GIFT NIFTY opened at 23,998.50 on Thursday morning, marking a gain of 59.5 points or 0.25% from the previous close of 23,939. The index touched an early high of 23,998.50 at the open before pulling back, trading at 23,984.50 by 9:15 AM IST as the Indian cash market commenced trading.
The opening gap higher came after a gradual buildup through the overnight session. Early trading saw the index climb steadily from around 23,882 in the first hour, gaining momentum around 8:40 AM SGT when it surged past 23,970. The index breached 23,985 shortly after, establishing the session high at the official open.
| Metric | Level |
|---|---|
| Open | 23,998.50 |
| High | 23,998.50 |
| Low | 23,947.00 |
| LTP | 23,984.50 |
| Change | +45.50 (0.19%) |
Regional markets presented a mixed picture. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed at 66,819.05, down 1,437.91 points or 2.11%, continuing to trade below recent record highs. The Hang Seng Index showed resilience with a previous close of 24,199.46, up 2.99%, while India's Nifty 50 Index stood at 23,882.05, down 2.12% according to available index data.
The divergence among major Asian indices reflected ongoing uncertainty, with Hong Kong outperforming while Japanese and Indian benchmarks faced pressure. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 4.04% and the Hang Seng TECH Index surged 4.97%, pointing to strength in Chinese technology stocks.
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | 66,819.05 | -2.11% |
| Hang Seng | 24,199.46 | +2.99% |
| Nifty 50 | 23,882.05 | -2.12% |
The early session price action in GIFT NIFTY showed buyers stepping in during the overnight hours, with the index climbing approximately 116 points from the midnight level of 23,882 to the opening print of 23,998.50. The most decisive move occurred in the 40-minute window starting at 8:40 AM SGT, when the index added nearly 50 points.
After touching the session high at the open, GIFT NIFTY gave back some gains, slipping to a low of 23,947 before stabilizing. The index is currently holding above the 23,980 level, trading within a modest 51-point range as the Indian cash market begins its session. The modest positive gap suggests cautious optimism, though the retreat from opening highs indicates traders are awaiting further directional cues.