If you are an active market participant in India, you know the drill. Market participants look at SGX Nifty ahead of the market opening to gauge the likely direction of the Nifty 50. It serves as an instant readout of overnight market sentiment and is used to form trading expectations.
But in the new globalised era, SGX Nifty is not sufficient. Market opening moves are now increasingly influenced by a range of global factors – from Wall Street to commodity prices, and more recently, the 24-hour performance of cryptocurrency.
SGX Nifty is only Part of the Global Story
The SGX Nifty is important, but not all you should look at. For a better idea of where the markets might be headed, it is essential for traders to keep an eye on the overnight price movements in global markets.
The U.S. markets play an important role. If the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq experiences a sell off or rally, the trend will spill over to Asia the following day – including India. Likewise, world affairs and oil prices can also send a market from “sell” to “buy” in an instant.
These are the traditional pre-market indicators.
The Emergence of 24/7 Markets
The new kid on the block is cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are a 24-hour market, and provide a constant measure of global risk sentiment – even when equity markets are shuttered.
Significant price movements in Bitcoin or Ethereum during off-market hours may at times reflect shifts in sentiment. Crypto is not a driver of equity markets, but may signal risk appetite in highly volatile conditions.
For example, if cryptocurrency prices are down in the after-hours it can be an indicator of an increase in risk aversion in global markets. However, if cryptocurrency continues to rise, it could reflect an increase in risk appetite.
Interpreting Crypto Signals
Let’s not overstate the importance of crypto. The more conventional factors, like the U.S. Treasury yields, central bank announcements and the US dollar are still more important for institutional investors.
But the crypto markets give us an additional perspective, especially since they respond immediately to worldwide events. In addition, by incorporating this indicator, traders can glean information about the overnight market.
Many traders keep an eye on these ever-changing events by checking financial cryptocurrency sites like CCN for the latest news and developments.
A Smarter Pre-Market Strategy
Rather than relying on a single signal or indicator, traders can add to their trading strategies by observing the following:
- Study SGX Nifty trends – Examine SGX Nifty to gauge the direction and momentum of the market opening.
- Consider overseas markets – Review the previous U.S. markets and the Asian markets.
- Check the commodities and currency – Monitor oil, gold and the U.S. dollar, as these can affect market sentiment.
Check the cryptos’ movement – See if cryptocurrency assets were calm or frenzied in pre-market, and if they are risk-on or risk-off.
What This Means for Indian Markets
Early moves for the Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty are no longer dictated by one thing. It is now influenced by a range of global factors.
The SGX Nifty is still the first “tradeable” indicator, but it is also impacted by a range of factors including Wall Street sentiment, and overnight activity in commodities and alt assets.
Final Take
SGX Nifty is still the primary indicator for India’s market open, but it’s best used in the context of a bigger picture. International equities, macroeconomic factors and 24-hour markets such as crypto currencies are all part of the mix.
By broadening your pre-market check list and understanding the interconnections, you can start trading with a more informed view of market sentiment.
In this rapidly changing world, this can be crucial.