The SGX August 2026 futures are presently trading 57 points lower, indicating a negative opening for the benchmark index today.

Institutional Flows:

Foreign portfolio investors acquired shares valued at Rs 2,981.87 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors were net purchasers amounting to Rs 998.02 crore in the Indian equity market on 29 July 2026, according to provisional data. The FIIs have divested shares amounting to Rs 9,679.98 crore thus far in July (up to 29 July 2026). This follows their cash sales of Rs 49,028.63 crore in June, Rs 55,963.33 crore in May, and Rs 70,135.46 crore in April.

Global Markets:

Asian stocks faced challenges in establishing a clear trajectory on Thursday, as they continued to grapple with significant losses for the week amid increasing investor apprehension regarding the AI sector. Furthermore, a split Federal Reserve maintained interest rates at their current levels, prompting uncertainty in the bond markets regarding the future trajectory of rates. In the commodity market, brent futures fell below $90 per barrel, following a more than 7% increase the previous day amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. However, data indicated that tankers continued to depart from the region despite ongoing missile and drone strikes.

Overnight in the US, stocks experienced a significant decline for a variety of reasons on Wednesday, primarily due to indications from the bond market suggesting that the Federal Reserve may be lagging in its efforts to combat inflation, particularly as the central bank opted to maintain current interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1,153.18 points lower, or 2.19%, at 51,594.14, marking its most significant decline since April 2025. The S&P 500 declined by 1.52%, concluding the day at 7,316.15. The Nasdaq Composite declined by 1.74%, closing at 24,442.94, which positions it over 10% below its historical peak. The Fed maintained its position in the most recent rate decision, leading to a reaction in the bond market where the 10-year Treasury yield increased by 7 basis points, surpassing 4.67%.

The 30-year Treasury yield increased by 10 basis points, surpassing 5.2%, reaching its highest point since 2007. In a post-meeting media conference, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh committed to addressing inflation but refrained from providing any indications regarding the necessary actions the central bank might take. Warsh observed that bond yields have increased significantly since the Fed’s most recent monetary policy meeting, as investors have adjusted their expectations for interest rate hikes. The Fed Chair expressed approval of that move, while clarifying that it did not necessitate a corresponding action from the central bank.

Domestic Market:

Key equity benchmarks concluded the trading session on Tuesday with minimal fluctuations, as a range-bound performance was observed. Gains in IT stocks effectively counterbalanced the declines seen in FMCG, chemicals, and PSU banks. Easing crude oil prices lent support to sentiment; however, investors maintained a cautious stance in anticipation of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision.

The Nifty concluded slightly under the 24,000 threshold. The S&P BSE Sensex experienced a decrease of 69.86 points, reflecting a decline of 0.09%, closing at 76,765.92. The Nifty 50 index experienced a decline of 10.60 points, representing a decrease of 0.04%, closing at 23,985.35.