Stock Market Outlook: GIFT Nifty Points to Upbeat Start as Asian Shares Climb

Indian equity markets are poised for a positive start on Friday, buoyed by strong global cues and optimism around a potential India–US trade agreement.

At 7:30 AM, GIFT Nifty futures were trading 9 points higher at 26,020.5, signaling a mildly upbeat opening for domestic benchmarks. Investors will closely watch Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Colgate-Palmolive (India) following their Q2FY26 earnings announcements.

Asian markets opened higher, spurred by news that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold discussions next week during Trump’s Asia visit. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.1%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.95%, and South Korea’s KOSPI gained 1.29%.

US markets closed the previous session on a positive note, driven by technology stocks and encouraging corporate earnings. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.9%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3%, providing further momentum for Asian and Indian equities.