Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty, opened lower on Thursday amidst mixed global cues. The Sensex shed 180 points to trade at 77,785, while the Nifty slipped 95 points to 24,488. The total market capitalization of BSE-listed firms stood at Rs 492.25 lakh crore.
Several major stocks contributed to the market's decline. UltraTech Cement, Titan, Reliance Industries (RIL), ICICI Bank, PowerGrid, and Infosys were among the top Sensex losers, with their shares falling by up to 1.62% in early trade.
Conversely, some stocks managed to buck the trend. IndiGo, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, Bajaj Finance, and L&T recorded gains of up to 1.42%, emerging as the top Sensex gainers for the day.
Global Market Influences and Crude Oil Prices
The domestic market's subdued opening followed a mixed performance in global markets. In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index saw a modest rise of 18 points, while Japan's Nikkei surged by 1,216 points. Overnight, US markets closed on a flat note, offering little clear direction.
Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices were trading below the $90 per barrel mark, recorded at $88.53 per barrel on Thursday, adding another layer of complexity to the global economic outlook.
Expert Outlook on Market Trends
VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, offered insights into the current market sentiment. He stated, "The market is likely to continue along the consolidation phase and sideways movements in the near-term." Vijayakumar highlighted that strong fundamentals, driven by robust growth and earnings momentum, coupled with sustained liquidity flows from domestic investors, provide a tailwind for the market. However, he cautioned that "the main headwind continues to be the elevated crude prices and the uncertainty regarding the crude price trends."
This session's decline marks the second consecutive day of losses for the benchmark indices. In the previous session on August 12, 2026, the Sensex closed down 187.90 points (-0.24%) at 77,966.35, and the Nifty 50 settled 35.75 points (-0.15%) lower at 24,435.95.