Equity benchmarks were poised for a lower opening on Friday as investors monitored election results from Bihar, which could provide insight into the ruling alliance’s popularity, amid diminishing expectations for a near-term interest rate cut in the U.S.
As of 7:37 a.m. IST, Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,845.5 points, suggesting that the Nifty 50 would start below Thursday’s closing figure of 25,879.15. Both the Nifty and the Sensex ended flat on Thursday, following a rally of 1.5 percent over the previous three sessions.
“Friday’s session may see heightened volatility due to the Bihar election outcome,” noted Siddhartha Khemka, head of research for wealth management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Exit polls indicated that the ruling National Democratic Alliance was likely to retain power in Bihar, but an unexpected loss could provoke a stock market correction of 5-7 percent, as it may affect policy continuity and political stability, analysts warned.
Vote counting is scheduled to commence at 8 a.m. IST.
Other Asian stock markets experienced declines, reflecting an overnight drop on Wall Street, as hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve officials diminished expectations for a rate cut in December. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold off Indian equities for the fourth consecutive session on Thursday, resulting in net outflows of ₹3.84 billion. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) continued their trend as net buyers for the 15th session, acquiring stocks valued at ₹51.27 billion on Thursday.
In corporate news, Hero MotoCorp surpassed profit expectations for the September quarter due to demand driven by a tax cut and strong exports. Bharat Dynamics secured a contract worth ₹2,096 crore with the Ministry of Defence and reported a significant rise in quarterly profit. Conversely, Voltas experienced a decline in second-quarter profit, while NBCC received orders totaling ₹340 crore. Additionally, Eicher Motors, the manufacturer of Royal Enfield, reported an increase in second-quarter profit, bolstered by rising sales.
Published on November 14, 2025.
