Indian equities set for positive open as Asian peers gain ground

Indian stock markets appeared poised for a positive start Thursday, with GIFT Nifty futures signalling gains for the Nifty50 index at the opening bell. The early momentum aligned with a broader rally across Asian markets, where most regional indices were trading higher in morning deals.

The positive sentiment in Asia contrasted with weakness in global technology stocks, where semiconductor giant Nvidia fell 7 per cent, reflecting broader concerns over the sector. The divergence highlighted the uneven nature of current market movements across different regions and sectors.

Domestic investors were watching GIFT Nifty movements closely as a barometer for the Nifty50 index performance. The futures contract, traded on the Gujarat International Financial Tec-City (GIFT) platform, typically provides early signals for how the main Indian indices—the Nifty50 and Sensex—are likely to perform when trading opens in Mumbai.

The broader Asian rally suggested investor appetite remained intact despite pockets of weakness in technology stocks. Market participants were monitoring global developments and sector-specific movements as they prepared for the day's trading session in Indian markets.