Indian equity markets are poised for a lower open on Thursday, with GIFT Nifty futures trading at 23,864, signaling a gap-down start for the Sensex and Nifty 50.
The pre-market indicator reflects renewed selling pressure as crude oil prices climbed past $95 a barrel following fresh US military strikes on Iran.
This development marks a sharp reversal from the recent retreat in energy prices that had briefly supported earnings outlooks for Indian firms.
The surge in oil prices is likely to weigh heavily on investor sentiment, particularly for sectors sensitive to input costs such as aviation, logistics, and chemicals.
The risk-off environment is compounded by broader geopolitical uncertainty, which has already dampened global cues and triggered volatility in emerging markets.
Indian benchmarks faced broad selling pressure earlier in the week as Middle East tensions escalated, and the latest military action is expected to deepen that trend.
The cross-asset reaction highlights the vulnerability of Indian equities to external energy shocks.
While domestic IT strength has previously offset some crude pressure, the current spike in oil prices threatens to overshadow domestic growth narratives.