Daily Edition
| NIFTY 50 | 24,636 | ▲ 0.05% |
| NIFTY Bank | 58,064 | ▲ 0.56% |
| NIFTY IT | 31,106 | ▼ 0.95% |
| India VIX | 12.11 | ▲ 0.39% |
| SENSEX | 78,955 | ▲ 0.48% |
| USD / INR (ref.) | 95.12 | ▼ 0.27% |
| Gold (COMEX, US$/oz) | 4,323 (≈ ₹1,32,190/10g) | ▲ 1.81% |
| Brent Crude (US$) | 80.93 | ▲ 1.86% |
Provisional cash-market flows: FIIs net sold ₹17.86 cr · DIIs net bought ₹4,013.6 cr.
Source: FII/FPI & DII trading activity on NSE, BSE & MSEI, Capital Market segment. Provisional, subject to revision.
Markets end flat as IT drags, banks support
Indian equity markets closed nearly unchanged on Thursday, with gains in banking stocks largely offsetting a decline in IT shares.
The NIFTY 50 ended the session at 24,636, up just 0.05%, while the SENSEX closed at 78,955, gaining 0.48%. The NIFTY Bank index was the relative bright spot, rising 0.56% to 58,064, as domestic-facing financial stocks found support from the Reserve Bank of India's continued dovish policy stance. The NIFTY IT index, however, closed 0.95% lower at 31,106, weighing on the broader market. IT stocks tend to be sensitive to global cues and currency movements, and any uncertainty around the pace of US economic activity can affect sentiment in the sector.
On the institutional flow front, Foreign Institutional Investors were net sellers in the cash segment, offloading a modest 17.86 crore rupees worth of equities. Domestic Institutional Investors, by contrast, were significant net buyers, adding 4,013.6 crore rupees. This pattern of domestic institutions absorbing foreign selling has been a recurring feature of the Indian market in recent sessions. The Indian rupee closed slightly lower against the US dollar, with the reference rate settling at 95.12, a move of -0.27%, as importer demand for dollars weighed on the currency.
Crude and gold rise on supply concerns
- Brent Crude. Brent crude oil rose 1.86% to close at 80.93 US dollars per barrel, breaching the 80-dollar level as investors tracked escalating shipping risks in the Middle East. Fresh attacks on Saudi oil tankers and ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman over Strait of Hormuz access kept supply-disruption concerns elevated.
- Gold. Gold on COMEX gained 1.81%, settling at 4,323 US dollars per ounce, which translates to approximately 1,32,190 rupees per 10 grams. The metal continued to attract interest amid geopolitical uncertainty, with supply concerns in oil markets and a broadly cautious mood among global investors contributing to demand for traditional safe-haven assets.
- US Federal Reserve. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly stated that policymakers need more economic data before making any decision on interest rates at the September meeting, backing the Fed's current stance of keeping rates unchanged. The next Federal Reserve policy decision and any associated commentary will be closely watched by global markets in the weeks ahead.
- India Bond Market. Indian government bonds saw mild fluctuations on Thursday as profit-taking by some participants and a scheduled government debt auction tempered the rally that began earlier in the week. The RBI's dovish policy stance has been a stabilising factor, with bond yields declining notably since early August. Markets will watch Friday's government debt sale for further direction.
- Bitcoin. Bitcoin traded near 64,700 US dollars as buyers broadly maintained their positions despite some profit-booking at higher price levels. Institutional demand, reflected in continued net inflows into Bitcoin-linked investment products, remained a supportive factor, while major alternative cryptocurrencies showed mixed price action.
Understanding market volatility: why price swings are a normal part of investing
Markets do not move in straight lines. Prices of stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies fluctuate every single day, sometimes by small amounts and sometimes by large ones. This movement is called market volatility, and it is not a malfunction or a sign that something has gone wrong. Volatility is, and always has been, a normal and necessary feature of how financial markets work. It reflects the continuous process by which millions of buyers and sellers revise their views on the value of assets as new information arrives — whether that is an economic data release, a central bank statement, a geopolitical event, or simply a shift in overall sentiment.
India VIX, a gauge of expected near-term volatility in the NIFTY, closed at 12.11 on Thursday — a level that reflects a relatively calm market environment by historical standards.
One way markets try to measure expected volatility is through indices like the India VIX. The India VIX, published by NSE, is derived from the prices of NIFTY options and represents the market's expectation of how much the NIFTY 50 might move over the next 30 days, expressed as an annualised percentage. On Thursday, it closed at 12.11, which is considered a relatively low reading. A low VIX generally suggests that market participants are not anticipating sharp swings in the near term, while a high VIX would signal greater uncertainty and wider expected price movements. It is worth noting that the VIX measures expected volatility — it does not predict the direction of the market, only the degree of movement that participants are pricing in.
For a long-term investor, understanding volatility can help put short-term market movements in perspective. A day when the NIFTY IT index falls nearly 1% while banking stocks rise 0.56% — as happened on Thursday — is not unusual. Different sectors respond to different factors: IT stocks are sensitive to global technology spending and currency movements, while banking stocks respond more to domestic interest rate conditions and credit growth. These divergences happen regularly and are part of how a diverse market functions. Historically, periods of higher volatility have been followed by periods of calm, and vice versa. Recognising volatility as a built-in characteristic of markets, rather than an exceptional event, is a foundational piece of financial literacy for any investor.
Go deeper than the headlines
Model your own plan with our SIP, XIRR and goal calculators, stress-test ideas in the Northelix Simulation Lab, and browse explainers in the Knowledge Center.
Explore the platform → Free tools · No account required to start