Indian market sentiment improved as U.S. bond yields eased slightly and the rupee strengthened to a two-month high against the dollar. A concessional swap facility mobilised $136 billion, while the FCNR(B) scheme drew $127 billion, both above expectations, supporting rupee stability and foreign investor confidence. Banks’ large FCNR(B) mobilisation is expected to lift net interest margins, underpinning banking stocks, while foreign institutional investors are seen continuing to buy Indian equities.

Indian equities ended lower, with the Sensex down 0.49% and the Nifty off 0.59%. Brent crude rose 1% to USD 95.4 a barrel after the US said it launched overnight airstrikes against targets in Iran. Auto stocks led the declines, with Hero MotoCorp down 6% and Eicher Motors down 5%. The rupee was little changed near 94.97, helped by central bank intervention.

Indian equities sold off as US-Iran tensions intensified, pushing the Sensex down 700 points and dragging the Nifty lower, with most sector indices falling more than 1%. Brent crude climbed to $91-94 a barrel for its sharpest rise in over a year after the US and Iran returned to direct military exchanges and hopes of reopening the Strait of Hormuz collapsed. Analysts said the impact on Indian stocks may stay limited if oil does not break above $95, but warned that every $10 rise in average oil prices typically widens India’s current account deficit by 30 to 40 basis points of GDP and adds to inflation.

India’s domestic sugar prices have jumped more than 15% in a month, with retail prices topping Rs 60 per kg and rising over 20% year on year. Flooding in some states and inadequate rainfall in others have reduced sugarcane harvests, tightening supply and pushing prices higher. In response, the government has approved duty-free imports of 1 million metric tons of raw sugar for the first time in nearly 10 years to help cool domestic prices.

Bitcoin climbed to nearly $70,000 in early Thursday trading, a level it had not reached since early June 2026. The price later slipped to $69,280.15 but was still up 7.71% over the past 24 hours and 9.04% for the week. Over the same period, the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation increased by nearly $190 billion. Ether rose around 10%, while crypto liquidations totalled $1.59 billion.

The Trump administration announced new tariffs on imported drones, set to take effect in 21 days, with duties on some less sensitive components delayed for 180 days. Stocks of several U.S. drone makers and suppliers rallied, led by Unusual Machines up as much as 28%, while Red Cat Holdings gained 15% and AeroVironment rose about 10%. The Pentagon’s proposed defence budget also includes $75 billion for drone and counterdrone capabilities.

Vodafone Idea has secured a first tranche of Rs 6,400 crore from a bank consortium led by State Bank of India, as it works to strengthen its funding position. The funding includes Rs 1,183 crore raised through warrant proceeds, along with debt funding and non-funded facilities. In the first quarter of FY27, the company reported a net loss of Rs 3,754 crore, narrower than Rs 6,608 crore a year earlier. The stock rose 3% intraday to Rs 13.30 from a prior close of Rs 12.91 on the BSE.

India’s National Stock Exchange will add BSE Ltd. to the Nifty 50 and remove Wipro in the benchmark’s semiannual review, effective September 30. Passive funds tracking the index collectively manage about Rs 9 trillion in assets. Wipro could see net selling of roughly $149 million after the change, according to Nuvama Wealth Management.

Milky Mist Dairy Food Ltd’s IPO will be open for subscription from August 11 to August 13, with a price band of Rs 133 to Rs 140 per share. In the anchor round, institutions subscribed above the available shares and the company allotted 3.32 crore shares at Rs 140, raising Rs 465.30 crore. Zulia Investments led the anchor allocation with 1.14 crore shares, making it the largest anchor investor.