Market Wrap

Indian equities ended higher on August 13, with the Sensex climbing 304 points (+0.38%) to 80,539.91 and the Nifty 50 advancing 132 points (+0.54%) to 24,619.35. Gains were broad-based, led by strong buying in autos, metals, and healthcare stocks. The rally was underpinned by softer U.S. retail inflation and India’s CPI dropping to an eight-year low of 1.55%, bolstering hopes for a U.S. Fed rate cut in September. Mid- and small-caps outperformed, with Apollo Hospitals, Hindalco, Nykaa, Paytm, and Bharat Dynamics among the top movers. Globally, sentiment was upbeat as world stocks hit record highs, the dollar weakened, and Japan’s Nikkei scaled fresh peaks, aided by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s push for a half-point Fed cut.

What's Ahead

Markets will track the August 15 meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin for any signs of easing tariff tensions—a potential catalyst for risk assets. Domestically, focus will remain on earnings momentum and sectoral strength in autos, metals, and healthcare. Global cues from U.S. retail sales and manufacturing data will also be watched closely, alongside monitoring foreign institutional activity, which has shown signs of stabilizing.

Market Snapshots

Institutional Activity

Sectoral Performance

Technical Outlook

Nifty 50

The Nifty 50 gained 131.95 points (+0.54%) to close at 24,619.35, supported by strong moves in Apollo Hospitals, Hindalco, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Positive global cues from softer U.S. inflation data and India’s lowest CPI in eight years boosted sentiment. Although the index lost some momentum towards the close, it managed to stay above the 24,600 mark—a mildly bullish sign. The RSI has started to edge higher but remains indecisive. Immediate support is placed at 24,461 and 24,362, while resistance levels are at 24,778 and 24,876.

Bank Nifty

The Bank Nifty added 137.75 points (+0.25%) to settle at 55,181.45, with AU Bank and Kotak Bank leading the gains. However, weakness in heavyweights like ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank limited the upside. The index opened strong but surrendered most of its early gains during the session, reflecting lingering caution in the banking space. RSI has recovered slightly but still signals weakness. Near-term support lies at 54,647 and 54,316, while resistance is seen at 55,716 and 56,047.

Sensex

The Sensex advanced 304.31 points (+0.38%) to end at 80,539.91, led by strength in M&M, Kotak Bank, and Power Grid. The gains were partially offset by declines in ITC, Adani Ports, and IndusInd Bank. Despite intraday volatility, the index maintained a positive advances-to-declines ratio, reflecting underlying buying interest. Key support levels are placed at 80,014 and 79,689, while resistance is expected at 81,065 and 81,391.

Fin Nifty

The Nifty Financial Services index rose 103.1 points (+0.39%) to close at 26,238.4, with broad-based buying as 16 out of 20 constituents ended higher. HDFC Life, Kotak Bank, and Shriram Finance were the top performers, while ICICI Bank and Axis Bank exerted mild pressure on the index. The overall tone remains cautiously optimistic, with support pegged at 26,095 and 25,951, and resistance at 26,367 and 26,497.