Indian shares are poised for a slightly higher open, with Gift Nifty trends signaling a positive start for domestic markets. Benchmark indexes Sensex and Nifty both fell over 2 percent on Sunday during a special weekend trading session after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a hike in the securities transaction tax on futures and options in her Budget 2026 speech. The government projects gross borrowings at Rs. 17.2 lakh crore and net borrowings at Rs. 11.7 lakh crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year, amid rising bond yields and heavy government debt supply. The rupee is expected to face further downward pressure this week as the Budget failed to provide direct catalysts to revive foreign investor inflows. Monthly auto sales figures, corporate earnings, and PMI data may influence trading sentiment in the coming days.