Stock Market Today: Sensex Moves Above 81,400 Mark as GST Reform Hopes and Diplomacy Drive Sentiment
Good morning, market enthusiasts! Trading is starting off strong: Sensex is hovering above 81,400, while Nifty remains close to 25,000, its like almost ther. The upbeat momentum continues from Monday, which was powered by domestic optimism, FII pump in, and notably the S&P sovereign rating upgrade and on the hopes of PM Modi’s promise of GST reform by Diwali.
But it’s not just India driving today’s sentiment. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump met Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, adding to that he announced efforts to arrange a direct Putin–Zelenskyy summit.
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy sparked hopes of a Putin summit, offering markets a ray of geopolitical stability and optimism. but the cautious sentiments clouds the markets globally.
And on that note the things are easing out and Oil cools, gold becomes steady, FIIs pause, but strong domestic buying and positive cues keep overall market sentiment upbeat and resilient.
Investors are still cheering the S&P rating upgrade and PM Modi’s hint at GST rate cuts by Diwali. Auto stocks broke records yesterday, and with GST reforms potentially making essentials and vehicles cheaper, traders are staying optimistic.
Meanwhile, GIFT Nifty signaled this upbeat open, and all eyes are now on the Fed’s Jackson Hole meeting and earnings from big US retailers like Walmart and Target.
Stock Market Today Opening Bell
Market Snapshot (August 19, 2025) At Exactly 9:15 Am
Sensex: 81,388.98 up with 115 pts
Nifty: 4,899.20 up with 22 pts
Sensex rose 115 pts to 81,388.98, Nifty up 22 pts to 24,899.20 amid mixed cues and GST reform optimism.
At 9:40 AM, Sensex stood at 81,388.97, up 115.22 points (0.14%), while Nifty reached 24,899.45, gaining 22.50 points (0.09%), signaling a positive market start.
Stocks To Watch Today
- Tata Steel
Tata Steel Advanced Materials has divested its entire equity and preference stake in Ceramat (CPL) to Lionstead Applied Materials. CPL will no longer be a subsidiary. - Reliance Industries (RIL)
Reliance Consumer Products, the FMCG arm of RIL, has entered the healthy beverage market by acquiring a majority stake in a joint venture with Naturedge Beverages. - Vedanta
The board will meet on August 21 to consider a second interim dividend. The record date is August 27, 2025. - Vodafone Idea
Vodafone Idea is looking at non-banking funding sources for its capital expenditure, as banks await clarity on the AGR issue. - JSW Steel
Signed an agreement with South Korea’s Posco to explore setting up a 6 million tonnes per annum integrated steel plant in India, with Odisha as a top location candidate.
Read More: Stocks To Watch Today: Reliance, TATA, JSW, Vodafone, MTNL And Others In Focus Today
Stock Market On Monday
Sensex, Nifty rally on S&P Upgrade and GST Reform Buzz
What a great start it was to the week for the markets and market investors!
On Monday, August 18, Indian equity indices surged for the third straight session, and fueled by a mix of strong domestic cues and easing global pressures. The Sensex rallied 676 points to close at 81,273.75, while the Nifty jumped 251 points, ending at 24,882.50, and for a fact, that’s a solid 1% gain for both!
If you did not watch the charts yesterday, you might be wondering, What sparked the rally?
A sovereign rating upgrade from S&P, hopes of GST reform by Diwali, and cooling oil prices after Trump-Putin ‘no deal’ meeting in Alaska. Investors clearly loved it, and the sentiments took off!
Big names from auto sector like Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Finance led the gainers list, hitting fresh highs. The Auto index soared 4%, while consumer durables rose 3%, and realty climbed 2%.
Only IT, media, and power lagged slightly. The midcap and smallcap indices also joined the party, gaining 1% and 1.4% respectively.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an investment advice. Prior to making an investment, conduct thorough research and consult with your financial advisor.)
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
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