.63% higher.
Gold rate today
Gold prices hit a fresh record on Monday, March 17, surging by Rs 1,300 amid strong global trends. Concerns over US tariffs, trade tensions, and expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut pushed gold of 99.9% purity to an all-time high of Rs 90,750 per 10 grams, up from Rs 89,450 in the previous session, according to the All India Sarafa Association.
Today, March 18, gold prices in India remain as: 24 carat gold is priced at Rs 89,550 per 10 grams, while 22 carat gold rate today stands at Rs 82,090 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, 18 carat gold is selling at Rs 67,170 per 10 grams.
US markets
Wall Street gained for the second day in a row on Monday. The Dow Jones jumped over 350 points, pushing its two-day rally past 1,000 points. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%. The Nasdaq stayed in the red for most of the day but managed to close 0.3% higher
FOMC meeting
The US Federal Reserve begins its two-day meeting today, March 18, to review interest rates. The central bank is likely to keep them steady at 4.25%-4.50%, following rate cuts since September 2024. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has cautioned that rising tariffs could make inflation harder to manage. The policy decision will be announced on March 19.
US retail sales
US retail sales grew in February but fell short of expectations, while January’s figures were revised lower. However, a key measure that reflects consumer spending on goods, known as control-group sales, rebounded by 1% after a previous decline.
US dollar
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was at 103.48 on Tuesday morning. The index evaluates the strength or weakness of the US dollar in comparison to major currencies. The basket contains currencies such as the British Pound, Euro, Swedish Krona, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, etc. The rupee settled at 86.80 against the US dollar on March 17, declining by 24 paise from the previous day’s close.
FII, DII data
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs/FPIs) continued their selling spree on March 17, offloading shares worth Rs 4,488 crore, according to provisional data. Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) stepped in as net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 6,000 crore.
Crude oil
Crude oil prices inched lower on Tuesday, with WTI crude slipping 0.13% to $67.48 per barrel, while Brent crude dipped 0.02% to $71.05 in early morning trade.