Indian markets head into Wednesday’s session on the back foot after Sensex and Nifty slipped for a second straight day, as a sharp rally in crude oil and a softer rupee kept sentiment cautious. Here’s everything you need to know about markets this morning.
📈 Indian Stock Market Today
The Sensex fell 388.19 points (-0.50%) to close at 78,154.25 on Tuesday, while the Nifty 50 declined 112.10 points (-0.46%) to 24,471.70. A sharp rise in crude-oil prices, weakness in financial stocks, and a softer rupee weighed on the benchmarks, with realty and metals leading the drag. On the flows front, FIIs were net buyers of ₹1,974.76 crore in the cash segment, while DIIs turned net sellers of ₹1,290.30 crore. Stock-specific momentum stood out in Ramkrishna Forgings, Endurance Technologies and 360 ONE WAM, which showed decisive breakouts on technical charts.
₿ Crypto Market Update
Bitcoin is trading near ₹61.1 lakh (~$64,282), down about 1.4% after opening prices fell back on Tuesday ahead of this week’s US inflation data. Ethereum is changing hands around ₹1,79,868 (~$1,888.83), down roughly 2% on the same cautious tone. Traders are staying defensive into today’s US CPI print, with long liquidations adding pressure and BTC facing resistance near the $65,000 mark.
💰 Today’s Key Rates at a Glance
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,471.70 | -0.46% |
| Sensex | 78,154.25 | -0.50% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹61.1L / $64,282 | -1.4% (24h) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹1,79,868 / $1,888.83 | -2.0% (24h) |
| Gold (10g, 24K) | ₹1,52,084 | Firm near highs |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,55,000 | Firm near highs |
| USD/INR | ₹95.13 | -0.33% |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $89.24 | +1.73% |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories This Morning
- Net direct tax collections jump 23% YoY — India’s net direct tax collection rose 23.09% year-on-year to ₹8.11 lakh crore till August 10, a strong signal of underlying corporate and personal income growth that could support fiscal headroom for the rest of FY27.
- Crude oil rally on Hormuz tensions rattles sentiment — Brent crude climbed to $89.24/barrel, up 1.73% and now up nearly 35% year-on-year, as uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz persists. Higher crude directly pressures India’s import bill, the rupee and oil-marketing company margins.
- Sensex, Nifty slip for a second day — Benchmark indices closed lower on Tuesday as rising oil prices, a weaker rupee and selling in financial, realty and metal stocks offset resilience elsewhere in the market.
- Smallcap mutual fund holdings decline after two quarters of buying — MF holdings fell across 83 BSE-listed smallcap stocks in June 2026, the first pullback after two straight quarters of accumulation, with 15 stocks posting declines of 20% or more for the calendar year so far.
- Retail F&O losses drop nearly 18% YoY — Losses among retail investors in India’s equity derivatives market fell almost 18% year-on-year, as regulatory measures curbing speculative trading continue to reduce individual participation in high-risk options and futures segments.
🔍 What to Watch Today
All eyes are on the US July CPI and core CPI data due later today, a key input for the Fed’s rate path and a major swing factor for global risk sentiment, including Indian equities and the rupee. Continued volatility in Brent crude around the Hormuz situation remains a key risk to watch for oil-sensitive sectors and inflation expectations. On the stock front, momentum names like Ramkrishna Forgings, Endurance Technologies and 360 ONE WAM are worth tracking for follow-through after their recent technical breakouts.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 8:00 AM IST, 12 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
