Markets

Indian equity benchmarks, the BSE Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open marginally higher on May 4, supported by positive cues from GIFT Nifty, which is trading around 24,243.

However, despite the previous session’s sharp rally, markets came under pressure on April 30, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions and a surge in Brent crude prices to wartime highs.

On Thursday, the 30-share benchmark index ended at 76913.5 down by -582.86 points or by -0.75 % and then NSE Nifty was at 23997.55 down by -180.1 points or by -0.74 %. Market participants will closely track the outcome of assembly elections across four states and one union territory on Monday.

On the global front, Asia-Pacific markets traded higher in early deals, with South Korea’s Kospi hitting a fresh high as oil prices eased. Positive sentiment was further supported by strong earnings from Wall Street technology majors.

Among key indices, the Kospi and Hang Seng were up 3.45 per cent and 1.89 per cent, respectively.

In the US, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended higher by 0.29 per cent and 0.89 per cent on Friday, as investors assessed earnings from Apple Inc. and Caterpillar, while largely overlooking stronger-than-expected inflation data and ongoing US-Iran tensions.Back home, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – Eternal Ltd. 72700438.00, HDFC Bank Ltd. 47998755.00, Reliance Industries Ltd. 30957881.00, Bajaj Finance Ltd. 27364272.00, Tata Steel Ltd. 24894783.00, On NSE, total number of shares traded was 473.06 Crore and total turnover stood at Rs. 142553.51 Crore.

On NSE Future and Options, total number of contracts traded in index futures was 148405 with a total turnover of Rs. 23553.06 Crore. Along with this total number of contracts traded in stock futures were 1332321 with a total turnover of Rs. 86567.11 Crore. Total numbers of contracts for index options were 51999389 with a total turnover of Rs. 8162901.50 Crore. and total numbers of contracts for stock options were 5207712 with a total turnover of Rs. 353933.30 Crore.

The FIIs on 30/04/2026 stood as net buyer in equity and debt. Gross equity purchased stood at Rs. 15636.79 Crore and gross debt purchased stood at Rs. 1350.42 Crore, while the gross equity sold stood at Rs. 17615.42 Crore and gross debt sold stood at Rs. 1075.14 Crore. Therefore, the net investment of equity and debt reported were Rs. -1978.63 Crore and Rs. 275.28