Volatile start for markets: Sensex fluctuates, Nifty steady above 25,700

Markets open flat as Sensex pauses rally; Nifty steadies near 25,730

Indian equities began Wednesday’s session on a cautious note, snapping a two-day winning run. The BSE Sensex opened marginally lower at 83,448, down 3 points, while the Nifty 50 edged up 2 points to 25,728, holding firm above the 25,700 mark.

Broader markets showed mild resilience. The Nifty MidCap index advanced 0.02 per cent, and the Nifty SmallCap index gained 0.11 per cent, indicating selective buying beyond frontline stocks.

Global cues lend support

Asian markets traded higher, offering a supportive backdrop. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.98 per cent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.28 per cent in early trade.

Markets in mainland China, Hong Kong and South Korea remained shut for Lunar New Year holidays, leading to thinner regional volumes.

Overnight on Wall Street, US benchmarks ended with modest gains as investors assessed the economic implications of rising artificial intelligence (AI) spending. The S&P 500 gained 0.1 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.14 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.07 per cent.

Commodities update

In commodities, Brent crude ticked higher in early Asian trade after sharp volatility in the previous session. On Tuesday, oil prices briefly slipped nearly 3 per cent below the $67-per-barrel mark as progress in US-Iran nuclear talks eased geopolitical risk concerns.

Gold futures were largely steady, inching up 0.03 per cent to $4,906.9, supported by improved risk sentiment. Silver futures, however, declined 0.22 per cent to $73.42.

Investors will now track global risk appetite, commodity price trends, and domestic institutional flows for further direction as markets consolidate near record territory.