Indian equities started the new week on a high note, with the Nifty 50 index climbing 1% to close at 24,876.95 on Monday, August 18. The Bank Nifty also notched up solid gains, finishing at 55,734.90—up by 0.71%. This rally came on the back of renewed global optimism after a closely watched meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled fresh momentum in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Most sectors in India’s market ended in the green, with auto, consumer durables, and metals leading the charge. Bajaj Broking highlighted that Bank Nifty faces key support in the 54,800–55,000 range—a level traders are keeping an eye on for potential pullbacks or further rallies.
Global Sentiment Turns Cautiously Optimistic
Market watchers pointed to possible breakthroughs in Russia-Ukraine peace talks as a key driver behind Monday’s upbeat mood. Both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reportedly shown willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict—a move analysts believe could trigger additional buying across global markets. “Easing tensions may stabilize commodity prices, particularly crude oil and wheat,” one strategist noted, referencing price surges since the war began.
Yet, investors remain vigilant amid broader uncertainties. While Trump expressed support for security guarantees for Ukraine after his meeting with Zelenskyy, details remain scarce on concrete steps to curb future Russian aggression. Meanwhile, US-China trade relations stayed tense, but all eyes were on Trump’s latest decision to impose up to 50% tariffs on Indian goods starting later this month—a move likely to impact certain export sectors.
Asian Markets Pause; Indian Indices Watchful
Elsewhere across Asia, stock markets traded in a tight range Tuesday after recent gains. The S&P 500 Futures slipped slightly in Asian trading (-0.1%), as investors braced for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming Jackson Hole speech—a key event for clues on US monetary policy direction.
Japanese stocks were a rare bright spot thanks to robust second-quarter GDP figures, which offered some relief against the backdrop of sticky inflation and new US trade tariffs. For Indian investors, attention now shifts to whether ongoing diplomacy in Eastern Europe can unlock further market upside—or if global headwinds will keep traders cautious in coming sessions.
