Nifty 50 gains 155 points, Sensex rises 187 points as U.S.-Iran ceasefire hopes lift sentiment

Market Update at 2:01 PM: Indian benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and Sensex, traded higher on the back of positive global cues after reports suggested progress toward easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

According to news reports, the U.S. and Iran have received a proposed plan aimed at ending hostilities through a two-staged deal. The final ceasefire agreement is expected within 15–120 days and may include nuclear curbs along with sanction relief. The proposal reportedly includes an “Islamabad Accord” framework for settlement.

Tracking these developments, the Nifty 50 was trading 0.68 per cent or 155.20 points higher at 22,868.30, while the Sensex rose 0.25 per cent or 186.84 points to 73,509.03.

Broader markets also witnessed buying interest, with the Nifty MidCap and Nifty SmallCap indices gaining 0.54 per cent and 0.61 per cent, respectively.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty Consumer Durables index emerged as the top gainer. The Nifty Realty and Nifty PSU Bank indices also outperformed the broader market. However, the Nifty Oil and Gas index lagged and underperformed amid the rally.

Market Update at 12:33 PM: The Indian equity benchmarks, Nifty 50 and Sensex, traded lower on Monday after a mixed opening, as traders assessed rising geopolitical tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest warnings over the weekend.

As of 12:25 PM on April 6, 2026, the Nifty 50 was down 0.04 per cent, or 8.75 points, at 22,704.35. The Sensex declined 0.12 per cent, or 85.72 points, to 73,233.83.

Investor sentiment remained cautious after Trump threatened that the U.S. would target Iran’s power plants and civilian infrastructure if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also set a deadline of 8:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday.

In response, Iran dismissed the warning, stating that the crucial waterway would only be completely reopened once compensation for war-related damages is addressed.

Despite weakness in frontline indices, broader markets showed some resilience. The Nifty MidCap index was trading 0.16 per cent higher, while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 0.10 per cent.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty Oil and Gas index emerged as the top loser shortly after opening. The Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare indices also underperformed the broader market.

However, the Nifty PSU Bank index bucked the trend and recorded the highest gains among sectoral indices.

Meanwhile, Brent crude prices remained elevated amid supply concerns. The April contract rose 0.74 per cent to USD 109.84 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, as traders feared that escalating tensions could further disrupt global oil supplies.

Market Update at 09:35 AM: The Nifty 50 and the Sensex opened on a mixed note on Monday, but soon slipped into the red as traders reacted to fresh geopolitical developments over the weekend. The Nifty 50 was trading at 22,613.65, down 99.45 points or 0.44 per cent, while the BSE Sensex stood at 72,955.72, lower by 363.83 points or 0.50 per cent as of 09:28 AM on April 6, 2026.

Market sentiment remained cautious after U.S. President Donald Trump issued renewed threats against Iran, escalating concerns in global markets

Trump warned that the U.S. would target Iran’s power plants and civilian infrastructure if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also set a deadline of 8:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, intensifying pressure on the region.

In response, Iran stated that the critical waterway would only be fully reopened once damages caused by the ongoing conflict are compensated, indicating a prolonged standoff that could disrupt global oil supply chains.

Back home, broader markets traded on a mixed note. The Nifty MidCap index gained 0.36 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index slipped 0.05 per cent, reflecting cautious participation across segments.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty Pharma index declined the most in early trade. The Nifty Oil and Gas and Nifty Realty indices also underperformed amid rising uncertainty. However, the Nifty IT index bucked the trend and emerged as the top gainer.

Meanwhile, Brent crude prices surged as supply concerns intensified. The April contract rose 1.15 per cent to USD 110.68 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, driven by fears that escalating tensions could further tighten global supply.

Pre-Market Update at 7:42 AM: The Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a weaker note on Monday, April 6, tracking mixed global cues. Investor sentiment remains under pressure amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the Middle East, along with rising crude oil prices.

Asian markets traded mostly higher, even as geopolitical concerns persisted. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.21 per cent and the Topix rose 0.54 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1.05 per cent, while the Kosdaq declined 0.90 per cent. Markets in Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan remained closed due to a holiday.

In the U.S., markets ended on a mixed note on Thursday, although all three major Wall Street indices posted strong gains for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.13 per cent to 46,504.67, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.11 per cent to 6,582.69. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.18 per cent to 21,879.18. For the week, the S&P 500 gained 3.36 per cent, the Nasdaq climbed 4.44 per cent, and the Dow advanced 2.96 per cent. Among key stocks, Nvidia rose 0.93 per cent, Microsoft added 1.11 per cent, and AMD surged 3.47 per cent, while Tesla declined sharply by 5.42 per cent.

As of 7:25 am, GIFT Nifty was trading around the 22,618 level, down over 24 points from the previous close of Nifty futures, indicating a negative start for domestic markets.

Geopolitical developments remain a key concern. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, urging it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He indicated potential severe consequences, including targeting critical and energy infrastructure, if Iran fails to comply or agree to a truce.

On the macroeconomic front, the U.S. labour market showed resilience. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 178,000 jobs in March, the highest since December 2024, compared to a revised decline of 133,000 jobs in February.

Meanwhile, Japanese government bond yields climbed to near three-decade highs. The 10-year JGB yield rose 2 basis points to 2.400 per cent, its highest since February 1999, while the five-year yield increased to 1.815 per cent.

Crude oil prices moved higher amid concerns of supply disruptions due to Middle East tensions. Brent crude futures rose 1.6 per cent to USD 110.74 per barrel, while WTI crude futures gained 0.36 per cent to USD 111.94 per barrel. The U.S. dollar remained steady, with the dollar index at 100.2.

Back home, banking stocks including HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, IDBI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Union Bank of India, and RBL Bank are likely to be in focus after announcing their Q4 business updates ahead of the Q4 FY26 earnings season.

From a derivatives perspective, the Put-Call Ratio (PCR) stands at 1.16, indicating a mildly bullish undertone. Among nearby strikes, the 22,500 level has significant Put open interest, suggesting support, while the highest Call open interest is concentrated at the 23,000 strike, indicating strong resistance.

Technically, 22,470 is expected to act as immediate support for the Nifty 50, while 22,950 may serve as resistance. A sustained move above 22,950 could push the index towards 23,000. On the downside, a break below 22,500 may lead to further correction towards 22,300.

There are no stocks in the F&O ban list for April 6.

On the institutional front, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 9,931.13 crore on April 2, marking their 23rd consecutive session of selling. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 7,208.41 crore during the same session.

The Indian stock market was closed on Friday on account of Good Friday. On Thursday, markets ended higher for the second consecutive session. The Sensex rose 185.23 points, or 0.25 per cent, to close at 73,319.55, while the Nifty 50 gained 33.70 points, or 0.15 per cent, to settle at 22,713.10.

In commodities, gold prices declined over 1 per cent due to a stronger dollar and reduced expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts. Spot gold fell 1.06 per cent to USD 4,627.14 per ounce, while silver declined 1.17 per cent to USD 72.15 per ounce.

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