GIFT NIFTY opened the session at 23,958.5, posting a modest gain of 18 points or 0.08% from Monday's close of 23,940.5. The contract quickly tested the 23,970 mark in early trade, reflecting cautious optimism as Asian markets delivered mixed cues at the start of the week.
The opening minutes saw light volatility as GIFT NIFTY touched an early high of 23,978.0 within the first 15 minutes of trade before settling into a narrow range. The contract held above the 23,960 level through the first hour, with 5-minute candles showing steady buying interest that pushed the index to an intraday peak of 23,988.0 by 09:10 IST. As of 09:15 IST, GIFT NIFTY was trading at 23,963.0, up 22.5 points or 0.09%.
GIFT NIFTY Session Snapshot
| Metric | Level |
|---|---|
| Open | 23,958.5 |
| High | 23,972.5 |
| Low | 23,937.0 |
| LTP | 23,963.0 |
| Change | +22.5 (+0.09%) |
Asian Markets Display Cautious Trade
Regional markets provided little directional clarity at the open. Japan's Nikkei 225 stood at 69,468.11, up 107.23 points or 0.15% in delayed trade, maintaining its position near recent record levels. The Topix index also held modest gains, continuing the upward momentum that saw both indices hit all-time highs in recent sessions.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index traded at 23,026.68, up 1.57% or 354.82 points, providing the strongest regional performance. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 1.94% to 7,605.34, while the Hang Seng TECH Index surged 3.23% to 4,393.01. The Shanghai Composite Index added 1.16% to reach 4,073.90, up 46.64 points.
South Korea's Kospi showed weakness in delayed data, though recent sessions have seen the index reach record highs alongside Japan's Topix, reflecting sustained risk appetite in Northeast Asian equity markets.
Regional Index Performance
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | 69,468.11 | +0.15% |
| Hang Seng | 23,026.68 | +1.57% |
| Hang Seng China Enterprises | 7,605.34 | +1.94% |
| Hang Seng TECH | 4,393.01 | +3.23% |
| Shanghai Composite | 4,073.90 | +1.16% |
Early Session Range Holds Tight
GIFT NIFTY's opening session reflected limited conviction as traders awaited the Indian cash market open at 09:15 IST. The contract traded in a 35.5-point range between 23,937.0 and 23,972.5 during the first 75 minutes, with buying interest emerging on dips below the 23,960 mark.
The 5-minute candle pattern showed three distinct tests of the 23,970 level in the first half-hour, followed by a brief pullback to 23,961.5 around 08:35 IST. A fresh leg higher materialized after 08:50 IST, with the contract climbing to 23,987.5 by 09:10 IST before the Indian cash market commenced trading.
GIFT NIFTY is currently trading at 23,963.0, maintaining its foothold above the psychological 24,000 zone with a session range of 23,937.0 to 23,972.5. The modest 0.09% gain mirrors the subdued tone across Asian bourses as markets balance near-term consolidation against recent record-setting performances in Japan and South Korea.