Stock Market: GIFT Nifty Up, Asian Markets Rise; Nvidia Drops 7%

Global Optimism Points to a Firmer Indian Open, With Tech Risks in View

A positive lead from Wall Street and parts of Asia supports sentiment, but shifting futures and a sharp Nvidia decline leave the opening outlook vulnerable to fresh swings.

A constructive signal, but not a settled opening call

GIFT Nifty first traded at 25,245, up 31 points, suggesting the Nifty50 could extend its gains at the open. By 8:30 a.m., however, the contract was quoted at 25,209, down six points. The change in direction shows why an early indication should be treated as a snapshot rather than a reliable prediction of the cash-market session.

The broader overnight backdrop was supportive: the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.49%, the S&P 500 gained 1.31% and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.60%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi were up 0.72% and 0.67%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.27%. The divergence makes the regional picture positive overall, but not uniform.

Nvidia’s decline complicates the technology rally

Nvidia shares slumped 7% in post-market trading after reports said the company’s board may prepare to oust chief executive Jensen Huang. The reports, as presented in the available information, describe a possible board move rather than a confirmed leadership change. Still, the sharp share-price reaction weighed on Nasdaq 100-linked futures in Asia.

Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.48% and S&P 500 futures slipped 0.27%, while Dow futures rose 0.12%. That split suggests the Nvidia news was exerting particular pressure on technology-linked sentiment, even after the major US indexes closed higher. For Indian investors, it is a reminder that a strong global close does not guarantee that every sector or market will share the same direction at the next open.

Oil and precious metals offer another set of cues

Brent crude’s January futures were quoted at $91.93 a barrel, down 0.77%, after oil had risen 1% in the previous session. The earlier advance followed Iran’s statement that it would retain its nuclear material reserve, described as a central point of disagreement with Washington. The latest decline may ease some immediate pressure from energy prices, but the geopolitical backdrop remains relevant to how oil trades.

Gold and silver futures also moved lower, falling 0.29% and 0.74%, respectively. These commodity moves provide context for the day’s risk mood, but they do not by themselves establish a clear direction for Indian shares. Investors will need to watch whether early moves persist and how they interact with company-specific news.

Quarterly results could bring company-level focus

The results calendar includes companies from defence, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, energy, financial services, consumer businesses and technology. Names on the list include Bharat Dynamics, Hindustan Aeronautics, Alkem Laboratories, NMDC, Oil India, Manappuram Finance, Vodafone Idea, IRCTC, Page Industries and Ola Electric Mobility.

That breadth means the session may develop along two tracks: global cues could influence index-level trading, while quarterly disclosures drive sharper reactions in individual shares. Investors assessing results should focus on the reported performance and outlook rather than assuming that a positive market opening will lift every company equally.

Key Highlights

• GIFT Nifty moved from 25,245, up 31 points, to 25,209, down six points.
• Wall Street’s three major indexes closed higher, led by the Nasdaq Composite’s 1.60% gain.
• Asian trading was mixed: Japan and South Korea advanced, while the Hang Seng declined.
• Nvidia fell 7% after reports of a possible board move involving its chief executive; Nasdaq-linked futures weakened.
• Brent crude traded at $91.93 a barrel, while gold and silver futures also declined.
• A wide range of Indian companies is scheduled to report quarterly results.

Investor Note: Treat the GIFT Nifty indication as an early signal, not a guarantee of the market’s direction. With global cues pulling in different directions, follow-through in index futures, company results and confirmed developments around Nvidia may matter more than the initial opening tone.