Nifty 50 is holding just above the flatline near 24,250 in mid-session trade, clawing back a sliver of Monday’s losses as Metal and Private Bank stocks lead while FMCG and Auto stay under pressure. Meanwhile Bitcoin is flirting with the $80,000 mark and gold continues its safe-haven run past $4,500 an ounce. Here’s your midday markets snapshot.
📊 Mid-Session Market Action
The Nifty 50 is trading roughly 0.08% higher around the 24,250 mark, steadying after Monday’s session saw the index and the Sensex snap a two-day winning streak. The Sensex closed Monday at 77,369.11, down 171.72 points (-0.22%), and today’s move is tracking mixed Asian cues, today’s F&O expiry, and swinging crude oil prices. On the sectoral map, Metal (+0.86%) and Private Bank (+0.51%) are the standout gainers, while FMCG (-0.74%) and Auto (-0.60%) are dragging on the broader tape. In corporate action, the government’s Hindustan Copper offer-for-sale opened today for non-retail investors — a 3% stake divestment at a floor price of ₹514 per share, roughly a 10.3% discount to the current market price of ₹567. Separately, bidding for the Augmont Enterprises IPO closes today, with listing on the NSE and BSE slated for August 31.
₿ Crypto Pulse — 11 AM Update
Bitcoin is up about 3.18% today, trading near $80,227 (roughly ₹75.6 lakh), extending a rally that has added around 22% over the past week. The move is being fuelled by heavy spot Bitcoin ETF inflows — $1.918 billion over five sessions through August 21, the strongest weekly haul of 2026 — alongside a wave of short-position liquidations and improved risk appetite after the US Treasury expanded its long-term bond buyback programme. Ethereum is trading around ₹2,36,681 (about $2,468), up 2.61%. Among altcoins, Solana is the standout with a 6.24% gain, while Dogecoin, XRP and Cardano are in the red. BNB Chain’s “Pasteur” hard fork also went live today.
💰 Live Rates — 11 AM IST
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | ~24,250 | +0.08% |
| Sensex | 77,369 (Mon close) | -0.22% (Mon) |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹75,57,164 / $80,227 | +3.18% (24h) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹2,36,681 / ~$2,468 | +2.61% (24h) |
| Gold (24K, 10g) | ₹1,63,980 | 3rd weekly gain |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,59,900 | — |
| USD/INR | ₹95.90 | +0.09% |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $93.16 | -1.35% (24h) |
📰 Top 5 Stories Making Markets Move Today
- Bitcoin’s ETF-fuelled sprint toward $80,000. Spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $1.918 billion over the past week — 2026’s strongest weekly inflow — pushing BTC up roughly 22% in seven days as short sellers get squeezed out.
- Government opens Hindustan Copper OFS. A 3% stake sale kicked off today for non-retail investors at a floor price of ₹514, a steep discount to the ₹567 market price, with the retail tranche expected shortly.
- Augmont Enterprises IPO bidding closes. The issue wraps up today after strong investor interest, with listing on NSE and BSE scheduled for August 31.
- Coinbase debuts tokenized US stocks on Base. Tokenized versions of Apple, Nvidia, Meta and Alphabet shares went live under Coinbase’s new Abu Dhabi regulatory framework, extending crypto-native access to US equities.
- Relief window for renewable energy projects. Developers hit by West Asia-linked supply disruptions may get deadline extensions of up to four months, easing near-term execution risk for the sector.
🎯 Afternoon Watch List
Keep an eye on Nifty’s immediate band between 24,150 support and 24,300 resistance — a decisive break either way could set the tone into the close, especially with today’s F&O expiry adding volatility. In crude, Brent’s slide toward $93 and WTI’s choppy $84.75-$85.79 range bear watching given ongoing Middle East-linked supply jitters. On crypto, Bitcoin’s push toward the psychological $80,000 (~₹76.7 lakh) level is the number to track — a clean break could extend the rally, while a rejection may trigger profit-booking after the week’s sharp run-up. Also watch the retail tranche opening for the Hindustan Copper OFS later today.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 11:00 AM IST, 25 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
