GIFT NIFTY Opens Marginally Higher at 24,609 Despite Nikkei Slide

GIFT NIFTY opened 16.5 points higher at 24,609.0 on Monday morning, gaining 0.07% from the previous close of 24,592.5, even as Japan's benchmark index tumbled nearly 1% in overnight trading.

The contract hit an early session high of 24,639.5 within the first 15 minutes before profit-taking pushed prices lower. By the time the Indian cash market opened at 09:15 IST, GIFT NIFTY was trading at 24,627.5, up 35.0 points or 0.14% from Friday's close.

Early Session Price Action

The opening gap held through the first five minutes, but sellers quickly emerged. GIFT NIFTY drifted to an intraday low of 24,578.5 around the 50-minute mark, carving out a trading range of 61.5 points in the first 70 minutes of the session.

The contract spent most of the early hour below the 24,600 mark, testing 24,580 levels twice before stabilizing. By 09:10 IST, prices had recovered modestly to 24,582.5, still holding a marginal gain over Friday's settlement.

Asian Market Divergence

Asian markets presented a mixed picture at the Indian market open. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 607.12 points lower at 63,754.90, a decline of 0.94% from the previous close of 64,362.02. The index opened at 63,834.95 and traded in a range between 62,703.47 and 63,905.12.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index moved in the opposite direction, gaining 124.97 points or 0.48% to reach 26,009.40. The index opened at 25,987.31 and sustained gains through the morning session.

GIFT NIFTY Session Snapshot

Asian Indices at Indian Market Open

GIFT NIFTY is currently trading at 24,627.5, up 0.14% from the previous close, having navigated choppy early-session waters. The contract has traced a narrow 36.5-point range since the open, suggesting cautious positioning ahead of the domestic cash market session.