GIFT NIFTY Opens Marginally Higher at 24,313 as Asian Markets Rally Sharply

GIFT NIFTY opened marginally higher at 24,313.50 on Wednesday morning, up 45.5 points or 0.19% from the previous close of 24,268.00. The modest opening gap came as Asian markets posted robust gains, with Japan's Nikkei 225 surging 2.88% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbing 2.17%.

The offshore derivative contract drifted lower in the first five minutes of trade, slipping to 24,325 before recovering ground through the early session. By 00:15 IST, GIFT NIFTY had climbed to 24,353, extending gains as Asian market strength gathered momentum. The contract pushed higher through the opening hour, touching 24,432.50 around 01:10 IST before pulling back slightly.

The Nikkei 225 jumped 1,519.67 points to 54,248.39, building on recent momentum with a 2.88% gain. The index opened at 53,524.09 and climbed through a session range of 53,487.19 to 54,694.89. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 551.44 points to 25,959.90, up 2.17% from a previous close of 25,408.46. The Hang Seng opened at 25,740.29 and traded between 25,611.79 and 25,959.90.

China's Shanghai Composite edged higher by 26.54 points to 4,123.14, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 93.60 points to 8,692.60. The broad-based rally across the Asia-Pacific region provided a supportive backdrop for Indian index futures as cash market trading commenced.

GIFT NIFTY's early session showed initial consolidation near the opening level before a gradual climb through the first hour. The contract touched an intraday low of 24,299.50 shortly after the open, testing support before buyers stepped in. By the time the Indian cash market opened at 09:15 IST, GIFT NIFTY was trading at 24,312, just below the opening print, having established an early session high of 24,333.50.

The subdued opening gap in GIFT NIFTY contrasted with the sharper moves seen across broader Asian indices, suggesting caution among traders despite the positive regional cues. As of 09:15 IST, the contract was trading 44 points above the previous close in a narrow 34-point range, indicating measured early-session positioning.