Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty drifted lower in early trade on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) as higher crude oil prices weighed on investors’ sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex dipped 35.99 points to 78,097.31 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty skidded 31.15 points to 24,444.55.

Further in the trade, the BSE benchmark dropped 211.37 points to 77,953.66, and the Nifty traded 65.10 points down at 24,411.15.

From the Sensex pack, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Adani Ports, Titan and Bajaj Finance were among the major laggards.

State Bank of India, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank and Asian Paints were among the winners.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 1.24% higher at $90.01 per barrel.

“The market is defying a breakout on the upside and is moving sideways. The principal factor restraining a rally is the strengthening Brent crude which has again moved above $89 level.

“The off and on in the U.S.-Iran skirmishes continues with the latest attack by US military on a Panama-flagged container ship,” V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 4.59%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Shanghai’s SSE Composite index also traded higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index quoted lower.

U.S. markets ended lower on Tuesday (August 11, 2026).

“Overnight cues from Wall Street were subdued, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average each declining about 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.6 per cent, as investors turned cautious ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. consumer price inflation data and amid the continuing stalemate between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Ponmudi R., CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth-tech firm, said.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹258.55 crore on Tuesday (August 11, 2026), according to exchange data.

On Tuesday (August 11, 2026), the Sensex dropped 388.19 points, or 0.49%, to settle at 78,154.25. The Nifty declined 112.10 points, or 0.46%, to end at 24,471.70.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Thursday (October 16, 2025), tracking a rally in global markets amid U.S. Fed rate cut hopes.

Fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the markets’ optimism during the initial trade.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 407.67 points to 83,013.10 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 104 points to 25,427.55.

From the Sensex firms, Axis Bank climbed 3%, a day after announcing its September quarter earnings.

Adani Ports, Titan, Eternal, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Motors and Bharat Electronics were also among the gainers.

However, Infosys, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services and Sun Pharma were the laggards.

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

U.S. markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday (October 15, 2025).

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal will join the Indian delegation in the U.S. today for trade talks, with India indicating its readiness to step up energy imports from America. The Indian negotiating team is already in Washington for trade talks.

“Bullish euphoria is set to light up Dalal Street ahead of Deepavali, with rate cut hopes from the Fed, upbeat global cues, and the IMF raising India’s FY26 GDP forecast to 6.6%, boosting sentiment,” Prashanth Tapse, senior VP (research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.76% to $62.38 a barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹68.64 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also bought equities worth ₹4,650.08 crore.

On Wednesday, the Sensex jumped 575.45 points or 0.70% to settle at 82,605.43. The Nifty climbed 178.05 points or 0.71% to 25,323.55.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty dropped in early trade on Monday (September 22, 2025), dragged by IT stocks amid concerns over the U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000 per worker.

The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 475.16 points to 82,151.07 in opening trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 88.95 points to 25,238.10.

From the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, HCL Tech and Tata Consultancy Services were trading lower in the range of 3.88 to 2.26%.

Sun Pharma, Bharat Electronics, Axis Bank and Tata Steel were also among the laggards.

However, Adani Ports, Eternal, Trent and Bajaj Finance were among the gainers.

President Trump on Friday (September 19, 2025) signed a proclamation raising the fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the U.S.

The H-1B visa fee of $100,000 would be applicable only to new applicants, a White House official clarified on Saturday (September 20, 2025).

“The market is likely to witness a dualistic behaviour today with the IT sector getting impacted by the H-1B visa issue and the domestic consumption themes responding to the potential big boost to consumption coming from the lower GST rates kicking in from today,” V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

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

U.S. markets ended higher on Friday (September 19, 2025).

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.66% to $67.12 a barrel.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹390.74 crore on Friday (September 19, 2025), according to exchange data.

On Friday (September 19, 2025), the Sensex tanked 387.73 points or 0.47% to settle at 82,626.23. The Nifty declined 96.55 points or 0.38% to 25,327.05.