Morning Brief: Nifty Edges Up 0.08% to 24,252; Bank Nifty Gains 0.46% Amid DII Buying | 24 Aug 2026, 08:15 AM IST
By ThePip Desk
Indian equities saw a mixed close with Nifty 50 at 24,252, while Bank Nifty rose 0.46%. Domestic institutions provided support as FIIs remained net sellers.
Indian benchmark indices closed Friday’s session with marginal gains, as the Nifty 50 advanced to 24,252. The broader market also saw positive movement, with the Nifty Midcap 100 closing higher. Banking stocks showed strength, pushing the Nifty Bank index up by 0.46%.
Market Snapshot
| Index | Last |
|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,252.00 (+0.08%) |
| Nifty Bank | 57,761.95 (+0.46%) |
| Nifty Midcap 100 | 63,735.75 (+0.10%) |
Institutional Flows
Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) continued their buying streak, injecting significant capital into the market, which helped offset selling pressure from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) on Friday. Over the last five sessions, DIIs have been consistent net buyers, while FII activity has been mixed, with net selling on three of the five days.
| Date | FII Net (₹ Cr) | DII Net (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-21 | -542.71 | 2124.14 |
| 2026-08-20 | -583.36 | 3537.71 |
| 2026-08-19 | 407.99 | 3973.72 |
| 2026-08-18 | 1651.53 | 2579.31 |
| 2026-08-17 | -2535.10 | 5101.46 |
Sector Performance
The Nifty Realty and Nifty Financial Services sectors led the gains, showing positive momentum. Conversely, Nifty FMCG, Nifty Auto, and Nifty IT sectors experienced declines, indicating some profit booking in these areas.
| Sector | Last |
|---|---|
| Nifty Realty | 911.60 (+0.40%) |
| Nifty Financial Services | 26,261.00 (+0.22%) |
| Nifty PSU Bank | 8,620.00 (+0.04%) |
| Nifty Pharma | 26,359.75 (-0.21%) |
| Nifty IT | 30,532.25 (-0.46%) |
| Nifty Auto | 29,124.60 (-0.60%) |
| Nifty FMCG | 47,510.95 (-0.74%) |
Top Movers
Among the Nifty 50, Power Grid Corporation and HDFC Life Insurance were the top gainers, while Maruti Suzuki India and Trent faced selling pressure, emerging as the top losers.
Top Gainers
| Symbol | Company | Last |
|---|---|---|
| POWERGRID | Power Grid Corporation Of India Ltd. | 272.40 (+2.87%) |
| HDFCLIFE | HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd. | 554.80 (+2.36%) |
| KOTAKBANK | Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. | 402.80 (+1.37%) |
| NESTLEIND | Nestle India Ltd. | 1477.10 (+1.31%) |
| BEL | Bharat Electronics Ltd. | 414.00 (+1.12%) |
Top Losers
| Symbol | Company | Last |
|---|---|---|
| MARUTI | Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. | 13,565.00 (-1.77%) |
| TRENT | Trent Ltd. | 2,924.00 (-1.55%) |
| HCLTECH | HCL Technologies Ltd. | 1,302.50 (-1.21%) |
| INDIGO | Interglobe Aviation Ltd. | 5,110.00 (-1.06%) |
| ONGC | Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. | 236.40 (-0.88%) |
Economy & Macro
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) to facilitate easier invoicing and payment in Indian rupees for exporters, particularly for countries outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). This move aims to align with the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations 2023. Meanwhile, high-level talks between India and Singapore, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, focused on new opportunities in investment, technology, and trade, with a large Indian business delegation also participating.
Inflation Update
India’s wholesale price index (WPI) inflation showed a mild cooling in July 2026, easing to 9.78% from 9.87% in June. However, retail inflation, measured by the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 4.45% in July from 4.38% in June, primarily due to elevated food prices. Food inflation jumped to 5.52% in July, marking the sixth consecutive monthly increase in retail inflation and keeping it above the RBI’s medium-term target of 4%.
RBI & Policy
India’s private sector activity improved slightly in August, with the HSBC Flash India PMI Composite Output Index rising to 54.6 from 54.3 in July. This indicates a modest uptick in new order volumes, although the pace of growth remains subdued compared to recent years. RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain highlighted that cross-border trade in local currencies will be a key driver for India’s forex markets in the coming decade, emphasizing their role in reducing transaction costs and improving settlement efficiency. The Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) framework is in place to support this evolving dynamic.
Corporate Actions
- Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd.: Announced approximately ₹235 crore in incremental contracted rental revenue driven by enterprise expansions.
- JTL Industries Ltd: Issued a press release regarding a media release.
- GAIL (India) Ltd.: Announced a change in management.
- Gujarat Intrux Ltd.: Announced the appointment of a Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, following a resignation.
Company News
- Jhaveri Credits: Bagged a Letter of Intent (LoI) worth ₹10.65 crore from GEDA, to be executed within 120 days.
- Innovision: Secured a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) worth ₹51.54 crore from NHAI for a one-year work order engagement.
- Shoppers Stop & RBL Bank: Launched a three-tier co-branded credit card portfolio in association with Visa.
IPO Watch
Today, August 24, marks the opening of several Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), including ABH Healthcare, Symbiotec Pharmalab, Madhur Knit Crafts, Hy-Tech Engineers, and Skyways Air Services. Additionally, Augmont Enterprises and Tempsens Instruments (India) IPOs are currently open for subscription.
- ABH Healthcare Ltd.: Opens today, with a price band of ₹96-102 per share.
- Symbiotec Pharmalab Ltd.: Opens today, with a price band of ₹938-988 per share.
- Madhur Knit Crafts Ltd.: Opens today, with a price band of ₹95-100 per share.
- Hy-Tech Engineers Ltd.: Opens today, with a price band of ₹50-53 per share.
- Skyways Air Services Ltd.: Opens today, with a price band of ₹131-138 per share.
- Augmont Enterprises Ltd.: Currently open, with a price band of ₹750-788 per share, closing on August 25.
- Tempsens Instruments (India) Ltd.: Currently open, with a price band of ₹285-300 per share, closing today, August 24.
Bond Market
Bond yields traded lower on Friday, with yields on the new 10-year Government Stock declining by 1 basis point to 6.86% from its previous close of 6.87%.
Mutual Fund News
HDFC Mutual Fund and Mirae Asset Mutual Fund have both filed offer documents for Nifty NBFC Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), indicating new product offerings in the mutual fund space.
DIIs continue to be the bedrock of market support, consistently absorbing FII selling pressure and providing stability to your portfolio’s foundation.
The government’s push for rupee settlement in foreign trade, coupled with the RBI’s focus on local currencies, signals a strategic shift that could bolster the rupee’s role in international transactions over the coming decade.