Trade Setup for Today: Key Things to Know Before the Opening Bell on July 28, 2026

2 min read Updated on 28 Jul 2026, 08:01 AM

Reviewed by

Shraddha JScanX News Team

AI Summary

GIFT Nifty trades 33.50 points lower at 23,964, indicating a cautious opening amid mixed global signals. US markets showed divergence with Dow gaining 0.51% while NASDAQ fell 0.20%. Asian markets remained volatile as Nikkei plummeted 4.53% while Hang Seng rose 0.30%. Commodities faced broad selling pressure with crude oil down 1.59% at $81.30 and gold declining 0.71%. FIIs remained net sellers at ₹1,688 crores while DIIs provided support with ₹2,329 crores net buying. Key earnings from L&T, HUL, and Ambuja Cements will be in focus today.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.

Global markets present a mixed picture as we head into today's trading session, with Asian indices showing volatility while commodity prices face pressure. Here's what traders need to know before the opening bell.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty futures are trading at 23,964.00, down 33.50 points or 0.14% from the previous close of 23,997.50. The futures opened at 23,990.00 and have traded in a range of 23,963.00 to 24,040.00, suggesting a cautious start for domestic markets.

US Markets

US markets delivered a mixed performance in the previous session:

Index	Price	Change	Change %
Dow Jones	52,231.08	+262.83	+0.51%
NASDAQ	24,947.11	-49.71	-0.20%
S&P 500 (E-Mini)	7,433.50	-14.75	-0.20%

The Dow Jones managed to post gains, while tech-heavy NASDAQ and S&P 500 futures closed marginally lower, reflecting cautious sentiment in technology stocks.

Asian Markets

Asian markets showed significant volatility:

Index	Price	Change	Change %
Nikkei 225	61,988.29	-2,942.90	-4.53%
Hang Seng	25,282.00	+74.81	+0.30%
FTSE 100	10,781.75	+45.52	+0.42%

The Nikkei 225 faced substantial selling pressure with a decline of over 4.5%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng managed modest gains.

Commodity Trends

Commodity markets are under pressure across the board:

Commodity	Price (USD)	Change	Change %
Crude Oil (WTI)	81.30	-1.31	-1.59%
Gold Futures	4,048.10	-28.90	-0.71%
Silver Futures	57.62	-1.09	-1.86%
Natural Gas	2.76	-0.03	-0.93%
Copper	6.34	-0.05	-0.80%

Energy and precious metals are facing selling pressure, with crude oil declining below $82.00 per barrel and gold futures retreating from recent highs.

Currency Updates

The USD/INR pair remains stable at 95.90, showing no change from the previous session. The EUR/USD is trading at 1.13719, up marginally by 0.03%.

FII/DII Activity

Institutional activity shows contrasting flows:

Investor Type	Buy (₹ Cr)	Sell (₹ Cr)	Net (₹ Cr)
FII/FPI	11,695.95	13,384.18	-1,688.23
DII	15,937.10	13,607.96	+2,329.14

Foreign investors remained net sellers with outflows of ₹1,688.23 crores, while domestic institutions provided support with net buying of ₹2,329.14 crores.

Key Corporate Actions Today

Several major companies have important events scheduled:

Quarterly Results

Larsen & Toubro (LT)
Hindustan Unilever (HINDUNILVR)
Ambuja Cements (AMBUJACEM)
Suzlon Energy (SUZLON)
Varun Beverages (VBL)
Supreme Industries (SUPREMEIND)
Pfizer (PFIZER)
TTK Prestige (TTKPRESTIG)
Radico Khaitan (RADICO)

Dividend Payments

Solar Industries: Final dividend of ₹11.00 per share
Godrej Properties: Final dividend of ₹10.00 per share
Dollar Industries: Final dividend of ₹3.00 per share
Greaves Cotton: Final dividend of ₹2.00 per share

Bonus Issue

Hardwyn India: 2:5 bonus shares (2 bonus shares for every 5 held)

Conclusion

Today's session is likely to begin on a cautious note, with GIFT Nifty indicating a modest gap-down opening. The sharp decline in Nikkei and weakness in commodities may weigh on sentiment, though supportive DII flows and mixed US market performance could provide some stability. Traders should monitor corporate earnings announcements and global cues for directional moves throughout the session.