Indian Markets Brace for Muted Open: GIFT Nifty Signals Decline
By Market Desk
Indian stock markets anticipate a subdued opening as GIFT Nifty indicates a negative start, influenced by mixed Asian trends and fluctuating commodity prices.
Indian markets are poised for a muted opening, with the GIFT Nifty signaling a negative start, down 24 points or 0.10%. This follows a mixed performance across Asian markets and flat US futures.
Previous Session Overview
On the previous Friday, both the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex closed marginally lower. The Nifty 50 decreased by 0.12%, while the BSE Sensex slipped by 0.09%.
Global Market Cues
Asian markets presented a mixed picture, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 seeing a 0.4% increase. In contrast, the Topix index decreased by 0.11%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures traded higher at 25,247. South Korean markets remained closed for a holiday.
The US stock market concluded Friday’s session lower. The broad market index recorded a 0.2% decline, the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 0.2%.
Commodity Market Movements
Crude oil prices continue to hover near the $90 per barrel mark. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 0.45% at $82.04 per barrel, and Brent crude futures also saw a minor dip of 0.14% to $88.40.
Gold prices on COMEX edged up 0.38%, reaching $4,454 an ounce. In India, 24-carat gold was priced at Rs 1,54,580 per 10 grams, marking a 0.68% rise from the preceding day.
Silver also saw an increase, with COMEX prices up 0.56% to $65.47 per troy ounce. Domestically, silver climbed 0.2% to Rs 2.36 lakh per kilogram.
Institutional Investor Activity
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) both acted as net buyers on August 14, 2026. FIIs acquired shares worth Rs 508.12 crore, while DIIs purchased shares valued at Rs 356.40 crore.
Currency Performance
The US Dollar Index (DXY) traded 0.13% lower, settling at 99.54. The Indian Rupee showed appreciation against the dollar, gaining 0.02% to close at 95.43 on August 14.
Sectoral Shifts on Friday
Sectoral performance on Friday revealed significant movements. The Consumer Durables sector recorded the highest surge, increasing its market capitalization by 2.42%. Other sectors like Glass, Telecommunications, and Restaurant stocks also experienced notable gains.
Conversely, the Metals – Non-Ferrous sector registered the most substantial decline, falling by 2.46% by the close of the trading day.