On April 16, 2026, the GIFT Nifty, which serves as an early indicator for the Nifty50 index in India, was trading at 24,304.50, up 66.80 points or 0.28%. This rise is attributed to increasing optimism regarding a potential peace deal between the US and Iran, which has positively influenced global market sentiment. Major Asian markets reflected this trend, with South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising by 1.8% and 1.9%, respectively. In the US, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reached record highs, closing up 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively, bolstered by strong performances from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a slight decline of 0.15%. Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices were relatively stable, trading down 0.05% at $94.88 per barrel, as traders closely monitored the ongoing US-Iran negotiations ahead of a ceasefire agreement deadline on April 21. Additionally, several companies, including Alok Industries and Wipro, are set to release their quarterly earnings reports today.