NIFTY50, SENSEX: Asian markets, FII moves, crude oil, gold prices, key things to know before market opens on May 26

NSE data showed that the GIFT NIFTY futures were trading 0.12% lower at 23,885.50 points ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday, as oil prices started to be elevated again due to the heightened concerns over whether or not America and Iran will be able to negotiate a peace deal by this week.

The NIFTY50 index closed closed 0.49% or 118 points lower at 23,913.70 points after Tuesday’s market session, compared to 24,031.70 points at the previous close, according to the exchange data.

Meanwhile, the SENSEX closed 0.63% or 479 points lower at 76,009.70 points after the market session on May 26, compared to 76,488.96 points at the previous trading close, as per BSE data.

Focus of investors is likely to be on stock specific action on the backdrop of the last leg of corporate earnings for the financial year ended 2025-26.

Key things to know before market opens

Asian markets today

Stock market investors in Asia were continuing cautious streak on Wednesday, May 27, as the focus remained on the volatile oil prices, any positive cues from the negotiations in West Asia and the escalations in the Strait of Hormuz, amid a fragile ceasefire deal.

MarketWatch data showed that the Asia Dow was down 1.04% at 6,311 points, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 0.18% at 25,554 points, China’s Shanghai was down 0.28% at 4,133 points, and Singapore’s FTSE was down 0.82% at 5,28 points as per the morning market session.

In contrast, Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.94% at 65,605.67 points on Wednesday, as major movers like Shift Inc., Shin-Etu Chemical, and Hoya Corp., among others support the gains in an overall weak market.

FII moves

After a one day gap, the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) restarted their selling streak after shedding ₹2,407.87 crore worth of assets across the stock exchanges in a single day on Tuesday, according to NSE data.

While the foreign investors became net sellers, the domestic buyers provided marginal support, buying ₹1,361 crore worth of assets in the capital market in a single day, as majority investors booked their profits after Monday’s gains.

The FII outflow and the lack of support from the domestic investors prompted the indices to close lower after Tuesday’s trading session.

Crude oil prices today

After a two day relief, the crude oil prices were charting towards an elevated territory due to the uncertainty related to a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran by this week.

At 7:15 am (IST), the Brent crude oil prices were trading 0.78% lower at $95.90 per bbl on Wednesday, May 27, compared with $96.64 per bbl at the previous commodity market close, according to Investing.com data.

The data also showed that the energy prices have contracted its cooling off levels after the recent rise in prices, now down 5% over the last five trading days on the global market. Crude oil prices have dropped 11.4% in the past one month.

WTI crude oil prices were trading 1.05% lower at $92.91 per bbl on Wednesday, compared to $93.89 per bbl at the previous commodity market close, according to the exchange data.

Latest report suggests that Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that Israel carried out an airstrike on Tuesday, killing 31 people and wounding 40 others, amid the ongoing ceasefire deal in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran has accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by reportedly attacking Iranian commercial vehicles on Tuesday. These attacks come at a time when the two countries are engaged in the third round of negotiations for a potential peace deal.

Gold prices today

At 9:40 pm (ET), the New York Mercantile Exchange-based COMEX gold prices were trading 0.17% higher at $4,509.90 per ounce on Tuesday evening, compared to $4,502.30 per ounce at the previous market close, as per the official data.

Although gold prices have lost 4.77% in the past one month, and more than 13% in the last three months, the precious metal rates were trading marginally higher in the last five trading sessions based on the backdrop of a subdued US dollar rate.

Gold prices were trading higher on Wednesday’s market, India time, as the Bloomberg US dollar spot index (DYX) data showed that the greenback remained under pressure, trading 0.04% lower at 99.134.

Traders are likely to buy more gold, in turn increasing the demand for the commodity amid a lower dollar rate, as they will be able to purchase more quantity at a lower price. The US dollar was trading lower due to the hopes of a peace deal this week.

All eyes are now on any cues from the outcome of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting, which is scheduled to happen in the White House on Wednesday, May 27. Any positive or negative development is expected to affect the financial markets in the near term.

Stocks to watch today

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, PC Jeweller, Cummins India, GMR Airports, Physicswallah, Gillette India, PG Electroplast, Bata India, Regal Resources, Emami Realty, among other stocks are set to be in focus of the stock market investors on May 27, as these companies will be announcing their Q4 results for the year ended 2025-26.