A negative beginning for the benchmark index today is suggested by the SGXNifty April 2026 futures, which are now trading 248.00 points lower.

Flows within Institutions:

According to preliminary statistics, on April 17, 2026, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers of shares totaling Rs 4,721.48 crore in the Indian equities market, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) purchased shares worth Rs 683.20 crore. As of April 17, 2026, the FIIs have sold shares valued at Rs 39,224.10 crore. This comes after their cash sales of Rs 41,435.22 crore in January 2026, Rs 6,640.78 crore in February, and Rs 122,540.41 crore in March.

Global Markets:

As investors continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East amid increasing tensions between Iran and the United States, Asian markets saw mainly positive trading on Monday. According to reports, President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman had been destroyed by fire from a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer before Marines boarded and took control of the ship. Following Iran’s firing on commercial ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Sunday, the capture represents an intensification of the blockade. The Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf are separated by the strait. The United States has been enforcing a naval embargo of ships coming into and going out of Iranian ports since last week. Iran cancels the planned talks in Islamabad on Monday, citing the continuous blockade as a violation of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. On Sunday, Trump threatened to “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran” if Tehran refused to accept Washington’s demands for an end to the war.

For the eleventh consecutive month, China kept its benchmark lending rates constant as growing tensions in the Middle East pushed up energy prices and hampered the country’s economic prospects. The decision was made after the second-largest economy in the world expanded by 5% in the first quarter, up from 4.5% in the previous quarter and at the top of its full-year target range. Beijing reduced its 2026 growth objective to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the lowest level of ambition since the 1990s. Following a declaration of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Iran proclaimed the Strait of Hormuz “completely open,” which caused U.S. equities to rise somewhat last Friday. The S&P 500 crossed the 7,100 mark for the first time, rising 1.2% to settle at 7,126.06.

With a gain of 1.52%, the Nasdaq Composite closed at 24,468.48, marking its 13th straight day of gains and its longest winning run since 1992. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 49,447.43, up 868.71 points, or 1.79%. “In accordance with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Rep. of Iran,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X on Friday. The leaders of Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which went into effect at 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to President Donald Trump.

Domestic Market:

As geopolitical concerns subsided and crude prices fell, domestic market benchmarks made a steady recovery on Friday, with the Nifty recovering the 24,350 barrier and finishing close to the day’s high. With a combination of soothing signals from around the world, the session got off to a solid start. Oil prices were lowered and market morale was raised by a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon as well as hope for future US-Iran negotiations. Brent fell below $97 per barrel, allaying worries about inflation and allowing stocks to rise.

Throughout the day, the Nifty traded in a narrow range but with a distinct upward tilt, progressively rising and ending near its apex. While IT and pharmaceutical names were largely quiet, FMCG, energy, and metal sectors led the surge. The majority of sectors ended in the green, and the overall tone remained positive. At 78,493.54, the S&P BSE Sensex increased by 504.86 points, or 0.65%. At 24,353.55, the Nifty 50 index gained 156.80 points, or 0.65%.