Stock Market today: What investors need to know; Gift Nifty, trade talks and more

Global commodities saw notable moves, with gold briefly topping $5,100 per ounce, while silver surged higher. The US dollar slid against other major currencies, particularly the Japanese yen. New Delhi: The Indian stock market is poised for a positive start on Tuesday, rebounding from last week’s sharp sell-off, as investors track global cues and key domestic triggers, including the upcoming Union Budget, India-EU trade developments, and US-India trade relations. The Sensex and Nifty 50 are expected to open higher after a long Republic Day holiday, following mixed Asian markets and a positive close on Wall Street, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. Meanwhile, Gift Nifty was trading near the 25,183 level, showing a premium of around 78 points over the previous close, signalling a positive start for Indian stock market indices. Here are key developments that influenced the markets overnight: Sensex and Nifty poised for recovery On Friday, the benchmark indices fell sharply on geopolitical concerns and sustained foreign capital outflows. The Sensex crashed 769.67 points, or 0.94%, to close at 81,537.70, while the Nifty 50 dropped 241.25 points, or 0.95%, to 25,048.65. Asian markets traded mixed on Monday, while the US stock market rebounded, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5% to 6,950.23, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.6% to 49,412.40, and the Nasdaq composite up 0.4% to 23,601.36. Trump threatens higher tariffs on South Korea President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean goods, citing delays in approval of last year’s trade framework. Trump said on social media that import taxes on autos, lumber, and pharmaceuticals would be raised, with other goods seeing rates rise from 15% to 25%. Gold and currency movements Global commodities saw notable moves, with gold briefly topping $5,100 per ounce, while silver surged higher. The US dollar slid against other major currencies, particularly the Japanese yen. Young investors dominate India’s equity markets According to the National Stock Exchange (NSE), younger investors continue to drive market growth. “New investor additions continue to be driven by younger cohorts, with under-30 investors contributing nearly 55.9 per cent of incremental registrations during 2025,” the NSE report said. By the end of 2025, investors below 30 accounted for 38.7% of India’s registered investor base. Union Budget 2026 in focus Markets are looking ahead to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget presentation on February 1, with trading scheduled on the same day on NSE and BSE. Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said: "Markets are also factoring in modest tax rationalisation, targeted sectoral incentives, and policy measures to support MSMEs and export-oriented sectors in the face of tariff-related challenges. Reforms aimed at improving capital market depth and efficiency also feature prominently on the investor wishlist." Corporate earnings under scrutiny The Q3 earnings season is gaining momentum with key results expected from heavyweights such as Axis Bank, L&T, Maruti Suzuki, ITC, NTPC, and Bajaj Auto. Ajit Mishra, SVP Research at Religare Broking, noted: "This week is packed with important domestic and global triggers. On the domestic front, markets will track industrial production data, government budget-related fiscal indicators, and weekly foreign exchange reserves." FII outflows and rupee depreciation Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) maintained their selling spree last week, intensifying downward pressure. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, said: "Sentiments remained very weak due to a combination of factors such as sustained rupee depreciation, lack of any finality regarding the US-India trade deal and unimpressive Q3 results, so far, which are not indicating any pick up in corporate earnings." The rupee fell to a historic low of 92-a-dollar on Friday. Geopolitical risks and global cues Investors continue to monitor global uncertainties, including geopolitical developments over Greenland and Iran, crude oil movements, and central bank commentary. Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart Ltd, said: "The upcoming truncated week, shortened by the Republic Day holiday on Monday, kickstarts a critical phase. Trading resumes Tuesday with a potentially positive trigger from the India-EU FTA developments slated for January 27th. However, geopolitical uncertainties regarding Iran and Greenland remain significant headwinds." Published: 27 Jan 2026, 08:12 am IST Related Topics Subscribe to our Newsletter Get Latest Mathrubhumi Updates in English Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi. Most Commented