GIFT Nifty signals flat start for Sensex, Nifty amid global market rout; hot US inflation, Asian selloff weigh

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Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty are likely to open on a muted note on Thursday, with GIFT Nifty signalling a largely flat start despite a sharp selloff across global markets. Hotter-than-expected US inflation has strengthened expectations of further Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes, triggering heavy selling in technology stocks across Wall Street and Asia. Elevated crude oil prices and persistent foreign institutional selling could add to pressure on Indian equities.

GIFT Nifty was trading at 22,642.5 around 8 am, up 20 points, or 0.09 percent. Indian equities ended lower on Wednesday amid profit booking, with the Sensex falling 251.89 points, or 0.34 percent, to 72,781.89 and the Nifty declining 99.25 points, or 0.44 percent, to 22,622.70. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth around Rs 1,857 crore, while domestic institutions bought shares worth Rs 2,670 crore.

Asian markets plunge as technology stocks tumble

Asian equities fell sharply on Thursday, extending the global selloff after stronger-than-expected US inflation raised concerns over further monetary tightening. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index plunged 2.7 percent, heading towards its lowest level since July. South Korea's Kospi led regional losses, crashing 7.6 percent, as semiconductor majors Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both fell more than 9 percent.

Japan's Nikkei 225 futures declined 4.8 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.9 percent and the Shanghai Composite lost 1.2 percent. US equity futures also remained under pressure, with Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.9 percent and S&P 500 futures falling 0.3 percent.

Share Markets Live Updates | Sensex, Nifty, GIFT Nifty Today

Wall Street falls for third session after US inflation surprise

US equities declined for a third consecutive session on Wednesday after September consumer inflation accelerated more than expected, raising concerns that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated or tighten policy further.

The S&P 500 fell 1.11 percent to 7,718.94, recording its steepest one-day decline since July 29. The Nasdaq Composite plunged 1.88 percent to 26,692.87, its biggest daily fall since July 23, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.09 percent to 51,621.48.

Technology and other growth stocks, which had been among the biggest gainers of 2026, came under particularly heavy selling pressure as expectations of further interest-rate increases weighed on valuations.

US inflation accelerates to 3.7 percent

US consumer price inflation rose to 3.7 percent year-on-year in September, up from 3.4 percent in August and above market expectations of 3.6 percent.

Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said the stronger inflation reading had worsened market sentiment and reinforced concerns that US interest rates could remain elevated for longer, putting pressure on richly valued growth and technology stocks.

Brent slips below $105 but Middle East supply risks persist

Crude oil prices declined on Thursday after rising in the previous session, although concerns over Middle East supplies continued to keep prices elevated. Brent crude fell 1.1 percent to $104.94 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate declined 1.2 percent to $93.91 a barrel.

Ponmudi said the Middle East crisis continued to disrupt oil flows, with the risk of prolonged supply constraints keeping crude prices elevated and inflationary pressures in focus.