Stock Market Today: The Nifty 50 looks set for a rebound on April 1, 2026, after a period of overselling as United States (US) and Iranian leaders showed intent to end the war in West Asia. Early trends on GIFT Nifty indicate a positive start for the the broader market in India. The index is hovering 456 points, or over 2 per cent, higher at 22,790.
The NSE Nifty 50 had closed on March 30 at 22,331.40, down 488.20 points, or 2.14 per cent. Similarly, the BSE Sensex had closed at 71,947.55, down 1,635.67 points, or 2.22 per cent.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 31 said his country had the "necessary will" to end the ongoing war with Israel and the United States, but was seeking guarantees that the conflict would not be repeated. "We possess the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met, especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression," he told the president of the European Council in a phone conversation, as reported by AFP.
US President Donald Trump on March 31 said that US forces would end operations in Iran “very soon,” within the next two to three weeks, suggesting that a formal deal isn’t required to end the conflict.
When asked about the surge in fuel prices since the conflict began on February 28, Trump, while speaking at a White House event, said: “All I have to do is leave Iran, and we will be doing that very soon, and they will tumble down.”
“We are finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job,” he added.
Market participants are likely to take cues from the geopolitical easing, which could fuel risk-taking and provide some room for the bulls to advance.
Meanwhile, on March 31, when domestic capital markets were observing a trading holiday on account of Mahavir Jayanti, China and Pakistan proposed a five-point plan to end the West Asia war. The proposal calls for an immediate stop to hostilities, the start of peace talks as soon as possible, protection of non-military targets, safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and upholding the authority of the UN Charter.
Global Markets Upbeat
Overnight, Wall Street indices jumped after risk sentiment eased. Dow Jones was up 2.50 per cent, Nasdaq Composite closed 3.83 per cent higher, and S&P 500 ended 2.91 per cent up.
In early trade on April 1, Asian indices bounced back strong after the development. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 4.50 per cent, South Korea's Kospi spiked over 7 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 2 per cent, Taiwan's TWSE zoomed over 4 per cent, and China's CSI 300 gained around 1.50 per cent.
Crude Oil Prices Ease
Crude oil prices eased as the possibility of an end to the war raised hopes of stabilising supply and easing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route which carries around one-fifth of the total global oil supply.
The international benchmark Brent crude oil futures eased nearly 2 per cent to quote around $105 per barrel, while the US benchmark West Texas intermediate (WTI) stayed flat around the $103 level.
