Nifty, Sensex, F&O Expiry, Stocks to Watch and Key Market News

The Indian stock market is set for a cautious session on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with global uncertainty, weak Asian markets, tariff concerns, crude oil movements and the upcoming monthly F&O expiry keeping investors alert. Domestic equities ended lower in the previous session, with the Sensex falling 172 points and the Nifty closing below the 24,250 mark. PSU banks remained under pressure, while metal and realty stocks outperformed.

Indian Stock Market Today: Key Highlights

• Sensex declined 172 points in the previous session.
• Nifty ended below 24,250, while market participants watched the 24,200–24,300 range closely.
• Bank Nifty snapped a two-day gaining streak, with PSU banks leading the decline.
• FIIs were net buyers of ₹1,182 crore on August 24, while DIIs bought equities worth ₹2,493 crore.
• Hindalco, JSW Steel and HCL Technologies were among the Nifty gainers.
• Bajaj twins, BEL and SBI featured among the Nifty losers.
• Metal and realty stocks showed relative strength.
• Monthly F&O expiry is expected to keep volatility elevated.

Nifty 50 Outlook: Consolidation Remains in Focus

The technical setup suggests that the Nifty 50 could remain in consolidation mode unless it decisively moves above 24,300. The 24,200 level is another important area for traders after the index failed to defend that level during the previous session.

A sustained move above 24,300 could improve market sentiment, while weakness below the recent support zone may keep the index under pressure.

Bank Nifty Outlook

Bank Nifty ended lower after two consecutive sessions of gains, with PSU bank stocks leading the decline. Technical commentary indicates that Bank Nifty may strengthen only after clearing the 58,000 level.

Traders are likely to monitor banking stocks closely because of the combination of F&O expiry-related volatility and the recent weakness in PSU banks.

FII and DII Activity

Institutional flows provided some support to the market despite the weak index performance.

• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs): Net buyers of ₹1,182 crore on August 24.
• Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs): Net buyers of ₹2,493 crore.

The stronger DII buying indicates continued domestic institutional support even as global factors remain uncertain.

Stocks to Watch Today

Several stocks could remain in focus based on corporate developments, block deals, orders and brokerage views.

Hindustan Copper

The government launched an offer for sale (OFS) in Hindustan Copper, proposing to sell up to 6% of its stake at ₹514 per share. The development could attract significant investor attention during the session.

TCS

TCS is in focus after winning a $1.45 billion Porsche deal and agreeing to acquire Porsche’s IT arm for $373 million. The development reinforces the company’s position in large global technology and digital transformation contracts.

Hexaware Technologies

Hexaware shares rose around 5% as the company highlighted a large artificial-intelligence opportunity, with an estimated AI total addressable market of $300 billion. Brokerage views remain mixed, with ICICI Securities assigning a ₹580 target and Motilal Oswal recommending a buy with a ₹720 target.

Lenskart Solutions

SoftBank sold shares worth ₹2,888 crore in Lenskart, with 25 buyers including major institutional names. ICICI Securities has a Buy call on Lenskart Solutions with a target price of ₹750.

Ratnamani Metals & Tubes

Ratnamani Metals & Tubes shares surged 18% after the company secured export orders worth ₹2,700 crore. The large order win puts the stock firmly on the radar of investors and traders.

BLS International

BLS International shares fell as much as 14% following reports related to alleged visa fraud. The company rejected the claims, making the stock one of the key names to monitor for further developments.

Vishal Mega Mart

Vishal Mega Mart shares jumped as much as 12% after the re-appointment of its Managing Director and CEO. Investors will watch whether the buying momentum continues.

Key Corporate and Block Deals

Block deals are also likely to influence individual stocks.

• Meesho: Y Combinator offloaded more than 1% stake, with Nippon India, HDFC Life and Morgan Stanley among the buyers.
• Lenskart: SoftBank sold ₹2,888 crore worth of shares.
• Entero Healthcare: Prashant Jain-backed 3P Investment acquired a 2.5% stake.
• Standard Engineering: Amansa sold shares worth more than ₹47 crore.

Brokerage Calls: Stocks in Focus

Several stocks received positive brokerage recommendations:

• Lenskart Solutions: Buy, target ₹750 — ICICI Securities
• Kalyan Jewellers India: Buy, target ₹680 — ICICI Securities
• Urban Company: Buy, target ₹190 — Emkay Global Financial
• Tata Consumer Products: Buy, target ₹1,500 — Motilal Oswal
• Hexaware Technologies: Buy, target ₹720 — Motilal Oswal
• Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals: Buy, target ₹330 — Prabhudas Lilladher
• Hexaware Technologies: Hold, target ₹580 — ICICI Securities

Global Markets: Asian Stocks Under Pressure

Asian equities opened lower following a selloff in US technology stocks. US stocks also declined as weakness in semiconductor shares overshadowed a drop in oil prices.

Markets are also awaiting Nvidia’s earnings and the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. Oil prices were reported around $92, while gold advanced to a three-month high as investors returned to the so-called debasement trade.

These global developments could influence sentiment in Indian IT, technology, energy and metal stocks.

US-China and US-Canada Tariff Concerns

Trade tensions remain another major risk for global markets. The US is weighing a 7.5% tariff on China related to excess capacity and cheap exports. At the same time, the US has threatened 50% tariffs on Canada, including potentially significant effects on the automotive sector.
Investors will watch for further developments because changes in global tariffs could affect supply chains, commodity prices, corporate earnings and emerging-market sentiment.

Rupee and Economic Indicators

The Indian rupee settled almost flat at ₹95.71 against the US dollar, gaining only 3 paise. Meanwhile, India’s economic momentum showed signs of moderation.

Key indicators highlighted in the latest reports include:

• India’s manufacturing PMI fell to 52.9.
• Core sector growth moderated to 5.4% in July.
• Economic momentum eased in July.
• India’s exports to Iran could face additional pressure.
• Flash global PMIs indicated improving global momentum, while India’s manufacturing performance remained comparatively weaker.

Metals Continue to Attract Attention

Metal stocks remained among the stronger areas of the market. Hindalco and JSW Steel were among the Nifty gainers, while the Nifty Metal Index gained 1.59%. Ratnamani Metals & Tubes also surged after securing ₹2,700 crore of export orders.
The sector could remain active if global commodity prices and export-related developments continue to support sentiment.

SEBI and Market Regulation

SEBI is set to introduce an IT Resilience Index for market infrastructure institutions, including stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories. The regulator is also considering changes involving related-party transaction rules and promoter deals.

SEBI has also sought the inclusion of fractional shares in the Companies Amendment Bill.

These regulatory developments could have longer-term implications for India’s capital-market infrastructure and corporate governance.

Auto and Manufacturing Sector

The auto and manufacturing sectors are also in focus. India is expected to amend rules within two months to address concerns raised by semiconductor and auto-component companies. Sandhar Technologies reported a 26.77% year-on-year increase in Q1 net sales to ₹1,381.89 crore.

Royal Enfield’s Andhra Pradesh plant is expected to begin production by January 2029, while Tata Power Renewable Energy commissioned a 190.5 MW Solar FDRE project at Bikaner.

IPO Market Update

The IPO market remains active, with several issues attracting investor participation:

• Tempsens Instruments (India): 184.07 times subscribed
• Augmont Enterprises: 14.46 times subscribed
• Symbiotec Pharmalab: 80% subscribed
• Skyways Air Services: 1.16 times subscribed
• Hy-Tech Engineers: 7.74 times subscribed

Symbiotec Pharmalab has also received “Subscribe” recommendations from Geojit Financial Services and Ajcon Global.

Other Important Corporate Developments

Several additional corporate developments could affect individual stocks:

• Apollo Micro Systems: Acquired a 34% stake in a defence technology company.
• Blue Cloud Softech: Shares gained 5% after a $150 million SpaceX International Malaysia deal.
• Dixon Technologies: Expected to benefit from a new mobile-phone manufacturing scheme.
• Pace Digitek: Subsidiary secured a ₹93 crore BESS project.
• Tata Power Renewable Energy: Commissioned a 190.5 MW solar project.
• Amazon India: Marketplace revenue increased 17% to ₹35,574 crore in FY26, while losses widened 4%.
• Grasim: Kumar Mangalam Birla expects revenue to reach ₹2 lakh crore in FY27.

What Investors Should Watch Today

The August 25 session could be driven by a combination of domestic and international factors.

Key levels and events to watch:

1. Nifty 50: 24,200 support and 24,300 resistance.
2. Bank Nifty: 58,000 remains an important level for a stronger recovery.
3. F&O expiry: Position adjustments could increase intraday volatility.
4. Global technology stocks: Weakness in US chips could influence Indian IT stocks.
5. Crude oil: Prices around $92 remain important for India’s inflation and current-account outlook.
6. Rupee: The ₹95.71 level against the US dollar remains a key macro indicator.
7. Institutional flows: Continued DII buying could provide domestic support.
8. Tariff developments: US-China and US-Canada trade tensions remain a global risk.

Indian Stock Market Today: Final Takeaway

The Indian stock market enters August 25 with a cautious outlook after the previous session’s decline. The Nifty’s inability to hold above 24,200–24,250 and weakness in Bank Nifty indicate that traders may remain selective ahead of the monthly F&O expiry.

At the same time, strong institutional buying, continued interest in metals, major corporate orders and several positive brokerage calls provide pockets of strength.

For today’s session, investors are likely to focus on Nifty’s 24,300 resistance, Bank Nifty’s 58,000 level, FII/DII flows, global technology weakness, crude oil prices, tariff developments and stocks with major corporate announcements.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.