GIFT NIFTY opened marginally higher at 23,106.0 on Friday morning, just 0.5 points above the previous close of 23,105.5, before extending gains to touch an intraday high of 23,130.0 in the first 75 minutes of trade. The benchmark offshore index was last trading at 23,130.0, up 24.5 points or 0.11% from Thursday's settlement.
The opening session showed steady accumulation after a hesitant start. GIFT NIFTY held above the 23,080 level through the first 15 minutes before rallying sharply to 23,176.5 around 00:15 IST in overnight trade. The index consolidated through the rest of the early session, holding support above 23,146 and trading in a tight 37.5-point range between 23,092.5 and 23,130.0 by the time Indian cash markets opened at 09:15 IST.
| Metric | Level |
|---|---|
| Open | 23,106.0 |
| High | 23,130.0 |
| Low | 23,092.5 |
| LTP | 23,130.0 |
| Change | +24.5 (+0.11%) |
Asian Markets Mixed as Nikkei Rallies
Regional markets traded without clear direction. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 495.04 points or 0.76% to close at 65,513.99, extending its winning streak to a fourth consecutive session. The rally in Tokyo provided some support to sentiment across the region.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 72.99 points or 0.29% to 24,761.13, reversing earlier modest gains. China's SSE Composite Index fell 1.22% to 3,888.37, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.72% to 8,702.00, reflecting caution among investors in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | 65,513.99 | +495.04 (+0.76%) |
| Hang Seng | 24,761.13 | -72.99 (-0.29%) |
| SSE Composite | 3,888.37 | -1.22% |
| S&P/ASX 200 | 8,702.00 | -63.30 (-0.72%) |
Early Session Range Holds Tight
GIFT NIFTY's early session price action reflected the mixed regional backdrop. After opening essentially flat, the index showed resilience by maintaining levels above 23,100 through the first hour of Indian market trading. The 37.5-point intraday range remained narrow by recent standards, suggesting limited volatility heading into the cash market open.
The index is currently trading near the top of its early session range at 23,130.0, with the 23,092.5 low marking immediate support and the overnight spike high of 23,176.5 providing the nearest resistance level. Price action through the opening minutes indicated measured buying interest without aggressive momentum in either direction.