Indian markets poised for flat start as global tech rally and oil tensions persist

Indian equity benchmarks are likely to start the trading day flat to slightly negative, with the pre-market GIFT Nifty down 0.14% to 23,976. Friday’s close showed modest gains, as the BSE Sensex rose 362.57 points to 76,515.43 and the Nifty 50 edged up 24.25 points to 23,897.70. Meanwhile, Asian markets rallied, led by strong demand for technology shares; South Korea's Kospi surged 2.9% and Japan's one outlet 225 climbed 2.27%.

Australian equities were largely unchanged, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.10%. Oil prices continued their ascent after the United States and Iran exchanged attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing Brent crude to $96.55 per barrel and WTI to $91.82. Earlier on Friday, U.S. Wall Street indices slipped following a robust jobs report that heightened expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike at its upcoming policy meeting.