Indian equity markets are expected to open on a hopeful note on Wednesday, February 19, with the GIFT Nifty indicating a higher start for both the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50.

On Tuesday, the markets experienced a roller-coaster ride, with volatility shaking up Dalal Street. The Indian headline indices ended in the red. The NSE Nifty 50 closed 14.20 points lower at 22,945.30, while the BSE Sensex slipped by 29.47 points, ending the day at 75,967.39.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on imported automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, raising concerns over global trade. He has also set March 12 as the start date for 25% tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum, removing exemptions for Canada, Mexico, the EU, and other trading partners. These tariffs will extend to hundreds of imported goods, marking another shift in U.S. trade policy.

The US market ended on a high note Tuesday, with the S&P 500 hitting a record close of 6,129.58, gaining 0.24% after a late rally. The index briefly touched an intraday high of 6,129.63 before the final bell. The Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.07% to 20,041.26, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 10 points or 0.02%, closing at 44,556.34.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, stating that discussions about Ukraine should not take place without its involvement. Calling it “talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine,” he cancelled his planned visit to Saudi Arabia in protest.

Zelensky stressed that any decisions made without Ukraine’s participation cannot be imposed on the country. Amid these tensions, he also reaffirmed the importance of US military aid, emphasising that Ukraine needs continued support to resist Russian aggression.

The US Federal Reserve will release the minutes from its January 28-29 meeting on Wednesday, February 19.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was up 0.05% at 107.05 on Wednesday morning. The index evaluates the strength or weakness of the US dollar in comparison to major currencies. The basket contains currencies such as the British Pound, Euro, Swedish Krona, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, etc. The rupee up 0.01% to close at 86.95 to the dollar on February 18.

Asian markets opened on a mixed note Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix traded flat, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.51% and Kosdaq gained 0.47%. Meanwhile, Australian shares dipped 1% in early trade.

Crude oil prices edged higher on Wednesday morning, with WTI crude rising 0.21% to $71.96 and Brent crude up 0.18% to $75.95.

On February 18, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 4,786.56 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth Rs 3,072.19 crore.

Gold rate today in India remain steady, with 24-karat gold priced at Rs 8,696 per gram and Rs 86,960 for 10 grams, according to Goodreturns.

22 carat gold rate today is available at Rs 7,971 per gram and Rs 79,710 for 10 grams, while 18-karat gold costs Rs 6,522 per gram and Rs 65,220 for 10 grams

On February 19, 2025, six companies will have important corporate actions on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). These actions include interim dividends and stock splits. Carborundum Universal will offer an interim dividend of Rs 1.50, while Conart Engineers will split its stock from Rs 10 to Rs 5. Gillette India will pay a dividend of Rs 65, and Maithan Alloys will offer Rs 3 as an interim dividend. Saraswati Saree Depot has declared an interim dividend of Rs 2.27, and United Drilling Tools will give an interim dividend of Rs 0.60. All these events are set to take effect on February 19, 2025.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies saw a downturn, with Bitcoin slipping 0.9% to $95,410 and Ethereum dropping 2.5% to $2,668. BNB fell 3.8% to $640.80, Cardano (ADA) lost 7.3% to $0.743, and Solana declined 5.5% to $168.31. The slump comes amid concerns over inflation data, which suggests the US Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates soon.