Indian markets head into Tuesday on a cautious note as GIFT Nifty signals a soft open, with rising Brent crude and lingering US-Iran tension over the Strait of Hormuz keeping traders on edge even as Wall Street closed near record highs last week. Here’s everything you need to know about markets this morning.
📈 Indian Stock Market Today
The Nifty 50 closed Monday at 24,583.80, up a modest 13.15 points (+0.05%), while the Sensex ended at 78,542.44, gaining 43.27 points (+0.06%) as tech stocks offset weakness in financials and PSU banks, which dropped nearly 2%. GIFT Nifty futures are indicating a negative-to-cautious open around the 24,600 mark on Tuesday, pressured by a sharp jump in crude oil prices and fading hopes of a US-Iran breakthrough. Realty and select consumer names led gains Monday, while Dr Reddy’s Labs and Ola shares dragged sentiment after disappointing Q1 numbers.
₿ Crypto Market Update
Bitcoin is holding firm above the $64,000 mark, last trading near $64,935 (around ₹61.8 lakh), extending a run that has kept it above $65,000 on several sessions this month. Ethereum is changing hands around $1,913, or roughly ₹1,82,571, staying range-bound as traders track US jobs data and Fed rate expectations. Crypto sentiment has been broadly supported by a softer-than-expected July jobs report, which has reduced the odds of near-term Fed tightening.
💰 Today’s Key Rates at a Glance
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,583.80 | +13.15 (+0.05%) |
| Sensex | 78,542.44 | +43.27 (+0.06%) |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹61.8L / $64,935 | Holding above $64K |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹1,82,571 / $1,913 | Range-bound |
| Gold (24K, 10g) | ₹1,52,084 | Firm, near highs |
| Silver (10g) | ₹2,450 | Steady |
| USD/INR | ₹95.13 | -0.07% (prev close 95.20) |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $87.69 | +4.95% |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories This Morning
- Dr Reddy’s Labs slumps to 52-week low. Shares fell around 9% after Q1 results missed expectations, with margin pressure and pricing headwinds in the US generics business spooking investors. The stock remains one of the top drags on the pharma index this week.
- Ola shares tumble 6% post Q1. The stock slid sharply after quarterly numbers disappointed the Street, with brokerage Emkay flagging as much as 27% downside risk. Investors are watching cash burn and unit economics closely as the company navigates a competitive EV and mobility landscape.
- Government to limit UPI merchant discount rate (MDR). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that MDR will now apply only to select merchant UPI transactions going forward, a shift that could reshape revenue economics for payment aggregators and fintech players listed on Indian exchanges.
- Crude oil spikes on Hormuz Strait tensions. Brent crude jumped nearly 5% to trade above $87 a barrel as uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and stalled US-Iran talks stoke supply concerns, adding inflationary pressure that could weigh on rate-sensitive Indian sectors.
- FIIs turn cash buyers but stay short on futures. Foreign institutional investors bought close to ₹1,975 crore in the cash market on Monday, even as they maintained a net short position of over 1.5 lakh index-futures contracts — a signal analysts read as profit-taking with downside hedges still in place.
🔍 What to Watch Today
Q1 earnings season stays in full swing, with more large-caps and mid-caps due to report through the week — keep an eye on follow-through in pharma and mobility stocks after Monday’s sharp moves. Track developments on the US-Iran Hormuz Strait standoff, since further escalation could keep crude oil elevated and pressure oil-import-dependent India. Also watch for any updates on the AAIB probe into the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident, which has drawn international regulatory attention.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 8:00 AM IST, 11 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
