The Indian stock market is expected to open with a cautious note on April 16, 2025, with the Nifty trading near 23,300, down over 100 points or 0.48% as of the morning. The rally that took place on April 15, where the Sensex soared over 1,500 points and the Nifty crossed 23,300, seems to have given way to a more subdued mood. Several global cues, including easing geopolitical tensions and concerns around tariffs, are set to influence the direction of global markets.
Asian Markets: A Lower Open
Asian markets began the day on a lower note, following the drop in Wall Street. Investors are weighing quarterly earnings while concerns over tariffs linger. The key Asian markets that opened lower on Wednesday include:
- Japan’s Nikkei 225, which remained flat
- South Korea’s Kospi, which fell 0.2%
- The Kosdaq, which dropped 0.18%
- Australia’s S&P/ASX 200, which edged down by 0.08%
US Futures: Cautious Sentiment
US stock futures took a dip, with investors eyeing the upcoming retail sales report and a wave of first-quarter earnings. Market sentiment turned cautious, with Dow futures slipping by 0.5%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures followed suit, falling 0.9% and 1.5%, respectively.
China’s Q1 GDP Growth
China is set to release its first-quarter GDP numbers today, with economists from Reuters forecasting a 5.1% year-on-year growth. This marks a slight slowdown from the 5.4% growth seen in the previous quarter.
‘Your Move, China’ – Trump on Trade Talks
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, quoting Trump directly, said that “the ball is in China’s court.” Leavitt added, “China needs to make a deal with us, we don’t have to make a deal with them.” This statement reflects the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.
US Markets: A Lower Close
In the US, all three major indices closed lower on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 155.83 points, or 0.38%, finishing at 40,368.96. The S&P 500 slid 0.17%, closing at 5,396.63, while the Nasdaq Composite eased by 0.05%, ending the session at 16,823.17.
US Dollar Index: Down 0.35%
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was down 0.35% at 99.86 on Wednesday morning. The index evaluates the strength or weakness of the US dollar in comparison to major currencies.
Crude Oil Prices: Slightly Higher
Crude oil prices moved slightly higher early Wednesday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by 0.35% to $61.54 a barrel, while Brent crude saw a modest gain of 0.28%, trading at $65.85.
FII, DII Data
Foreign investors came back to Indian stocks with strong buying on April 15, breaking their recent selling trend. They picked up shares worth Rs 6,065 crore, their biggest single-day purchase since March 27, when they had invested over Rs 11,000 crore. Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors took a breather and booked profits, selling stocks worth Rs 1,951 crore.
Gold Rate Today
Gold prices ended Tuesday on a firm note as investors turned to the yellow metal amid jitters surrounding US President Donald Trump’s tariff stance. With global markets on edge, traders sought safety in gold, pushing up its value in international trade. In India, the trend mirrored global cues, with 24-carat gold priced at Rs 95,170 per 10 grams, 22-carat gold at Rs 87,190, and 18-carat gold at Rs 71,340 per 10 grams.
Earnings Watch: Key Companies Set to Announce Q4 Results Today
Today, several key companies are set to announce their quarterly results. These earnings reports will provide crucial insights into the performance of various sectors and companies. Investors will be keeping a close eye on these announcements to gauge the overall health of the market.
Quoted Section
“Investors are looking for clarity on the outlook for global growth, and that’s what’s driving the markets today,” said Amitabh Kant, Chairman of NITI Aayog.
