Sensex, Nifty Modestly Higher; Auto Stocks Climb

Indian shares traded slightly lower on Tuesday amid elevated geopolitical tensions and lingering uncertainty over the timing and pace of Fed rate cuts.

Asian stock markets are mostly lower on Tuesday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, amid lingering uncertainty about the outlook for interest rates, with some US Fed officials warning the central bank may still need to raise rates if inflation persists. Traders also seemed reluctant to make more significant bets ahead of the release of the minutes of the latest Fed meeting.

Adding the gains in the previous session, the Japanese stock market is slightly higher on Tuesday, with the Nikkei 225 moving above the 39,100 level, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, with gains in some Index heavyweights and technology stocks.

Indian shares are seen opening flat to higher on Tuesday despite mixed global cues, elevated geopolitical tensions and lingering uncertainty over the timing and pace of Fed rate cuts.

The Thai stock market on Monday ended the two-day winning streak in which it had picked up more than a dozen points or 0.9 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just beneath the 1,380-point plateau although it's expected to open to the upside on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with strength likely from the technology shares. The European markets were up and the U.S. bourses were mixed and the Asian markets are tipped to open to the upside.

Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Monetary Policy Board said that the country's economy was slowing and that inflation was declining less than expected, minutes from the central bank's May 7 meeting revealed on Tuesday.

The Indonesia stock market on Monday snapped the three-day winning streak in which it had jumped more than 230 points or 3.3 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now sits just beneath the 7,270-point plateau although it's expected to rebound on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with strength likely from the technology shares. The European markets were up and the U.S. bourses were mixed and the Asian markets are tipped to open to the upside. The JCI finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the financial shares and mixed performances from the cement and resource companies. For the day, the index sank 50.55 points or 0.69 percent to finish at 7,266.69 after trading between 7,243.01 and 7,374.55. Among the actives, Bank CIMB Niaga sank 0.80 percent, while Bank Mandiri plunged 3.80 percent, Bank Danamon Indonesia fell 0.37 percent, Bank Negara Indonesia plummeted 3.77 percent, Bank Central Asia tanked 2.82 percent, Bank Rakyat Indonesia stumbled 2.03 percent, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison surrendered 3.48 percent, Indocement rose 0.36 percent, Semen Indonesia slumped 1.72 percent, Indofood Sukses Makmur climbed 1.22 percent, United Tractors accelerated 2.47 percent, Astra International retreated 1.25 percent, Energi Mega Persada soared 2.07 percent, Astra Agro Lestari strengthened 1.64 percent, Aneka Tambang rallied 2.16 percent, Vale Indonesia skyrocketed 7.52 percent, Timah lost 0.51 percent, Bumi Resources spiked 2.17 percent and Perusahaan Perseroan and Jasa Marga were unchanged.

The Australian stock market is modestly lower on Tuesday after opening in the green, giving up some of the gains in the previous session, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is staying below the 7,900 level, with weakness in iron ore miners and energy stocks are partially offset by gains in technology stocks.