US stock futures moved higher in early trading as investors responded to signs of diplomatic progress in the Middle East and a string of better-than-expected corporate earnings. The combination gave equity markets a dual catalyst, with geopolitical risk sentiment easing while fundamental support from earnings season provided additional floor under prices. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq both edged upward, reflecting broad-based optimism across large-cap and technology-oriented names. Diplomatic developments in the Middle East tend to reduce risk premiums embedded in energy prices and equity volatility gauges, which mechanically supports risk asset valuations. Strong earnings, meanwhile, signal that corporate margins and revenue trajectories are holding up better than feared, reinforcing the bull case heading into the next phase of the reporting season. Traders will now focus on whether further earnings results confirm the trend and whether Middle East talks produce durable agreements capable of sustaining the current sentiment shift.
The Indian government has launched an OFS to sell up to 6.5% of its LIC stake, opening for non-retail investors on August 4, 2026, at a floor price of Rs 382 per share, about 11% below Monday's close. The discounted offering is likely to pressure LIC shares in the near term as supply increases sharply.
More than a dozen major Indian companies including Bharti Airtel, ONGC, Pidilite, Nykaa, DLF, and Ather Energy report April-June 2026 earnings on August 4. Results span telecom, energy, consumer goods, real estate, and EV sectors, giving markets a broad read on corporate health mid-earnings season.
Amazon shares hit a new all-time high Monday, pushing its market cap above $3 trillion following a sustained post-earnings rally. The milestone places Amazon among the very few companies globally to reach this valuation, with investor focus on AWS and advertising growth driving the move.
Sensex Gains 500 Points as Oil Falls on Iran Talks
The Sensex rose around 500 points and the Nifty crossed 24,500 on Monday after Donald Trump announced talks with Iran, pushing oil prices lower. IndiGo, ITC, FMCG, and metals led the gains as cheaper crude eased cost and inflation concerns.
