Sensex, Nifty opening: Will stock markets crash again today? Paytm to be in focus

Stock markets are likely to open higher on Wednesday, with GIFT Nifty pointing to a positive start after the Nifty 50 closed at a five-month low in the previous session. However, elevated crude oil prices, foreign fund outflows, heavy IPO activity and uncertainty ahead of the US Federal Reserve's rate decision could keep investors cautious.

GIFT Nifty futures were trading around 23,237 at 8:15 am, indicating a positive start for the Nifty50. The index had closed at 23,118.60 on Tuesday, falling 279.50 points or 1.19%. The Sensex had ended 777.94 points lower at 74,003.82.

The market's opening direction will also be tested by several factors, including crude oil prices, the US Federal Reserve's policy decision and activity in the primary market.WHY MARKETS COULD REMAIN UNDER PRESSURE

Brent crude was trading around $108.3 a barrel after ending at a near four-month high on Tuesday. Supply concerns have intensified after Saudi Arabia suspended oil loading at its Yanbu port and reduced oil shipments to Europe.

The rise in crude is important for India because sustained high oil prices can put pressure on inflation, the trade balance and the rupee. It could also complicate the interest-rate outlook at a time when global bond yields are already elevated.

Global markets are also awaiting the US Federal Reserve's policy decision, which is due after Indian market hours. Most investors are expecting a rate hike.

Higher US interest rates can make emerging markets such as India less attractive to global investors. They can also weigh on sectors such as Indian IT, which earns a significant share of its revenue from the US market.IPO RUSH ADDS TO LIQUIDITY CONCERNS

Primary-market activity is another factor being closely watched by investors.

Three IPOs, Hero Motors, SS Retail and Jindal Supreme India — are scheduled to open for subscription on Wednesday, taking the total number of active IPOs to four.

The heavy IPO pipeline comes at a time when the secondary market is already facing pressure from foreign selling.

Foreign institutional investors recorded net outflows of Rs 2,977.86 crore from domestic markets on Tuesday, their highest since September 4. Domestic institutional investors, however, remained net buyers, with inflows of Rs 2,686.05 crore, according to provisional NSE data.OIL, US YIELDS AND AI CONCERNS

Ankita Pathak, Head – Global Investments, Ionic Asset, said macro headwinds remain elevated for equity markets globally, with the next major catalyst being the Federal Reserve's policy decision.

"Macro headwinds remain elevated for equity markets across the world, with commentary from Anthropic's CEO further adding to the risks that the markets are currently facing. The next key catalyst would be the Fed’s policy decision on 16th September midnight, with markets largely pricing in a 25-bps rate hike," Pathak said.

She said a rate hike would provide policy certainty and maintain the Fed's credibility, while also pointing to the importance of diversification as portfolios across markets remain heavily linked to AI and data-centre investment.

"While the long-term fundamentals remain intact, macro overhangs have increasingly taken centre stage, with significant movements beneath the headline indices despite relatively stable index levels," Pathak said.

Brent crude has risen 45.8% since the onset of the war and remained above $100 a barrel for five consecutive trading sessions.

Pathak said the latest disruptions to Saudi Arabia's pipeline indicate that the problem is increasingly shifting towards a supply issue rather than merely a supply-chain issue. The closure of the East-West pipeline has put more than 4 million barrels a day of crude oil export capacity at risk, according to the assessment shared by Pathak.

Persistently high oil prices could mean higher inflation, higher-for-longer interest rates, weaker trade balances and pressure on currencies of major oil-importing economies such as India.

US Treasury yields have also remained elevated amid concerns over fiscal strain and inflationary pressures. The US 10-year Treasury yield has breached 5%, according to Pathak, reaching its highest level since 2007.

The upcoming Fed decision is therefore being closely watched for clarity on the future direction of monetary policy.

Over the last week, rising expectations of higher interest rates have weighed on global risk sentiment. Developed markets declined 1.7%, while emerging markets fell 3.4%. The DXY rose around 0.2%, 10-year US Treasury yields increased around 20 basis points and gold declined 2.4%.

The rupee also depreciated around 1.2% despite RBI intervention, reflecting pressure from elevated US yields and a stronger US dollar.

For investors, Wednesday's session will therefore bring a mix of technical rebound hopes and continued macro risks, with crude oil, global yields, FII flows, IPO activity and the Fed decision remaining key factors to watch.

(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)- EndsPublished By: Sonu VivekPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 08:49 IST