Indian equities are poised for a firmer start on Friday after two straight sessions of losses, with GIFT Nifty futures trading around 25,528—about 120 points above the Nifty 50’s previous close. The improved tone follows record finishes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq overnight and steadier Treasury yields, offsetting lingering US-India trade frictions. On Thursday the Nifty 50 slipped 48.10 points, or 0.19%, to 25,405.30, while the Sensex fell 170.22 points to 83,239.47 as financials such as SBI Life and Kotak Mahindra Bank weighed on sentiment. Foreign institutional investors extended their selling streak, offloading equities worth Rs1,481 crore, but domestic funds absorbed much of the supply with net purchases of Rs1,333 crore. Friday’s session is likely to be driven by stock-specific moves. Bajaj Finance’s quarterly update showed new loans up 23% year-on-year to 13.49 million, while Vedanta reported record alumina output and Reliance Retail announced a minority stake in UK skincare brand FaceGym. Block deals are expected in Piramal Pharma and Emcure Pharma, and market participants are watching trading data from Indian Energy Exchange after a 6.5% rise in June volumes. Analysts view the 25,300–25,500 band as near-term support and resistance for the Nifty. A sustained move above 25,580 could revive the uptrend, whereas a break below 25,300 may invite further profit-taking. With global risk appetite steady and heavy domestic institutional support, strategists expect range-bound trade to persist unless fresh cues emerge from the next round of US-India tariff talks or upcoming domestic earnings releases.