After a long weekend on account of Holi, the Indian stock markets are set to resume trading today, March 17. But will the break bring fresh momentum, or will investors return to a cautious start? Early trends from Gift Nifty indicate a positive opening.
From Wall Street’s performance to key economic announcements, several factors will influence market movements. Before the opening bell rings, here’s a look at the major global cues that could impact Indian stocks today.
Key global and domestic cues to know on March 17, 2025
Asia Markets
Asia-Pacific markets were trading higher on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 opening 0.99% higher, while the broader Topix index gained 1.10%. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1.23% at the open, and the small-cap Kosdaq edged up 0.32%.
Gold rate today
Gold prices crossed the $3,000 mark for the first time on Friday (March 14). This is the 13th all-time high this year. The surge comes as investors rush toward the safe-haven asset, driven by growing trade war tensions and fresh tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, adding to market uncertainty.
Gold prices in India are soaring, with 24-karat gold priced at Rs 8,966 per gram or Rs 89,660 for 10 grams. Meanwhile, 22 carat gold rate today is selling at Rs 8,219 per gram or Rs 82,190 per 10 grams, and 18-karat gold is at Rs 6,725 per gram or Rs 67,250 per 10 grams.
US markets
US stocks staged a comeback on Friday (March 14), recovering from earlier losses in the week. The Dow Jones surged 674.62 points or 1.65% to close at 41,488.19, while the S&P 500 gained 2.13% to settle at 5,638.94. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.61% to 17,754.09.
US Fed policy and FOMC meeting
All eyes are on the US Federal Reserve, which is set to begin its two-day FOMC meeting tomorrow, March 18. The central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged in the 4.25%-4.50% range after cutting rates by 100 basis points since September 2024. Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently warned that rising tariffs could complicate inflation management. The policy announcement is due on March 19.
Trump tariffs
Trade tensions remain a key concern as Trump’s tariff policies continue to rattle global markets. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured G7 ministers that the tariffs were not aimed at allies. Meanwhile, Tesla has reportedly urged the Trump administration to reconsider, warning that retaliatory tariffs could hurt US exports.
US dollar
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was at 103.71 on Monday 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 87.01 against the US dollar on March 13, strengthening by 20 paise from the previous day’s close.
FII, DII data
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their selling spree on March 13, offloading shares worth Rs 792 crore, according to provisional data. Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) stepped in as net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 1,723 crore.
Crude oil
Crude oil prices climbed on Monday, with WTI crude trading at $68.27, up 1.64%, while Brent crude rose to $71.65, gaining 1.52% in early morning trade.
Corporate action
Several stocks, including Castrol India, Power Finance Corporation, and Indian Railway Finance Corporation, will trade ex-dividend starting March 17. Additionally, some stocks are set to trade ex-split and ex-bonus this week.