When the world sleeps, Gift Nifty wakes up, quietly shaping how India’s financial markets will open the next morning. From global hedge funds to Indian retail traders, everyone is talking about Gift Nifty. But what exactly is it? Why did SGX Nifty shift to Gift City? And how does this affect market prediction, trading strategies, and India’s future as a financial hub?
Let’s know all of this
Gift Nifty is a derivative contract based on the Nifty 50 index, traded on NSE IFSC Exchange in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tech-City).
Earlier, the same contract was known as SGX Nifty, because it traded on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).
Now, that trading has officially shifted to India → and the new name is Gift Nifty.
Why traders love it?
Because Gift Nifty tells you how the Nifty 50 might open the next trading day, hours before Indian markets open.
Gift Nifty = Global sentiment indicator for Nifty 50.
Why Was SGX Nifty Shifted to Gift Nifty?
SGX Nifty was shifted to GIFT Nifty mainly to bring trading revenue back to India and strengthen our own financial markets. Earlier, a lot of trading happened in Singapore, so India was losing both money and global market influence. By moving it to GIFT City, the government and regulators wanted to make everything more transparent, better controlled, and aligned with Indian rules. It also helps GIFT City grow as an international financial hub and encourages global investors to trade directly in India instead of abroad. Overall, the shift was done to boost India’s global finance presence and build a strong, centralised trading ecosystem at home.
One of the biggest strengths of Gift Nifty is its 22-hour trading window.
Session | Timing (IST) |
Session 1 | 6:30 AM – 3:40 PM |
Break | 55 minutes |
Session 2 | 4:35 PM – 2:45 AM |
How Traders Use Gift Nifty ?
1. Predicting Market Opening – If Gift Nifty is +100 points, there’s a high chance Nifty opens positive.
2. Hedging Overnight Risk – Traders manage exposure after Indian exchanges close.
3. Creating Pre-Market Strategy – Global cues → Gift Nifty → Opening move → Intraday plan
4. Understanding Global Sentiment – US markets fall?
Gift Nifty reacts immediately → Indian markets follow next day.
Gift Nifty is not a replacement — it is an upgrade.
An upgrade in – Transparency , Global participation ,Trading hours, Market depth ,India’s financial identity
This is India telling the world
“We are ready to lead global finance — on our own turf.”
