US indices, the dollar, crude and Asian futures set the opening tone. A practical pre-market checklist.
Key takeaways
- US close, dollar index, crude and SGX/GIFT Nifty are the core pre-market inputs.
- Correlation to global markets rises during risk-off episodes.
- A five-minute checklist beats an hour of scrolling commentary.
Indian markets open after US markets close and while Asia is trading, so overnight information arrives in the gap. The pre-market inputs worth checking are the US close and futures, the dollar index, crude prices, and the offshore Nifty contract's overnight move.
Correlation is not constant. During calm periods India often trades on its own drivers — flows, earnings and policy. During global stress, correlation rises sharply and domestic analysis matters much less than the direction of global risk appetite.
IT services and metals are the most globally sensitive sectors, the first through US client spending and the rupee, the second through commodity prices and Chinese demand.
Keep the routine short. A five-minute checklist covering those four inputs plus the day's domestic events gives you the opening bias. Consuming an hour of commentary tends to produce conviction rather than information.
Related guides
Macro
Inflation and Indian equities: what actually transmits to prices
CPI prints move rate expectations, which move discount rates, which move valuations. The chain, explained simply.
Macro
Trading around RBI policy: preparation beats prediction
Rate decisions move banks, bonds and the rupee. How to prepare a book instead of guessing the outcome.
Macro
Union Budget day: the most over-traded session of the year
Elevated volatility, brutal IV crush and headline whipsaws. How experienced traders approach budget sessions.
Commodity
MCX commodity trading: contracts, sessions and what moves prices
Gold, silver, crude and natural gas trade into the evening on global cues — a segment built for traders with day jobs.
Your edge deserves
real capital
Start today from ₹1,499, trade Equity, F&O, Currency or MCX your way, and get paid in rupees on exactly the terms you were shown on day one.
Trade · Prove · Get Funded — evaluation fee refunded with your first INR payout.