The SGX Nifty April 2026 futures are presently down by 37.50 points, indicating a potential decline for the benchmark index at the start of trading today.
Institutional Flows:
On 16 April 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) acquired shares valued at Rs 382.36 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) recorded net sales amounting to Rs 3,427.75 crore in the Indian equity market. In April, as of 16 April 2026, foreign institutional investors divested shares amounting to Rs 39,907.30 crore. Their cash sales amounted to Rs 122,540.41 crore in March, Rs 6,640.78 crore in February, and Rs 41,435.22 crore in January 2026.
Global Markets:
Asia markets experienced a decline on Friday, as cautious optimism regarding the Middle East conflict moderated sentiment, contrasting with Wall Street’s record-setting rally. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the war in Iran “should be ending pretty soon,” reinforcing optimistic forecasts regarding the conclusion of the conflict. Earlier today, Trump confirmed that Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement for a 10-day ceasefire. The speaker of Iran’s parliament has stated that a cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon is a crucial prerequisite for the commencement of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. According to reports from Thursday, Trump indicated that the upcoming in-person discussions between the U.S. and Iran could take place “probably, maybe, next weekend.” The two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire on April 21.
In the meantime, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan’s export credit agency, is establishing an investment window of up to 600 billion yen ($3.8 billion) aimed at assisting Asian countries in securing energy supplies, as stated by Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite achieved new all-time highs on Thursday, further building on their robust gains this week amid optimism surrounding a potential resolution to the Iran conflict. The broad market index increased by 0.26%, closing at 7,041.28, whereas the Nasdaq rose by 0.36%, finishing at 24,102.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 115 points, representing a 0.24% rise, closing at 48,578.72.
Recent days have seen an uptick in stock values, fueled by optimism surrounding a potential peace agreement between the two nations. The S&P 500 commenced the week by erasing all losses incurred since the onset of the Iran conflict. Even if a U.S.-Iran peace deal were to materialize in the near term as investors expect, market volatility may still be on the horizon due to the war’s potential implications for the U.S. economy.
Domestic Market:
The headline equity indices relinquished initial gains to conclude slightly lower in a turbulent session on Thursday. In response to favorable global indicators, the markets commenced on an upward trajectory, buoyed by optimism regarding a possible US-Iran peace agreement, and maintained their gains during the initial half of the trading session. However, selling pressure in the latter half erased intraday gains, causing the Nifty 50 to fall below the 24,200 mark. Private banks and auto stocks were the primary contributors to the decline, whereas metal and IT shares offered some degree of support.
Volatility persisted at high levels owing to the weekly expiry of Sensex derivatives and the current Q4 earnings season, as investors attentively observed indications of de-escalation between the United States and Iran. The S&P BSE Sensex experienced a decrease of 122.56 points, reflecting a 0.16% drop, closing at 77,988.68. The Nifty 50 index experienced a decline of 34.55 points, representing a decrease of 0.14%, closing at 24,196.75.