Indian equity markets are expected to open on a slightly positive note on April 27, 2026, driven by two major developments: a new Iranian proposal to restart nuclear negotiations and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and India's historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. The Gift Nifty futures are trading at a premium, indicating a flat-to-positive start for domestic indices.
Asian markets are broadly higher, led by Japan's Nikkei 225, which surged 1.45%. However, US equities delivered mixed results, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 posting gains while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined. Oil prices rose, with Brent crude climbing to $107.49 a barrel, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply concerns.
On Monday, the benchmark Sensex rebounded 546.64 points (0.71%) to close at 77,210.85, while the Nifty 50 gained 169.55 points (0.71%) to end at 24,067.50, snapping a three-day losing streak. The rally was led by Sun Pharma, which surged over 4% following its announcement of an $11.75 billion all-cash acquisition of US-based Organon & Co. Other top gainers included Adani Ports and Tata Steel, while Axis Bank and Reliance Industries lagged.
The India-New Zealand FTA promises the elimination of tariffs on a wide range of goods, which is expected to boost bilateral trade and improve market sentiment. Despite the optimism surrounding the trade deal and the Iranian nuclear offer, uncertainty persists over the outcome of the Middle East negotiations. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers on Friday, offloading equities worth Rs 8,827.87 crore.
In the broader market, Asian shares traded mixed as oil prices surged over $1 per barrel amid uncertain Iran talks. Gold prices declined on the Multi Commodity Exchange due to profit booking, while crude oil prices remained elevated. Key corporate developments included IDFC First Bank reporting a 5% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 319 crore, and the RBI revoking Paytm Payments Bank's license. Investors are also awaiting Q4 earnings from Coal India, UltraTech Cement, Adani Total Gas, SBI Cards, and Reliance Industries. Reliance reported a 13% drop in quarterly net profit, while Axis Bank's profit edged down 0.64%.
In the technology sector, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares surged 14.16% to $348.55, extending well beyond key moving averages. Technical indicators such as MACD and ADX remain bullish, though the RSI at 89.06 and other overbought signals suggest caution for new buyers. Analysts expect AMD to consolidate or advance within $343.73 to $352.86 over the next five sessions.
Meanwhile, a survey by BridgeWise revealed that Israel ranks seventh globally in the use of artificial intelligence for stock market investment research, and ninth in AI optimism. However, Israeli investors remain cautious about the accuracy of AI-generated information, highlighting a nuanced view of AI's role in financial decision-making.
TradeSmith CEO Keith Kaplan emphasized that AI-driven tools are transforming stock market analysis by uncovering hidden signals that humans often miss, enabling investors to make more informed decisions in an increasingly data-rich environment.
