Sensex, Nifty See Mixed Trade as RBI Verdict Awaited

Mumbai, Aug 5: Indian equity benchmarks diverged in early trade on Wednesday, as traders bet the central bank will leave rates unchanged. The Sensex rose 356.39 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 78,785.34 at 9:30 am, while the Nifty 50 slipped 4.60 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 24,610.30 at 9:31 am. The revised closing auction framework for futures-and-options stocks has reshaped end-of-day price discovery, resulting in a pronounced divergence between the Nifty and Sensex. The divergence came amid efforts to end the US-Iran war and a rally in Asian and US markets. Investors also awaited the RBI’s two-day MPC outcome today, with a
majority expecting rates to stay unchanged.

Gainers & Losers 

Among individual stocks, IndiGo (INDIGO) led gainers, rising 2 per cent to Rs 5,465 from a previous close of Rs 5,358. Larsen & Toubro (LT) climbed 1.78 per cent to Rs 4,061 versus Rs 3,990, Bajaj Finance (BAJFINANCE) rose 1.24 per cent to Rs 1,163.2 from Rs 1,149, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) gained 1.17 per cent to Rs 3,473.3 from Rs 3,433, and Wipro (WIPRO) added 1.01 per cent to Rs 188.18 from Rs 186.3. Among losers, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (APOLLOHOSP) fell 2.18 per cent to Rs 8,853 from Rs 9,050, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SUNPHARMA) declined 1.34 per cent to Rs 1,937.7 from Rs 1,964, SBI Life Insurance Company (SBILIFE) dropped 1.14 per cent to Rs 1,877.4 from Rs 1,899, Nestle India (NESTLEIND) slipped 1.03 per cent to Rs 1,504.3 from Rs 1,520, and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRREDDY) eased 0.92 per cent to Rs 1,161.8 from Rs 1,172.6. 

Broad Markets & Sectoral Indices 

Among broad market indices, the Nifty Microcap 250 led gainers, up 0.68 per cent, followed by the Nifty Smallcap 100, up 0.67 per cent, the Nifty Next 50, up 0.59 per cent, and the Nifty Midcap 100, up 0.16 per cent, while the Nifty Bank was the lone laggard, down 0.05 per cent. Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Realty led with a 1.76 per cent gain, followed by the Nifty Auto, up 0.76 per cent, while the Nifty Healthcare Index fell 0.90 per cent and the Nifty Pharma declined 0.76 per cent. 

Iran-US Conflict 

Qatar said mediators were making progress in efforts to end the five-month-old US-Iran war, even as Tehran denied Trump’s assertion that direct talks were under way. Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a call to discuss narrowing differences between Washington and Tehran. Iran said separate talks with Oman over safe shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz were continuing and positive, while US officials Rubio and Bessent said a deal on reopening Hormuz could come within days. The strait, however, remained virtually shut, with a cargo vessel attacked while crossing it and an Indian vessel reported struck near Yemeni waters. 

Asian Markets on Wednesday 

Asian markets were mostly trading higher on Wednesday morning, tracking the overnight rally on Wall Street and easing geopolitical tensions. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 3.08 per cent, leading gains in the region, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Shanghai’s SSE Composite also advanced. Pakistan’s KSE 100 and the Philippines’ PSEi were among the few decliners in the region. 

US Markets 

Wall Street rallied sharply on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 climbing 1.79 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite jumping 2.59 per cent on signs of progress towards ending the Iran-US war. The Dow Jones advanced 1.71 per cent, while the broader NYSE Composite rose 0.85 per cent. The gains came even as markets stayed watchful of the US military campaign’s sustainability amid reports of depleted missile stockpiles. 

Crude Oil Prices 

 Oil extended declines on Wednesday after steep falls in the previous two trading sessions, as investors waited ​to see if efforts to end the Iran war and restore traffic through ‌the blockaded Strait of Hormuz were making progress. Brent crude futures dropped 92 cents, or about 1.2%, to $78.44 a barrel by 0330 GMT. They have tumbled more than 12% for the week thus far. U.S. West Texas ​Intermediate futures lost $1.07, or 1.4%, to stand at $74.70 a barrel and are down ​more than 11% this week. Qatar said on Tuesday mediators were making progress in ⁠efforts to end the war, driving oil prices lower, although Tehran has denied U.S. President ​Donald Trump’s assertion that talks are underway. Brent closed more than 5% lower on Tuesday below $80 ​a barrel for the first time since July 13. 

Sensex, Nifty on Tuesday 

Indian equity benchmarks had ended lower in a volatile session on Tuesday, snapping a four-day winning streak as the Nifty partially reversed the previous session’s sharp gains following a new closing-auction mechanism. The Sensex fell 210.08 points, or 0.27 per cent, to close at 78,428.95, while the Nifty 50 declined 159.40 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 24,614.90. Market breadth was nearly evenly split, with 2,030 shares advancing, 2,037 declining and 174 unchanged. 

Sources

• NSE
• BSE
• Reuters
• https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/
• https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/status-us-iran-talks-uncertain-ship-struck-hormuz-2026-08-04/
• https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-steadies-after-two-day-slump-investors-eye-hormuz-traffic-2026-08-05/