Indian markets are bracing for a cautious start on Tuesday, with GIFT Nifty pointing to a flat-to-negative open as global investors sit on their hands ahead of Nvidia’s closely watched earnings and continued AI-spending jitters. Here’s everything you need to know about markets this morning.
📈 Indian Stock Market Today
The Sensex slipped 73 points (0.10%) to 77,295 in pre-open trade, while GIFT Nifty was quoted at 24,180, down 30 points. This follows Monday’s session, where the BSE Sensex closed down 171.72 points (0.22%) at 77,369.11 and the Nifty50 fell 32.95 points (0.14%) to 24,219.05, as fresh US sanctions on Iran dented risk appetite. India VIX jumped 2.90%, signalling rising near-term volatility. Bank shares are weighing on sentiment this morning, with stocks like TCS, Suzlon, Hindustan Copper, Coal India, ICICI Bank, UCO Bank, Axis Bank and Messho in focus.
₿ Crypto Market Update
Bitcoin is trading around ₹77.36 lakh (~$79,107), extending its rise as investors look for fresh clues from the Fed this week. Ethereum has climbed to roughly ₹2.40 lakh (~$2,507), up about 1.6% from its previous open. Both majors have been on a multi-day upswing, helped by a Treasury repurchase announcement and continued regulatory clarity optimism in the US.
💰 Today’s Key Rates at a Glance
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 (GIFT Nifty, pre-open) | 24,180 | -30 pts / -0.12% |
| Sensex (pre-open) | 77,295 | -73 pts / -0.10% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹77.36L / $79,107 | Rising |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹2.40L / $2,507 | +1.6% |
| Gold (10g, 24K) | ₹1,63,980 | Steady |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,60,000 | Steady |
| USD/INR | ₹95.74 | Flat |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $92.20/bbl | -2.32% |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories This Morning
- Government eyes off-balance-sheet incentives for industrial promotion. The finance minister said the government is exploring soft loans and other off-balance-sheet mechanisms, along with power tariff concessions, to keep budget-dependent industrial promotion costs lower — a move that could ease fiscal pressure while still supporting manufacturing growth.
- Axis Bank leads ₹5,000 crore financing deal. Axis Bank has underwritten the entire facility and is set to retain a large share of the roughly ₹5,000 crore financing, while State Bank of India and HDFC Bank evaluate commitments for the remaining amount — a sign of continued large-ticket corporate lending appetite among top lenders.
- Government to divest 3% stake in Hindustan Copper via OFS. The Centre is selling a 3% stake in Hindustan Copper through an offer-for-sale, with an additional 3% green-shoe option available in case of oversubscription, as part of its ongoing disinvestment push.
- Shankesh Jewellers set to list today. After raising ₹274 crore in its maiden stake sale, Shankesh Jewellers debuts on the bourses, giving investors an early read on demand for smaller jewellery-sector IPOs in a volatile market.
- Nvidia earnings loom over global risk sentiment. With Nvidia’s results due this week, concerns about the pace of AI capex are weighing on both US futures and Asian markets, including India’s GIFT Nifty, as traders stay defensive ahead of the print.
🔍 What to Watch Today
Keep an eye on June-quarter results from Ardee Industries, MV Electrosystems, State Trading Corporation of India and Vineet Laboratories, due later today. Shankesh Jewellers’ listing debut will be an early gauge of primary-market appetite. Later this week, Nvidia’s earnings report remains the single biggest global catalyst, with the potential to set the tone for AI and tech stocks worldwide — and by extension, IT-heavy indices back home.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 8:00 AM IST, 25 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
