Stock Market Ends Higher: Sensex Climbs 213 Points to Close at 81,858, Nifty Surpasses 25,050
Mumbai, August 20: The Indian stock market closed on a positive note on Wednesday, the third trading session of the week. The benchmark BSE Sensex gained 213 points to end at 81,858, while the NSE Nifty rose 70 points, finishing at 25,051. The rally was led by buying interest in IT and FMCG stocks, with strong support from large-cap counters.
Out of the 30 stocks listed on the Sensex, 15 ended in the green. Shares of Infosys, TCS, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and NTPC witnessed gains of up to 4%, reflecting strong investor confidence in technology and consumer segments. However, stocks like Bharat Electronics Limited, Bajaj Finance, and Tata Motors saw declines of up to 2%.
On the Nifty 50 index, 28 stocks advanced while 22 declined. The NSE IT index led sectoral gains, jumping 2.69%. The FMCG index rose by 1.39%, while Realty gained 1.06%. Meanwhile, Media, Banking, and Healthcare indices ended in the red, showing mild profit booking in these sectors.
In a key market development, Regal Resources, a corn milling company, made a strong debut in the secondary market. The company’s IPO, priced in the band of ₹96–₹102, was listed at ₹141 on the NSE, reflecting a 38.24% premium over its issue price. On the BSE, the stock debuted at ₹141.80, a 39% increase. Through this IPO, the company aims to raise ₹1,456.62 crore to fund its expansion plans and working capital requirements.
Meanwhile, investors have multiple IPO opportunities to consider this week. A total of five IPOs are currently open in the mainboard segment, with a collective fundraising target of ₹3,585 crore. Four of these IPOs are scheduled to open for bidding from August 19 and will remain open until August 21, targeting a cumulative collection of ₹3,185 crore.
Mangal Electrical Industries Private Limited opened its IPO today, August 20, which will remain open until August 22. The company aims to raise ₹400 crore through this public issue. The IPO is priced in the range of ₹533–₹561, with a lot size of 26 shares. Established in 2008, Mangal Electrical Industries is looking to strengthen its position in the domestic and export markets.
On the global front, Asian markets ended in the red. Japan’s Nikkei index declined by 1.52% to close at 42,883, while South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 1.86% to settle at 3,092. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.42% to 25,016, and China’s Shanghai Composite index ended slightly lower by 0.056% at 3,725.
In contrast, the US markets showed mixed cues on August 19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.023% to close at 44,922. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced by 1.46% to 21,315. However, the S&P 500 index dipped by 0.59% to finish at 6,411.
On the institutional investment side, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the cash segment on August 19, purchasing ₹634.26 crore worth of shares. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were significantly more active, recording a net purchase of ₹2,261.06 crore on the same day.
So far in August, FIIs have sold equities worth ₹24,274.92 crore, continuing their cautious approach. In contrast, DIIs have shown strong conviction, purchasing stocks worth ₹62,160.15 crore. In July, FIIs had offloaded ₹47,666.68 crore worth of shares, while DIIs bought ₹60,939.16 crore, reflecting their consistent domestic support.
On the previous trading day, Tuesday, August 19, the Sensex had risen by 370 points to close at 81,644, while the Nifty jumped 103 points to end at 24,980. That session saw gains in 19 of the 30 Sensex stocks, with Auto, IT, and Banking sectors leading the rally. However, Energy and Pharma stocks underperformed amid mild selling pressure.
The market’s upward momentum continues to be supported by sectoral rotation and strong domestic institutional buying. However, global uncertainties and FII outflows remain key risks in the near term.
