SGX Nifty March 2026 futures declined by 67.50 points, indicating a bearish start for the Nifty 50 today.
Institutional Flows:
On 16 March 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) divested shares amounting to Rs 9,365.52 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) emerged as net buyers, acquiring shares worth Rs 12,593.36 crore in the Indian equity market. Foreign Institutional Investors have divested shares amounting to Rs 66,248.74 crore in March (up to 16 March 2026). This comes after their cash sales of Rs 6,640.78 crore in February and Rs 41,435.22 crore in January 2026.
Global Markets:
On Tuesday, Asian markets experienced an uptick, driven by gains in the auto and tech sectors following Nvidia’s announcement of a strong revenue forecast for its essential chips, along with collaborations with regional car manufacturers. The recent advancements in the sectors were driven by the latest remarks from the CEO of Nvidia. During Nvidia’s annual developer conference on Monday, Jensen Huang stated his expectation that purchase orders for Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips will total $1 trillion by 2027. Automakers Hyundai Motor, Nissan Motor, and Isuzu, along with China’s BYD and Geely, experienced an uptick in their shares following Nvidia’s announcement of a partnership with these companies for its autonomous vehicle development initiatives.
Investors evaluated the ongoing developments regarding the Iran conflict, as U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a potential postponement of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping by ‘a month or so’ in light of the situation in the Middle East. Trump was anticipated to visit China at the conclusion of March. In the U.S. overnight, there was an uptick in stock prices while oil prices experienced a decline, as Wall Street sought to rebound from yet another week of losses, with investors keeping a close eye on the ongoing developments in the Iran conflict.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 387.94 points, representing a rise of 0.83%, and concluded the session at 46,946.41. The S&P 500 increased by 1.01%, closing at 6,699.38, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a rise of 1.22%, finishing at 22,374.18. Meta shares experienced an increase of over 2% following a report, which the company has labeled as “speculative,” regarding plans to reduce its workforce by more than 20%.
Domestic Market:
Domestic equity benchmarks concluded the day with notable gains on Monday, bolstered by strategic purchasing in certain large-cap stocks as investors evaluated the possible implications of the current U.S.-Iran conflict. Sentiment showed signs of improvement following media reports suggesting that Donald Trump is expected to announce shortly the establishment of an international coalition aimed at escorting commercial shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as the conflict with Iran approaches its third week. Reports indicate that U.S. officials have suggested the White House may announce the initiative as soon as this week.
Nonetheless, the prevailing sentiment continued to be cautious in light of ongoing FII outflows and high crude oil prices, driven by the persistent tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States. The Nifty concluded the session above the 23,400 threshold, driven by advancements in the auto, financial services, and private banking sectors. The S&P BSE Sensex surged by 938.93 points, reflecting a gain of 1.26%, reaching a level of 75,502.85. The Nifty 50 index increased by 257.70 points, reflecting a gain of 1.11%, reaching a level of 23,408.80. Over the last three sessions, the Sensex has experienced a decline of 4.65%, and the Nifty has decreased by 4.57%.