Markets Brace for a Weak Start
Indian stock markets are expected to start the day on a softer note on Friday, following a decline across global markets and a dip in gold prices. Gift Nifty was trading around 25,238, about 36 points below Nifty Futures, hinting at a mildly negative opening for domestic equities.
On Thursday, the market ended on a high — Sensex gained 398 points to close at 82,172.10, and Nifty climbed 135.65 points to finish at 25,181.80.
Global Markets Under Pressure
Asian stocks mirrored Wall Street’s overnight fall. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.60%, Topix dropped 0.92%, and Kospi in South Korea rose slightly by 1.88%, while Kosdaq slipped 0.37%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index hinted at a weak opening.
In the US, all major indices closed in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 243 points (0.52%) to 46,358.42, while the S&P 500 dropped 18.61 points (0.28%) to 6,735.11. The Nasdaq Composite lost 18.75 points (0.08%) to 23,024.63.
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TCS Q2 Results: Profit Dips, Revenue Grows
IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported a 3.8% QoQ decline in net profit to ₹12,075 crore in Q1FY26. However, revenue rose 3.7% sequentially to ₹65,799 crore, while EBIT increased 6.8% to ₹16,565 crore, improving the EBIT margin by 70 bps to 25.2%.
The company declared a dividend of ₹11 per share and announced strategic plans to build a 1GW AI datacenter in India, alongside a 100% acquisition of ListEngage — signaling its focus on expanding AI-led capabilities.
Gold and Crude Oil Update
Gold prices took a sharp hit, sliding 2% on Thursday after dropping below the $4,000/oz mark for the first time. Spot gold was down to $3,959.48/oz, while US gold futures for December delivery settled 2.4% lower at $3,972.6/oz. Silver also retreated slightly to $48.93/oz.
Crude oil prices remained steady after a 1% dip in the previous session. Brent crude was up 0.1% at $65.31/barrel, and WTI crude inched up 0.2% to $61.63/barrel.
Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Update
In global geopolitics, Israel confirmed a ceasefire deal with Hamas, agreeing to halt hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages over the next 72 hours. The development could influence global oil and commodity markets in the short term.
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Outlook for Indian Investors
Analysts expect Indian markets to open cautiously, with traders keeping a close watch on TCS earnings, US market signals, and commodity prices. Broader sentiment remains mixed, as investors await fresh domestic cues from upcoming corporate results and macroeconomic data
