Stock Market Today: Indian benchmark indices opened lower on August 18 amid mixed global cues, with the Nifty slipping below 24,300. The Sensex declined 259.77 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 77,468.39, while the Nifty fell 53.50 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 24,233.75 in early trade. Bajaj Auto, ONGC, SBI, Grasim and Axis Bank emerged among the top gainers on the Nifty, while Max Healthcare, InterGlobe Aviation, Asian Paints, Infosys and Jio Financial Services featured among the biggest decliners.

With geopolitical risks returning to focus, investors are closely tracking movements in crude oil, overseas markets and foreign fund flows for further direction.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, noted, “Two developments during the last several hours are likely to impact the market today, at least in the early hours of trading. One, Brent crude has again spiked above $91 on escalation of tensions between Iran and the US Two, the US 10-year bond yield has increased to 4.73 per cent and this is negative for FII inflows which had turned positive in July and August so far.”

He added, “The tailwind for the market is the resilient Indian economy and clear indications of a turnaround in earnings growth. This tailwind will encourage DIIs, flush with funds, to buy any significant dip in the market. Retail investors can use the dips in the market to slowly accumulate high quality stocks for the long-term. Heightened uncertainty will keep the market volatile.”

Crude Oil Rally Raises Fresh Inflation Concerns

The sharp rise in crude prices emerged as one of the key factors pressuring Indian equities. A prolonged period of elevated oil prices could increase inflationary pressures in India, which relies heavily on imports to meet its energy requirements.

Concerns have intensified following indications from Iran that it could take a more aggressive stance. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has ruled out an extension of the temporary ceasefire arrangement, increasing uncertainty around the possibility of disruptions to global energy supplies.

For India, sustained increases in crude prices could have wider economic implications, including pressure on inflation, the current account and corporate profitability. Investors are therefore watching the geopolitical developments closely as they assess the potential impact on domestic markets.

Asian Markets Send Mixed Signals

Global market sentiment also remained cautious, with several Asian benchmarks trading in negative territory. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.6 per cent to 68,098.54, reflecting the broader risk-off mood across the region.

South Korea’s Kospi, which had risen sharply earlier in the session, reversed gains and was down 0.6 per cent at 6,933.60. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.6 per cent to 25,289.88, while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.5 per cent to 3,963.53.

Australia offered a rare positive cue, with the S&P/ASX 200 edging 0.2 per cent higher to 9,088.60. However, the mixed-to-negative trend across major Asian markets added to the cautious tone in Indian equities.

FII Selling Adds To Domestic Market Pressure

Foreign institutional investor activity remained another concern for the domestic market. FIIs continued to withdraw money from Indian equities, selling shares worth Rs 2,535 crore on Monday.

Persistent foreign selling can weigh on benchmark indices by reducing liquidity and increasing pressure on large-cap stocks. The latest outflow comes at a time when investors are already assessing the impact of higher crude prices and renewed geopolitical uncertainty.

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