Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a muted note on Thursday, 18 June, amid mixed global cues, as optimism over a potential US-Iran peace agreement offsets concerns stemming from the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish policy stance.
Asian markets traded in positive territory, while Wall Street ended lower overnight after the Federal Reserve signalled the possibility of further interest rate hikes later this year.
Domestic equities, however, remained resilient in the previous session, extending gains for a fourth consecutive day. Investor sentiment was supported by hopes of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a continued decline in crude oil prices.
On Wednesday, the BSE Sensex climbed 347.14 points, or 0.45%, to close at 77,155.62, while the NSE Nifty 50 advanced 96.55 points, or 0.40%, to settle at 24,085.70.
US-Iran Peace Deal
The United States and Iran disclosed the text of a temporary agreement that their presidents signed to conclude their conflict on Wednesday, with US President Donald Trump warning that he would restart attacks and assassinate Iranian officials if they did not fulfil their obligations, according to Reuters. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the agreement, which was signed electronically by both parties, has taken effect “immediately.”
US Fed Policy
The United States Federal Reserve, under the leadership of new chair Kevin Warsh, decided to maintain interest rates in the 3.50%-3.75% range. The latest quarterly forecasts indicated that nine officials at the central bank anticipate at least one rate increase before the end of 2026 to address rising inflation.
What Gift Nifty live chart signals?
The Gift Nifty Live Chart shows a flat-to-negative start for the Indian stock market today. By 7:47 AM, the Gift Nifty was trading around the 24,064 level, a discount of 30 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close of 24,094.
Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, a SEBI-registered online trading and wealth-tech firm, said, Indian markets are expected to trade with a cautiously positive bias, supported by encouraging developments on both the geopolitical and monetary policy fronts. Investor sentiment has strengthened after the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump has formally signed the Peace Deal Memorandum, a significant step forward in the broader US–Iran peace process. The agreement is expected to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, easing geopolitical risks, reducing energy market uncertainty, and improving global risk appetite.
Crude oil prices remain subdued, with Brent crude holding in the $74–76 per barrel range. The sustained decline in energy prices continues to provide meaningful relief to India’s inflation outlook, import bill and broader macroeconomic environment.
On the global policy front, the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% for a fourth consecutive meeting, in line with market expectations. The absence of any policy surprise has helped support investor confidence, while signs of moderation in foreign portfolio outflows and data showing foreign investors turning marginal net buyers in the previous session could provide an additional boost to sentiment. Continued support from domestic institutional investors is also expected to remain an important stabilising force for the market.
Crude Oil Prices
Crude oil prices decreased following the signing of an interim agreement between the US and Iran, which would bring an end to the conflict in Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift US sanctions on Iranian oil. Brent crude futures dropped by 1.12% to reach $78.66 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell by 1.28% to $75.81 per barrel.
Gold, silver rates today
Gold gained over 1%, recovering from losses experienced in the prior session, as oil prices decreased following the US-Iran peace agreement. The spot price of gold increased by 1.5% to reach $4,322.41 per ounce after a 1.7% drop on Wednesday. Meanwhile, US gold futures for August delivery declined 0.9%, settling at $4,343.10. Additionally, the spot price of silver climbed 2.2% to $69.51 per ounce, after a 3% decrease in the previous session.
India VIX today
Sachin Gupta, VP – Research, Technical Research, at Choice Broking Private Limited, said the volatility index, India VIX, declined by 1.30% to close at 13.19, indicating easing volatility and improved confidence among market participants.
Stock market today
Speaking on the outlook for the Nifty 50 today, Ajit Mishra, SVP — Research at Religare Broking, said, the Nifty 50 has reclaimed the psychological 24,000 mark, reinforcing the ongoing recovery, and is now approaching the 100-day EMA near the 24,150 level. A sustained move above this zone could pave the way for an extension towards the 24,500 mark in the near term.
On the downside, the 23,800–23,900 region is expected to provide immediate support in the event of any profit-taking, followed by the 23,650 level as the next key support. As participation broadens across sectors, we continue to favour a stock-specific approach, focusing on relative outperformers while maintaining disciplined risk management and booking profits on rallies due to anticipated event-specific volatility
On the outlook for the Bank Nifty today, Vatsal Bhuva, Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, believes that the Bank Nifty ended the session with a small candlestick on the daily chart, indicating a phase of consolidation after the strong rally in recent sessions. Despite the short-term pause in momentum, the broader technical structure remains positive as the index continues to sustain above its 200-day moving average, reflecting underlying strength. Momentum indicators also support the bullish outlook, with the RSI holding above 60. Positional support is placed at 57,000 and 56,500 levels, while resistance is seen near 57,800. Overall, the prevailing trend remains constructive, and a buy-on-dips approach is warranted.
Stocks to buy today
Regarding stocks to buy today, market experts — Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking, Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager — Technical Research at Anand Rathi, and Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager — Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, recommended these seven buy-or-sell stocks for intraday trading: Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd, V-Mart Retail Ltd, Vishal Mega Mart Ltd, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, State Bank of India, TD Power Systems Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
Sumeet Bagadia’s stock recommendations today
Buy Kirloskar Oil Engines in cash at ₹1,988; SL at ₹1,888; TGT at ₹2,150
Buy V-Mart Retail in cash at ₹764; SL at ₹723; TGT at ₹825
Ganesh Dongre’s buy or sell stocks
BUY Vishal Mega Mart at ₹119; SL at ₹116; TGT at ₹125
BUY Aurobindo Pharma at ₹1,423; SL at ₹1,400; TGT at ₹1,460
BUY State Bank of India at ₹1,025; SL at ₹1,010; TGT at ₹1,055
Shiju Koothupalakkal’s intraday stocks for today
Buy TD Power Systems cmp: ₹1,230 Target: ₹1,300 Stop loss: ₹1,200
Buy BHEL cmp: ₹392 Target: ₹415 Stop loss: ₹384
Buy Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders cmp: ₹2,552 Target: ₹2,700 Stop loss: ₹2,490
Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
