Indian stock market today closed almost flat as investors took a cautious approach ahead of the extended Independence Day weekend and the anticipated US-Russia summit. Both the Sensex and Nifty 50 traded in a narrow range, with slight upward momentum observed early in the day. S&P BSE Sensex closed at 80,597.66, up 57 points or 0.07 percent. Intraday range was 261 points, with a high of 80,751.18 and low of 80,489.86. NSE Nifty 50 settled at 24,631.30, up 11.95 points or 0.05 percent. Positive sentiment was driven by softer US inflation (CPI at 2.7 percent) and India’s retail inflation easing to an eight-year low of 1.6 percent. The S&P’s recent upgrade of India’s credit rating on the back of strong policy and infrastructure growth provided additional support.

Sector Performance Highlights
Banking stocks edged slightly higher, driven by continued hopes for a consumption-led recovery and positive global cues. However, the sector displayed range-bound movement amid profit booking and sector rotation.

IT stocks continued to enjoy buying interest, underpinned by strong global demand and supportive US monetary signals. Key outperformers included Infosys and stocks reversed earlier losses as dovish US policy bets improved industry sentiment.

The auto sector advanced by nearly 1 percent, benefiting from renewed demand optimism, broader market momentum, and positive retail inflation data. Hero MotoCorp was among the leaders in auto gains.

Pharma stocks outperformed the broader market, with leading names like Dr Reddy’s Labs and Cipla driving sectoral momentum. The sector was lifted by continued domestic and export demand amid softer US inflation prints.

Top 5 Gainers
Name
% Change
Wipro
+4.2
Apollo Hospitals

Top 5 Losers
Name
% Change
IndusInd Bank
-3.6
UltraTech Cement

FII/DII Net Flows
Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) reported subdued activity in anticipation of the market holiday. Both categories maintained a “wait-and-watch” approach with marginal net inflows recorded. Active repositioning was observed especially in the IT and pharma segments, reflecting sectoral leadership. Exact figures were not published at time of writing, but trend remained neutral to marginally positive as per market tracker consensus.

Key Macro-Economic & Global Drivers
India’s latest consumer inflation rate declined to 1.6 percent, its lowest in eight years, supporting expectations of an RBI rate cut. US July CPI came in at 2.7 percent, softer than anticipated, fueling global risk appetite and equity flows into emerging markets like India. The S&P Global credit rating upgrade cited robust policy continuity, fiscal discipline, and infrastructure progress, boosting investor confidence. However, the near-term outlook remains clouded by caution ahead of the August 15 US-Russia summit and continued weakness in global metals and energy prices. Commodity-linked stocks remained under pressure due to oversupply and price drops internationally. For the latest monetary policy insights, visit the Reserve Bank of India’s official site.

What to Watch Next
The Indian stock market will remain closed on August 15, 2025, for Independence Day observances. Major market moves may follow the outcome of the US-Russia summit and changes in global geopolitical risk next week. Watch for the next RBI monetary policy statement, as market participants are pricing a potential rate cut following low inflation data. Sector rotation trends, especially in auto and pharma, will guide the next lap of index performance. Investors should monitor FII/DII flows and the evolving global macro landscape for cues. For real-time new IPO listings, see nextipoindia.com. Stay tuned for more on the Indian stock market today as developments unfold. For authoritative regulatory updates, check with SEBI.