Markets attempt recovery amid global caution, rupee weakness

Market Overview - Markets opened marginally higher on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex trading at ₹84,685.74, up 5.88 points or 0.01 per cent, and the NSE Nifty 50 at ₹25,868.55, up 8.45 points or 0.03 per cent [1] - The previous session saw sharp losses, with Nifty closing 167 points lower and Sensex down 522 points [4] Global Market Sentiment - Global markets are trading cautiously due to uncertainty over the US interest-rate trajectory, with mixed signals from US job data and flat retail sales growth affecting risk appetite [2] - Persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) selling and weakness in the Indian rupee are key near-term headwinds, despite stable domestic fundamentals [2] Domestic Market Dynamics - Domestic inflows through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and insurance channels are providing a structural buffer against downside risks [2] - The Nifty's short-term trend has shifted to mildly bearish after slipping below the 20-day EMA at 25,950, which is now acting as immediate resistance [4] Sector Performance - Among the top gainers on the Nifty 50, Shriram Finance led with a gain of 1.38 per cent, followed by State Bank of India at 1.33 per cent and Eicher Motors at 1.25 per cent [2] - On the losing side, ICICI Bank emerged as the top loser, declining 1.46 per cent, followed by HDFC Life Insurance and Max Healthcare Institute [3] Technical Analysis - The focus is on the 25,700–25,800 support band, which has emerged as a strong demand zone in recent sessions [4] - Technical analysts maintain a cautious outlook, expecting Indian equity markets to open on a subdued note due to mixed global cues and continued FII selling [4] Long-term Perspective - The recent sharp fall in the rupee and crude oil prices is attracting investor attention, with a decline in crude due to poor demand from China and the US being viewed positively for India's macros [4]