New Delhi, July 17 -- Buy or sell stocks, 17 July 2026: The key benchmark indices of the Indian stock market are expected to trade with a cautious bias as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, elevated crude oil prices, and sustained pressure on the Indian rupee continue to weigh on investor sentiment. Gift Nifty is trading around 24,143.50, compared with the Nifty's previous close of 24,072.75, indicating a flat-to-mildly positive start for domestic equities. However, the market's ability to build on recent gains and sustain upward momentum is likely to remain fragile amid an uncertain geopolitical backdrop and the risk of profit-booking at higher levels.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) remained net sellers in the prev...