Indian benchmark indices opened on a flat note on Friday, April 24, 2026, as investors remained cautious amid mixed global cues. The BSE Sensex started at 58,450.32, down 12.45 points or 0.02%, while the NSE Nifty opened at 17,410.20, losing 3.80 points or 0.02%.
IT Stocks Under Pressure
Infosys shares declined in early trade, falling nearly 1% after the company's American depositary receipts (ADRs) slipped on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock opened at Rs 1,520.10, down from the previous close of Rs 1,535.55. Other IT majors like TCS, Wipro, and HCL Technologies also witnessed mild selling pressure.
Investors are keeping a close watch on the ongoing earnings season, with several companies set to announce their quarterly results later today. The market breadth was slightly positive, with 1,245 stocks advancing against 1,012 declining on the BSE.
Global Markets Mixed
Asian markets traded mixed on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 0.3%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.2%. China's Shanghai Composite was flat. Overnight, US markets ended lower as technology stocks faced selling pressure. The S&P 500 declined 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7%.
SGX Nifty, which traded at 17,435 levels, indicated a muted start for Indian equities. The rupee opened at 76.45 against the US dollar, weaker by 3 paise from the previous close.
Sectoral Performance
Among sectoral indices, Nifty Bank was flat, while Nifty Auto and Nifty Pharma traded marginally higher. Nifty IT was the top loser, down 0.5%. Metal stocks also saw some profit booking after recent gains.
Experts suggest that markets may remain range-bound in the near term due to lack of major triggers and global uncertainties. The focus will remain on corporate earnings and economic data releases.
