Morning Brief: Nifty Rises 0.64% to 24,231; DIIs Net Buy ₹3,537 Cr as Global Cues Lift Mood | 21 Aug 2026, 08:15 AM IST
By ThePip Desk
Indian equities snapped a losing streak, with the Nifty 50 climbing to 24,231.85, buoyed by positive global markets and significant domestic institutional buying.
Indian equity benchmarks rebounded on Thursday, with key indices closing higher, tracking a rally in global markets as easing bond yields revived risk appetite. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) provided strong support, offsetting FII selling.
Market Snapshot
| Index | Last |
|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,231.85 (+0.64%) |
| Nifty Bank | 57,495.90 (+0.45%) |
| Nifty Midcap 100 | 63,671.55 (+0.41%) |
Institutional Flows
Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers in the equity market, while Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) recorded net selling on Thursday. Over the last three sessions, FIIs have shown mixed activity in Indian markets.
| Date | FII Net (₹ Cr) | DII Net (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-20 | -583.36 | 3,537.71 |
| 2026-08-19 | 407.99 | 3,973.72 |
| 2026-08-18 | 1,651.53 | 2,579.31 |
SEBI data indicates that FIIs were net investors in equities on August 20, with net inflows of ₹495.44 crore, while also showing significant net investment in debt of ₹1,376.11 crore.
Sector Performance
Realty, FMCG, and IT sectors led the gains, reflecting broad-based buying across the market.
| Sector | Last |
|---|---|
| Nifty Realty | 907.95 (+1.41%) |
| Nifty FMCG | 47,863.25 (+0.82%) |
| Nifty IT | 30,673.05 (+0.79%) |
| Nifty Financial Services | 26,203.90 (+0.73%) |
| Nifty Auto | 29,301.75 (+0.40%) |
| Nifty Pharma | 26,416.00 (+0.39%) |
| Nifty PSU Bank | 8,616.65 (-0.01%) |
Top Movers
Eternal Ltd. and Shriram Finance Ltd. were among the top Nifty 50 gainers, while Tata Consumer Products Ltd. and Hindalco Industries Ltd. saw declines.
| Symbol | Company | Last |
|---|---|---|
| Gainers | ||
| ETERNAL | Eternal Ltd. | 327.95 (+2.48%) |
| SHRIRAMFIN | Shriram Finance Ltd. | 1128.20 (+2.01%) |
| KOTAKBANK | Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. | 397.35 (+1.82%) |
| ITC | ITC Ltd. | 271.65 (+1.72%) |
| BAJFINANCE | Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 1095.00 (+1.37%) |
| Losers | ||
| TATACONSUM | Tata Consumer Products Ltd. | 1056.30 (-1.10%) |
| HINDALCO | Hindalco Industries Ltd. | 1029.85 (-0.88%) |
| INDIGO | Interglobe Aviation Ltd. | 5165.00 (-0.54%) |
| HCLTECH | HCL Technologies Ltd. | 1318.40 (-0.48%) |
| NESTLEIND | Nestle India Ltd. | 1458.00 (-0.48%) |
Global Cues
US markets settled higher on Wednesday as bond yields fell following the Treasury Department’s announcement of increased buybacks for longer-term debt. Asian markets mostly closed higher on Thursday, with Chinese shares gaining after the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) kept benchmark lending rates unchanged.
Currency and Bond Markets
The rupee experienced mild weakness against the US dollar, ending at 95.74 (Provisional) on Thursday. Meanwhile, bond yields traded higher, with yields on new 10-year Government Stock rising by 4 basis points to 6.85%.
Economy and Macro
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal are in Singapore for high-level talks aimed at deepening trade and investment ties.
- ICRA estimates India’s GDP growth to moderate to a four-quarter low of 7% in Q1FY27 due to a slower pace in the services sector.
- India is expanding its railway network with four new projects worth approximately ₹9,450 crore, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
RBI and Policy
Minutes from the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting revealed a wait-and-watch approach. The MPC unanimously decided to keep the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 5.25%, citing limited evidence of broad-based price pressures despite risks from rising food and fuel prices.
Inflation Watch
- India’s wholesale inflation showed mild cooling at 9.78% in July 2026, down from 9.87% in June.
- Retail inflation rose to 4.45% in July, marking the sixth consecutive monthly increase, primarily due to elevated food prices.
Corporate News and Actions
- Titagarh Rail Systems surged after receiving Indian Railways’ vendor status for traction motor supply.
- Strides Pharma soared on securing an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from USFDA for its Bengaluru facility.
- Bajaj Housing Finance gained after raising ₹750 crore through Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs).
- NIS Management secured a ₹14.65 crore work order for housekeeping and maintenance services.
- Gravita India plans to add 59,200 MTPA copper recycling capacity at its Mundra facility.
- Lemon Tree Hotels opened a new hotel in Gujarat, expanding its presence in the state.
- Popular Foundations bagged an order worth ₹19.82 crore for constructing a convention centre.
- Ameenji Rubber secured a ₹3.68 crore order for manufacturing and supplying Reinforced Grooved Rubber Pads.
IPO Watch
The primary market remains active with several IPOs open for subscription or slated to open soon.
- Augmont Enterprises Ltd.: Open from August 21-25, 2026, with a price band of ₹750-788.
- Tempsens Instruments (India) Ltd.: Open from August 20-24, 2026, with a price band of ₹285-300.
- Gaja Alternative Asset Management Ltd.: Open from August 19-21, 2026, with a price band of ₹152-160.
- Dhanwel Hybrid Seeds Ltd.: Open from August 19-21, 2026, with a price band of ₹95-99.
- Mopshop Distribution Ltd.: Open from August 19-21, 2026, with a price band of ₹138.
- Symbiotec Pharmalab Ltd.: Opening August 24-27, 2026, with a price band of ₹938-988.
- ABH Healthcare Ltd.: Opening August 24-27, 2026, with a price band of ₹96-102.
The market’s recovery, fueled by positive global sentiment and robust DII activity, suggests a cautious optimism, but rising inflation figures and FII selling warrant close monitoring for your portfolio.