Key Points
Sensex fell to 77,725 and Nifty to 24,331 amid Middle East oil tensions.
Markets declined for a second straight session despite positive July inflation data.
Tata Motors surged over 6% on strong Q1 results, bucking the broader trend.
Lenskart Solutions jumped 6.91% after quarterly profit more than tripled year-on-year.
India’s stock market extended losses on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as Middle East tensions outweighed positive domestic data. The Sensex slipped to 77,725, while the Nifty 50 traded near 24,331. Both benchmarks fell for a second straight session, pressured by firm oil prices and uncertainty over a Strait of Hormuz deal.
Market breadth stayed relatively favorable despite the decline, with more advancing stocks than losers on the NSE.
IN Stock Market Faces Pressure From Global Cues
India’s stock market opened lower Thursday, extending Wednesday’s decline of 187.90 points on the Sensex. The Nifty 50 had closed at 24,435.95 on Wednesday, down 35.75 points from the prior session.
- Sensex fell 0.24% on Wednesday to settle at 77,966.35.
- Nifty 50 declined 0.15% to close at 24,435.95 the same day.
Persistent uncertainty over Middle East oil supply routes continued weighing on sentiment into Thursday’s session. Positive July retail inflation data failed to offset those broader geopolitical concerns for the IN stock market.
Sectoral Moves Show a Mixed Market Beneath the Surface
Thursday’s session revealed a genuinely mixed picture across different market segments and sectors. The Nifty Auto index gained 0.35%, while Nifty PSU Bank slipped 0.62%.
- Nifty Smallcap 100 traded 0.32% higher, showing resilience in smaller-cap names.
- Nifty Midcap 100 slipped a modest 0.06%, staying largely flat.
Market breadth favored advancers early Thursday, with 1,756 stocks gaining versus 1,209 declining. That divergence between index-level weakness and broader breadth strength suggests selective buying continued beneath the headline numbers.
Top Gainers and Losers Across the Sensex
Individual stock moves told a sharper story than the Sensex’s modest overall decline on Thursday. IndiGo, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, L&T, and NTPC led gainers among Sensex constituents.
- UltraTech Cement, Titan Company, Reliance Industries, and Infosys were the session’s top losers.
- Among Tata Group stocks, Titan, Trent, and Indian Hotels Company declined the most.
Tata Motors bucked that trend entirely, surging over 6% after strong Q1 FY27 results and a Nomura upgrade. That contrast highlights how company-specific news outweighed broader index direction for select stocks Thursday.
Standout Earnings Drove Individual Stock Rallies
Beyond Tata Motors, other companies posted strong earnings-driven rallies despite the broader market’s cautious tone. Lenskart Solutions jumped 6.91% to ₹626.95 after posting sharply higher quarterly profit.
- Lenskart’s Q1 FY27 net profit reached ₹222 crore, up from ₹60 crore a year earlier.
- That represents more than a threefold year-on-year profit increase for the eyewear retailer.
These earnings-driven moves show investors remain willing to reward strong fundamentals even during index-wide weakness. Traders continued watching global cues, particularly oil prices, for signs of near-term direction shifts.
Final Thoughts
Thursday’s session shows India’s stock market caught between resilient corporate earnings and persistent geopolitical uncertainty over Middle East oil supply. With the Sensex near 77,725 and Nifty near 24,331, near-term direction likely hinges on developments around the Strait of Hormuz. Strong individual performers like Tata Motors and Lenskart Solutions suggest earnings season continues offering selective opportunities.
Investors should watch upcoming inflation data and oil price trends closely for the market’s next meaningful move.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is for research and informational purposes only. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be treated as investment or trading advice.
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