Nifty 50 is holding a flat-to-firm bias near 24,660 in the mid-session as IT and metal stocks lead gains while oil-sensitive counters cool off amid Iran-sanctions uncertainty. Here’s your midday markets snapshot.
📊 Mid-Session Market Action
As of the mid-session, the Sensex was up 100.55 points (+0.13%) at 77,641.38, while the Nifty 50 added 27.10 points (+0.11%) to trade around 24,663. Indices are moving in a mixed, narrow range as crude oil prices decline and traders await clarity on Washington’s plans to impose fresh sanctions on Iran. IT and metal stocks are outperforming, with SAIL and Welspun Corp driving gains in the Nifty Metal index. Top gainers at midday include Hindalco Industries (+1.35%), Muthoot Finance (+1.13%), HDFC Bank (+0.76%) and Hyundai Motor India (+0.75%). On the losing side, Eternal/Zomato (-1.52%), Lodha Developers (-0.97%), Tata Capital (-0.93%) and Shriram Finance (-0.84%) are dragging the broader tape lower.
₿ Crypto Pulse — 11 AM Update
Bitcoin is trading near ₹68.6 lakh (~$77,254), extending its best weekly run since 2023 with gains of roughly 22-24% since Monday, fuelled by a US Treasury buyback move that triggered a record short squeeze. Ethereum has outpaced BTC, up nearly 18% over the last 24 hours to around ₹2.27 lakh. Adding to the bullish tone, Goldman Sachs is reportedly acquiring bitcoin ETF manager NEOS for up to $2.25 billion, while Nomura’s Laser Digital secured Japan’s crypto license No. 00032 — the first such approval in four years — signalling growing institutional appetite for digital assets.
💰 Live Rates — 11 AM IST
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,663 | +0.11% |
| Sensex | 77,641.38 | +0.13% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹68.6L / $77,254 | ~+22-24% (7d) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹2.27L / ~$2,373 | +18.1% (24h) |
| Gold (10g, 24K) | ₹1,62,810 | Near record highs |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,60,000 | Elevated, volatile |
| USD/INR | ₹95.70 | Mid-market rate |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | ~$67.73 | Declining |
📰 Top 5 Stories Making Markets Move Today
- Bitcoin’s Treasury-fuelled rally — BTC has topped $77,000 in its best week since 2023, gaining roughly 24% since Monday after a US Treasury buyback move triggered a record short squeeze in what had been a bearish market, dragging altcoins like ETH, XRP and Solana even higher.
- Goldman Sachs to acquire bitcoin ETF manager NEOS — Goldman Sachs is acquiring NEOS Investment Management, a bitcoin ETF manager, in a deal worth up to $2.25 billion, underscoring continued Wall Street consolidation into crypto-linked investment products.
- India housing sales soften in Q2 — Housing sales across India’s top eight cities fell 6.1% year-on-year to 91,729 units in Q2 2026, even as average prices held above ₹10,000 per square foot, pointing to affordability strain despite resilient pricing.
- Axis Bank leads large infrastructure financing — Axis Bank has underwritten a large financing package worth around ₹5,000 crore, with State Bank of India and HDFC Bank evaluating commitments for the remainder; Aditya Birla Group is separately in talks with six to seven domestic lenders but prefers to close with just two or three.
- Gold holds near record highs — Gold continues to trade close to all-time highs around ₹1.63 lakh per 10 grams (24K) as safe-haven demand persists amid market volatility and global uncertainty, with silver also elevated near ₹2.6 lakh per kilogram.
🎯 Afternoon Watch List
Keep an eye on Nifty 50’s ability to hold above 24,650 and push toward the 24,700-24,750 resistance zone into the close; a slip back below 24,600 would suggest the midday bounce is fading. Watch crude oil for further downside as sanctions headlines develop — a sharp Brent move either way could ripple into OMC and aviation stocks. In crypto, the key test is whether Bitcoin can consolidate above the ₹68 lakh / $77,000 mark rather than giving back this week’s short-squeeze-driven gains. Finally, track gold and silver for any pullback from record levels as the rupee holds steady near ₹95.70/USD.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 11:00 AM IST, 24 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
