Stock Market Updates: GIFT Nifty Down; Asian Shares Trade Mixed; Economic Survey 2026 In Focus

Sensex Today: Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty are poised for a weak start on Thursday amid subdued global signals. Investor focus is firmly on the Economic Survey 2025–26, which will be tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman later today.

Ongoing FII outflows, pre-Budget positioning and global developments are also expected to shape market sentiment.

At around 7:20 AM, GIFT Nifty was trading at 25,368.50, down 58 points or 0.23 per cent, indicating a soft opening for domestic equities.

Global cues

Overnight, the US Federal Reserve, under Chair Jerome Powell, kept interest rates unchanged in the 3.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent range.

Asian markets were in the red. The Nikkei 225 slipped 0.46 per cent, South Korea’s

KOSPI declined 0.58 per cent, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.8 per cent in early trade.

US equities ended largely flat on Wednesday. The Nasdaq edged up on gains in chip stocks, while investor reaction remained muted after the Fed’s policy decision and limited clarity on the timing of future rate cuts. The S&P 500 closed flat at 6,978.03, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.17 per cent to 23,857.45, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also finished flat at 49,015.60.