Indian Benchmark Indices Trade Flat; Auto and Metal Stocks Drag, Media and PSU Banks Gain

Market Update at 12:15 PM: Markets pared early losses but continued to trade lower by noon amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff developments.

As of 12 PM, the BSE Sensex was down 5.93 points or 0.01 per cent at 82,563.79, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped 0.24 per cent to 25,135.70. Among the Top Gainers on the Nifty were Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, SBI, Infosys, Asian Paints, and Axis Bank. On the other hand, Zomato, Suven Pharma, M&M, Tata Steel, and Tata Motors featured among the top laggards.

In the broader market, the Nifty MidCap index was flat, and the Nifty SmallCap index edged lower by 0.08 per cent.

Sectoral trends were mixed—Nifty Auto declined 0.78 per cent and Nifty Metal dropped 0.51 per cent, while Nifty Media and PSU Bank indices gained up to 1.4 per cent.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: Indian equity indices began Wednesday's session on a flat note, with early gains in HDFC Bank helping offset broader market weakness following the release of U.S. inflation data.

As of 9:19 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 was trading at 25,160.5, down 0.14 per cent, while the BSE Sensex slipped 0.11 per cent to 82,479.24.

Out of the 13 key sectoral indices, eight were in the red. The financials index rose 0.2 per cent, supported by a 1.2 per cent gain in HDFC Bank after the company announced plans to consider a bonus issue at its board meeting scheduled for July 19.

Asian markets saw muted movement, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index holding steady. On Wall Street, most indices ended lower, while U.S. Treasury yields climbed to their highest level in over a month, following a modest rise in inflation figures. This spike in yields tends to dampen capital flows into emerging markets like India.

The metal index led sectoral declines, falling 0.5 per cent, as a stronger U.S. dollar made commodities more expensive for non-dollar holders.

Pre-Market Update at 7:45 AM: Indian equity benchmarks Nifty 50 and Sensex are expected to open lower on Wednesday, July 16, following concerns triggered by the latest U.S. inflation figures and mixed global signals. As of 7:20 AM, the GIFT Nifty was quoting around 25,179 — down 86 points — indicating a cautious start for the Indian markets.

Asian equities were under pressure after the U.S. market posted a mixed session overnight. While the Nasdaq closed at a record high supported by strong gains in Nvidia, both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 ended in the red. The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 per cent in June, the fastest pace in five months, raising concerns over inflation staying higher for longer and potentially impacting FII sentiment.

Back home, the broader market remains in a consolidation phase, with stock-specific action driven by Q1FY26 results and corporate commentary. Over 50 companies are scheduled to report earnings this week. Key results due today include Tech Mahindra, ITC Hotels, Angel One, IXIGO, LTTS, Kalpataru, JTL Industries, DB Corp, and others.

On the institutional front, FIIs were net buyers on Tuesday, investing Rs 120.47 crore, while DIIs added Rs 1,555.03 crore worth of equities. This helped the domestic market end its losing streak. The Sensex closed 317 points higher at 82,570.91, while the Nifty rose 114 points to 25,195.80. Mid- and Small-Cap indices also posted healthy gains of 0.83 per cent and 0.95 per cent, respectively.

Asian markets reacted to news of a new 19 per cent U.S. tariff on Indonesian exports after President Trump announced a preliminary trade deal.

Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher, supported by demand expectations from the U.S. and China. Brent traded at USD 69, while WTI crude was around USD 66.92. Gold saw a marginal rise on inflation worries, and the U.S. dollar strengthened alongside Treasury yields.

For today, RBL Bank, Glenmark and Hindustan Copper remain on the F&O ban list.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.