Stock Market Today: US-China Trade Tensions, Inflation Data, Q2 Results Among Key Global Cues To Watch

Several domestic and global cues including US-China trade tensions, India’s inflation data for September, Q2FY26 earnings among others are likely to impact trade on October 14.

In the previous session, domestic equities took a breather after the recent rebound.  Benchmark indices, after giving a gap down, traded in a narrow range throughout the session, and eventually settled lower than the prior close. The Nifty 50 ended at 25,277.35, down 58 points, or 0.23 per cent. Sensex closed at 82,327.05, down 173.77 points, or 0.21 per cent.

Key Market Cues To Watch Today

China’s Tough Response To US

China has warned it is ready to “fight to the end” in its escalating trade dispute with the United States, after US President Donald Trump announced plans to slap an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese imports.

"If you wish to fight, we shall fight to the end; if you wish to negotiate, our door remains open," a spokesperson from the China's Ministry of Commerce said.

India Inflation September 2025

India’s retail inflation fell to 1.54 per cent in September from 2.07 per cent in August, below the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 2–6 per cent target range, as food prices continued to cool.

Food inflation dropped to -2.28 per cent in September from -0.69 per cent in August, led by a sharp fall in vegetable prices.

Inflation has remained below the RBI’s 4 per cent target for seven consecutive months.

Q2FY26 Earnings Today

Tech Mahindra, Bank of Maharashtra, ICICI Lombard, IREDA, and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance are among the major firms that are set to announce their quarterly results for the July-September quarter (Q2) for FY26 today.

Other companies expected to declare results include Persistent Systems, Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, Aditya Birla Money, Cyient DLM, Infomedia Press, and Prabhat Technologies.

Crude Oil Prices Today

Crude oil prices gained in early session today, showing some recovery after October 10’s steep losses.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 0.34 per cent to $59.69 per barrel, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, advanced 0.33 per cent to $63.53 per barrel.

Gold Prices Today

Gold prices extended their record-breaking rally in early trade today, supported by strong safe-haven demand amid renewed US-China trade tensions.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures rose 1.42 per cent to Rs 1,26,404 per 10 grams, after hitting an intraday and all-time high of Rs 1,26,437 per 10 grams.

Globally, prices mirrored the domestic trend. On the COMEX, gold futures advanced 1.02 per cent to $4,175.42 per ounce, marking a fresh record high of $4,175.90 earlier in the session.

USD vs INR

The Indian rupee opened slightly weaker against the US dollar earlier today. At 9:18 AM, the domestic currency was trading at 88.72 per dollar, down 0.09 per cent from the previous close. The rupee moved in a narrow range of 88.64–88.74 during early trade.

The US dollar index futures edged lower in early trade today, easing from recent highs as investors turned cautious ahead of key US economic data releases.

Around the same time, the December 2025 dollar index futures were trading 0.10 per cent lower at 98.93, after moving within a narrow range of 98.93–99.12 so far in the session.

US Stock Market

Overnight, US stock market's main indices ended higher as investor sentiment improved after Trump took a softer stance on the recent US-China trade tensions.

Adding to the positive mood, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea to discuss ways to ease trade frictions.

The S&P 500 rose 1.56 per cent, the Nasdaq jumped 2.21 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.29 per cent.

Asian Stock Markets

Asian stocks largely traded lower in early trade today, even as Trump’s softening stance pulled Wall Street indices higher.

Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2.75 per cent, the broader Topix fell 2.31 per cent. China's CSI 300 opened with a gap up, however, soon slipped into the red, trading lower by 0.10 per cent, however, the broader SSE Composite traded higher by 0.21 per cent. The Hong Kong-based Hang Seng was down 0.20 per cent, and South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.93 per cent.