With Sensex and Nifty extending losses for a second straight session, the afternoon 2 PM tape shows benchmarks pinned in the red as geopolitical tension in the Middle East and elevated crude prices keep risk appetite in check, while Bitcoin hovers near ₹60.7 lakh and gold holds firm above ₹1.55 lakh for 10 grams. Here’s your 2 PM markets update.
📈 Afternoon Session: Market Snapshot
The Nifty 50 was trading around 24,338, down about 27 points or 0.11% in early afternoon trade, after opening in the red near 24,343 on persistent geopolitical worries. The Sensex mirrored the move, trading roughly 190 points lower near 77,820. Both indices had pared more than half their morning losses by early afternoon, though they remained under pressure through the session. Nifty IT was the worst sectoral performer, sliding nearly 2% as TCS, Infosys, Mphasis and Persistent Systems dragged the index down, while PSU Bank stocks including SBI also lagged. On the flip side, Media, Defence, Consumer Durables, Metal and Realty counters bucked the trend and traded higher. Infosys, HCL Technologies, Sun Pharma and Titan Company featured among the top Nifty50 losers. Institutional flows stayed supportive even as the index fell: FIIs bought equities worth ₹508.12 crore and DIIs added ₹356.40 crore in the most recent session’s cash-segment data.
₿ Crypto at 2 PM — Live Prices
Bitcoin held near $63,460, translating to roughly ₹60.7 lakh at the current USD/INR rate, essentially range-bound after a soft week. Ethereum continues to struggle to reclaim the $1,900 mark, last trading near $1,885 (about ₹1.80 lakh). Altcoins were mixed — Chainlink capped its best week in months, up over 13% on a seven-day basis, while Monero also outperformed. Broader sentiment stayed subdued after crypto ETFs logged roughly $390 million in outflows over the past week, even as the SEC’s delay of a scheduled vote on crypto capital-raising rules kept regulatory clarity in limbo.
💰 Live Rates — 2 PM IST
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,338.90 | -0.11% |
| Sensex | 77,820.20 | -0.24% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹60.7L / $63,460 | ~flat |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹1.80L / $1,884.69 | Near key $1,900 support |
| Gold (10g, 24K) | ₹1,55,660 | +₹530 |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,50,000 | Steady |
| USD/INR | ₹95.66 | +0.16% |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $91.53 | +$0.86 |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories of the Day
- Sensex, Nifty extend losses on geopolitical tensions and high crude — Benchmark indices fell for a second consecutive session as investors turned cautious over Middle East tensions and firm oil prices. The Nifty slipped below the 24,300 mark intraday before paring some losses, keeping traders on edge ahead of key global cues later this week.
- Nifty IT tumbles nearly 2%, worst sectoral performer — TCS, Infosys, Mphasis and Persistent Systems led the decline in IT stocks, weighed down by a softer dollar and weak momentum in high-growth technology names. Infosys and HCL Technologies were among the top losers on the Nifty50.
- FIIs and DIIs both net buyers despite the broader selloff — Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth ₹508.12 crore while Domestic Institutional Investors bought ₹356.40 crore in the latest cash-segment data, suggesting institutional confidence even as headline indices stayed under pressure.
- Crude oil holds firm near $91/barrel on Strait of Hormuz concerns — Brent crude stayed elevated as fading hopes of a US-Iran peace breakthrough and slower tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz kept geopolitical risk premiums intact, a key overhang for oil-import-dependent economies like India.
- SEC delays crypto capital-raising vote as Ripple CEO plans major speech — The US SEC abruptly postponed a scheduled vote on new capital-raising rules for crypto startups, citing a scheduling issue, extending regulatory uncertainty. Separately, Ripple’s CEO is set to deliver a high-profile speech running from August 17 to 20, which markets will watch for policy signals.
🌐 Global Markets & Tomorrow’s Outlook
US stock futures were mixed heading into Monday’s session — Dow futures slipped 0.2% while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures edged up 0.1% and 0.5% respectively, as investors await a heavy week of retail earnings from Walmart, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot for a read on consumer health. Minutes from the July FOMC meeting are due Wednesday and could move sentiment around the Fed’s rate path. For Indian investors, tomorrow’s open will likely track overnight Wall Street action, crude oil movement, and any fresh developments on the Middle East geopolitical front.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 2:00 PM IST, 17 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
