Sensex Falls 250 Points to 77,700, Nifty Down 100 Points on August 13
Digital desk
Indian equity markets opened under pressure on Thursday, August 13, with both benchmark indices witnessing sharp declines amid selling in banking and information technology stocks.
The Sensex fell more than 250 points to around 77,700, while the Nifty 50 declined by over 100 points to trade near 24,300. Banking and IT stocks were among the major sectors facing selling pressure during the session.
The decline comes a day after domestic markets also ended lower, while mixed trends in Asian markets and gains in most major US indices provided limited support to Indian equities.
Banking, IT Stocks Under Pressure
Selling was particularly visible in banking and IT counters during Thursday's trading session. Weakness in these heavyweight sectors weighed on the broader benchmarks.
Investors are also tracking global market movements, foreign fund flows and developments in international markets for further direction.
Asian Markets Mixed
Asian markets were largely positive during the session, although gains varied significantly across major indices.
| Index | Level | Point Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOSPI, South Korea | 6,849 | +275 | +4.18% |
| Nikkei, Japan | 68,610 | +1,086 | +1.61% |
| Hang Seng, Hong Kong | 25,442 | +2 | +0.02% |
Despite the positive movement in several Asian markets, Indian equities remained under pressure, indicating that domestic factors and sector-specific selling were influencing sentiment.
US Markets End Mostly Higher
US markets had a mixed session on August 12, with the Dow Jones ending marginally lower while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 gained.
| Index | Level | Point Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | 53,770 | -22 | -0.04% |
| Nasdaq | 26,588 | +143 | +0.54% |
| S&P 500 | 7,749 | +20 | +0.26% |
The performance of US markets remains an important external cue for Indian investors, particularly for technology and other globally exposed sectors.
Foreign Investors Buy ₹1,494 Crore
Foreign investor activity has remained mixed in the Indian market. According to the available data, foreign institutional investors and foreign portfolio investors bought shares worth around ₹1,494 crore over the past seven sessions, while their 30-day flow remained negative.
Domestic institutional investors, meanwhile, continued to provide support through buying.
| Category | Latest | Past 7 Days | Past 30 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| DII | +5,842 | +4,812 | +31,078 |
| FII/FPI | -1,003 | +1,711 | -2,432 |
The continued participation of domestic institutional investors has helped provide some cushion against foreign selling pressure.
Markets Fell on Wednesday
The decline on Thursday followed another weak session on Wednesday, August 12.
The Sensex closed 188 points lower at 77,966, while the Nifty declined 36 points to finish at 24,436.
The latest fall has brought both benchmarks further below their previous closing levels, with investors watching whether the indices can stabilise as the trading session progresses.
Global Cues in Focus
Market participants are likely to track global equity trends, institutional fund flows and sector-specific developments during the remainder of Thursday's session.
With banking and IT stocks facing selling pressure, the performance of heavyweight shares could remain crucial for the direction of the Sensex and Nifty in the near term.
Investors will also keep an eye on overseas markets and broader economic developments as they assess the next move in domestic equities.
