Equities Fall, Rupee Strengthens as CPI Rises; Bond Yields Ease

An end-of-day recap of all that transpired in the Indian markets, highlighting the major price movements and the factors driving them

India Stocks fall

By Tresha Dias

August 12, 2026 at 12:42 PM IST

Indian equities ended lower on Wednesday as selling in heavyweight stocks kept the benchmarks under pressure, while investors remained cautious ahead of July CPI inflation data for fresh signals on the interest-rate outlook. The Sensex fell 187.90 points, or 0.24%, to 77,966.35, while the Nifty50 declined 35.75 points, or 0.15%, to 24,435.95, closing below the 24,450 mark.

The market remained selective amid the Q1 FY27 earnings season, with IT, FMCG and auto stocks under pressure, while PSU banks, media and metal shares advanced. The broader market was relatively resilient, with the BSE MidCap index slipping 0.02% and the SmallCap index falling 0.27%.

July CPI inflation, released after the market close, rose to 4.45% from 4.38% in June, remaining above the RBI's 4% target. The reading kept inflation in focus after the central bank last week held the repo rate at 5.25% and retained its neutral stance.

The rupee strengthened 0.1% to 95.33 per dollar as likely RBI intervention through state-run banks helped contain pressure from West Asia tensions and elevated oil prices.

The yield on the 10-year benchmark 6.94%, 2036 government bond ended at 6.7776%, falling from the day’s high of 6.7917%, compared with the previous close of 6.7791%. Brent crude rose 1% to $89.81 a barrel, nearing the $90 mark, as attacks on ships and uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz heightened concerns over supply disruptions.

Top Movers of the day

NALCO surged 7.94% to ₹418.80 as global aluminium prices climbed to a seven-week high amid supply disruptions linked to heightened Middle East tensions, improving the outlook for domestic aluminium producers.

Finolex Cables rose 5.06% to ₹1,269 after reporting strong June-quarter performance, with revenue crossing ₹20 billion, reinforcing investor confidence in its operating momentum.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises advanced 7.14% to ₹98.10 after seeking SEBI's clarification on a proposed promoter-group fundraise, although the company had reported a sharp quarterly profit decline earlier this week.

APAR Industries advanced 8.67% to ₹18,200, extending its strong run as investors remained positive on the company's exposure to power-transmission and electrification spending. The stock has also been supported by strong Q1 FY27 performance.

Supreme Petrochem rose 6.33% to ₹728.65, with the stock benefiting from strength in petrochemical and polymer counters as investors positioned for improving demand and margins across the sector. The move also came amid continued optimism around the company's earnings recovery.

Vijaya Diagnostic Centre gained 6.77% to ₹1,524.90, extending its recent strength as investors continued to favour healthcare and diagnostic stocks. The company has also maintained a focus on expanding its diagnostic network, supporting the longer-term growth outlook.

Force Motors climbed 5.12% to ₹19,269, extending its strong run as investors remained positive on the company's commercial-vehicle and passenger-vehicle businesses and its improving operating performance.

Punjab National Bank climbed 3.74% to ₹118.30, with public-sector banks gaining strongly as investors rotated into state-owned lenders. The broader PSU-bank rally was also visible in the day's market action, with the sector among the stronger-performing pockets.

BHEL rose 4.22% to ₹420.00, supported by optimism over its business outlook and expectations of sustained power-sector investment. Analysts have also viewed the government's decision allowing four Chinese electrical-equipment makers to bid for some PSU tenders as having limited near-term impact on BHEL.

Godrej Consumer Products fell 11.22% to ₹910, hitting a fresh 52-week low after Managing Director and CEO Sudhir Sitapati unexpectedly resigned. The abrupt leadership change raised concerns over continuity in the company's turnaround strategy, prompting brokerages to reassess the stock and triggering heavy selling.

PI Industries declined 9.16% to ₹2,480, with subdued global agrochemical demand weighing on the stock and renewing concerns over the pace of earnings recovery.

Jubilant Pharmova fell 8.60% to ₹882, amid selling pressure in the pharmaceutical sector, with investors focusing on the company’s earnings trajectory and the performance of its pharmaceuticals, contract research and radiopharma businesses following the transfer of its API business to Jubilant Biosys.

Bonds
The yield on the 10-year benchmark 6.94%, 2036 government bond ended at 6.7776%, falling from the day’s high of 6.7917%, compared with the previous close of 6.7791%. Brent crude rose 1% to $89.81 a barrel as attacks on shipping and uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz heightened concerns over supply disruptions.

Forex
The Indian rupee ended 0.1% higher at 95.33 per dollar today as persistent intervention by the Reserve Bank of India helped limit losses amid concerns over the West Asia conflict and higher oil prices. State-run banks were seen selling dollars, likely on behalf of the RBI, traders said, helping steady the currency after it had come under pressure in recent weeks.

Gains remained limited as traders assessed the domestic inflation reading and looked ahead to US inflation data, while monitoring developments in West Asia.

Crypto
The cryptocurrency market traded higher today, with Bitcoin and Ethereum recovering modestly after the previous session's decline.

Bitcoin traded near $63,777.47 today, up 0.20% over the past 24 hours, with a market capitalisation of $1.27 trillion and 24-hour trading volume of $21.26 billion. The cryptocurrency remained below the $64,000 mark as gains remained limited.

Ethereum traded near $1,888.45 today, up 0.89% over the past 24 hours, with a market capitalisation of $227.9 billion and 24-hour trading volume of $8 billion. The second-largest cryptocurrency outperformed Bitcoin but remained below the key $1,900 level.

US Stock Futures
US stock futures edged higher today as investors looked ahead to an important inflation report that could influence the near-term outlook for interest rates. S&P 500 futures gained 0.2%, while Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.58%. Dow futures gave up earlier gains and were last trading flat.

The inflation data will be closely watched for fresh clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy path, particularly as traders assess whether price pressures are easing enough to support changes in interest rates.

US Treasury Notes
US Treasury note yields eased today, with the benchmark 10-year yield falling to 4.68% for the second consecutive session as investors positioned ahead of key US inflation data that could shape expectations for the Federal Reserve's policy path. Markets remained divided over the prospect of a 25-basis-point rate hike in September. Firm crude oil prices continued to support expectations for a more hawkish policy stance.

Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said policymakers remained more focused on the risk of persistently elevated inflation than potential weakness in the labour market. Investors also monitored prospects of a US-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Pakistan's defence minister said Washington and Tehran were close to some sort of an arrangement.

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