Dalal Street is likely to open flat to slightly higher today, with early indicators suggesting a positive start despite rising tensions in West Asia. The GIFT Nifty was up 0.04% at 24,797 in early trade, hinting at a green opening for the benchmark indices. Investors will keep a close watch on global crude oil trends, institutional flows, and any sharp sectoral or group-specific moves. The spotlight will also be on how recent rallies in select counters hold up against the current geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds.
In a rangebound session on June 19, Indian equity benchmarks closed slightly lower, dragged by weak global cues and persistent selling pressure in broader markets. The Sensex slipped 82.79 points, or 0.10%, to settle at 81,361.87, while the Nifty declined 18.80 points, or 0.08%, to close at 24,793.25.
Key global and domestic cues to know on June 20, 2025
Iran – Israel conflict
The Israel-Iran conflict has entered its eighth day with tensions intensifying on both sides. Thursday saw a sharp escalation as Israel targeted Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, one of its key nuclear facilities just hours after issuing evacuation alerts. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missiles, one of which struck Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel, reportedly causing significant damage. As the situation grows more volatile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would allow a two-week window for diplomacy before deciding on any military action. Meanwhile, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq has threatened to attack American bases in the region if the U.S. joins the conflict, adding another layer of uncertainty to the already fragile scenario.
Crude oil
Oil prices showed a mixed trend in early Asian trading as energy markets stayed cautious amid growing fears of U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. While Brent crude slipped by 1.23% to $73.96 per barrel, WTI crude edged up 0.11% to $77.24.
Asian markets
Markets across the Asia-Pacific region opened mostly higher on Friday as investors looked ahead to China’s key loan rate announcement and kept an eye on rising tensions between Israel and Iran. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.24%, while the Topix was flat. In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.45% and the Kosdaq was up 0.59%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also edged up 0.23%.
US futures
U.S. stock futures dipped slightly on Thursday night, with Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all edging lower. However, the losses narrowed after President Donald Trump said he would wait up to two weeks before deciding whether to launch a military strike on Iran.
US Market
The US market was closed on Thursday, June 19, to observe Juneteenth 2025, a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery and is often referred to as America’s Second Independence Day. As a result, trading activity on Wall Street came to a halt, with both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq shut for the day.
US dollar
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was trading down at 98.61 on Friday 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 0.29% to close at 86.73 to the dollar on June 19.
FII, DII data
Foreign and domestic institutional investors continued their buying streak in Indian equities on Thursday. According to provisional exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) made net purchases worth Rs 934.62 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also remained active with net buying of Rs 605.97 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 1,01,090, while 22-carat gold costs Rs 92,660. For those preferring 18-carat gold, the price is Rs 75,820 for the same weight.
Best and worst performing business groups
A few corporate groups stood tall with healthy gains. Manipal Group emerged as the top performer, clocking a 3.25% rise in market cap. The Apollo Hospital Group also saw a 1.03% uptick. Jaipuria Group, known for its consumer-facing businesses, gained 1.2%, while Hero Group added 0.58%. Even the heavyweight Bharti Group edged up 0.41%.
Several business groups came under heavy selling pressure on Thursday. Pennar Group led the decline with a 4.79% drop. Essel Group stocks also took a hit, falling 4.11%. The MP Birla Group slipped 3.85%, while the Nagarjuna Group lost 3.5%
Sectors that surged most in Thursday’s trade
A few sectors managed to stand out with modest gains in the previous day trading session. Tea and Coffee stocks led the pack, rising 1.45%. The Auto sector followed with a 0.46% uptick. Meanwhile, the Gems and Jewellery segment saw a muted move, inching up 0.12%.
Selling pressure hit several sectors on June 19, with Plastics and Non-Alcoholic Beverages among the hardest hit. The Plastics sector tumbled 3.62%. Meanwhile, Beverages (Non-Alcoholic) saw a sharp 4.51% decline. Infrastructure stocks also came under pressure, slipping 2.66%. The Glass and Electronics sectors fell 2.71% and 2.44% respectively.