JKB Financial Services Ltd.

As on : 19-Aug-2026

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

Gift Nifty inched up, Asian markets traded slightly lower

Local stock markets are expected to begin on a subdued note today. The Gift Nifty April 2026 futures are up 0.08 points, indicating a slightly firm opening for the benchmark index today. The domestic equity market finished marginally lower in last session, with BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 in negative territory.The BSE Sensex has edged lower 0.61% over the last one month, while the NSE Nifty has drifted lower 0.34% over the same period. In Asia today, sentiment was weak. China’s SSE Composite Index posted modest losses of 1.86% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 drifted lower 2.57%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index moved higher 0.15%. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,651 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 2,579 crore in the Indian equity market on 18 August 2026, provisional data showed. Overnight on Wall Street, stocks eased across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 116.38 points, or 0.22%, and closed at 53364.40. The S&P 500 drifted lower 0.67% to end at 7714.26, and the NASDAQ Composite edged lower 1.33% to 26310.48. Yesterday, the S&P BSE Sensex slipped 492.70 points or 0.63% to 77235.46. The Nifty 50 index edged lower 132.75 points or 0.55% to 24154.90. Axis Bank Ltd was top gainer in Nifty 50 yesterday, posting modest gains of 1.28% to Rs 1243. The stock has posted modest gains of around 1.43% in last one-week and is lower 10.47% over last one-month. In sectoral indices, only Nifty Media index ticked up yesterday, advancing 0.40% on the day.

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