As of 8:45 AM IST, Monday 26 October 2026, before the market opens at 9:15 AM. Pre-market numbers move quickly, so the times of each reading are given. Based on Financial Express, Business Standard, The Hindu BusinessLine and ET Now. GIFT Nifty is an indicator of sentiment, not a forecast of where the Nifty will open.
Indian shares look set for a flat-to-weak start on Monday. GIFT Nifty is trading slightly below Friday's Nifty close, Asian markets are mostly lower, and Brent crude has eased but is still about $115 a barrel. Bank stocks are likely to be in focus after IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank reported strong September-quarter numbers on Saturday. For the full week's calendar, see our week-ahead outlook linked below.
Pre-market snapshot
| Indicator | Reading | Source and time |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50, Friday close | About 22,600 | NSE, 23 Oct |
| Sensex, Friday close | 73,123.83 | BSE, 23 Oct |
| GIFT Nifty | 22,560, down 48 points (0.2%) | Financial Express, 6:58 AM IST |
| GIFT Nifty | 22,601.5, down 6.5 points | Business Standard live blog, published 7:45 AM IST |
| Brent crude | $115.1, down 1.39% | Business Standard, 8:23 AM IST |
| WTI crude | About $101.5, down about 1.7% | Business Standard, 8:23 AM IST |
| Nikkei 225 / Kospi | Down 0.76% / down 1.55% | Business Standard, 8:13 AM IST |
| US stock futures | Dow +0.2%, S&P 500 +0.4%, Nasdaq-100 +0.6% | Financial Express, early Monday |
On Friday in New York, the Dow fell 1.23%, the S&P 500 0.52% and the Nasdaq Composite 0.21%, Business Standard reported. Brent hit its highest level since April on Friday on reports that the US and Israel plan strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections, Financial Express said, before easing on Monday.
Institutional flows on Friday
Financial Express, citing NSDL data, reported that foreign institutional investors bought equities worth ₹887.65 crore on Friday and domestic institutions bought ₹3,235.36 crore. Daily provisional figures from different sources can differ, and October as a whole has still seen heavy foreign selling.
Weekend results: two banks impress
IDFC First Bank
- Net profit: ₹1,045 crore in Q2 FY27, up 197% from ₹352 crore a year earlier (standalone).
- Net interest income: up 21% to ₹6,184 crore. Net interest margin was almost flat at 5.58%.
- Provisions: down 22% to ₹1,137 crore.
- Asset quality: gross NPA 1.32% (1.86% a year ago), net NPA 0.40%.
- Growth: deposits up 26% to ₹3,48,583 crore and advances up 30% to ₹3,38,929 crore.
MD and CEO V. Vaidyanathan said the bank had raised ₹34,390 crore ($3.6 billion) in FCNR(B) deposits, which give it "structural liquidity of 3 to 5 years", The Hindu BusinessLine reported.
AU Small Finance Bank
- Net profit: ₹858 crore, up 53% from ₹561 crore.
- Net interest income: up 32% to ₹2,820 crore. Net interest margin rose to 5.8% from 5.5%.
- Asset quality: gross NPA 1.99% (2.41% a year ago), net NPA 0.81%.
- Capital adequacy: 18.54%, slightly lower than 18.78% a year ago.
Kotak Mahindra Bank also reported on Saturday (see our separate story below). Earlier results that ET Now listed among Monday's stocks to watch include IndusInd Bank, which returned to profit, Tata Motors CV, BPCL and JK Cement.
Also on today's radar
- Results due today: Tata Consumer Products, REC, Paytm, Mankind Pharma, ITC Hotels and Ather Energy are among companies scheduled to report, Business Standard said.
- IPO: EAAA India Alternatives' ₹1,200 crore IPO opens today and closes on 28 October.
- Company news: KEC International said it won ₹2,872 crore of orders from Power Grid, and IndiGo announced it will move 12 daily international flights to Navi Mumbai airport from February 2027, ET Now and PTI reported.
What to keep in mind
GIFT Nifty readings this morning ranged from slightly negative to nearly flat depending on the time, so the opening could swing either way. Crude above $110 remains the main worry for India, which imports most of its oil, along with the rupee, which ended at 94.94 to the dollar on 23 October, according to Financial Express. Strong bank results may support financial stocks, but one quarter's numbers do not decide a stock's direction.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. HorizonDesk is not registered with SEBI as an investment adviser or research analyst. Please consult a SEBI-registered professional before making investment decisions.
Related reading on HorizonDesk
- Indian stock market outlook for the week of 26–30 October
- Kotak Mahindra Bank Q2 FY27: profit rises 26%
- Bank Q2 FY27 results: HDFC, ICICI, Axis and more
- Sensex and Nifty's weekly fall as Brent hits $116
Sources
- Financial Express: GIFT Nifty signals negative start; Brent crude tops $115/bbl (26 Oct 2026, 6:58 AM IST)
- Business Standard: Stock Market LIVE, 26 October 2026
- The Hindu BusinessLine: IDFC First Bank's Q2FY27 net profit zooms 197% to ₹1,045 crore (24 Oct 2026)
- Business Standard (PTI): AU Small Finance Bank Q2FY27 net profit jumps 53% to ₹858 crore (24 Oct 2026)
- ET Now: Stocks to watch today, 26 October 2026
