Sensex, Nifty poised for cautious opening with mixed global cues and heavyweight stock movements

Cautious open likely as global cues remain mixed

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: January 09, 2026

Summary: Markets might start steady to slightly down, due to varied global trends and pressure on important stocks.

Indian markets are set for a flat start on Thursday, with early signals pointing to limited upside as strong triggers are missing from global markets. Futures tied to the Nifty 50 — the main benchmark index — were trading slightly lower, suggesting a cautious mood before the domestic session began.

Teasing out sentiment before trading began, the GIFT Nifty — an indicator used to gauge how Indian markets might open — showed subdued movement around its previous close, hinting that the Sensex and Nifty could begin on a flat or slightly lower note.

On Dalal Street, investors were watching heavyweight names and midcap stocks closely. Companies such as Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank have recently influenced market direction after bouts of selling pressure that saw broader indices slip slightly from record levels in recent sessions.

Sectoral action was likely to be mixed. Banking and financial stocks often set the early tone, especially after quarterly results and economic data. When there isn't a lot of global movement, midcap and smallcap equities tend to react faster to domestic indications.

In recent trading, individual stocks like IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency) have experienced selling pressure, leading to a drop in their share price. Meanwhile, other companies like Vedanta and IEX (Indian Energy Exchange) continue to attract investor attention because of earnings reports and developments specific to their sectors.

Overall, early indicators suggested markets in India would open with mixed sentiment, reflecting broader global uncertainty and a lack of strong catalysts as traders eyed upcoming macroeconomic data and corporate earnings for clearer cues on direction.