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The Indian stock market is expected to open higher on short covering after a sharp sell-off as investors remain cautious about the renewed US-Iran war tensions and rising crude oil prices. GIFT Nifty also indicates a gap-up opening, trading at 23,976 with a premium of 64 points from its previous Nifty futures close.
On Wednesday, the Sensex plunged 1,677.12 points or 2.15% to settle at 76,503.60, while the Nifty 50 fell 516.65 points or 2.12% to finish at 23,882.05.
Among broader indices, Nifty Midcap 100 shed 1.5% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index declined 2.2%.
The Indian rupee opened flat at Rs. 95.55 per dollar on Thursday versus the previous close of Rs. 95.55.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers in Indian equities on July 8, purchasing shares worth Rs. 1,962.80 crore, while Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also stayed on the buying side, investing Rs. 790.16 crore.
Technically, the Sensex formed a long bearish candle on the daily chart, indicating further weakness from the current levels.
“We are of the view that the short-term texture of the market has changed to negative from positive, and for day traders, selling on rallies would be the ideal strategy. For day traders, 77,000 and 77,100 would act as immediate resistance levels for the bulls. As long as it is trading below these levels, weak sentiment is likely to continue on the downside. The market could retest the level of the 50-day SMA (Simple Moving Average), around 76,000. Further downward movement may also continue, which could drag the index to 75,800,” said Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities.
On the flip side, above 77,100, the sentiment could change. If the index moves above this level, a pullback could continue till 77,400-77,500. The current market texture is volatile; hence, level-based trading would be the ideal strategy for day traders, he added.
The Nifty 50 formed a long bearish candle with a lower high, lower low and a bearish gap, indicating that sellers currently have the upper hand.
Bajaj Broking noted that the index erased its recent gains after slipping below the important support zone around 24,250 and eventually tested the 23,800 mark during intraday trade.
"Going ahead, a breach below the key support area of 23,800 will open further downside towards the 23,500-23,600 levels in the coming sessions being the confluence of the previous gap area and 61.8% retracement of the entire previous up move 23,070-24,530. While holding above 23,800 will lead to consolidation in the range of 23,800-24,350. Immediate bias remains down below Wednesday's gap down area of 24,350," said the brokerage.
On Wednesday, Bank Nifty slumped 1,458.10 points or 2.51% to close at 56,742.60, forming a bearish candle on the daily chart and slipping below its 20-day EMA for the first time since June 8.
“The index has entered a corrective phase after failing to hold key support levels. Index contrary to our expectations closed below the immediate support area of 57,000-56,800 signaling corrective bias. A follow through weakness will open further downside towards 55,500-56,000 levels in the coming sessions," said Bajaj Broking Research.
The brokerage further added, "On the higher side only a move above 58,000 will signal resumption of the up-move failure to do so will lead to some consolidation in the range of 55,000-58,000 levels."
