The Indian stock market is expected to open lower on Monday, October 26, 2026, as indicated by the GIFT Nifty, which is trading around 22,560. This cautious start follows a broad decline on Wall Street on Friday, driven by elevated oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. Asian markets are also showing mixed cues, reflecting limited investor conviction ahead of key central bank decisions and corporate earnings reports this week.
The Sensex and Nifty 50 extended their losing streak on Friday, closing at 73,123.83 and 22,600, respectively. The Nifty 50 fell by 87.65 points, or 0.39%, while the Sensex declined by 125.56 points, or 0.17%. Analysts attribute this weakness to geopolitical concerns and heightened uncertainty, which has led to selective investor behavior during the ongoing earnings season.
Technical analysts note that the Sensex is trading within a broader range of 72,300-73,800, suggesting a sideways bias with a negative undertone. The Nifty 50, meanwhile, has formed a bearish-bodied candlestick on the weekly chart, testing a rising trendline and the 200-Week EMA, which remains a crucial support zone.
US stock futures showed modest gains on Sunday evening, with the Dow Jones rising by 150-200 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures also saw gains. Asian markets like South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 opened lower but showed some recovery, with investors awaiting key earnings announcements and the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision later this week.