Gift Nifty Gains Over 100 Points: Will Indian Markets Open April on a Positive Note?

Gift Nifty is trading higher on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, despite the Indian markets being closed due to Mahavir Jayanti. 

As of 11:14 AM IST on March 31, 2026, Gift Nifty is trading at 22,544, up by 111.50 points or 0.50 per cent. This small bounce back comes after a bloodbath session on Monday. This recovery is being supported by a mix of technical, institutional, and global factors. 

Recovery After a Sharp Fall

Indian markets have witnessed the weakest financial-year performance in the last six years. Nifty 50 hit an Intraday low of 22,283. The Nifty closed down by 488.20 points, or 2.14 per cent lower, closing at 22,331.40. 

FIIs Offload While DIIs Step In to Support Markets

In March 2026, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained heavy sellers, offloading more than Rs 1.1 lakh crore worth of equities. However, this has been largely offset by Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), who have injected over Rs 1.28 lakh crore into the markets. The continued support from DIIs is helping sustain confidence, especially with expectations that domestic flows will remain strong when markets reopen on April 1.

Gift Nifty’s movement today is also being tracked alongside global markets. Dow Jones futures are up 1.02 per cent, reaching 45,676.21. Among Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 has declined 0.60 per cent to 51,575, Hang Seng is down 0.02 per cent at 24,747, while the Shanghai Composite is up 0.04 per cent at 3,924. While Gift Nifty trades higher, these mixed signals from global indices reflect cautious investor sentiment ahead of April.

Seasonal Trend: Hope for April Recovery

Another important factor to consider is the historical monthly performance of the Nifty 50, which shows that April has traditionally been a positive month for equities, delivering average returns of around 2.64 per cent.

A similar trend was observed during the COVID-19 period in 2020, when markets witnessed a sharp decline of 23.25 per cent in March, followed by a strong rebound of 14.68 per cent in April.

A somewhat comparable pattern is emerging in 2026 as well. The Nifty 50 has already posted negative returns of approximately 11.31 per cent in March, making the performance in April 2026 particularly crucial. Given the historical trend and current market positioning, investors are expecting that April 2026 could bring some degree of recovery, supported by improving sentiment and stabilising conditions.

Upcoming Economic and Corporate Events

Investors will also be watching for quarterly earnings from major companies, which could influence market direction. These corporate results, along with institutional flows and global developments, are likely to play a key role in shaping April trading sentiment.

With domestic markets closed today, Gift Nifty’s movement remains an important indicator for investors, as it is likely to signal whether markets open with a gap-up or gap-down when trading resumes on April 1, 2026.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.