Rajesh Palviya, Head of Research, Axis Direct
The Nifty 50 ended Monday on a subdued note, falling 110 points (0.46%) to close at 23,946, slipping below the key 24,000 mark as profit booking intensified in the second half of the session. After an early attempt to reclaim 24,120, the benchmark erased gains to finish near the day’s low, pressured by weakness in the rupee, which settled at its lowest level of the day, and investor caution ahead of key US labour market data. Broader markets also underperformed, reflecting subdued market breadth.
Global cues, however, remain supportive. US equities rallied sharply overnight, with the Dow Jones crossing the 52,000 mark for the first time, while the S&P 500 gained 1.2% and the Nasdaq advanced 2%, driven by renewed buying in technology stocks and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Asian markets mirrored the positive sentiment, trading mostly higher, led by gains in Japan and China.
For domestic markets, the sharp decline in crude oil prices remains a key positive. Brent crude continues to hover near $73 per barrel after a steep weekly decline, easing inflation concerns and improving India’s macro outlook. GIFT Nifty indicates a largely flat but stable opening.
Technically, the 24,000 level remains the immediate hurdle for the Nifty. A sustained move above this level could trigger a recovery towards 24,120-24,200. On the downside, 23,900 is the first line of support, while a decisive breach could extend the correction towards 23,800. Despite Monday’s weakness, supportive global markets and lower crude prices are likely to keep the broader undertone constructive.
