Indian equity indices began Wednesday’s trading session on a steady note, with Sensex and Nifty showing minimal movement as investors awaited crucial U.S. consumer inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve's rate decisions. A cautious sentiment dominated, impacted by weak cues from Wall Street and mixed performance across Asian markets. Geopolitical tensions due to escalating violence in Syria also weighed on market confidence. However, optimism was supported by S&P Global Ratings, which maintained India's FY25 GDP growth forecast at 6.8%, citing strong urban consumption, robust service sector performance, and ongoing infrastructure investments.

Sectoral and Stock Highlights

Auto stocks garnered attention after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed confidence in India's automobile sector becoming the global leader within five years. NTPC Green Energy shares surged following the award of a 500 MW solar project by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

• Sensex Performance: Trading at 81,494.63, down 15.42 points or 0.02%, with 15 advancing stocks and 15 decliners.
• Nifty Performance: Trading at 24,617.55, up 7.50 points or 0.03%, with 31 stocks gaining and 19 declining.

Top Gainers and Losers

• Gainers on Sensex: Ultratech Cement (+2.03%), Nestle (+1.36%), Mahindra & Mahindra (+0.83%).
• Losers on Sensex: HCL Technologies (-0.87%), ICICI Bank (-0.51%), Tech Mahindra (-0.48%).

S&P Global Ratings Outlook

S&P projected a resilient economic growth trajectory for India in 2025, driven by easing inflationary pressures and expected moderate rate cuts by the RBI. While the FY25 growth remains pegged at 6.8%, challenges such as weak manufacturing growth, post-pandemic recovery in public sector finances, and subdued agriculture growth could pose risks.

Global Market Snapshot

Asian markets displayed mixed trends, with Nikkei 225 and Taiwan Weighted declining, while Jakarta Composite and KOSPI posted gains. Persistent volatility reflects investor apprehensions regarding global economic recovery and geopolitical tensions.

This steady but cautious opening highlights the impact of global economic and geopolitical factors on domestic markets. Investors remain focused on the U.S. inflation data for further direction.