Key gauges remain in red in morning deals

Indian equity benchmarks continued to trade lower in morning deals, as the prolonged US-Iran impasse weighed heavily on investors' sentiment. Traders remained cautious as exchange data showed Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers on August 13, 2026, with a net outflow of Rs 510.69 crore. Investor sentiment remained subdued despite encouraging trade data from the Commerce Ministry showing that India’s merchandise exports rose by 19.63 per cent to $44.24 billion in July 2026 as compared to $36.98 billion in July 2025, driven by a jump in shipments of petroleum products. 

Both the Sensex and Nifty remained firmly in negative territory, reflecting broad-based weakness across the market. Metal stocks emerged as the biggest laggards on the Sensex, followed by Basic Materials, PSU, and Auto counters. However, relative strength in telecom stocks provided some cushion against the broader selling. 

On the global front, Asian markets were trading mixed amid uncertainty over a deal to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz that continues to pose risks to the inflation outlook. 

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 77699.34, down by 380.62 points or 0.49% after trading in a range of 77684.37 and 77923.58. There were 8 stocks advancing against 22 stocks declining on the index.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Telecom up by 0.28% and Consumer Durables up by 0.07%, while Metal down by 1.40%, Basic Materials down by 0.93%, PSU down by 0.78%, Auto down by 0.63% and Oil & Gas down by 0.59% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Adani Ports &SEZ up by 1.09%, Eternal up by 0.94%, Titan Company up by 0.77%, ICICI Bank up by 0.29% and Infosys up by 0.26%. On the flip side, Tata Steel down by 1.73%, Tech Mahindra down by 1.33%, Mahindra & Mahindra down by 1.26%, Sun Pharma down by 1.18% and Axis Bank down by 1.14% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, the commerce ministry in its latest data has showed that India’s merchandise exports rose by 19.63 per cent to $44.24 billion in July 2026 as compared to $36.98 billion in July 2025, driven by a jump in shipments of petroleum products. Merchandise imports grew by 17.51 per cent year-on-year to $76.22 billion in July 2026, up from $64.86 billion in July 2025, due to increase in the inbound shipments of crude oil. Trade deficit (difference between imports and exports) widened to $31.98 billion in July 2026 as against $27.88 billion in July 2025. Trade deficit stood at $30.4 billion in June. 

According to the data, merchandise exports during April-July 2026-27 were $173.78 billion as compared to $148.48 billion during April-July 2025-26. Merchandise imports during April-July 2026-27 were $292.38 billion as compared to $245.14 billion during April-July 2025-26. Merchandise trade deficit during April-July 2026-27 was $118.60 billion as compared to $96.66 billion during April-July 2025-26. 

Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in July 2026 were $35.00 billion compared to $30.47 billion in July 2025. Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in April-July 2026-27 were $134.02 billion, compared to $118.27 billion in April-July 2025-26. Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in July 2026 were $51.82 billion compared to $43.07 billion in July 2025. Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in April-July 2026-27 were $192.03 billion, compared to $160.95 billion in April-July 2025-26.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 24309.25, down by 86.60 points or 0.35% after trading in a range of 24296.80 and 24365.00. There were 13 stocks advancing against 37 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Apollo Hospital up by 3.45%, Adani Ports &SEZ up by 1.42%, Adani Enterprises up by 1.13%, Eternal up by 1.08% and Bharti Airtel up by 0.70%. On the flip side, Tata Motors Passenger down by 5.05%, Tata Steel down by 2.39%, Hindalco Industries down by 1.89%, JIO Financial Serv. down by 1.39% and ONGC down by 1.25% were the top losers.

Asian markets are trading mixed; Nikkei 225 surged 231.41 points or 0.34% to 68,540.00, Jakarta Composite gained 35.42 points or 0.56% to 6,337.19, Straits Times rose 4.89 points or 0.09% to 5,724.94 and KOSPI increased 92.77 points or 1.34% to 6,906.11.

On the flip side, Taiwan Weighted lost 69.45 points or 0.15% to 45,952.03, Hang Seng declined 271.51 points or 1.07% to 25,125.00 and Shanghai Composite weakened 18.05 points or 0.46% to 3,908.91.