Local stock markets are poised for a steady start today. The Gift Nifty April 2026 futures are trading 0.11 points higher, suggesting a mildly positive start for the benchmark index today. The domestic equity market finished marginally higher in last session, with BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 slightly higher.The BSE Sensex has risen slightly 1.15% over the last one month, while the NSE Nifty has eased 0.12% over the same period.

In Asia today, sentiment was modestly positive. China’s SSE Composite Index edged lower 0.13% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 ticked up 1.92%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.09%.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,462 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 2,609 crore in the Indian equity market on 26 October 2026, provisional data showed.

Overnight on Wall Street, stocks moved higher across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up by 146.42 points, or 0.28%, and closed at 52382.58. The S&P 500 inched higher 0.70% to end at 7698.33, and the NASDAQ Composite posted modest gains of 0.82% to 26190.30.

In last session, the S&P BSE Sensex edged up 482.92 points or 0.66% to 73606.75. The Nifty 50 index moved higher by 153.20 points or 0.68% to 22753.20. Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd was top gainer in Nifty 50 yesterday, rising slightly by 6.62% to Rs 1310.90. The stock has posted modest gains of around 1.43% in last one-week and stands lower 10.47% over last one-month.

In sectoral indices, only Nifty Metal index ticked up yesterday, advancing 2.21% on the day.