On Tuesday, August 19, the benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to start Tuesday’s session on a flat note as investors await the outcome of US President Donald Trump’s discussions with European leaders on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
As of 7:17 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near 24,988, up 25 points from its previous close.
The majority of the Asian peers were seen trading in green, while Wall Street closed largely unchanged overnight, with all three major indices ending flat.
Back home, equities had rallied strongly on Monday, supported by both local and global triggers. Gains were driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of GST-related reforms, an upgrade in India’s credit rating by S&P Global, and rising hopes of progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
On Monday, August 18, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers. This reversal came after a selling streak that lasted four straight trading sessions. FIIs bought equities worth ₹550.85 crore.
Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also showed strong momentum. They purchased shares worth ₹4,103.81 crore on the same day. This extended their buying streak to an impressive 30 consecutive trading sessions.
Indian markets gained on Monday as the government proposed a simplified GST structure with two slabs of 5% and 18%, replacing the 12% and 28% rates. The move is aimed at boosting consumption amid concerns over US tariffs.
The Nifty 50 rose 1% to 24,876.95, its biggest single-day gain since June 26, 2025, while the Sensex advanced 0.84% to 81,273.75.
India’s unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above dropped to 5.2% in July, compared with 5.6% in June, as per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The decline was mainly led by rural regions, where the rate slipped to 4.4% from 4.9% in the previous month. However, in urban areas, unemployment showed a slight uptick, rising to 7.2% from 7.1%.
Wall Street ended Monday’s session almost unchanged as investors remained cautious ahead of key earnings from major retailers and the Federal Reserve’s upcoming Jackson Hole symposium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 34.30 points, or 0.08%, to close at 44,911.82. The S&P 500 inched lower by 0.65 point, or 0.01%, finishing at 6,449.15, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 6.80 points, or 0.03%, to 21,629.77.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, along with key European leaders, to explore possible steps toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump announced that preparations are underway for direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. He also assured Zelenskyy that the United States would play a role in safeguarding Ukraine’s security as part of any peace agreement.
The US dollar remained stable against major currencies on Tuesday as global investors awaited the outcome of a White House summit with European leaders, which could shape the next stage of the Ukraine conflict. The dollar index (DXY) climbed 0.31% to 98.122, with geopolitical tensions driving sentiment. This came after US President Donald Trump assured President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday that Washington would back Ukraine’s security in any agreement aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Gold held steady in early Asian trade at $3,331.89/oz.
WTI crude oil futures fell to around $63.2 per barrel, and Brent crude declined by 0.02% to $65.95 per barrel on Tuesday.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
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