Trade Setup for Today: Key Things to Know Before the Opening Bell

3 min read     Updated on 18 Aug 2026, 08:01 AM
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AI Summary

GIFT Nifty trades marginally lower at 24,294.50 (-3 points), indicating a flat opening amid mixed global signals. Asian markets declined with Nikkei down 1.27% and Hang Seng falling 0.86%, while US indices closed lower led by Dow's 272-point drop. Commodities showed weakness with gold down 0.28% and crude oil falling 0.44%. FIIs continued selling with net outflows of ₹2,535 crores, though DIIs provided support with ₹5,101 crores net buying. Key corporate actions include dividends for Mahanagar Gas (₹18) and Route Mobile (₹2). USD/INR stable at 95.59.

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Global markets are showing mixed signals as traders prepare for another session, with Asian indices displaying weakness while commodity markets remain volatile. Here's what you need to know before the markets open.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty futures are trading at 24,294.50, down marginally by 3.00 points (-0.01%) from the previous close of 24,297.50. The narrow decline suggests a flat to slightly negative opening for domestic indices.

Asian Markets

Asian markets are trading under pressure this morning:

Index Price Change Change %
Nikkei 225 68,343.72 -876.53 -1.27%
Hang Seng 25,234.50 -218.73 -0.86%
FTSE 100 10,720.30 -29.81 -0.28%

The Nikkei 225 led the decline, falling over 1.20%, while the Hang Seng also posted significant losses. These movements reflect ongoing concerns about global economic conditions.

US Markets

US markets closed with losses in the previous session:

Index Price Change Change %
Dow Jones 53,480.78 -272.63 -0.51%
NASDAQ 26,667.74 -82.42 -0.31%
S&P 500 (E-Mini) 7,751.50 -17.25 -0.22%

The Dow Jones led the decline with a loss of over 270.00 points, while tech-heavy NASDAQ also posted losses, indicating broad-based weakness across sectors.

Commodity Trends

Commodity markets are showing mixed performance:

Commodity Price (USD) Change Change %
Crude Oil (WTI) 84.13 -0.37 -0.44%
Gold Futures 4,461.00 -12.70 -0.28%
Silver Futures 65.64 -0.59 -0.89%
Natural Gas 2.71 +0.02 +0.59%
Copper 6.57 -0.04 -0.57%

Precious metals are under pressure with both gold and silver posting declines, while crude oil also retreated. Natural gas was among the few gainers in the commodity space.

Currency Updates

The USD/INR pair remains stable at 95.59, showing no change from the previous session. The EUR/USD is trading flat at 1.16, indicating limited currency volatility in early Asian trading.

FII/DII Activity

Institutional activity showed contrasting trends:

Investor Type Buy (₹ Cr) Sell (₹ Cr) Net (₹ Cr)
FII/FPI 11,546.16 14,081.26 -2,535.10
DII 16,654.08 11,552.62 +5,101.46

Foreign investors continued their selling spree with net outflows of ₹2,535.10 crores, while domestic institutional investors provided support with net buying of ₹5,101.46 crores.

Block Deals

Company Seller/Buyer Shares Price (₹)
Siyaram Silk Mills DPP Enterprises LLP (B) / Harshit Shrikishan Poddar (S) 582,900 620.00
Baazar Style Retail Aditya Kumar Halwasiya (B) / Multiple Sellers (S) 4,500,000 362.00
Kesar Minerva Ventures Fund (B) / Forbes EMF (S) 1,178,000 1,265.00

Latest Updates for Stocks Involved in Block Deals

Baazar Style Retail: The company continues its expansion drive with recent store openings in West Bengal and Kolkata, bringing its total store count to 277. The company reported Q1 revenue of ₹4.86 billion versus ₹3.80 billion year-on-year, with EBITDA growing to ₹720.00 million from ₹582.00 million.

Kesar India Limited: The company's Board approved unaudited financial results for Q1FY26, with detailed results available on the company website.

Corporate Actions Today

Several companies are going ex-dividend today, including Mahanagar Gas (₹18.00 final dividend), Route Mobile (₹2.00 final dividend), and Rail Vikas Nigam (₹0.71 final dividend). Multiple companies including Swiggy, Metropolis Healthcare, and Timken are conducting their Annual General Meetings.

Conclusion

With GIFT Nifty indicating a flat opening and mixed global cues, traders should watch for sector-specific movements. The continued FII selling pressure offset by strong DII buying suggests domestic resilience, while upcoming corporate actions may drive stock-specific volatility. Key levels to monitor include support around 24,200.00 for Nifty and resistance near 24,400.00.

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