GIFT NIFTY opened marginally higher at 24,210.50 on Friday morning, up 26.50 points or 0.11% from the previous close of 24,219.00. The early session showed muted momentum as the index edged toward its intraday high of 24,256.00 in the first 75 minutes of trade.
The contract opened near the prior close and climbed steadily through the first half-hour, touching 24,256.00 by 8:35 AM SGT before pulling back. The low of the session came at 24,204.00 shortly after the open. As of 9:15 AM IST, GIFT NIFTY was trading at 24,245.50, holding within a tight 52-point range.
Regional Markets Set Cautious Tone
Asian equity benchmarks traded mixed overnight, offering little directional conviction. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed down 130.18 points or 0.20% at 66,131.98, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 87.24 points or 0.34% to 25,565.74. Mainland China's Shanghai SE Composite bucked the trend, rising 1.13% to 3,956.57.
The divergence across the region reflected uneven sentiment as traders weighed economic data and positioning ahead of the weekend. The Nikkei's modest decline came despite intraday volatility, with the index trading between 65,782.59 and 66,954.69 during the session.
Indian Benchmarks Dip at Open
India's domestic equity indices opened in the red. The Nifty 50 Index dropped 0.48% to 24,090.85, while the BSE Sensex Index fell 539.35 points or 0.70% to 76,933.59. The weakness in cash market indices contrasted with GIFT NIFTY's modest gain, suggesting selective positioning as traders assessed overnight global cues.
GIFT NIFTY Session Snapshot
| Metric | Level |
|---|---|
| Open | 24,210.50 |
| High | 24,256.00 |
| Low | 24,204.00 |
| Last Traded Price | 24,245.50 |
| Change | +26.50 (+0.11%) |
Asian Indices at a Glance
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | 66,131.98 | -130.18 (-0.20%) |
| Hang Seng | 25,565.74 | -87.24 (-0.34%) |
| Shanghai SE | 3,956.57 | +1.13% |
| Nifty 50 | 24,090.85 | -0.48% |
| BSE Sensex | 76,933.59 | -539.35 (-0.70%) |
GIFT NIFTY is currently trading near the middle of its early session range, holding above the 24,200 mark as traders digest mixed regional cues and await further catalysts from the domestic cash market session.