The Gift Nifty, a key forward indicator for Indian equity markets, was trading around the 24,087 level early Monday, marking a discount of nearly 15 points from the Nifty 50 futures' previous close.
This soft opening signal suggests that Indian benchmark indices, including the Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to start the session lower as investors digest mixed global cues and heightened geopolitical risk.
The cautious tone in Indian markets comes against a backdrop of intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.
Escalating tensions have introduced fresh uncertainty into global risk appetite, prompting traders to adopt a defensive stance ahead of the Monday open.
While Asian markets showed mixed trends over the weekend, the prevailing sentiment in India leans toward caution rather than immediate recovery.
This development follows a resilient performance by the Nifty 50 on Friday, when the index reclaimed and sustained levels above the critical 24,000 mark.