Stock Market Today: NSE, BSE Set To Open Higher On US Rate Cut Bets, Trade Deal Hopes

India's equity benchmarks are poised to open higher on Monday, after a six-session winning run was halted on Friday, with softer-than-expected September U.S. inflation boosting bets for two additional rate cuts in 2025.

Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,904 points as of 7:48 a.m. IST, indicating that the benchmark Nifty 50 will open above Friday's close of 25,795.15.

Expectations of a rebound in domestic earnings and easing global trade worries are aiding sentiment, with analysts expecting bouts of profit taking as Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex approach record high levels.

Other Asian markets opened higher on the day after the U.S. consumer price inflation eased in September, reinforcing hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut rates at its policy meeting on Wednesday and in December.

Lower U.S. rates make emerging markets such as India more attractive to foreign investors.

Meanwhile, top Chinese and U.S. economic officials hashed out the framework of a trade deal for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to decide on later this week, U.S. officials said on Sunday.

Back home, both the benchmarks fell about 0.4% on Friday, after gaining about 3% each during a six-session winning run. The indexes are trading about 1.5% below their record highs hit on September 2024.

Foreign portfolio investors and domestic institutional investors remained net buyers of Indian shares on Friday, bringing in 6.22 billion rupees ($70.8 million) and 1.73 billion rupees, respectively, per provisional data from NSE.

STOCKS TO WATCH

** Coforge beats second-quarter profit view on improved client spending

** Dr. Reddy's misses September-quarter profit view on stiff competition for cancer drug generic

** Kotak Mahindra Bank misses quarterly profit estimates due to higher provisions

** SBI Card misses quarterly profit view on higher operating costs ($1 = 87.8950 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy)