[finviz ticker=GE ]

Gift Nifty Live Introduction

Gift Nifty Live is the rebranded version of SGX Nifty, now traded on the NSE International Exchange (NSE IFSC) located in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City).

It allows international and domestic investors to trade Indian index futures outside traditional Indian market hours.
It reflects the performance of the Nifty 50 index, serving as a predictive indicator of how Indian markets may open.

SGX Nifty, earlier traded on the Singapore Exchange, was popular with international investors due to timezone convenience.

In July 2023, the contract officially migrated to NSE IFSC and was renamed Gift Nifty, aligning with India’s aim to localize offshore trading.

This transition was part of India’s plan to boost the financial ecosystem in GIFT City and reduce reliance on foreign exchanges for Indian market exposure.

Key Features of Gift Nifty

Exchange: Traded on NSE IFSC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSE).

Trading Hours: Nearly 22 hours, covering global market timings (Asia, Europe, and US).

Products: Includes futures on Nifty 50, Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services, and Nifty IT.

Currency: Traded in USD instead of INR.

Settlement: Cash-settled without delivery obligations.

Gift Nifty Live Impact On Market

Pre-Market Indicator: Gift Nifty often influences traders and analysts’ expectations of the Indian market open.

Liquidity: With growing volume, it’s becoming a major benchmark for global investors.

Integration: Acts as a bridge between Indian and global markets, boosting India’s visibility as a financial hub.

How to Trade Gift Nifty

Open an Account: Through brokers registered with NSE IFSC (e.g., Zerodha, Samco, Interactive Brokers).

Funding: Account in USD, with the ability to transfer through LRS (Liberalized Remittance Scheme).

Trading: Via mobile/desktop platforms supporting NSE IFSC.

Gift Nifty vs Other Index Futures

Feature	Gift Nifty	SGX Nifty (Old)	Nifty (NSE India)
Exchange	NSE IFSC	Singapore Exchange	NSE India
Currency	USD	USD	INR
Hours	22 hours	16 hours	9:15 AM–3:30 PM IST
Taxation	IFSC favorable	Foreign taxation	Indian taxation
Market	Global	Global	Domestic