SynopsisIndian stock markets are set for a wider trading range ahead. High Brent crude prices and a falling rupee are key concerns for investors. Foreign institutional investor outflows are expected to limit market gains. The final phase of the Q4FY26 earnings season and specific policy support will offer stock and sector-specific opportunities.Listen to this article in summarized formatAgenciesForeign portfolio investors net bought shares worth Rs 4,703 crore on Wednesday. DIIs, meanwhile, were net buyers at Rs 5,869 crore.Indian equities are expected to trade in a broader range in the near term, as elevated Brent crude prices and a weakening rupee continue to create a fragile environment for domestic markets and remain among the key concerns for investors. Analysts say Sustained FII outflows are likely to cap directional upside, even as the final leg of the Q4FY26 earnings season and selective policy tailwinds provide stock- and sector-specific support.STATE OF THE MARKETSGIFT Nifty (Earlier SGX Nifty) signals a positive startGIFT Nifty on the NSE IX traded higher by 131 points, or 0.56 per cent, at 23,535, signaling that Dalal Street was headed for a positive start on Thursday.Tech View: The daily RSI continues to remain in a bearish crossover, suggesting that the negative momentum is still intact. On the upside, the 23,500 zone continues to act as a strong resistance level. In the near term, the index may remain under pressure, while immediate support is placed around 23,150–23,200.India VIX: India VIX, which is a measure of the fear in the markets, rose 0.8% to settle at 19.42 levels.US stocks end higher The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained ground on Wednesday with a boost from artificial intelligence-related tech shares, which helped markets look past hotter-than-expected inflation data and the growing probability that the Federal Reserve will hold to its restrictive monetary policy for the foreseeable future.Asian stocks gainAsian stocks advanced after a surge in US tech shares pushed Wall Street to a record, masking worries about inflation that have driven bets the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next year.S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% as of 9:14 a.m. Tokyo timeHang Seng futures rose 1.9%Japan’s Topix fell 0.1%Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.1%Euro Stoxx 50 futures rose 0.7%Oil risesOil prices edged up on Thursday as investors awaited a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the day as traders focused on the Iran war.Gold upGold prices ticked up on Thursday, buoyed by a weaker dollar, as investors focused on talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Dollar jumpsThe dollar got a lift from elevated U.S. Treasury yields on Thursday as investors wagered the Federal Reserve would hike rates this year, while an impasse between the U.S. and Iran over the war in the Middle East drove more safe-haven flows.Stocks in F&O ban todaySAILSecurities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95% of the market-wide position limit.FII/DII actionForeign portfolio investors net bought shares worth Rs 4,703 crore on Wednesday. DIIs, meanwhile, were net buyers at Rs 5,869 crore.RupeeThe Indian rupee weakened to an all-time low on Wednesday at 95.74, extending its losing streak, as overseas debt repayments and importer hedging demand outweighed the limited support from higher duties on precious metal imports.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)Read More News on(What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price...moreless(You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)Read More News on(What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price...moreless