Indian Market Pre-Open Report: Key Things To Watch Today | 19 June 2026
Indian equity markets are poised for a muted to negative start on Friday, tracking weakness in US-listed Indian IT ADRs and cautious global sentiment. Headlines indicate that GIFT Nifty signals a downward opening for the Nifty and Sensex. The spotlight will be on the IT sector following Accenture's disappointing earnings, which led to a significant drop in its shares and a corresponding fall in the ADRs of Infosys and Wipro overnight.
Market Setup
Early indicators point to a weak opening for the domestic indices. The focus will be on the tug-of-war between the banking sector, which has been in an uptrend, and the IT sector, which faces significant headwinds today. Reliance Industries will also be a key stock to track for determining the market's trajectory. Domestic institutional investors continue to provide support, potentially cushioning any sharp declines.
Global Market Snapshot
Overnight in the US, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recovered from mid-week losses, driven by a rebound in semiconductor stocks following news of a US-Iran deal. This sentiment is being overshadowed in the tech space by Accenture's results. In Asia, markets are trading cautiously. Japan's core inflation held steady in May, but the Yen continues to weaken, nearing a 40-year low against the dollar despite a recent rate hike.
Commodities and Currency
- Oil: Brent Crude prices are holding below $80 per barrel. Prices fell on signs that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen, easing supply concerns.
- Currency: The Indian Rupee closed higher for the fifth consecutive session in its previous trading day.
Stocks In Focus Today
- Infosys, Wipro, and other IT stocks: The sector is expected to face significant selling pressure. Accenture's shares slumped 19% in their biggest one-day drop after a weak earnings report, dragging down Infosys and Wipro ADRs by up to 8-10% in overnight US trading.
- Reliance Industries (RIL): The stock will be in focus as the market anticipates details from its upcoming AGM, with expectations centered on the Jio IPO timeline and the company's AI strategy.
- Bajaj Auto: The company has fixed June 24 as the record date for its ₹5,633 crore share buyback program.
- Tata Motors: The company signed an MoU with the government for a scheme to replace trucks and buses in the Delhi-NCR region.
- Marico: The FMCG major cut the price of its Parachute coconut oil by 17% citing a fall in copra costs, while increasing the rate of its Jasmine hair oil.
- HDFC Bank: The RBI has approved a three-month extension of Keki Mistry’s tenure as the bank's interim Chairman.
- Brokerage Radar: Stocks like Havells, Jubilant Foodworks, Nykaa, Varun Beverages, Bajaj Finance, and Oberoi Realty are on the radar of various brokerages today.
- Other Stocks: Dalmia Bharat, Bosch Home Comfort, Doms Industries, and Amber Enterprises are also stocks to watch based on news flow.
FII and DII Activity
Provisional data from the previous session shows that Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, purchasing equities worth ₹3,517 crore. This inflow helped offset selling from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), contributing to the market's recent winning streak.
Corporate Actions
- Bajaj Auto: Record date for the share buyback is June 24.
Economic Calendar
- RBI VRR Auction: The Reserve Bank of India will conduct a three-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction of ₹1 lakh crore today to manage liquidity in the banking system.
Sector Watch
- IT Sector: The primary sector in focus, expected to open with significant losses due to negative global cues from Accenture's performance. The Nifty IT index will be under pressure.
- Auto Sector: Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto will be active on company-specific news.
- FMCG Sector: Marico's price revisions will keep the stock in focus.
- Regulatory Focus: SEBI's proposal to rework margin trading rules to contain risks will be monitored by brokerage and financial stocks.
