Opening bell, 15th May, Nifty up by 0.18% and Sensex by 0.13%

On Friday, the Dalal Street opened trading higher in the pre-opening session, with the NIFTY 50 trading at 23,731.40, up by 0.18%, and the SENSEX at 75,497.10, up by 0.13%.

Indian markets are likely to be volatile today amid weak cues from Asian markets and strong fund inflows into the market. The previous session ended higher after the Centre considered a significant reduction in the taxes paid by foreign investors in the country's bonds to align policies with global norms and attract inflows.

Global cues

• Asian markets traded lower, and US markets traded mixed, as investors closely monitor for updates from the U.S-China summit, which is likely to cover issues ranging from tariffs to artificial intelligence.

Gift Nifty

• On May 15, 2026, the GIFT Nifty traded lower amid weak cues from broader Asian markets.

Asian Markets

• Asian Markets traded in red amid selling pressure after the recent rally.

US & European Markets

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq traded higher following the gains in tech stocks after artificial intelligence momentum came back into focus.
• The S&P 500 traded lower amid a rise in crude oil prices.

• The United Kingdom’s FTSE traded in green, after the UK economy grew 0.3% in March 2026.
• The French index, CAC, traded in green, led by Technology, Consumer Goods, and Financials stocks.
• The German index, the DAX, closed higher, amid gains in Technology, Software, and Media shares.

Commodities

• Crude oil prices traded higher after U.S President Donald Trump said China has agreed to purchase oil from the U.S, following talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 
• Precious metals, such as gold and silver, continued to trade lower amid a firm dollar and rise in crude oil prices.
• Natural Gas traded higher following an in-line storage injection and a continued decline in output.

Currency Movements

• The dollar index rose backed by mounting inflationary pressures that strengthened expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike later this year.
• The pound sterling declined, and the euro remained flat amid rising crude oil prices.

Sectors to watch

• FMCG Sector: India's FMCG sector faces a growth downgrade as the Middle East conflict has increased packaging and transport costs, potentially forcing companies to raise prices and impact consumer spending, especially in villages.
• Banking Sector: The Indian government is set to revolutionize the landscape for Regional Rural Banks by introducing a central tech hub dedicated to digital service enhancements and fortified cybersecurity.
• Automobile Sector: Passenger vehicle sales in India are expected to grow by about 10% in FY2027, driven by sustained strong demand.

Stocks to watch

• M&M Financial: M&M Financial's board has approved plans to raise ₹3,000 crore through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs).
• Kirloskar Oil Engines: Kirloskar Oil Engines is set to deploy a massive capital expenditure of ₹1,400 crore to enhance manufacturing capacity at its unit in Maharashtra.
• Pitti Engineering: Pitti Engineering's board has approved a ₹290 crore capex plan to establish a new greenfield casting unit.
• Tamilnad Mercantile Bank: Tamilnad Mercantile Bank received a major relief via a rectification order from the Tamil Nadu tax body, which slashed an existing tax order to ₹3 crore from ₹204 crore.

FII and DII Inflows - 14th May 2026

(The above numbers are in ₹ Cr)

• On 14th May, net inflows were ₹871.79 crore, with both DIIs and FIIs as net buyers, indicating a positive sentiment towards the Indian economy.

Global Events & Updates

• On May 15, the U.S will release the NAHB housing market index data.
• Turkey will release the auto production data today.
• China will release the FDI data today.

Things to look out for

• India’s wholesale prices increased 8.30% YoY in April 2026.
• The UK’s GDP expanded 1.2% YoY in March 2026.