Sensex, Nifty end flat as Middle East uncertainty caps gains; Titan jumps 3%

Markets ended marginally higher on Monday as persistent uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious, while strong corporate earnings and a softer US jobs report provided some support to the market.The BSE Sensex gained 43.27 points, or 0.06%, to close at 78,542.44, while the Nifty 50 rose 13.15 points, or 0.05%, to 24,583.80. Both benchmarks moved in a narrow range through the session, swinging between gains and losses of around 0.3%.The market's muted finish came despite some strong stock-specific moves. Investors continued to track the impact of the ongoing Middle East tensions on crude oil prices, while weaker-than-expected US jobs data reduced concerns about near-term interest rate hikes.The ongoing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz remained a key concern for investors. Any disruption to the key shipping route can push up crude oil prices and increase pressure on India's import bill, inflation and corporate margins. However, the market also found some support from earnings and the latest US economic data. Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said markets remained "on a tight leash" as uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continued to weigh on risk appetite.He said encouraging corporate earnings were supporting broader sentiment, while softer-than-expected US jobs data reduced the case for further Federal Reserve tightening. "Globally, softer-than-expected U.S. jobs data weakened the case for Fed tightening, shifting investor focus to upcoming U.S. inflation readings for fresh direction on rates and bond yields," Nair said.He added that a softer yield environment could revive interest in emerging markets and support stronger foreign institutional investor participation.TITAN LEADS GAINERSTitan was the top gainer among the major Nifty stocks, rising 3.14% to Rs 5,098.20. The stock extended its gains after the company's strong Q1 results and positive brokerage views.Bajaj Finance gained 1.93%, while Bajaj Finserv rose 1.15%. Tata Steel advanced 1.09%, Asian Paints gained 1.07% and Infosys rose 0.81%.Axis Bank, Trent, HCLTech, and Larsen & Toubrowere were among the other notable gainers.At the other end, SBI fell 2.19%, making it the biggest loser among the major stocks. NTPC declined 1.52%, while Eternal fell 1.57%.Bajaj Finance was the strongest gainer in the broader financial space, while several banking stocks also remained firm.Sectoral performance was mixed. Ten of the 16 major sectoral indices ended lower.Nifty Private Bank gained 0.52%, while Nifty Financial Services 25/50 rose 0.11%. Nifty IT gained 0.27% and Nifty Media rose 0.29%.Nifty Realty was among the strongest performers, rising 1.35%, while Nifty MidSmall Financial Services gained 1.57%.On the losing side, Nifty PSU Bank fell 1.67%, Nifty Healthcare declined 0.35% and Nifty FMCG slipped 0.14%. Nifty Oil & Gas also fell 0.37%.BROADER MARKET SHOWS MIXED PICTUREThe broader market was more positive than the headline indices.Nifty Midcap 50 rose 0.70%, while Nifty Midcap 100 gained 0.62%. Nifty 200 advanced 0.17% and Nifty 500 rose 0.13%.However, the Nifty Smallcap 100 fell 0.27%, showing that buying was not evenly spread across the broader market.Nifty Financial Services Ex-Bank was among the strongest sectoral performers, rising 1.25%, while Nifty MidSmall Financial Services gained 1.57%.Nair said India's domestic growth engines and economic fundamentals continue to provide support to investor confidence despite the global uncertainty."A softer yield environment could revive interest in emerging markets and pave the way for stronger FII participation," he said.For Indian markets, however, the direction of crude oil and developments around the Strait of Hormuz remain important near-term triggers. Investors will also watch upcoming US inflation data for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest-rate path.For now, the market appears to be balancing two opposing forces: strong domestic earnings and expectations of easier global monetary conditions on one side, and Middle East tensions, crude oil volatility and uncertainty around global trade and growth on the other.(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)- EndsPublished On: Aug 10, 2026 15:56 IST