Monday, August 17, 2026. $NIFTY stalls below 25,100 as $SENSEX bulls and bears wait. $GIFTNIFTY flat. India Inc Q1 revenue +19.4%, best in 9 quarters.

That profit pop is narrow. Nifty profit growth hit a 10-quarter high but 5 stocks did the heavy lifting. Margins squeezed by rising costs. RBI is busy: defending $USDINR at 95.45 as crude rises, cutting FX swap window as NRI deposits surge. NBFCs want rethink on revolving credit curb; KCC subsidy cut 50 bps. Global tape mixed: China/HK chipmakers rally on earnings, Japan slips after GDP miss. Crude pressure is the local risk. So what? Expect a cautious Tuesday open. Dips possible before $NIFTY tries 25,100 again. Watch rupee, crude, and whether earnings breadth broadens. Watch: $6.3B

That profit pop is narrow. Nifty profit growth hit a 10-quarter high but 5 stocks did the heavy lifting. Margins squeezed by rising costs.