Nifty 50 opened at 24,938.20, rising 306.90 points (+1.25%) from its previous close of 24,631.30. Bank Nifty started at 55,940.60, up 598.80 points (+1.08%) from the prior close of 55,341.85. Sensex opened at 81,315.79, higher by 718.13 points (+0.89%) compared to the previous close of 80,597.66. Gift Nifty is currently trading at 24,982, indicating positive momentum ahead.
Global index as on 18 August 2025
- Dow 30 closed at 44,946.10, gaining +34.86 points (+0.08%).
- S&P 500 ended at 6,449.80, down -18.74 points (-0.29%).
- NASDAQ settled at 21,623.00, falling -87.69 points (-0.40%).
- FTSE 100 closed at 9,138.90, slipping -38.34 points (-0.42%).
- DAX ended at 24,359.30, declining -18.20 points (-0.07%).
- Nikkei 225 surged to 43,757.84 up +379.53 points (+0.87%).
Commodities Update
- Gold: Currently trading at Rs. 10,117 per gram.
- Silver: Down by Rs. 0.10, now at Rs. 116.10 per gram.
- Crude Oil: Prices have fallen by 0.37%, reaching 65.375, compared to the previous close of 65.615.
Global events/updates
Trump 2.0 Highlights
Donald Trump’s return to the global stage has been marked by strong policy signals and geopolitical commentary. He indicated plans to impose tariffs on steel and semiconductor chips, while also discussing the possibility of U.S. guarantees to Ukraine in coordination with Europe.
On global conflicts, Trump suggested that Russian strikes in Ukraine are being used as a negotiation tactic, and stressed that Ukraine is open to talks, with territorial swaps likely to be part of discussions.
Economically, Trump stated that both Russia and China are struggling, underlining their weak economic positions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate highway projects worth Rs. 11,000 crore in Delhi on August 17. The key projects include the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II project in NCR. These infrastructure initiatives aim to boost multi-modal connectivity and are expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in the capital.
GST Rate Rationalisation – Govt Proposals
- Two slabs proposed which are 5% and 18%
- Food, medicines, education: NIL or 5%
- Insurance: Cut from 18% to NIL or 5%
- AC, TV, fridge, washing machines: From 28% to 18%
- Sin goods & online gaming: 40%
- Petroleum products: Likely to remain outside GST
Centre Proposes GST Cuts
The government may cut GST on two-wheelers below 350cc and small cars under 1200cc from 28% to 18%, with similar relief for hybrids. Luxury and SUV cars would remain in the highest tax bracket.
India-US Trade Talks Delayed
The sixth round of India-US trade talks has been postponed, even as a 25% additional tariff on India is set to take effect on August 27.
Stocks to watch
- KPIT Technologies: Paid an initial consideration of $51 million to acquire Caresoft Global Tech, Caresoft Engineering, and CAREGLOTECH.
- Amara Raja Energy & Mobility: Announced that its Giga Cell Plant is expected to begin operations between the second and third quarter of 2027, with a targeted capacity of 16 GW by fiscal 2030.
- Indian Banks & NBFCs: Issuer credit ratings have been upgraded to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ for seven banks and three finance companies. The upgraded entities include HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank, Union Bank, Bajaj Finance, and L&T Finance.
- KEC International: Secured new orders worth Rs. 1,402 crore across multiple business segments.
- Electronics Mart: Launched commercial operations of a new 5,000 sq. ft. multi-brand Bajaj Electronics store in Andhra Pradesh.
- Mahanagar Gas: Completed the merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary Unison Enviro Pvt. Ltd. with effect from August 16, following the NCLT order filing.
- Dixon Technologies: Company has formalised a joint venture with HKC Overseas Ltd. to manufacture display modules and assemble end products such as smartphones and TVs in India. Dixon will hold a 74% stake in the venture, Dixon Display Technologies Private Limited, with HKC holding 26%.
- Authum Investment & Infrastructure: One of the promoters, Mentor Capital Ltd., has sold approximately 2.74% of its stake in Authum Investment & Infrastructure Limited through secondary market transactions.
- GMR Airports: In July passenger traffic fell 3.9% year-on-year to 92.7 lakh and aircraft movements fell 2.3% to 59,220.
- Signatureglobal: Subsidiary Signatureglobal Business Park executes three sale deeds for 33.47 acres of land in Haryana, with an overall developable area of approximately 1.76 million sq ft.
- Tech Mahindra: Step-down arm Pininfarina acquires additional stake in associate company Signature, increasing its shareholding from 24% to 84% of the equity share capital.
- Nazara Technologies: Amends pact with Nodwin Gaming, Jetsynthesys and founders Akshat Rathee and Gautam Virk. It has relinquished the right to appoint majority directors on the board of Nodwin, the right to mutually appoint and terminate the CFO of Nodwin and the right to approve the annual operating plan.
- Jindal Poly Films: Board approves Scheme of Arrangement with Global Nonwovens to demerge the Nonwoven Fabrics Business division. This includes a 4:1 share swap, and upon the scheme becoming effective, the resulting company will apply for listing on both stock exchanges.
- Lemon Tree Hotels: Subsidiary Fleur Hotels has received a Letter of Award from the Delhi Development Authority after emerging as the successful bidder for licence rights to a prime land parcel at Nehru Place, New Delhi, where it will develop and operate a 5-star hotel.
- Brightcom Group: The board has approved the formation of Brightcom Defence to foray into aerospace intelligence and autonomous defence solutions. The company will be reorganized into four verticals—Advertising, Software Services, Defence, and Next-Generation Technologies.
- JK Cement: Approved a greenfield expansion project for a new cement line with a total capacity of 7 MnTPA. The plan includes a 4 MnTPA clinker unit and a 3 MnTPA cement grinding unit at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, along with two split grinding units of 2 MnTPA each in Rajasthan and Punjab. The total investment is pegged at Rs. 4,805 crore.
- PNC Infratech: Secured a Letter of Award from NHPC for developing a 300 MW solar power project at a tariff of Rs. 3.13/kWh.
- Zee Entertainment: Approved investments of up to Rs. 50 crore in optionally convertible debentures (OCDs) of its arm ZBullet Enterprises and up to Rs. 40 crore in OCDs of its subsidiary Advance Media Distribution.
- Fine Organic: Will invest Rs. 65 crore in its subsidiary through subscription of 6.5 crore preference shares.
- EMS: Bagged orders worth Rs. 104 crore from UP Jal Nigam for engineering, design, and material supply.
- TVS Srichakra: Its subsidiary has invested Rs. 6 crore by subscribing to 2.14 lakh equity shares of TVS Sensing Solution Pvt. Ltd.
- Mahindra & Mahindra: Partnered with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products to launch a limited-run electric SUV – BE 6 Batman Edition, with deliveries set to commence on International Batman Day, 20 September 2025.
- Globe Civil Projects has secured a contract worth Rs. 222.2 crore from the Haryana Cricket Association for the construction of an international cricket stadium at Lohat, Jhajjar, Haryana.
Written by Manideep Appana
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