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Informist, Monday, May 25, 2026

By Arundathi A R

MUMBAI – Headline stock indices are expected to open higher on Monday due to improved hopes of a US-Iran peace deal and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. All Asian equity markets also gained in early trade and crude oil prices fell to $99 a barrel. At 0805 IST, the July futures contract of Brent crude was over 4% lower than its previous close at $99.00 a barrel.

US President Donald Trump said a memorandum of understanding on an agreement with Iran had been "largely negotiated" and would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil chokepoint closed since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, Al Jazeera reported. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the next round of negotiations between the US and Iran would happen "very soon," Al Jazeera reported.

Prior to this statement, Trump had instructed negotiators "not to rush into a deal" with Iran. "The US blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would "remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and ‌signed," Reuters quoted Trump as saying in his Truth Social post Sunday. "Both sides must take their time and get it right," he said.

At 0727 IST, the June futures contract of the GIFT Nifty was nearly 1% higher from its previous close at 23981. This was over 260 points higher than the Nifty 50's previous close of 23719.30. The May futures contract of the GIFT Nifty was also 1% higher from its previous close at 23959.50 and 240 points higher than Friday's close of the Nifty 50.

"Expect markets to go higher as crude oil has declined and INR has been showing strength since last couple of sessions," said Ruchit Jain, technical research head at Motilal Oswal. He expects the Nifty 50 to face resistance at 24000–24100 levels and find support at 23650 levels in Monday's session. The Indian rupee settled at 95.69 a dollar on Friday.

In another development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sunday said bilateral trade relations between India and the US have not lost momentum and a trade deal under negotiations between the two countries may be sealed soon. A US trade delegation will visit India "very soon" to take forward the talks on the matter, Rubio said after a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Indian Oil Corp. Monday hiked the retail price of petrol by INR 2.61 to INR 102.12 per litre in Delhi. It also raised diesel prices by INR 2.71 to INR 95.20 per litre.

Foreign institutional investors continued their selling spree Friday, while domestic investors supported the equity market. The foreign outflow from the market was INR 44.40 billion in the last session, while domestic investors net bought shares worth INR 60.04 billion. Foreign investors net sold shares worth INR 434.08 billion in the last seven days, while domestic investors net bought shares worth INR 406.49 billion in the same period.

Nifty 50 constituent NTPC detailed its March quarter earnings on Saturday. In Jan-Mar, the company's net profit growth was the highest in 20 quarters despite revenue from operations falling for the fourth straight quarter. NTPC reported over 51% growth in its bottom line for the March quarter at INR 87.47 billion. Of this, the company received a tax write-back of INR 87.37 billion. Its top line was at INR 431.11 billion, down nearly 2% on year.

Post market hours on Friday, Eicher Motors and Hindalco Industries detailed their March quarter earnings. Eicher reported a consolidated net profit of INR 15.20 billion, up nearly 12% on year, for the March quarter. Its top line stood at INR 60.80 billion, up 16% on year. Both metrics beat the Street's estimates. Hindalco's consolidated profit for the March quarter halved on year due to the impact of a one-time cost of INR 41.71 billion. Its net profit declined almost 51% on year to INR 25.97 billion, and revenue from operations rose over 20% on year to INR 781.33 billion.

Asian stock indices were higher, with Taiwan's TAIEX gaining the most at 3%. All the three major US indices also closed higher on Friday.  End

US$1 = INR 95.69

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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