Indian stocks seen opening lower as oil surge from Iran war weighs on sentiment
Bengaluru— Indian shares were set to open lower on Tuesday as rising crude oil prices linked to the ongoing Iran war weakened investor sentiment, while market participants also tracked corporate earnings and continued foreign fund outflows.
GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 24,002 points at 7:58 a.m. IST, indicating the benchmark Nifty 50 would open below Monday’s close of 24,092.70.The Nifty and the BSE Sensex had snapped a three-session losing streak on Monday, supported by a rebound in information technology stocks after sharp losses last week.
However, analysts said broader market momentum remained fragile due to persistent geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.Investor concerns have centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handles about one-fifth of global oil flows. Continued disruptions and uncertainty around the conflict have pushed Brent crude prices close to $109 per barrel.
Higher oil prices are a significant risk for India, the world’s third-largest crude importer, as they raise inflation pressures, increase the import bill and can weigh on economic growth as well as corporate profitability.
Efforts to end the Iran conflict appeared stalled after a U.S. official said on Monday that President Donald Trump was dissatisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal to resolve the war.Back in domestic markets, foreign portfolio investors sold Indian equities worth 11.51 billion rupees ($122.2 million) on Monday, extending their selling streak to a sixth consecutive session.
Domestic institutional investors remained net buyers for a third straight day, purchasing shares worth 41.24 billion rupees and helping cushion broader market declines.Among individual stocks, UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement producer by capacity, is expected to remain in focus after reporting quarterly profit above analyst estimates, supported by stronger demand and favorable weather conditions for construction activity.
State-owned Coal India also posted better-than-expected March-quarter earnings, helped by higher coal prices and stronger demand.SBI Cards and Payment Services reported a 14% year-on-year increase in quarterly profit, adding to investor focus on earnings-driven moves across sectors.
Market participants are expected to remain cautious in the near term, balancing domestic earnings momentum against external risks from energy prices, global inflation concerns and sustained foreign capital outflows.
