Nifty, Sensex End Slightly Higher; Indices Break 6-Week Losing Streak

Market Update at 4:15 PM: On Thursday, August 14, Indian benchmark indices ended in positive territory after trading in a narrow range, snapping a six-week losing streak. At the close, the Nifty 50 rose by 11.95 points or 0.05 per cent to 24,631.30, while the Sensex gained 57.75 points or 0.07 per cent to settle at 80,597.66. The gains were supported by Large-Cap counters HDFC Bank and Infosys, with the latter advancing after announcing plans to acquire a stake in Australia's Versent Group. On a weekly basis, the Nifty 50 ended 1.1 per cent higher.

Out of 11 key sectoral indices, five closed in the green. Nifty IT emerged as the top-performing sector, rising 0.4 per cent, led by Wipro and Infosys. In contrast, Nifty Metal fell by 1.39 per cent, dragged down by NMDC. Broader market indices ended lower, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.31 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 down 0.38 per cent.

HDFC Bank (+18.51 points), Infosys (+17.60 points), and ICICI Bank (+10.62 points) contributed most to Nifty 50 gains. On the downside, Reliance Industries (-13.19 points), Tata Steel (-8.71 points), and ITC (-5.37 points) were the biggest drags.

The market breadth favoured decliners, with 1,153 stocks advancing, 1,786 declining, and 106 remaining unchanged out of 3,046 traded on the NSE. A total of 59 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 75 touched 52-week lows. Additionally, 75 stocks were locked in upper circuits, and 68 stocks were in lower circuits.

In stock-specific action, NMDC shares declined 4.38 per cent after reporting a drop in Q1 profit. JSW Cement shares fell over 5 per cent following their IPO debut. Muthoot Finance hit a 10 per cent upper circuit after posting year-on-year growth in its Quarterly Results.

Market Update at 12:15 PM: Indian equities witnessed volatile movement on Thursday, tracking mixed global cues. As of 12:00 PM, the BSE Sensex stood at 80,613.69, up 73.78 points or 0.09 per cent, while the NSE Nifty50 was at 24,628.15, higher by 8.8 points or 0.04 per cent.

On the BSE, large-cap names like Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Eternal (Zomato) and SBI were among the Top Gainers, rising up to 3 per cent. On the downside, Tata Steel, BEL, L&T, NTPC and Adani Ports were the top laggards, declining up to 1.8 per cent.

In the broader markets, the Nifty MidCap 100 index slipped 0.28 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap 100 index was down 0.33 per cent. Sector-wise, Nifty IT emerged as the top performer, gaining 1.7 per cent, followed by Nifty Consumer Durables, which was up 0.35 per cent. In contrast, Nifty Metal dropped 0.93 per cent and Nifty Oil and Gas fell 0.7 per cent.

The Indian stock market will remain closed on Friday, August 15, 2025, on account of Independence Day.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: India’s equity benchmarks were largely flat on Thursday as investors stayed cautious ahead of high-level talks between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war. The outcome of these discussions could have implications for U.S.-India trade negotiations.

The Nifty 50 slipped 0.12 per cent to 24,648.35 points, while the BSE Sensex rose 0.11 per cent to 80,629.19 as of 9:19 a.m. IST.

Among sectoral indices, 10 out of the 16 major sectors advanced, though the gains were marginal. The broader Small-Cap and Mid-Cap indices rose about 0.4 per cent each, indicating selective buying interest in smaller companies that often attract investors looking for potential multibagger opportunities.

Geopolitical developments remained in focus as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on Friday in Alaska to discuss a possible deal to end the Ukraine war. Market participants are monitoring the outcome closely, given its potential influence on trade flows and investor sentiment.

Pre-Market Update at 7:30 AM: On Thursday, August 14, Sensex and Nifty 50 are expected to begin the session on a softer note, tracking mixed cues from global markets. Volatility is anticipated as traders adjust positions ahead of the weekly F&O expiry and the stock market holiday tomorrow.

As of 7:24 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 24,695, up 5 points from its previous close, indicating a cautious start for the Indian benchmark indices.

Asian markets traded mixed, while US indices extended their gains overnight, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting record highs. Optimism around a potential US Federal Reserve rate cut boosted sentiment. On Wednesday, August 13, the Sensex closed 304 points higher at 80,539.91, while the Nifty 50 added 132 points to end at 24,619.35. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks outperformed large-caps, with the BSE Midcap index rising 0.56 per cent and the BSE Smallcap index up 0.58 per cent.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers for the third consecutive session, offloading equities worth Rs 3,644.43 crore. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) extended their buying streak to 28 sessions, purchasing shares worth Rs 5,623.79 crore.

Investors will focus on quarterly results from Indian Oil Corporation, Ashok Leyland, Vodafone Idea, Patanjali Foods, Glenmark Pharma, IRB Infrastructure Developers, Inox Wind, Hindustan Copper, AstraZeneca Pharma, NAVA, and Amara Raja Energy & Mobility. Stock-specific action is expected based on earnings announcements and corporate updates such as dividends, bonus issues, and right issues.

In the US, the Dow Jones climbed 463.66 points to 44,922.27, the S&P 500 advanced 0.32 per cent to 6,466.58, and the Nasdaq gained 0.14 per cent to close at 21,713.14. Bitcoin reached an all-time high of USD 124,457.12, while Ethereum touched USD 4,784.67. The dollar index was steady at 97.704. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent to USD 3,362.33 per ounce on expectations of rate cuts. Brent crude was at USD 65.85 per barrel, and WTI futures at USD 62.84, amid oversupply concerns flagged by the International Energy Agency.

For today, PNB Housing, PG Electroplast, Titagarh Rail System and RBL Bank remain on the F&O ban list.

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