Stock markets end flat after volatile session as investors await outcome of U.S.-Russia talks

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat in a highly volatile trade on Thursday (August 14, 2025), with investors taking a wait-and-see approach ahead of the U.S.-Russia talks.

Extending gains to the second day, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 57.75 points or 0.07%, to settle at 80,597.66. During the day, it rallied 211.27 points or 0.26% to 80,751.18.

The 50-share NSE Nifty rose by 11.95 points or 0.05%, to 24,631.30. Among Sensex firms, Eternal, Infosys, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv and Titan were the major gainers.

However, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Adani Ports and Bharat Electronics were among the laggards.

The Trump-Putin meeting could have significant implications for energy markets, potentially leading to an easing of sanctions against Moscow.

Meanwhile, S&P upgraded India’s sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB’ with a stable outlook after a gap of nearly 19 years, citing robust economic growth, political commitment for fiscal consolidation and ‘conducive’ monetary policy to check inflation.

“India remains among the best-performing economies in the world… The quality of government spending has improved in the past five to six years,” S&P Global Ratings said.

The impact of U.S. tariffs on the Indian economy will be “manageable”, S&P said, adding that a 50% tariff on U.S. exports (if imposed) will not pose a “material drag” on growth.

“India is relatively less reliant on trade and about 60% of its economic growth stems from domestic consumption,” it said.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi settled in positive territory, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended lower.

Equity markets in Europe were trading mostly higher. The U.S. markets ended higher on Wednesday (August 13, 2025).

Wholesale price inflation declined to a 2-year low of (-) 0.58% in July, as deflation in food and fuel kept WPI in the negative zone for the second consecutive month, government data released on Thursday (August 14, 2025) showed.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.53% to $65.92 a barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹3,644.43 crore on Wednesday (August 13, 2025), while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth ₹5,623.79 crore, according to exchange data.

On Wednesday (August 13, 2025), the Sensex climbed 304.32 points or 0.38%, to settle at 80,539.91. The Nifty edged up by 131.95 points or 0.54%, to 24,619.35.