The SGX August 2026 futures are currently trading 37.00 points lower, indicating a negative opening for the benchmark index today.
Institutional Flows:
On 13 August 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors divested shares amounting to Rs 510.69 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors emerged as net purchasers, acquiring shares valued at Rs 4,353.09 crore in the Indian equity market. The foreign institutional investors have acquired shares valued at Rs 3,607.81 crore up to August 12, 2026. This follows their cash sales of Rs 5,778.99 crore in July, Rs 49,028.63 crore in June, and Rs 55,963.33 crore in May.
Global Markets:
Asian markets experienced an uptick on Friday, setting the stage for their most robust week in two months, as favourable inflation data tempered anticipations of a forthcoming rate increase in the U.S. However, the stagnation in negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in the Middle East is expected to maintain a cautious risk sentiment. Brent futures stabilised at $87.03 per barrel following a decline on Thursday, yet they are poised for a 4% weekly increase, breaking a two-week losing streak, in light of the U.S. indicating a potential escalation of economic pressure on Iran, which may include the extension of a naval blockade.
Markets have largely disregarded the stagnation in resolving the Iran conflict, redirecting their attention toward the overarching theme of artificial intelligence and the trajectory of global monetary policy. U.S. inflation reports this week indicated that pricing pressure remained manageable, thereby reducing the likelihood of a rate increase from the Federal Reserve next month. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 achieved a record-high close on Thursday, driven by gains in Sandisk and other major technology stocks. The S&P 500 climbed 0.65% to end the session at 7,798.99 points, exceeding its record high close last Friday.
The Nasdaq gained 0.81% to 26,803.03 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.13% to 53,839.99 points. Memory chip manufacturers Sandisk and Micron Technology experienced notable increases of 13.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, Microsoft saw a modest gain of nearly 1%, and Meta Platforms advanced by 2.8%. Recent weeks have seen robust earnings forecasts from companies such as Microsoft and Amazon, alleviating investors’ apprehensions regarding substantial expenditures on AI data centers.
Domestic Market:
Key benchmark indices concluded the trading session on Thursday with minimal movement, exhibiting volatility throughout the day, as the Nifty settled close to the 24,400 mark. Purchasing at reduced levels facilitated the index’s rebound from an intraday low of 24,311.40. Trading exhibited significant volatility in light of the weekly expiration of BSE derivatives contracts. Sales in the metal, private banking, and financial sectors were counterbalanced by increases in FMCG, IT, and chemical stocks.
The broader market exhibited stronger performance, as both Midcap and Smallcap indices concluded the trading session in positive territory. Technically, 24,450 is identified as immediate resistance for the Nifty, whereas 24,300 is regarded as a critical support level. The S&P BSE Sensex advanced 113.61 points or 0.15% to 78,079.96. The Nifty 50 index experienced a decline of 40.10 points, representing a decrease of 0.16%, closing at 24,395.85.
