GIFT NIFTY reopened for Session II at 23,343 at 16:35 IST on September 18, slipping 11 points or 0.05% from the Session I close of 23,354. The near-flat gap reflected cautious positioning ahead of the evening session, with the index trading 5.5 points or 0.02% below the previous day's close of 23,361.
The marginal weakness at the Session II open came despite a firmer tone in European equity markets, which had been trading for over three hours by the time GIFT NIFTY resumed. The index quickly recovered from the opening dip, touching 23,360.5 in the first candle and trading at 23,355.5 as of 19:09 IST, erasing most of the session gap.
| Metric | Level |
|---|---|
| Session I Close | 23,354.0 |
| Session II Open | 23,343.0 |
| Session Gap | -11.0 (-0.05%) |
| Current LTP | 23,355.5 |
| Change vs Prev Day Close | -5.5 (-0.02%) |
European Markets Advance in Mid-Session Trade
European indices were trading higher in mid-session, providing a constructive backdrop for GIFT NIFTY's evening session. The DAX 40 gained 178.96 points or 0.70% to 25,716.71, while the CAC 40 rose 46.34 points or 0.57% to 8,186.93, according to real-time data available at the Session II open.
The broader Euro Stoxx 50 advanced 56.40 points or 0.90% to close at 6,322.90, while the STOXX Europe 600 climbed 0.9% to 643, supported by easing natural gas benchmarks and wholesale fuel costs across the continent. The FTSE 100, however, showed weakness, declining 67.34 points or 0.62% to 10,748.80 in mid-session trade, diverging from the firmer tone on the continent.
The divergence between London and continental European markets suggested sector-specific moves rather than broad risk sentiment shifts, with the DAX and CAC 40 outperforming as eurozone blue-chips rallied. The FTSE MIB in Milan jumped 416.38 points while Spain's IBEX 35 added 196.00 points, indicating strength in southern European bourses.
GIFT NIFTY Outlook for Session II
GIFT NIFTY is currently trading at 23,355.5, holding near the day's Session I high of 23,396 and comfortably above the intraday low of 23,287. Session II runs until 02:45 AM IST, and European markets will close around 21:00-22:00 IST, which could bring further directional cues as U.S. futures activity picks up in the late evening hours.