Ahead of the trading session on Monday, January 12, 2026, Indian benchmark indices, including the NIFTY50 and Sensex, were anticipated to open with a cautious or flat sentiment. This outlook followed a challenging preceding week, where the Indian stock market had experienced losses for five consecutive sessions, with the NIFTY50 slipping below the 25,700 level and closing near its weekly 20-EMA of 25,643 on Friday, January 9. The global market environment contributed significantly to this cautious mood. Heightened geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran were a major factor, leading to mixed global cues and increased risk aversion. Reports indicated a rapid military build-up around Iran's borders and escalating protests, which analysts believed would negatively impact global markets, including India. In response to this uncertainty, safe-haven assets like gold and silver witnessed a significant rally. Gold prices climbed, with futures closing near $4,500 per ounce, and silver also saw strong gains, hitting record highs. Experts predicted continued upside momentum for these precious metals. For the Indian markets specifically, Gift Nifty futures trading marginally lower or flat suggested a muted start for Monday. Technical analysis identified significant resistance for the NIFTY50 at the 26,000 strike price, holding the highest open interest for options expiry, while the 25,500 level was seen as a crucial near-term support. Looking ahead, market participants were also turning their focus to the impending Q3 earnings season, with major companies like TCS and HCL Technologies slated to announce their results. This earnings season was expected to be a critical driver for market direction, especially after a period of slowing earnings growth for Nifty 50 firms. While the Upstox article posed a question about NIFTY50 bouncing back, the comprehensive analysis from multiple credible sources indicated that despite being at 'lower levels,' the immediate expectation for Monday's opening was a cautious or flat trajectory rather than a strong rebound, largely due to persistent global and domestic headwinds.