Stock Market News: Top Triggers That Could Shape D-Street Action Today

The Sensex and Nifty are likely to take cues from a mix of global and domestic factors in trade on Wednesday, June 25. Investors will be keeping an eye on developments in the Iran-Israel conflict, fresh signals from the US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, and activity in the primary market.

Benchmark indices saw a volatile session on Tuesday, June 24, swinging in both directions before ending with modest gains. The Sensex and Nifty 50 had opened on a strong note, hitting near six-month highs in early trade, led by the Israel-Iran ceasefire announcement and a sharp fall in crude oil prices that followed. However, gains were short-lived as renewed tensions in the between the two warring nations weighed on investor sentiment. By the close, the early momentum had fizzled out, leaving the indices to finish just above the flatline.

The Sensex closed 158.32 points, or 0.19 per cent higher at 82,055.11 and the Nifty 50 gained 72.45 points, or 0.29 per cent, to end at 25,044.35.

Stock Market Cues To Watch Today, June 25

Powell’s Speech At Congress: The US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made it clear on Tuesday that a rate cut is unlikely in July. Despite pressure from President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for cutting down the interest rates, Powell emphasised that the Fed wants to see how the economy unfolds before making any moves. He explained to lawmakers that inflation is expected to rise soon, so the central bank is not in a hurry to ease rates just yet.

Powell also pointed out that rising tariffs could push inflation higher this summer, which will be an important factor in deciding whether to cut rates down the line.

Iran-Israel War: A preliminary intelligence report indicated that the recent US strikes failed to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, instead it just delayed their progress by just a few months. Though Trump refuted the reports, labelling it as "an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. He took to his social media to reiterate "the nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed."

Meanwhile, both Israel and Iran confirmed on Tuesday that the air war between them has stopped, putting an end to the ceasefire violations that had been ongoing since earlier in the day. This pause brings a momentary calm to the tense situation between the two countries, calming investor nerves.

Crude Oil Prices: Crude oil prices climbed in early trade today as investors weighed the durability of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Brent crude futures jumped 83 cents, or 1.25 per cent, to trade at $67.00 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 87 cents, or 1.37 per cent, to $65.24.

Oil prices had earlier surged to five-month highs, $79.25, after the US struck Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend. However, after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Trump, oil prices softened back to the pre-war level.

Stocks To Watch Today, June 25

Union Bank of India: The government has cancelled the appointment of Pankaj Dwivedi as Executive Director of Union Bank. Dwivedi, who previously served as a GM at Punjab & Sind Bank, was appointed in March 2023 for a three-year term.

KEC International: KEC International, part of the RPG Group, has secured new civil project orders worth Rs 1,236 crore. The contracts include large-scale residential developments in Western India, covering over 50 lakh sq. ft. of construction.

RITES: RITES has received a Letter of Intent from Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd. for a Rs 28.5 crore project. The contract involves third-party inspection for water and sanitation projects under two of the government schemes across Gujarat’s urban local bodies, to be executed over the next 60 months.