Nifty, Sensex End Higher, PSU Banks Lead Gains

Market Update at 4:15 PM: On Monday, August 11, Indian benchmark indices closed higher, recovering losses from the previous session, led by Large-Cap stocks HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries. The Nifty 50 climbed 221.75 points or 0.91 per cent to settle at 24,585.05, ending above the 100-day exponential moving average (DEMA). The Sensex rose 746.29 points or 0.93 per cent to close at 80,604.08, reclaiming the 80,000 mark.

According to Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) data, equity mutual fund net inflows in July surged 81 per cent month-on-month to Rs 42,702 crore, supported by investors buying into market dips amid US-India trade concerns and subdued Quarterly Results. The overall mutual fund industry assets under management (AUM) reached Rs 75.36 lakh crore. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) contributions hit a record Rs 28,464 crore, with active SIP accounts increasing to 9.11 crore from 8.64 crore in June.

Sectorally, all 11 major indices ended in the green. The Nifty PSU Bank index was the top performer, rising 2.2 per cent and closing above its 50-DEMA, with Indian Bank and Union Bank among the leading gainers. In the broader market, the Nifty Midcap 100 index gained 0.85 per cent while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index added 0.36 per cent.

Stock-specific action saw NSDL shares decline 2.85 per cent after an 80 per cent rally since its IPO. PG Electroplast tumbled 15 per cent on weak earnings, while Voltas dropped 4.58 per cent following a slump in Q1 profit due to lower AC sales. On the other hand, SBI shares gained over 2 per cent post strong quarterly results, and Tata Motors advanced more than 3 per cent after reporting Q1 results.

Index contributors included HDFC Bank (+36.64 points), Reliance Industries (+27.53 points), and State Bank of India (+15.77 points). Draggers were Hero MotoCorp (-0.98 points), Bharti Airtel (-0.68 points), and Bharat Electronics (-0.54 points).

Market breadth remained positive, with 1,606 stocks advancing, 1,414 declining, and 76 unchanged out of 3,096 traded on the NSE. A total of 54 stocks touched their 52-week highs, 112 hit their 52-week lows, 83 were locked in upper circuits, and 94 in lower circuits.

Market Update at 12:15 PM: Indian equities edged higher after a muted start on Monday, with stock-specific action dominating Dalal Street as investors reacted to quarterly results released by various companies on Friday after market hours and over the weekend.

As of 12 PM, the BSE Sensex was quoting at 80,045.28, up 187.49 points or 0.23 per cent, while the Nifty50 stood at 24,424.10, higher by 60.8 points or 0.25 per cent.

Among the Sensex constituents, Tata Motors, Trent, State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement, and Sun Pharma emerged as the Top Gainers. On the other hand, ICICI Bank, Maruti Suzuki, Titan, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and Bharti Airtel were among the top laggards.

In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap index advanced 0.57 per cent, while the BSE SmallCap index was up 0.31 per cent. PSU banks were in focus, with the Nifty PSU Bank index rising over 1 per cent. Nifty Realty and Nifty Healthcare indices also registered gains. Meanwhile, Nifty Consumer Durables fell 1.13 per cent, and Nifty Oil and Gas dipped 0.05 per cent.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: India’s equity benchmarks opened flat on Monday, following a sixth consecutive weekly loss on Friday, as investor sentiment remained cautious over uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.

The Nifty 50 rose 0.03 per cent to 24,371.5 points, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.03 per cent to 79,885.36 as of 9:15 a.m. IST. Eight out of the 16 major sectors posted losses in early trade. Broader indices, including Small-Cap and Mid-Cap segments, also traded flat.

Last week, both the Nifty and Sensex shed nearly 1 per cent, marking their longest weekly losing streak in five years. Market sentiment was weighed down by muted quarterly results and ongoing concerns about the impact of U.S. trade policies.

The pressure intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Half of this tariff has already been implemented, with the remaining 25 per cent—described as a punitive measure linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil—scheduled to take effect on August 28.

Pre-Market Update at 7:30 AM: On Monday, August 11, the Gift Nifty indicated a positive start for Indian benchmark indices. As of 7:20 AM, it was trading near 24,448, up 51 points from the previous close.

Asian markets opened mixed, while US equities ended last week on a strong note, with the Nasdaq closing at a fresh record high. US stock futures traded higher ahead of this week’s inflation data release.

In the days ahead, investors will monitor developments in US-India trade talks, tariff updates, inflation figures, and the scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15. Market focus will also remain on foreign fund flows, Q1 earnings announcements, and other global economic indicators.

Key companies announcing quarterly results today include Astral Limited, SJVN, Ipca Laboratories, BEML, Bata India, JM Financial, Travel Food Services, Embassy Developments, Cello World, Belrise Industries, Eureka Forbes, and Titagarh Rail Systems. Earnings performance could lead to stock-specific movements across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap segments.

On Friday, August 8, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 1,932.81 crore, ending a 14-session selling streak. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased Rs 7,723.66 crore worth of shares, extending their 25-day buying streak.

Indian markets posted their sixth consecutive week of losses, the longest since March 2020, with the Nifty 50 declining 4.97 per cent over this period. On Friday, the index fell 232 points, or 0.95 per cent, to close at 24,363 — the lowest in three months.

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 206.97 points (0.47 per cent) to 44,175.61. The S&P 500 gained 49.45 points (0.78 per cent) to 6,389.45, while the Nasdaq climbed 207.32 points (0.98 per cent) to 21,450.02. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 2.4 per cent, the Dow gained 1.3 per cent, and the Nasdaq advanced 3.9 per cent.

Gold prices dropped below USD 3,380 per ounce after easing geopolitical tensions reduced safe-haven demand. WTI crude oil futures fell 1 per cent to USD 63.1 per barrel, and Brent crude declined 1 per cent to USD 65.8 per barrel, both hitting over two-month lows on prospects of a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

For today, PNB Housing and RBL Bank remain on the F&O ban list.

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