SOURCE : NEW18 NEWS
Last Updated:June 18, 2025, 09:22 IST
The benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, are expected to be guided today by a mix of domestic and global factors
Stock market updates
Sensex Today: Stock markets began Wednesday’s session on a cautious note as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated further. Missile attacks between the two nations intensified on Tuesday, marking the fifth consecutive day of cross-border strikes. Reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes may have damaged Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, fueling investor anxiety and driving oil prices up by 4% overnight.
At the opening bell, the BSE Sensex slipped 269 points or 0.33% to trade at 81,315. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 was down 37 points or 0.15%, hovering at 24,817.
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Broader markets also witnessed selling pressure, with the Nifty MidCap index declining by 0.32% and the Nifty SmallCap index dropping 0.44%.
In a significant regulatory update, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved a revision in the settlement schedule for equity derivatives contracts on NSE and BSE. Going forward, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will shift its derivatives contract expiry from Thursday to Tuesday, while the BSE will move its expiry from Tuesday to Thursday. This reshuffle is expected to influence market share dynamics between the two exchanges.
Global Cues
Asia-Pacific markets showed a mixed trend on Wednesday, largely due to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Investor sentiment took a hit after reports suggested that US President Donald Trump may consider a military strike on Iran. Trump also posted a call for Iran’s “Unconditional Surrender” on Truth Social, stoking fears of further US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Among key indices, Japan’s Nikkei recovered to trade 0.14 per cent higher after an initial dip, while the broader Topix rose 0.15 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi also gained 0.46 per cent. However, Australia’s ASX200 slipped 0.2 per cent, bucking the broader regional trend.
Japan’s exports fell 1.7 per cent year-on-year in May, a smaller decline than the anticipated 3.8 per cent, suggesting global trade pressures persist. The Bank of Japan warned of potential moderation in economic growth due to waning overseas demand and declining corporate profits. Still, the central bank held its key short-term interest rate steady at 0.5 per cent in its June meeting, aligning with market expectations and maintaining the highest level since 2008.
In the US, stock futures were slightly lower ahead of the Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated policy announcement. Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones falling 0.70 per cent, the S&P 500 losing 0.84 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite declining 0.91 per cent.
Additionally, market participants will be closely watching US weekly jobless claims, and inflation data from the Eurozone and the UK for May, as they could further shape investor expectations around global monetary policy.
About the Author
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
- First Published:
June 18, 2025, 09:00 IST
