Sensex gains 109 points on August 12, recovering after Tuesday's 388-point decline; Nifty remains flat.
Markets navigated mixed global cues and rising crude oil prices, with institutional flows showing a split picture.
The story
Indian equity benchmarks closed lower on Tuesday, August 11, with the Sensex falling 388 points (0.49%) to settle at 78,154.25. The Nifty 50 also saw a dip, dropping 112 points (0.46%) to close at 24,471.70.
Financial stocks were under pressure, and concerns over elevated crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. The rupee weakened against the US dollar, falling 8 paise to 95.38 in early trade on Tuesday.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers of equities worth ₹1,974.76 crore on Monday, August 10, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net sellers of shares worth ₹1,290.29 crore on the same day. On Wednesday, August 12, the market opened with the Sensex gaining 109.08 points (0.13%) to 78,263.33, and the Nifty opening flat at 24,472.45, indicating a cautious recovery. Brent crude continued to trade near the $90 mark, influencing global and domestic sentiment.
The tape
| Instrument | Last | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,472.45 | +0.75 (0.00%) |
| Sensex | 78,263.33 | +109.08 (0.13%) |
| Bank Nifty | 57,340.80 | -105 (-0.18%) |
| USD/INR | 95.40 | Unchanged |
Flows & data
| Item | Reading | Read |
|---|---|---|
| FII Net Flows | +₹258.55 crore (August 11, 2026) | Foreign institutional investors remained net buyers. |
| DII Net Flows | +₹24.77 crore (August 11, 2026) | Domestic institutional investors also turned net buyers. |
| Equity Mutual Fund Inflows | ₹24,697 crore (July 2026) | Inflows fell 15% month-on-month, with small-cap funds leading and large-cap funds seeing an outflow. |
| SIP Inflows | ₹31,961 crore (July 2026) | Systematic Investment Plan inflows climbed marginally month-on-month. |
IPOs & the primary market
India's primary market is seeing an active period, with talk of a "₹7,000 crore IPO rush this week." Investors are evaluating potential offerings from companies like Dhoot, Milky Mist, and Molbio. This comes amidst broader market movements and institutional investor activity, suggesting continued interest in new listings within the Indian market.
Valuation watch — India & global
Global markets continue to show mixed signals, with US stocks slipping from recent highs on Tuesday, August 11. The S&P 500 index lost 0.32%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.60% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.34%.
This cautious sentiment is partly attributed to rising crude oil prices, with Brent crude trading near the $90 per barrel mark. The focus remains on how these global factors, alongside upcoming inflation data, might influence market valuations.
Monsoon watch
India's southwest monsoon continues to exhibit an uneven performance, with the country recording a 12% rainfall deficit from June 4 to August 10 against the normal. Despite this, kharif sowing has gathered momentum, with the acreage gap narrowing to below 2% by August 7 compared to last year's levels.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts widespread rain over several parts of central, eastern, northeastern, and northwest India in the coming days. A low-pressure area has formed over the North Bay of Bengal off the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on August 12, expected to intensify and bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal.
What we'll be watching
- Upcoming US inflation data, which could influence interest rate expectations.
- The trajectory of crude oil prices amid ongoing geopolitical developments.
- Any further updates or announcements regarding RBI policy expectations.
- Subscription and listing performance of upcoming IPOs this week.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.