Sensex Down 126 Points, Nifty Slips 28 Points as Investors Eye July CPI Data

Market Update at 12:15 PM: The Indian equity market reversed early gains to trade lower on Tuesday amid mixed global cues, as investors awaited India’s consumer price index (CPI) data for July.

As of 12:00 PM, the BSE Sensex was at 80,478.58, down 125.5 points or 0.16 per cent, while the NSE Nifty50 stood at 24,557.55, lower by 27.5 points or 0.11 per cent.

Bajaj Finance, Eternal (Zomato), ICICI Bank, Trent, HDFC Bank and BEL were among the top laggards, declining up to 2 per cent. On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki, Tech Mahindra, M&M, Tata Steel and Titan were the Top Gainers, advancing up to 2.7 per cent.

In the broader market, the Nifty MidCap100 index slipped 0.23 per cent, while the SmallCap indices remained flat. Large-Cap counters in sectors like IT and Auto supported the market, while weakness was seen in Realty and Private Banking stocks.

Sector-wise, Nifty Media rose 1 per cent, followed by Nifty Auto up 0.8 per cent, Nifty IT 0.75 per cent and Nifty Oil and Gas 0.5 per cent. In contrast, Nifty Realty and Nifty Private Bank indices fell nearly 1 per cent each.

Market Update at 10:30 AM: Indian equity markets opened on a subdued note on Tuesday, as weakness in financial stocks offset gains in other sectors. Investors remained cautious ahead of domestic and U.S. inflation readings that could shape near-term interest rate outlooks.

At 9:22 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 was down 0.01% at 24,583.75, while the BSE Sensex slipped 0.03% to 80,577.85. Out of 16 key sectoral indices, nine traded higher in early deals. However, financials and banking indices declined 0.4% each, giving up part of Monday’s near 0.9% rally that followed State Bank of India’s post-results surge.

Broader indices such as Small-Caps and Mid-Caps were largely unchanged. Across Asia, market sentiment was muted, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index inching up 0.1% as traders reacted mildly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to extend the tariff truce with China by 90 days. U.S. CPI data, due later today, is expected to guide the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path.

Pre-Market Update at 7:30 AM: On Tuesday, August 12, the GIFT Nifty signalled a muted opening for the benchmark Nifty index. As of 7:14 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 24,601, up 26 points from the previous close.

Asian markets were mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei hitting a record high, while U.S. markets ended lower overnight. Reports indicate that U.S.-Russia peace talks may take place this week.

Thirteen major companies will announce their Q1 FY26 results today, including Hindustan Aeronautics, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Hindalco Industries, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, Jindal Steel & Power, Zydus Lifesciences, Suzlon Energy, NHPC, Lloyds Metals and Energy, Rail Vikas Nigam, Abbott India, Oil India and NMDC. Investors will watch for updates on Quarterly Results that could influence stock-specific action, particularly in large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap segments.

On Monday, August 8, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,202.65 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth Rs 5,972.36 crore. This marked the 26th straight trading session of net buying by DIIs.

Indian equities closed higher on Monday, supported by short-covering and broad-based gains. The Sensex rose 746.29 points (0.93 per cent) to 80,604.08, while the Nifty 50 advanced 221.75 points (0.91 per cent) to 24,585.05.

On Wall Street, U.S. indices closed in the red as traders assessed U.S.-China trade developments. The Dow Jones fell 200.52 points (0.45 per cent) to 43,975.09, the S&P 500 slipped 16 points (0.25 per cent) to 6,373.45, and the Nasdaq declined 64.62 points (0.30 per cent) to 21,385.40.

The United States and China extended their tariff truce by 90 days. U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that an executive order was signed to delay a tariff hike until November 10, with all other terms unchanged.

Gold prices edged higher, recovering from the previous session’s decline, as traders awaited U.S. inflation data. Spot gold was up 0.3 per cent at USD 3,355.59 per ounce. Crude oil prices also rose, with Brent crude up 0.30 per cent to USD 66.83 a barrel and U.S. WTI crude gaining 0.25 per cent to USD 64.12.

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

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