Indian equity indices are likely to open on a negative note, weighed down by rising tensions in West Asia and subdued cues from Asian peers. The GIFT Nifty was trading 0.29% lower at 24,765.50, hinting at a cautious opening. Investors will keep a close eye on global factors such as crude oil prices, institutional flows from FIIs and DIIs, and sectoral trends. Additionally, recent momentum in select business groups and sector-specific moves may influence early trade sentiment on Dalal Street.
Indian stock markets ended slightly lower on June 18, dragged down by weakness in a few heavyweight stocks. The Sensex dropped 138 points to close at 81,444, while the Nifty slipped 41 points to end at 24,812.
Key global and domestic cues to know on June 19, 2025
Iran – Israel conflict
The Israel-Iran conflict stretches into its seventh day, tensions continue to rise with both nations trading strikes. Israel claims to have targeted military sites in Tehran, while Iran says it has launched ballistic missiles toward Israel. In the US, President Donald Trump convened a Situation Room meeting on Wednesday to evaluate America’s response. While he stated that his “patience has already run out” with Tehran, he has yet to make a final decision on direct involvement. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to surrender and warned that any US military action would cause “irreparable damage.”
Crude oil
Oil prices slipped in early trade on Thursday as rising tensions between Iran and Israel kept investors cautious about possible disruptions in global supply chains. Brent crude eased 0.34% to $74.88 a barrel, while WTI fell 0.74% to $76.13.
Asian markets
Asia-Pacific markets opened on a mixed note Thursday, as investors reacted to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady while also keeping an eye on escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Japan’s Nikkei 225 opened 0.27% lower, and the broader Topix slipped 0.12%. South Korea’s Kospi opened in the green, rising 0.76%, while the Kosdaq gained 0.37%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 opened flat.
US futures
The Dow Jones closed slightly lower on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.
US Market
Wall Street ended on a mixed note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 44.14 points, or 0.10%, to close at 42,171.66. The S&P 500 edged down slightly by 0.03% to finish at 5,980.87, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite bucked the trend, rising 0.13% to settle at 19,546.27.
US Federal Reserve
The US Federal Reserve has once again decided to keep interest rates steady, marking the fourth consecutive meeting without a change. While the central bank still expects to cut rates twice by the end of 2025, officials are now more divided, with some predicting no cuts at all this year. In its latest economic outlook, the Fed also revised its forecasts – projecting slower growth, slightly higher unemployment, and stickier inflation than it had anticipated in March. These changes come amid rising global uncertainty and trade policy shifts following President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements in April. Looking further ahead, the Fed now sees just one rate cut in 2026, compared to two previously expected.
US dollar
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was trading flat at 98.89 on Thursday 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 appreciated 0.6% to close at 86.47 to the dollar on June 18.
FII, DII data
Foreign and domestic institutional investors continued their buying streak in Indian equities on Wednesday. As per provisional exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) made net purchases worth Rs 890.93 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained stronger participants with net buying of Rs 1,091.34 crore.
Gold rate today
Gold edges higher in early Asian trade as geopolitical tensions keep safe-haven demand intact. As per Goodreturns, today, 10 grams of 24-carat gold rate today is Rs 1,00,920, while 22-carat gold costs Rs 92,510. For those preferring 18-carat gold, the price is Rs 75,700 for the same weight.
Best and worst performing business groups
Shares of several key business groups saw notable movement in the market on June 18. The ADA Enterprises Group led the pack with a gain of 4.81%, followed by the Nagarjuna Group, which rose 3.31%. The Patodia Group also posted a 2.15% uptick, while the Hinduja Group added 2.08%.
On the downside, some major business groups saw notable pressure. The Vedanta Group saw the steepest decline with a 3.96% drop, followed by the Oswal Group, which slipped 2.94%. The Ramco Group also ended lower, falling 2.87%.
Sectors that surged most in Wednesday’s trade
Select sectors saw upbeat momentum in the market. The retail sector led the charge with a 2.3% rise in market cap. Glass stocks followed closely with a 2.13% gain, while the gems and jewellery sector saw a healthy uptick of 1.63%. The electronics sector also edged higher, rising 0.91%.