Dalal Street heads into Friday’s session on a firm footing, with global cues turning supportive after Wall Street notched fresh record highs overnight and domestic institutions kept up their buying streak. Here’s everything you need to know about markets this morning.
📈 Indian Stock Market Today
The Sensex snapped a two-day losing streak on Thursday, climbing 113.61 points (+0.15%) to close at 78,079.96, while the Nifty 50 settled higher at 24,396. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) remained net buyers, pumping in ₹4,353.10 crore in the cash segment on August 13, providing a cushion against volatile foreign flows. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned marginal cash buyers with ₹259 crore of purchases, though they continue to hold a net short position of over 1.56 lakh contracts in index futures, signalling lingering caution on the derivatives side. A key overhang for the session: Astral Ltd, Balkrishna Industries, and SBI Cards are being dropped from the MSCI India Index in the latest rebalancing, with the first two shifting to the MSCI India Smallcap Index — expect passive-fund-driven volatility in these counters.
₿ Crypto Market Update
Bitcoin opened Thursday near $63,410 and edged up to roughly $63,505 (about ₹60.4 lakh at the current USD/INR rate), though the broader trend remains soft — BTC’s daily, weekly, monthly and yearly momentum have all turned negative this week as traders weigh Middle East uncertainty against cooling US inflation data. Ethereum traded around $1,983 (approximately ₹1.89 lakh), recovering modestly from its open near $1,878. Crypto markets stayed choppy overnight as investors positioned ahead of fresh US CPI readouts, with sentiment split between rate-cut optimism and geopolitical risk aversion.
💰 Today’s Key Rates at a Glance
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,396 | Higher, tracking Sensex gains |
| Sensex | 78,079.96 | +0.15% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹60.4L / $63,505 | Weekly trend negative |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹1.89L / $1,983 | Recovering from day’s open |
| Gold (10g, 24K) | ₹1,53,600 | Near 2-month high |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,55,000 | Firm |
| USD/INR | ₹95.13 | Marginally weaker vs ₹95.20 prior close |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $87.18 | +0.13% |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories This Morning
- Dividend record date today for Apollo Hospitals, HAL, HPCL, IOC and others. August 14 is the record date for several large-cap dividend payouts, meaning today is the last chance for buyers to be added to the register for eligibility — expect some ex-dividend price adjustments in these counters.
- MSCI India Index reshuffle hits Astral, Balkrishna Industries and SBI Cards. All three are being removed from the MSCI India Index in the latest review, with Astral and Balkrishna Industries moving to the MSCI India Smallcap Index. Passive fund outflows tied to the rebalancing could pressure these stocks in the near term.
- DIIs extend buying spree; FIIs stay net short on futures. Domestic institutions bought a net ₹4,353 crore in cash equities on August 13, continuing to backstop the market, even as FIIs — despite modest cash buying — remain net short over 1.56 lakh index-futures contracts, a sign of continued hedging against downside risk.
- Gold hits a two-month high as US inflation cools. Bullion prices rallied globally after softer-than-expected US consumer inflation data reduced the odds of the Federal Reserve raising rates, a trend that’s also lifted domestic gold prices toward ₹1.53 lakh per 10 grams (24K).
- Wall Street sets fresh records, a tailwind for Dalal Street. The S&P 500 closed above 7,800 for the first time, up 0.65%, while the Nasdaq gained 0.81% and the Dow added 0.13%, as falling bond yields and moderating inflation data boosted risk appetite. Separately, OPEC trimmed its 2026 global oil demand growth forecast to 580,000 barrels per day, and Brent crude eased over 2% to settle near $87 a barrel — a mild positive for India’s import bill.
🔍 What to Watch Today
Traders will track how Indian markets react to the MSCI rebalancing flows, particularly in Astral, Balkrishna Industries and SBI Cards, through the session. Global sentiment remains hostage to incoming US inflation data and Fed rate-cut expectations, both of which could sway FII positioning in index futures. Crude oil’s reaction to OPEC’s trimmed demand outlook is also worth watching, given its direct bearing on the rupee and inflation trajectory. Closer home, keep an eye on stocks going ex-dividend today, and any fresh commentary from RBI or government officials on growth and inflation as the week draws to a close.
Data sourced from live market feeds. Last updated: 8:00 AM IST, 14 August 2026. This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
