Markets likely to make flat-to-positive start on Thursday

Indian equity markets are likely to make a flat-to-positive start on Thursday despite weak global cues. Traders will keep a close watch on corporate earnings, and geopolitical developments. However, traders may remain cautious as Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net sellers, with foreign investors selling equities worth Rs 943.42 crore on August 5, 2026. There will be some volatility in the markets ahead of the weekly Sensex derivatives F&O expiry.

Some of the key factors to be watched:

India, Africa powerful force for global progress: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Africa is India's partner and its priority, and whether one speaks of a multipolar world order or of a reformed multilateralism, it will happen only when the continent is given its due place.

Govt notifies inventory-based cross-border e-Commerce export framework: The Government has operationalised the Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Export Framework under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023. The framework provides a comprehensive policy and procedural architecture for facilitating inventory-based cross-border e-commerce exports of goods manufactured or produced in India.

Niti Aayog pitches national caregiving policy for Viksit Bharat: The Niti Aayog has called for the creation of a National Policy on caregiving, a caregiver council to provide professional recognition and a dedicated cadre in response to the rising demand for long-term care services due to demographic transition.

India witnesses significant growth in the Chemicals & Petrochemicals sector over the last 12 years: The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC), under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has undertaken policy reforms, infrastructure development, capacity building, skill development, quality enhancement, and investment promotion initiatives for the chemical and petrochemical sector, over the past twelve years.

Rural economy resilient despite monsoon uncertainties: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra has said the rural economy and the agriculture sector have become more resilient over the years, helped by the growth of allied activities, improved irrigation, farm mechanisation and better crop varieties, which have reduced the impact of rainfall deficiencies.

Global front: The US markets ended mostly in red on Wednesday, after payroll processor ADP released a report showing private sector employment in the U.S. increased by less than expected in the month of July. Asian markets are trading mostly in red on Thursday following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight.

Back home, Indian equity benchmarks closed marginally higher in a volatile session on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent and maintained its neutral policy stance, broadly in line with market expectations. However, rising crude oil prices amid renewed geopolitical tensions capped the market's upside. Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 152.05 points or 0.19% to 78,581.00 and the CNX Nifty was up by 9.75 points or 0.04% to 24,624.65.

Some of the important factors in trade:

Govt's broad-based growth strategy to help India cross $5-trillion economy mark by FY29: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Indian economy is on track to cross the $5-trillion mark in FY29, in line with projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the government pursuing a broad-based growth strategy to achieve the milestone.

India’s SEZ exports grow 11.8% to Rs 16.36 lakh crore in FY26: The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada has stated that India's exports from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) grew 11.8 per cent year-on-year to Rs 16,36,192 crore ($185.28 billion) in 2025-26, up from Rs 14,63,669 crore ($173.07 billion) in the previous fiscal.

Business activity slows across India’s services economy; PMI at 53.3 in July: According to the survey report, the seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index fell to 53.3 in July from 57.4 in June. Further, the HSBC India Composite PMI Output Index -- which measures both manufacturing and services -- also eased to 54.3 in July as against 57.1 in June.