Indian Equity Markets Open Flat amid Expectations of Range-Bound Trade

By siliconindia | Wednesday, 17 December 2025, 04:38 Hrs

Nifty50 and Sensex opened with marginal gains as investors remained cautious amid limited domestic and global cues.
Rupee weakness and continued FII selling weighed on market mood, keeping indices in a narrow range.
Experts recommend gradual accumulation, citing attractive valuations and potential recovery over the medium to long term.

Indian equity markets opened on a muted note on Wednesday, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid the absence of strong near-term triggers. Benchmark indices Nifty50 and BSE Sensex hovered close to their previous closing levels in early trade.

At around 9:16 AM, Nifty50 traded at 25,864.25, up just 4 points, while the Sensex stood near 84,705, gaining about 26 points. Market participants largely stayed on the sidelines as global and domestic cues remained mixed.

Market experts expect Indian equities to move in a narrow range in the short term. Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Limited, said recent sharp movements in the rupee and crude oil prices are drawing investor attention. He noted that falling crude prices, driven by weak demand from China and the US, are positive for India’s macroeconomic outlook, which remains stable.

However, the continued depreciation of the rupee has led to higher foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, putting pressure on stock prices. Dr. Vijayakumar added that the rupee’s fall has not hurt the economy so far, especially with November CPI inflation at a low 0.71 percent. He also pointed out that a weaker rupee could support exports, which were impacted by recent US tariff measures.

Also Read: Sensex, Nifty End Lower as Global Cues and Rupee Weakness Weigh on Markets

Globally, US markets ended mixed overnight. The Nasdaq closed higher, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones slipped due to losses in healthcare and energy stocks. Asian markets followed the weak US cues and opened lower after softer US employment data reduced hopes of early rate cuts.

Meanwhile, oil prices jumped after the US announced stricter sanctions on Venezuelan oil tankers, raising fresh geopolitical concerns. On the flows front, FIIs sold shares worth Rs 2,381 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought stocks worth Rs 1,077 crore.