Sensex: Closed at 80,543.99, down by 0.21% or 166.26 points.
Nifty50: Closed at 24,574.20, down by 0.31% or 75.35 points.
The broader indices also finished lower, with the Nifty Midcap 100 index declining by 0.80%, while the SmallCap index saw a gain of 1.13%.
While the RBI cut its inflation forecast for FY26, concerns over global trade issues, particularly the 25% tariff imposed by the US on Indian exports, kept the sentiment muted. Despite this, some sectors continued to show resilience.
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Impact on the stock market
Today’s market was dominated by mixed sectoral performances, with notable strength in certain areas and weakness in others:
- Nifty PSU Bank: Up by 0.59%, showing positive movement in the public sector banking space despite broader market weakness.
- Nifty Pharma: Tumbled 2.03%, showing considerable weakness in the healthcare sector, dragged down by poor earnings from major pharma players like Sun Pharma.
- Nifty IT and Realty: Both indices slipped by 1.74% and 1.51%, respectively, reflecting a retreat in the technology and real estate sectors, which were under pressure due to broader global uncertainties.
- Nifty Auto and FMCG: Both ended in the red, with declines of 0.53% and 0.90%, showing that even traditionally stable sectors were affected by the global market dynamics.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -1.74% |
| Healthcare sector | -1.78% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -0.24% |
| Real estate sector | -1.51% |
| PSU Bank in India | 0.59% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Asian Paints Share Price | 2,492.40 | 2.28 |
| HDFC Life Share Price | 752.15 | 1.85 |
| Trent Share Price | 5,372.50 | 1.03 |
| Bharat Elec Share Price | 389.80 | 0.81 |
| Adani Ports Share Price | 1,367.30 | 0.68 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Wipro Share Price | 239.96 | -2.42 |
| Sun Pharma Share Price | 1,595.20 | -2.26 |
| IndusInd Bank Share Price | 803.35 | -1.93 |
| Jio Financial Share Price | 326.55 | -1.89 |
| Tech Mahindra Share Price | 1,459.00 | -1.78 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
RBI’s rate pause: A stabilizing force for homebuyers
The RBI’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.50% was a crucial factor in shaping market sentiment today. Experts see this move as a stabilizing force for homebuyers, maintaining predictable home loan EMIs. However, some sectors like affordable housing are still under pressure due to rising residential prices across India’s top cities.
- According to data, the average residential price in top cities has surged by 39% in the past two years, with the price per square foot rising from ₹6,470 in Q2 2023 to ₹8,990 in Q2 2025. Despite this, homebuyers are encouraged by stable rates, which bring long-term confidence.
- For those financially prepared, now is seen as a good time to buy a home, as long as it aligns with personal financial goals. Meanwhile, refinancing home loans at lower rates could improve affordability, with fresh home loan rates falling by as much as 71 basis points since February.
You may also read: RBI monetary policy: Repo rate cut by 25 bps
Sarda Energy & Minerals: 38% jump in stock price
Sarda Energy & Minerals reported impressive results for Q1FY26, posting a 38% surge in its stock price over the past three days. The company reported a significant increase in its revenue, which grew from ₹926 crore in Q1FY25 to ₹1,633 crore in Q1FY26. The major driver behind this growth was the energy segment, which contributed 49% of the company’s consolidated revenue.
- The energy segment’s contribution to EBITDA stood at 67%, indicating strong growth potential. The company’s shift towards renewable energy and thermal power generation has transformed it into an energy powerhouse.
- Sarda Energy’s stock hit an all-time high of ₹607.45, up 12.5% on the BSE during the day. With investor Mukul Agrawal holding over 1% in the company, the strong earnings and future growth prospects have positioned it as a prime player in the energy sector.
Godawari Power & Ispat: 6% drop post-Q1 earnings
On the flip side, Godawari Power & Ispat had a challenging day, with its stock falling 6% after releasing disappointing Q1FY26 earnings. The company reported a 1% year-on-year decline in revenue, falling from ₹1,342 crore in Q1FY25 to ₹1,323 crore in Q1FY26.
- The company’s PAT also dropped by 25%, from ₹286 crore to ₹216 crore. This decline was attributed to a fall in realizations, which has weighed on earnings.
- Despite these challenges, Godawari Power & Ispat has big plans ahead. The company has announced a ₹1,600 crore capital expenditure for two major projects: a CRM Complex and a 10GW storage battery plant. These investments are expected to drive future growth and diversify the company’s operations, positioning it for long-term success in the energy sector.
Crude oil futures show upward movement
Crude oil futures experienced a boost today, as data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a 4.2 million barrel decline in US crude oil inventories for the week ending August 1.
- Brent crude futures were trading at $68.05, up 0.61%, while WTI futures rose to $65.56, also up 0.61%. These positive movements followed the release of API data, which supported a bullish outlook on oil prices.
- In India, August crude oil futures were trading at ₹5,762, showing a slight increase of 0.24%.
- The US inventory data also indicated a drop in gasoline stocks and an increase in distillate stocks, signalling that the market could be balancing out. However, uncertainty remains due to ongoing concerns over US tariffs on Russian oil, which could further complicate global supply chains and potentially drive oil prices higher.
Conclusion
The Indian stock market faced some volatility today, closing lower in line with global trade concerns and RBI’s decision to maintain the repo rate. Despite this, certain sectors and stocks, like Sarda Energy & Minerals, bucked the trend, showcasing that strong fundamentals and growth potential can still drive positive performance.
While RBI’s stable rate policy supports homebuyers and borrowers, challenges in sectors like Godawari Power & Ispat reflect the difficulty of navigating a market facing both internal and external pressures. Meanwhile, crude oil’s upward trend and the ongoing tariff threats add another layer of complexity to the global market outlook.
Investors should continue to monitor global developments, as these will undoubtedly impact the Indian market in the coming weeks, especially with the festive season around the corner.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
