NSE, BSE shut today for Bakrid, other Asian markets open weak, Wall Street closes in green

Indian stock markets observed a holiday on Thursday, with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) remaining closed for the Bakrid festival. Trading in both equity and derivative segments was halted, with normal operations set to resume on Friday. The commodity markets also experienced a partial closure, with trading resuming later in the evening.

While Indian markets were shut, a cautious sentiment prevailed across most major Asian markets. Japan's Nikkei 225 saw a slight dip, while Singapore's Straits Times and Hong Kong's Hang Seng indices registered more significant losses. South Korea's KOSPI also traded under pressure. Taiwan's weighted index was a notable exception, trading in positive territory.

Global market sentiment was influenced by ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuations in crude oil prices. Brent crude oil prices climbed, trading around $96 per barrel, a rise of 1.76 percent. Elevated energy prices continue to be a key concern for global financial markets, impacting inflation, transportation costs, and overall economic activity.

In contrast, U.S. markets concluded Wednesday's trading session with modest gains. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices closed slightly higher, as did the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Market participants worldwide are closely monitoring geopolitical developments and crude oil price trends for direction in both equity and commodity markets.