The Indian stock market is anticipated to open lower on Thursday, influenced by weak sentiment stemming from rising crude oil prices. The Gift Nifty is trading around 24,204, reflecting a discount of nearly 177 points compared to the previous close of Nifty futures. This decline is attributed to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran recently fired on three ships and seized two, escalating concerns over shipping security. As a result, crude oil prices have surged, with Brent crude exceeding $102 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures hovering around $93. In contrast, Asian markets have shown positive performance, with the Nikkei and Kospi reaching record highs, and US markets also rallied overnight, pushing the S&P and Nasdaq to record closings.