Headline: Indian Shares Expected Lower as Hawkish Fed Boosts Rate Hike Odds

Indian equities are set to open lower on June 18, 2026, following a hawkish stance from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Investors are reacting to increased expectations for higher U.S. interest rates, impacting global market sentiment and pushing the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield to 4.28%. The Nifty 50 index closed down 0.26% at 23,516.00 on June 17, with the Sensex falling 0.24%. Brent crude futures climbed 0.5% to $85.50 a barrel, adding inflationary pressure. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in Indian markets, offloading equities worth 14.7 billion rupees ($176.4 million) on June 17, further contributing to negative sentiment.