Dalal Street Ends In Green As Sensex Rises Over 200 Points, Nifty Tests 24,700

Dolly Khanna-Backed Small-Cap: Profit Jumps 540% As Turnaround Gains Pace

Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 23:07:49 +0530

On Friday, shares of Rain Industries Ltd jumped 0.90 per cent to Rs 245.19 per share from its previous closing of Rs 243 per share.

As of 12:39 PM IST, the stock was trading at Rs 245.19. The stock's 52-week high is Rs 252 per share and its 52-week low is Rs 99.90 per share.

The stock surged 3.83 per cent Intraday to its 52-week high of Rs 252 from the previous close.

Rain Industries Ltd reported a strong turnaround in its Q2 CY26 financial performance, supported by disciplined cost management, favourable market realisations and operational efficiencies across its businesses.

The company's revenue increased 17.4 per cent year-on-year to Rs 5,167.2 crore.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 60.9 per cent to Rs 993.5 crore, while EBITDA margin expanded by 520 basis points to 19.2 per cent.

Adjusted Profit After Tax (PAT) surged by more than 540 per cent year-on-year to Rs 317.3 crore, reflecting a sharp improvement in profitability.

Earnings per share (EPS) also climbed to Rs 9.43 during the quarter.

The Carbon segment generated revenue of Rs 3,770 crore, supported by an optimised raw material mix and favourable foreign exchange movements.

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The Advanced Materials segment reported revenue of Rs 1,073 crore, aided by healthy pricing in Engineered Products.

The company also strengthened its balance sheet during the quarter.

Total liquidity stood at USD 313 million, while the Net Debt-to-EBITDA ratio improved to 2.77x.

Rain Industries Ltd also said it has no significant term debt maturities until late 2028.

The Board declared an interim Dividend of 50 per cent, translating into Rs 1 per share, reflecting management's confidence in the company's financial position and cash flows.

As per the latest shareholding pattern, Ace Investor Dolly Khanna held a 1.05 per cent stake in Rain Industries as of March 2026.

The company has a market capitalisation of over Rs 8,248.88 crore.

The stock price has surged over 50.15 per cent in the last 1 year.

From its 52-week low of Rs 99.90 per share, the stock has delivered a return of approximately 152.45 per cent.

ALSO READ: Will UPI Become Chargeable? 7 Things Consumers And Merchants Need To Know

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

(“Disclaimer: This article uses information originally published by Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ). The views expressed are those of the original authors and not necessarily of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, legal or tax advice. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and/or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as investment advice. ABP Network, its employees and associates shall not be responsible or liable for any losses or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on this article or any information contained herein.”)

EV Stock Below Rs 50: Ola Electric Reports 21% Lower Q1 Loss, Raises Rs 780 Cr

Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 22:33:54 +0530

On Friday, Indian equity benchmark indices traded lower, with the benchmark Nifty 50 index falling 65.35 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 24,570.65.

Amid the weak market sentiment, Ola Electric Mobility share price declined 0.89 per cent to Rs 41.07 after the company announced its Q1 FY27 financial results and other board meeting outcomes.

Ola Electric Mobility Q1 FY27 Financial Performance Ola Electric reported consolidated revenue from operations of Rs 455 crore in Q1 FY27, compared with Rs 828 crore in Q1 FY26, reflecting a 45.0 per cent year-on-year decline.

However, revenue increased sharply from Rs 265 crore in Q4 FY26, registering a 71.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth.

The company's loss before Tax narrowed to Rs 336 crore from Rs 428 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, while net loss improved to Rs 336 crore compared with Rs 428 crore in Q1 FY26, representing a 21.5 per cent reduction in losses.

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Earnings per share (EPS) improved to Rs (0.75) from Rs (0.97) in the year-ago period. QIP Strengthens Liquidity During the quarter, the company raised Rs 780 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) by allotting 21.76 crore equity shares at an issue price of Rs 35.86 per share.

The proceeds will be utilised for capital expenditure, debt repayment, working capital requirements and other financial commitments, strengthening the company's liquidity position.

The Board approved the appointment of TRC Corporate Consulting Private Limited as the Internal Auditor of the company for FY2026-27.

The firm provides governance, risk, compliance, internal audit, enterprise risk management, cyber security, valuation, taxation and advisory services, with a team of over 300 professionals serving more than 400 clients.

About Ola Electric Mobility

Ola Electric Mobility Ltd is one of India's leading electric vehicle manufacturers focused on electric scooters, battery technology and EV ecosystem development. The company also operates in advanced cell manufacturing and EV charging infrastructure through its subsidiaries. Do you think Ola Electric's improving quarterly performance and stronger liquidity position can support its turnaround in the coming quarters?

ALSO READ: Fact Check: Is Ethanol Being Added To Aircraft Fuel? Government Clears The Air

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

Will UPI Become Chargeable? 7 Things Consumers And Merchants Need To Know

Sagarika Chakraborty — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 20:45:54 +0530

Amid growing discussion around UPI and merchant charges, questions have emerged over whether consumers and small businesses could eventually have to pay for using India's most widely used digital payment system.

Here is what the current system means for consumers, merchants and the wider UPI ecosystem.

Will Consumers Have To Pay For UPI?

No.

UPI has remained free for consumers since its launch in 2016. Users can continue making instant digital payments without paying transaction charges.

Will Small Merchants Be Charged For Accepting UPI?

No.

Small merchants, including kirana stores, are not required to pay a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to accept UPI payments.

UPI was designed to make digital payments accessible to even the smallest businesses across India, with the protection of small merchants remaining central to the ecosystem's inclusive growth.

Why Are UPI Charges Being Discussed?

UPI has evolved from a new payment platform into the world's largest real-time payment system.

As the ecosystem continues to expand, discussions are focused on how to sustainably support the infrastructure required to process billions of secure transactions every month, while continuing to protect consumers and small merchants.

Who Invests In UPI?

For nearly 10 years, banks, payment companies, fintech firms, NPCI and the RBI have collectively invested in the UPI ecosystem.

These investments cover technology, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, innovation and customer support.

The participants continue to invest in the system to ensure that UPI remains secure, resilient and available 24×7.

If UPI Is Free, Who Bears the Operating Cost?

Running a national payment infrastructure requires continuous investment in technology, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, compliance, customer support and innovation.

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These costs are currently borne by ecosystem participants, including banks and payment service providers.

Their investments allow consumers to continue accessing a safe, secure and seamless digital payment system.

Could Large Merchants Be Charged?

Even if large merchants pay for payment acceptance, consumers would not have to pay to use UPI.

Merchant service charges, where applicable, are commercial arrangements between merchants and payment service providers. Such charges do not mean consumers have to pay for making digital payments.

Merchant service charges are a standard feature of digital payment ecosystems across the world, while consumers continue to have access to convenient and secure digital payment services.

Why Is Sustaining UPI Important?

UPI has become critical national digital infrastructure and is used by hundreds of millions of Indians every day.

As transaction volumes continue to increase, sustained investment in security, resilience, innovation, fraud prevention and infrastructure will remain essential.

The objective is to ensure that UPI can continue serving consumers and businesses reliably for years to come.

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Stock Markets Decline As Sensex Falls 455 Points, Nifty Tests 24,600

Sagarika Chakraborty — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 15:36:12 +0530

The Indian benchmark indices witnessed a decline on Friday as the Sensex declined 455 points to close at 78,499 and the Nifty fell 79 points to close trade at 24,570 at 3:30 PM.

In the 30 share BSE Sensex, among the top gainers were stocks such as TCS, Mahindra and Mahindra, State Bank of India, TechMahindra and Bharat Electronics. Meanwhile, the laggards included stocks like L&T, UltraCement, Hindustan Unilever, Bharti Airtel and Eternal.

In the broader markets, the Nifty 100 fell 0.17 per cent and the Nifty Midcap 50 gained 0.26 per cent as volatility declined. Sectorally, the Nifty Auto index jumped 1.84 per cent and the Nifty Financial Services Ex-Bank index tumbled 1.91 per cent.

Previously, during the early morning session, the Sensex opened 235.36 points lower at 78,699.80 and the Nifty opened 24.30 points lower to start trade at 24,608.25 at 9:15 AM.

Crude Oil Rises Amid Iran, Hormuz Concerns

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 1.16 per cent higher at USD 83.45 per barrel.

Hariselvan Radhakrishnan, Founder & CEO of HST Wealth, a Research Analyst firm, said the overnight retreat in Wall Street came as investors reduced exposure to risk assets amid renewed concerns over energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty.

He said the increase in crude prices followed growing doubts over the pace and outcome of diplomatic negotiations involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. This has revived concerns that disruptions to one of the world's most critical energy corridors could continue for longer than previously anticipated.

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New Auction Mechanism Causes Market Divergence

Benchmark indices have been showing divergence since Monday following the introduction of a new auction mechanism for stocks with futures and options (F&O) contracts.

The Closing Auction Session (CAS) in the equity cash segment became operational on Monday. The new auction-based mechanism is aimed at making the price discovery process for eligible stocks more transparent and robust.

Asian Markets Trade Mixed

Asian markets remained mixed. South Korea's KOSPI and Japan's Nikkei 225 traded lower, while Shanghai's SSE Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng quoted higher.

Meanwhile, US markets ended lower on Thursday after Wall Street retreated from recent record highs.

FIIs Remain Net Sellers

According to exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 17.86 crore on Thursday.

Renewed concerns over energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty continued to influence global market sentiment.

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'Tax My Kidney Too': Viral Social Media Post Roasts UPI MDR Proposal, FM Responds

Sagarika Chakraborty — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 23:08:09 +0530

A sarcastic social media post reading, "Madam, please ensure GST is charged when I sell my kidney," has emerged as one of the most widely shared reactions after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that customers would not be charged under the proposed changes to Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) rules for UPI and RuPay transactions.

This sets a precedent that you can tax UPI. Might as well put a one percent charge on all UPI transactions . Madam please ensure GST is charged when i sell my kidney.
— Vinayak Sahi (@sahi_vinayak) August 6, 2026

The remark came amid a political face-off between the Centre and the Congress over the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, with both sides sparring over the future of digital payment charges.

Congress Questions Proposed MDR Framework

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the proposed amendment to Section 10A of the Payment Act, arguing that replacing the existing statutory zero-MDR provision with government notification powers removes the legal guarantee of fee-free digital payments.

He claimed the Reserve Bank of India's ₹2.86 lakh crore surplus transfer for 2025-26 was sufficient to support the UPI ecosystem without imposing charges.

"The Modi government's claim that this is the only way to keep UPI financially sustainable is entirely wrong. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sufficient capacity to maintain the UPI system on a financially sustainable basis without imposing any additional fees on merchants or consumers," he wrote.

Ramesh Links Proposal To US Pressure

The Congress MP also cited the US Trade Representative's 2026 report, which he said criticised UPI and RuPay for disadvantaging American companies such as Visa and Mastercard.

He further suggested that US President Donald Trump may have influenced the government's decision.

मोदी सरकार द्वारा लाया गया टैक्सेशन एवं अन्य कानून (संशोधन) विधेयक, 2026 उस वैधानिक गारंटी को समाप्त कर देता है, जो अब तक UPI लेनदेन को शुल्क-मुक्त बनाए हुए थी। यह मर्चेंट डिस्काउंट रेट (MDR) लगाने का रास्ता खोलता है, जिसे भविष्य में आसानी से सभी प्रकार के डिजिटल भुगतान पर लागू… pic.twitter.com/QoBN01Nxw2
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 6, 2026

"Donald Trump has publicly claimed more than 100 times that he pressured the Modi government into securing a sudden ceasefire during Operation Sindoor by threatening American tariffs. The United States has also claimed that India's gradual reduction in oil imports from Russia is a result of President Trump's directives."

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He added, "We also know that the Modi government, bowing to President Trump's bullying, accepted a trade agreement between India and the United States that was widely regarded as unfair and which particularly sacrificed the interests of our farmers and small businesses."

Sitharaman: Customers Will Not Pay MDR

Responding to the criticism, Sitharaman said any MDR, if introduced, would apply only to merchants and not to customers.

She said the framework would enable banks and fintech companies to invest in infrastructure, innovation and security, benefiting the digital payments ecosystem.

Before spreading a canard, @Jairam_Ramesh ji, please consider this:
1. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies only on the merchants and not on the end users/customers. It will support the Banks & Fintech to invest more on infrastructure, innovation & security. All users of UPI… https://t.co/sleUX4ztWe
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) August 6, 2026

The Finance Minister also clarified that implementation has not yet been finalised. She said the NPCI-led steering committee would determine the MDR framework only after the Bill is passed.

"All this could have been discussed on the floor of the House if your party, the Indian National Congress, engages constructively in Parliament when the Bill was/is tabled. (LS/RS respectively) (sic)," she wrote.

Social Media Reacts

Sitharaman's clarification sparked sharp reactions online, with one sarcastic comment quickly gaining traction.

"This sets a precedent that you can tax UPI. Might as well put a 1% charge on all UPI transactions. Madam, please ensure GST is charged when I sell my kidney."

Others backed the proposal, arguing that Indian digital payment infrastructure should generate revenue instead of allowing global payment networks to dominate.

One user wrote, "Indians account for the bulk of the Ecom traffic and payments made through Visa etc and global PG result in transfer of MDR to those. High time Indian UPI get MDR share."

Another questioned whether merchants would ultimately pass any additional costs on to consumers.

"So, you think merchants who will bear the cost of this won't increase the price of their products? Whose burden will fall directly on consumers? Don't you know the ripple effect it will cause?"

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Fact Check: Is Ethanol Being Added To Aircraft Fuel? Government Clears The Air

Varun Bhasin — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 21:19:58 +0530

A claim circulating widely on social media suggested that the government was planning to blend ethanol into Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), similar to ethanol blending in petrol. The claim raised concerns over aircraft safety and triggered widespread debate online.

However, the government has categorically denied the claim, clarifying that there is no proposal to directly blend ethanol with ATF. Officials said the confusion stemmed from recent changes relating to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is different from ethanol.

How The Controversy Began

On Thursday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed on social media that the Centre was preparing to blend ethanol into diesel and ATF, describing it as a threat to aviation safety.

However, the claim was not accompanied by any government notification, technical report or expert opinion.

Around two-and-a-half hours later, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu responded on X, calling the claim that ethanol would be blended into ATF "completely false" and "irresponsible."

The minister clarified that the government has no such proposal.

He further stated that ethanol and SAF are two entirely different products and should not be confused. According to him, SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel used globally and is approved for use only after undergoing stringent safety testing.

What Has The Government Actually Changed?

The controversy centres on a government notification issued on April 17, 2026, amending existing rules related to ATF.

The notification does not state anywhere that ethanol will be directly blended into aircraft fuel.

Instead, the amendment legally recognises ATF blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In other words, the government has expanded the regulatory framework to allow the future use of certified SAF.

What Is SAF And How Is It Different From Ethanol?

Much of the confusion arises from the assumption that SAF is the same as ethanol.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not ordinary ethanol. It can be produced using several feedstocks, including used cooking oil, agricultural residue, bio-waste and ethanol.

However, this does not mean that ethanol is poured directly into aircraft fuel tanks.

How Is Ethanol Converted Into Jet Fuel?

When ethanol is used as a feedstock, it undergoes a specialised chemical conversion process known as Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) or Ethanol-to-Jet technology.

During this process, ethanol is completely transformed into jet fuel-like hydrocarbons. The final product is SAF.

This differs significantly from petrol, where ethanol remains in its original form after blending. In aircraft fuel, ethanol has already been chemically converted before it becomes part of SAF.

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Is SAF Safe?

According to the government, SAF must undergo some of the world's strictest safety certification processes before it can be used in aviation.

It can only be used after receiving approvals from international organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and ASTM International. Without these certifications, SAF cannot be supplied for aircraft operations.

India's Roadmap For SAF

India is gradually moving towards adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

The government has set targets of:

1% SAF blending in international flights by 2027
2% blending by 2028
5% blending by 2030

The Indian Oil refinery at Panipat has already become the country's first certified SAF production facility.

Global Adoption Faces Cost Challenges

SAF has already been used in millions of flights worldwide.

However, its biggest challenge remains cost. SAF is currently several times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, while production capacity and availability remain limited.

As a result, countries around the world are adopting SAF gradually rather than switching to it immediately.

The Bottom Line

The government has not decided to directly blend ethanol into aircraft fuel.

The recent regulatory amendment only provides legal and technical recognition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blended with ATF.

While ethanol can serve as one of the raw materials used to produce SAF, it is not the final fuel used in aircraft. For now, there is no reason for concern over aviation safety. The larger challenge remains increasing SAF production, reducing costs and improving availability—issues that India and several other countries are continuing to address.

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Small-Cap Infra Stock Posts Rs 51 Crore Q1 Profit, Order Book At Rs 12,976 Crore

Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 18:32:57 +0530

On Thursday, Indian equity benchmark indices traded marginally higher, with the benchmark Nifty 50 index gaining 11.35 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 24,636.00.

Amid the positive market sentiment, Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) share price declined 1.64 per cent to Rs 21.55 after the company announced its Q1 FY27 financial results.

HCC Q1 FY27 Financial Performance

On a consolidated basis, HCC reported revenue of Rs 993.4 crore in Q1 FY27 compared with Rs 1,091.3 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, resulting in a 9.0 per cent YoY decline.

Consolidated net profit increased marginally to Rs 51.1 crore from Rs 50.7 crore, registering a 0.7 per cent YoY growth.

Order Inflow and Order Book

During the quarter, HCC secured a new order worth approximately Rs 125 crore.

The company also emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for projects valued at approximately Rs 2,124 crore, of which HCC's share is around Rs 1,671 crore.

Additionally, bids worth approximately Rs 9,997 crore remain under evaluation.

The company reported a work-on-hand (order book) of Rs 12,976 crore as of June 30, 2026, compared with Rs 12,971 crore as of March 31, 2026, providing healthy revenue visibility.

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Project Execution Updates

HCC achieved breakthrough of Head Race Tunnel (HRT) Faces 2 and 3 for the 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project during the quarter.

At the 1,000 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, the company handed over the Machine Hall for Units 1 and 2, while HRT excavation reached 85 per cent completion. Earthworks and steel liner fabrication also progressed at the Bhivpuri Pumped Storage Project.

Check Details

In the transportation segment, tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployment commenced at the Indore Metro project, while construction activities advanced at the Patna Metro and Agardanda Creek Bridge projects.

In the industrial segment, Hindalco's Aditya Aluminium Smelter expansion project received approval for the first pot shell prototype, enabling bulk fabrication.

The company also continued execution of the Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility after completing deliveries for Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7 and 8.

About HCC

Hindustan Construction Company Limited is one of India's leading infrastructure companies with an engineering legacy of 100 years. The company has constructed 26 per cent of India's hydropower generation capacity, 60 per cent of its nuclear power generation capacity, over 4,036 lane kilometres of expressways and highways, more than 402 km of complex tunnelling, and 403 bridges. Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

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CCPA Fines IndiGo, Zepto, Physics Wallah, BookMyShow And Others Over Dark Patterns

IANS — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 16:54:45 +0530

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties on nine digital platforms, including IndiGo, Zepto, Physics Wallah, BookMyShow, FirstCry and SpiceJet, for using deceptive online practices known as dark patterns that allegedly misled consumers during purchases and subscriptions.

The action was disclosed by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, where the government said the regulator has stepped up enforcement efforts to protect consumers from manipulative online interfaces designed to influence purchasing decisions.

According to the ministry, the CCPA has taken action against companies found using various forms of dark patterns, including drip pricing, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, subscription traps and misleading prompts.

These tactics are aimed at nudging users toward decisions they may not have otherwise made.

The regulator has so far collected around Rs 20 lakh in penalties from companies found violating the guidelines.

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In June 2025, the CCPA had directed e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits and identify as well as remove dark patterns from their digital services.

Among the companies penalised, quick commerce platform Zepto Marketplace was fined Rs 7 lakh.

The regulator found that additional handling charges and membership fees were introduced during the checkout process after users had already viewed an initial price.

The CCPA classified the practice as drip pricing and basket sneaking. Following the regulator's intervention, Zepto discontinued the identified practices.

Edtech platform Physics Wallah was fined Rs 5 lakh after the regulator took suo motu cognisance of a pre-selected Rs 10 donation option linked to its PW Foundation.

The CCPA observed that users were shown emotionally persuasive messages encouraging them to retain the donation selection.

The regulator also objected to the company's requirement that users share personal information before accessing free courses. Physics Wallah has since paid the penalty and removed the practices in question.

The CCPA also intervened in the case of IndiGo, which was found using a form of confirm shaming on its mobile application.

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The airline modified its user interface after the regulator objected to the opt-out message "No I will take risk." The wording has been replaced with the more neutral statement, "No, I will not add to the trip."

BookMyShow was directed to discontinue a pre-selected Rs 1 donation to its BookASmile initiative after the regulator classified it as basket sneaking.

Other entities penalised include FirstCry, which was fined Rs 2 lakh, coaching platform Anuj Jindal with a penalty of Rs 3 lakh, and PharmaEasy, McAfee and SpiceJet, each of which faced penalties of Rs 1 lakh.

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Retail Inflation May Rise To 4.5% In July As Food Prices Stay Elevated

IANS — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 16:51:34 +0530

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) India’s consumer price index is expected to settle at 4.5 per cent in July 2026, with risks tilted to the upside as food inflation broadens across key items, a report said on Thursday.

The report from Bank of Baroda said inflation remains broad‑based across essential commodities, led by onions, edible oils, rice and pulses, although improved arrivals of key vegetables and a normal monsoon offer some comfort.

Core inflation (excluding food and fuel) is expected to remain contained at around 4–4.1 per cent, supported by softer international gold prices, though higher input costs could create upside pressure going forward.

The bank mentioned that its Essential Commodities Index (BoB ECI) has risen at its sharpest pace in the entire series in July 2026 by 4.1 per cent, on YoY basis. In August 2026, the build-up was even higher (first 5-days) at 5.4 per cent.

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The bank noted that among vegetables the arrival statistics for TOP (tomato, onion and potato) have been comforting despite stickiness in onion price trajectory.

International gold prices have softened further by -3.7 per cent on MoM basis, hence personal care and effects of core inflation are likely to derive some relief. Core excluding precious metals is also likely to be muted for now, the report noted.

Monsoon progress was mentioned as favourable, with 63 per cent of States receiving normal rainfall.

The area sown as percentage of normal area of major Kharif crops (except oilseeds and sugarcane) as on July 31, 2026 have remained above the same period of previous year.

International food prices, especially edible oils, have softened, the report said.

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The bank warned that upside risks could emerge in the near term as corporate Q1 transcripts indicate pass‑through of higher input costs to consumers amid robust demand conditions.

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Dalal Street Ends In Green As Sensex Rises Over 200 Points, Nifty Tests 24,700

Sagarika Chakraborty — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 15:32:14 +0530

The Indian benchmark indices witnessed gains on Thursday as the Sensex increased over 200 points to close trade at more than 78,785 and the Nifty ended over 11 points higher to end at 24,636 at 3:30 PM.

In the 30-share BSE Sensex, among the top gainers were stocks such as Reliance, State Bank of India, Bharat Electronics, ICICI Bank and Eternal. Meanwhile, the laggards included stocks like Bajaj Finance, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Asian Paints, Adani Ports and Axis Bank.

In the broader markets, the Nifty Smallcap 50 gained 1.04 per cent and the Nifty Midcap 50 declined 0.51 per cent as volatility rose. Sectorally, the Nifty Realty index fell 1.32 per cent and the Nifty PSU Bank index increased 2.20 per cent.

Previously, during the early morning session, the Sensex started trading above 78,700, climbing close to 150 points, while the NSE Nifty50 opened the session almost flat at 24,627, as of 9:15 AM.

Closing Auction Session

Benchmark equity indices ended higher on Thursday, extending gains despite divergence witnessed since Monday following the introduction of a new auction mechanism for shares with futures and options (F&O) contracts.

The new Closing Auction Session (CAS) in the equity cash segment became operational on Monday, introducing an auction-based mechanism for determining the closing prices of eligible stocks. The move aims to make the price discovery process more transparent and robust.

RBI Maintains Status Quo On Policy Rate

The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday kept its benchmark policy rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive meeting and retained its neutral stance.

Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank's next move on interest rates, as well as its policy stance, will be data dependent.

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The six-member Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent. The committee opted to wait for more clarity on whether higher energy costs arising from the West Asia crisis feed into broader inflationary pressures.

The central bank also marginally raised its GDP growth forecast for the current financial year to 6.7 per cent, while slightly lowering its inflation projection to 5 per cent.

RBI Outlook Strengthens Domestic Market Sentiment

"For domestic markets, the macroeconomic narrative has become incrementally more favourable over recent weeks. The Reserve Bank of India's decision to maintain its policy stance while upgrading its growth outlook and lowering its inflation forecast reinforces confidence in the resilience of the domestic economy," Hariselvan Radhakrishnan, Founder & CEO of HST Wealth, a Research Analyst firm, said.

Global Markets Under Pressure

Asian markets traded mostly lower, with South Korea's KOSPI, Japan's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng declining sharply, while Shanghai's SSE Composite edged marginally higher.

US markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.13 per cent lower at USD 79.35 per barrel.

FIIs Continue Selling

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 943.42 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

On Wednesday, the Sensex had risen 152.05 points, or 0.19 per cent, to close at 78,581, while the Nifty edged up 9.75 points, or 0.04 per cent, to settle at 24,624.65.

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