Indian Stock Market Today | Indian benchmark indices ended mixed on Thursday, 13 August 2026, after a volatile expiry-day session. Softer inflation readings and positive global cues offered some support, but elevated crude-oil prices, Middle East uncertainty and weakness in financial and metal stocks kept the upside limited. The new Closing Auction Session (CAS) also contributed to a noticeable divergence between the Sensex and Nifty at the close.

At the Closing Bell:

• BSE Sensex: Rose 113.61 points to close at 78,079.96 (+0.15%)
• Nifty 50: Fell 40.10 points to settle at 24,395.85 (-0.16%)
• Bank Nifty: Declined 250.60 points to close at 57,635.25 (-0.43%)

Why Did the Indian Stock Market Move Today?

Elevated Crude Oil & Middle East Tensions Kept Investors Cautious

Geopolitical uncertainty remained one of the biggest market overhangs as efforts toward a permanent resolution of the Middle East conflict showed little progress. Brent crude traded around $88 per barrel, keeping concerns around India's inflation, fiscal position and current-account balance alive.

Softer Inflation Data Provided Some Support

Lower-than-feared inflation readings in both India and the US helped offset part of the geopolitical pressure. The data reduced immediate concerns over further monetary tightening and supported expectations that central banks could maintain a relatively patient stance on rates.

Financial & Banking Stocks Came Under Pressure

Financial Services declined 0.37%, while Bank Nifty fell 0.43%. Banking shares were pressured by concerns around the RBI's proposed loan-pricing framework, which analysts believe could reduce banks' pricing flexibility and potentially put pressure on lending margins.

ICICI Bank was among the biggest Nifty losers, dropping 1.74% to ₹1,406.80.

Metal Stocks Were the Biggest Sectoral Drag

The Metal index fell 1.05%, making it the weakest major sector of the session. Hindalco dropped sharply after the previous session's strong aluminium-led rally, indicating profit booking across parts of the metal pack.

FMCG & Realty Outperformed

Defensive and domestic-demand-oriented sectors attracted buying. Realty gained 0.97% and FMCG rose 0.84%, making them the strongest sectors of the day.

Tata Consumer Products emerged as the top Nifty gainer, rising 2.69%, with the stock benefiting from renewed buying after the previous session's Tata Group-led weakness and broader strength in FMCG. The rebound explanation is an inference from the stock and sector moves.

Tata Group Shares Stabilised

Tata Group counters were relatively more stable after the sharp sell-off seen on Wednesday following N. Chandrasekaran's decision not to seek another term as Tata Sons chairman. Investors continued to assess the leadership transition and the process for selecting his successor.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles gained 1.92% ahead of its Q1 earnings announcement, with pre-results positioning and strong recent passenger-vehicle sales momentum likely supporting sentiment.

Expiry-Day & Closing Auction Volatility Caused Index Divergence

Thursday was also a weekly derivatives expiry session. The Sensex and Nifty moved differently during the Closing Auction Session, with the Sensex eventually finishing positive while the Nifty ended below 24,400.

India VIX Declined

India VIX eased to around 11.42 after the market close, indicating relatively contained expectations for near-term volatility despite the day's index swings.

Market Overview – Sector & Stock Action Summary

Indian markets witnessed another choppy session on Thursday, with the benchmark indices ending in opposite directions. Positive global cues and softer inflation data helped cushion sentiment, but elevated crude prices and geopolitical uncertainty restricted risk appetite.

Financial Services and Metal stocks were the major drags. Banking shares weakened amid concerns around the RBI's proposed loan-pricing framework, while Hindalco led losses in the metal space.

On the positive side, Realty and FMCG were the strongest sectors, while Consumer Durables and IT also recorded gains.

Tata Consumer Products, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and NTPC led the Nifty gainers, while Hindalco, ICICI Bank and UltraTech Cement were the major laggards.

Overall, the session reflected a tug-of-war between softer inflation and resilient corporate earnings on one side, and elevated crude prices, geopolitical uncertainty and financial-sector pressure on the other.

Key Sector Performance Snapshot

• Realty: +0.97% → Strongest major sector, supported by buying across real-estate counters.
• FMCG: +0.84% → Strong defensive buying, with Tata Consumer among the day's leading gainers.
• Consumer Durables: +0.45% → Closed firmly higher amid selective buying.
• IT: +0.39% → Recovered after the sharp weakness in the previous session.
• Auto: +0.10% → Ended marginally positive despite mixed stock-specific action.
• Energy: -0.22% → Finished moderately lower as elevated crude prices remained a concern.
• Pharma: -0.28% → Witnessed mild selling pressure.
• Financial Services: -0.37% → Weakened amid concerns over RBI’s proposed loan-pricing rules.
• Metal: -1.05% → Worst-performing major sector, with Hindalco among the biggest losers.

Top Gainers

• TATACONSUM: +2.69% at ₹1,090.50 → Gained ₹28.60 amid strong buying in the FMCG space.
• TMPV: +1.92% at ₹349.60 → Rose ₹6.60 ahead of its Q1 earnings announcement.
• NTPC: +1.41% at ₹344.25 → Advanced ₹4.80, showing strong stock-specific momentum.

Top Losers

• HINDALCO: -2.99% at ₹1,046.25 → Fell ₹32.25 as profit booking emerged after the previous session’s rally.
• ICICIBANK: -1.74% at ₹1,406.80 → Declined ₹24.90 amid weakness in banking and financial stocks.
• ULTRACEMCO: -1.56% at ₹11,706.00 → Dropped ₹185.00 amid selling pressure in select cement counters.

Technical Analysis: Nifty & Bank Nifty Levels

NIFTY 50: Opened 4 points low at 24,431 reached a high of 24,431 and closed at 24,395.

• Immediate Support: 24,300
• Immediate Resistance: 24,500

BANK NIFTY: Opened 86 points lower at 57,799, reached a high of 57,799 and closed at 57,635.

• Immediate Support: 57,400
• Immediate Resistance: 57,900

World Markets, Crude & Gold Prices

Global Equities

Global equity markets traded mixed to mildly positive on Thursday, 13 August, as investors reacted to softer US consumer inflation, strong AI-linked earnings and easing crude prices, while continuing to monitor geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Markets are now awaiting the US Producer Price Index (PPI) for further clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy path.

Asian markets were largely positive. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan rose around 1.08%, led by a sharp 3.78% surge in South Korea’s Kospi, while Japan’s Nikkei gained about 1.67%, supported by semiconductor and technology stocks.

European markets traded broadly steady, with the STOXX 600 up around 0.11% and technology shares marginally higher. However, the UK’s FTSE 100 remained under pressure, partly due to weakness in mining stocks.

In the US, index futures pointed to a mildly positive opening. Dow futures were up around 0.24%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.16%, while Nasdaq 100 futures edged up 0.02%. Strong corporate earnings continued to support sentiment, although investors remained cautious ahead of the latest producer-inflation reading.

The latest US CPI data showed consumer prices rising 0.1% month-on-month in July, while annual inflation eased to 3.4% from 3.5% in June. The softer reading reduced expectations for another Federal Reserve rate hike, with markets assigning roughly a 65–66% probability of rates remaining unchanged in September.

Crude Oil

Brent crude traded at $89.753 per barrel, down $1.268 or 1.39%, according to the latest supplied market snapshot.

Oil prices retreated after a strong multi-session advance, with investors weighing signs of softer global demand against continuing geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Reuters reported Brent falling after six consecutive sessions of gains.

A sharp increase in US crude inventories added downward pressure. Commercial crude stocks recorded their largest weekly increase since January 2023, while OPEC also lowered its forecast for global oil-demand growth in 2026.

However, geopolitical risks remain elevated. The US and Iran continue to disagree over conditions surrounding a permanent settlement, while traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted, keeping uncertainty around Middle Eastern energy supplies high.

The decline below the recent $90-plus levels provides some relief to global markets, but Brent near $90 per barrel remains an important macroeconomic concern for India. Persistently elevated crude prices can increase the country’s import bill, contribute to inflationary pressure and raise input costs for fuel-sensitive industries.

Gold Prices

Gold traded at $4,393.08 per ounce, down $15.85 or 0.36%, according to the latest supplied market snapshot.

Gold prices eased after recently climbing to their highest level in more than two months, as investors booked profits following the strong rally triggered by softer US inflation data. Reuters reported that spot gold had risen sharply earlier in Asian trading before reversing lower.

The July US CPI report showed annual inflation cooling to 3.4%, reducing expectations for an imminent Federal Reserve rate hike. While a less aggressive Fed outlook is generally supportive for non-yielding assets such as gold, much of that optimism had already been priced into bullion during the recent rally.

A firmer US dollar also limited gold’s upside. The dollar index climbed to around 100, its strongest level in nearly two weeks, as investors continued to seek safety amid uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict. A stronger dollar typically makes gold more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

At the same time, persistent geopolitical uncertainty remains supportive for bullion over the broader term, particularly as negotiations involving the US and Iran remain unresolved.

The next major trigger for gold is the US Producer Price Index, due later on Thursday. A softer-than-expected PPI reading could further reduce expectations for a September Fed hike and support bullion, while stronger producer inflation could lift bond yields and the dollar, potentially putting renewed pressure on gold.

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