JKB Financial Services Ltd.

As on : 18-Aug-2026

Market Commentary - Pre-Session
18-Aug-2026 08:30

Gift Nifty remains flat, Asian markets were marginally lower

Local stock markets traded flat today. The Gift Nifty April 2026 futures for the benchmark index today. The domestic equity market ended slightly lower in last session, with BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 modestly lower.The BSE Sensex has eased 0.54% over the last one month, while the NSE Nifty has edged lower 0.19% over the same period. In Asia today, sentiment was cautiously negative. China’s SSE Composite Index posted modest losses of 0.20% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 eased 1.62%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index drifted lower 0.69%. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 2,535 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 5,101 crore in the Indian equity market on 17 August 2026, provisional data showed. Overnight on Wall Street, stocks posted modest losses across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended lower by 272.63 points, or 0.51%, and closed at 53480.78. The S&P 500 slipped 0.50% to end at 7767.97, and the NASDAQ Composite drifted lower 0.31% to 26667.74. Yesterday, the S&P BSE Sensex edged lower 281.09 points or 0.36% to 77728.16. The Nifty 50 index slipped 78.35 points or 0.32% to 24287.65. Hindalco Industries Ltd was top gainer in Nifty 50 yesterday, posting modest gains of 1.98% to Rs 1049.90. The stock has posted modest gains of around 1.43% in last one-week and is weaker 10.47% over last one-month. In sectoral indices, only Nifty Realty index ticked up yesterday, advancing 1.46% on the day.

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