Indian stocks are expected to open relatively unchanged on Friday as investors evaluate developments in the Middle East and await confirmation regarding a potential extension of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. According to sources reported by Reuters, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on Thursday to prolong their ceasefire and ease shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to approve the deal, and Iranian state media indicated that the arrangement has not been finalized.
As of 7:52 AM, GIFT Nifty futures stood at 23,890.05, suggesting that the benchmark Nifty 50 will open close to its Wednesday closing figure of 23,907.15. Indian markets were closed on Thursday due to a local holiday.
Brent crude futures fell to $93 per barrel, while Asian markets rose by 1.6% amidst optimism surrounding the U.S.-Iran deal and a rally in artificial intelligence stocks. Ponmudi R., CEO of Enrich Money, commented, “The sharp decline in crude oil prices and progress toward a U.S.–Iran truce are supportive for equities, while continued selling by foreign investors and the pending approval of the truce agreement may keep gains capped in the near term.”
Provisional data indicates that foreign investors sold Indian shares worth ₹1,040 crore on Wednesday. So far this year, they have offloaded $24.3 billion in shares, exceeding the record annual outflows of 2025.
STOCKS TO WATCH
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Wipro will be closely monitored after its U.S.-listed shares surged 18.5% on Thursday following its partnership with ServiceNow to implement agentic AI workflows.
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Edtech firm Physicswallah reported a reduction in quarterly losses alongside a revenue increase of approximately 13%. The company has also approved a ₹1.2 billion investment in Finz Finance via a rights issue.
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Ashok Leyland announced its highest-ever quarterly profit and revenue, driven by robust demand for commercial vehicles.
