Stock Market Today: Gift Nifty Rallies 800 Pts After Donald Trump Declares Ceasefire, Suspends Attacks on Iran

Stock Market Today: Indian equity traders prepared for a firm start on April 8 as GIFT Nifty jumped up to 800 points in early deals. The sharp move in the Singapore-based derivative signalled a strong opening for the Nifty 50, with sentiment driven mainly by fresh geopolitical developments involving the United States and Iran.

The surge followed an announcement from US President Donald Trump that air strikes on Iran would pause for two weeks. The pause depended on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz without conditions. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the suspension came after appeals from Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, if Iran ensured the "complete, immediate, and safe" reopening of the key shipping route.

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Support for GIFT Nifty also came from strong global cues, with US equity futures rallying after regular trade on April 7. Dow futures rose as much as 870 points, while S&P 500 futures advanced about 120 points. Nasdaq futures gained roughly 500 points, pointing to improved risk appetite across global markets.

Crude moves and geopolitical factors shape GIFT Nifty sentiment

The rally in futures followed a volatile cash session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones recovered more than 370 points from intraday lows to finish near unchanged. The S&P 500 climbed back by 80 points, and the Nasdaq index bounced 400 points from its low. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended with modest advances, after futures had already started climbing ahead of Trump's 8 PM Eastern Time deadline.

Energy markets saw the steepest direct reaction to the ceasefire announcement and Strait of Hormuz condition. Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude both dropped as much as 17 percent in early Asian trade. Prices slipped below the $100 per barrel mark, easing some pressure on major importers such as India and improving the near-term inflation outlook.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier urged a two-week halt to strikes through a post on X. Sharif also appealed for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture. Field Marshal Asim Munir supported the request, which later featured in Trump's explanation for the conditional pause in military action.

The combination of a strong GIFT Nifty signal, softer crude prices and firmer US futures set a supportive backdrop for Indian markets on April 8. Trading direction now depended on how investors assessed the two-week pause in US strikes, Iran's response on the Strait of Hormuz, and the durability of the improved global mood.