NIFTY50, SENSEX on October 1: US market cues, RBI MPC meet outcome, FII activity, key things to know before markets open

The Indian equity markets are set to open marginally lower as indicated by GIFT NIFTY futures. NIFTY futures at GIFT City in Ahmedabad fell 16 points or 0.07% to 24,762 ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet outcome.

The equity benchmarks fell for an eighth straight session on Tuesday, September 30, dragged down by losses in index heavyweights like Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, ITC, Larsen & Toubro, Titan and Trent. The SENSEX dropped 97 points to close at 80,268 and NIFTY50 index fell 24 points to close at 24,611.

Asian markets

Most of the Asian markets were trading lower and US stock futures slipped as the US government was staring at a shutdown as Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement to avoid the government closure.

Japan's Nikkei fell 1.14%, Singapore's Straits Times fell 1.08% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.34%. On the other hand, South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.88%. Markets in China and Hing Kong were closed on account of a holiday.

Wall Street update

Overnight, US stocks managed to close higher despite a choppy session as investors braced for a possible shutdown of the US Federal government which would delay key economic reports and muddy the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy outlook.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.18%, S&P500 advanced 0.41% and tech heavy Nasdaq gained 0.3%.

RBI's decision day guide

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) three-day meeting will come to an end later in the day.

RBI MPC meeting comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and the recent US decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports.

Most experts believe the RBI is likely to maintain the current repo rate at 5.5% in the upcoming policy announcement. Stable inflation and the effects of recent GST reforms are seen as reasons to pause rate changes for now.

However, an SBI research report has suggested a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut, calling it the "best possible option" in the current environment. Still, other economists feel the central bank may prefer to maintain the status quo and observe how global developments unfold.

FII/DII activity

Foreign institutional investors sold shares worth ₹2,327 crore on Tuesday while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth ₹5,762 crore, data from the National Stock Exchange showed.

The FIIs sold shares worth ₹23,885 crore in September and for the calendar year they have been net sellers to the tune of ₹1,54,520 crore, according to the data from National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).

Stocks to watch

The Chennai-headquartered Wheels India has identified hydraulic cylinders segment, as one of the strategic growth areas and this collaboration is expected to drive its growth further in this segment.

The overall capacity of the Bikaner Solar Power Project is 1,000 MW, the company said.

Sharing its update regarding the commissioning of a 300 MW solar PV Project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the company in an exchange filing said, "It is to inform that commissioning of balance capacity i.e. 85.72 MW of 300 MW Karnisar Solar Power Project, Bikaner, Rajasthan is now likely to be commissioned by October 31, 2025 instead of September 30, 2025," the company said.

Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd obtained approval from its Board and shareholders to raise funds by way of issuance of up to 87,76,40,000 non-cumulative and non-participating 0.001% Series A Optionally Convertible Redeemable Preference Shares of face value ₹10 each, at a consideration of ₹877.64 crore in one or more tranches on a preferential basis through private placement, the Bengaluru-based firm said in a regulatory filing.

The company has received the notifications of award from M.P. Power Generating Company Ltd. (MPPGCL), BHEL said in an exchange filing.

The orders are "in the range of ₹13,000 crore - ₹15,000 crore excluding taxes & duties," it said.

The NoA received on Monday is for EPC packages of 1x660 MW Amarkantak unit no. 6 and 1x660 MW Satpura unit no 12 Supercritical Thermal Power Plants in Madhya Pradesh. The EPC works include supply of equipment, erection and commissioning and civil works.