The SGX Nifty July 2026 futures are presently down by 84.00 points, indicating a negative start for the benchmark index today.
Institutional Flows:
On 16 July 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors divested shares amounting to Rs 4,205.56 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors emerged as net buyers, acquiring shares worth Rs 2,986.41 crore in the Indian equity market. The FIIs have divested shares amounting to Rs 4,170.46 crore up to 16 July 2026. This follows their cash sales of Rs 49,028.63 crore in June, Rs 55,963.33 crore in May, and Rs 70,135.46 crore in April.
Global Markets:
Asian markets experienced a decline on Friday, influenced by the underperformance of chipmakers, which impacted global equity indexes. Concurrently, oil prices were on track for their most significant weekly increase in three months, amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. Investors this week reportedly shifted their focus from semiconductor stocks to other sectors, notably banking, following strong earnings reports from major lenders. This transition has left Asia particularly susceptible to the selloff, considering its significant reliance on the semiconductor industry. Markets in South Korea were closed for a holiday following the government’s announcement on Thursday of a temporary ban on new listings of exchange-traded funds linked to specific major technology firms. Additionally, the government is raising the minimum required deposits for retail investors looking to invest in these products, aiming to mitigate volatility.
On the other end, oil prices experienced an upward trend, with Brent crude futures increasing by 0.7% to $84.83 a barrel, while U.S. crude also advanced by 0.7% to $79.49 per barrel. The U.S. initiated a new series of strikes against Iran on Thursday to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities,” according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. Overnight on Wall Street, semiconductor stocks exerted downward pressure on the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 on Thursday, maintaining their role as a key driver of broader market dynamics, even in the face of generally positive U.S. economic indicators and a robust commencement to the second-quarter earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 105.32 points, or 0.20%, to 52,553.32; the S&P 500 lost 38.63 points, or 0.51%, to 7,533.77; and the Nasdaq Composite declined by 387.28 points, or 1.47%, to 25,881.95.
On the data front, a series of U.S. economic indicators released on Thursday revealed robust core retail sales, a decline in jobless claims, and a significant increase in manufacturing activity in the Northeast. Less favourable data emerged from the housing sector, characterised by a larger than anticipated decline in pending home sales and deteriorating homebuilder sentiment, indicative of elevated borrowing costs and constrained affordability for prospective homebuyers.
Domestic Market:
Domestic equity benchmarks relinquished a significant portion of their intraday gains on Thursday as investors engaged in profit-taking in response to lacklustre global cues. The Nifty declined beneath the 24,100 threshold following an intraday peak of 24,186.50 during the morning session. Sentiment remained cautious amid escalating US-Iran tensions, fuelling concerns over higher crude oil prices and their potential impact on global inflation. Meanwhile, a sell-off in global semiconductor stocks exerted pressure on overseas markets.
However, advancements in IT, automotive, and consumer durable sectors contributed to mitigating the decline. Technically, the Nifty is currently confined within a range, with a significant upward movement required beyond the 24,200-24,260 zone to reinvigorate bullish momentum. Conversely, a drop below 24,000 may initiate new selling pressure. The S&P BSE Sensex advanced 1.44 points or 0.00% to 77,186.67. The Nifty 50 index experienced a decline of 5.75 points, representing a decrease of 0.02%, closing at 24,072.75.