Market Pulse Lesson 31 of 31
Market Pulse

Stock Market Today 3 August 2026: NIFTY Up 1.6% — Broad Gains Led by IT & Cement

BreakingTrade AI | | 6 min read | 55 views

📊 Market Summary

The NIFTY index closed higher by 1.60% at 24,774.30, supported by broad gains across sectors. Bank NIFTY outperformed with a 1.72% rise, closing at 58,247.95. Among the ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, 153 advanced while only 40 declined, reflecting a bullish market mood. The average price change among these stocks was a healthy 1.19%, signaling strong participation.

🏆 Top Gainers & Losers

Top Gainers% ChangeSectorNotes
LTM+7.52%Information TechnologyNeutral extended upward day, volume 30x avg
JUBLFOOD+7.31%DiversifiedNormal varied upward day, strong opening move, buying at lows
APLAPOLLO+6.71%InfrastructureNormal varied upward day, heavy volume 63x avg, buying tail
DIVISLAB+6.57%PharmaceuticalsNormal varied upward day, open rejection upwards, buying tail
NATIONALUM+5.41%Metals & MiningNeutral extended upward day, volume 19x avg
Top Losers% ChangeSectorNotes
MUTHOOTFIN-7.33%Banking & FinanceNormal day, volume 25.7x avg
CGPOWER-4.32%InfrastructureNeutral extended downward day, volume 5.3x avg
GAIL-3.94%Energy & OilNormal day, volume 18.1x avg
IEX-3.21%Banking & FinanceNeutral extended downward day, volume 12.7x avg
DELHIVERY-2.48%DiversifiedNormal varied downward day, volume 5.4x avg

🏭 Sector Scorecard

SectorAverage % ChangeNumber of Stocks
Cement+2.97%5
Information Technology+2.92%12
Chemicals+1.62%5
FMCG+1.59%14
Automobile+1.52%15
Diversified+1.49%35
Infrastructure+1.14%26
Realty+1.09%6
Metals & Mining+1.00%10
Banking & Finance+0.97%54
Energy & Oil+0.49%17
Telecom-0.05%3
Pharmaceuticals-0.09%16

💰 FII/DII Activity

On 3 August 2026, the activity of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) showed some interesting trends that retail traders should keep an eye on.

FIIs maintained a bullish sentiment with a net long position in futures of 492,410 contracts. This means they are generally optimistic about the market's near-term direction, which can be a positive signal for retail traders looking for upward momentum. FIIs held 3,522,404 long futures contracts against 3,029,994 short futures contracts.

On the other hand, DIIs took a more cautious or bearish stance with a significant net short futures position of -3,877,268 contracts. They had only 349,833 long futures contracts compared to 4,227,101 short futures contracts. This divergence between FIIs and DIIs suggests some uncertainty in the market, so retail traders should be mindful of potential volatility.

Participant Futures Long Futures Short Futures Net Position
FII 3,522,404 3,029,994 +492,410
DII 349,833 4,227,101 -3,877,268

For retail traders, this mixed picture means it's important to watch how these big players adjust their positions in the coming days. FIIs' bullish stance could drive prices higher, but DIIs' heavy short positioning might add some resistance or volatility. Staying cautious and keeping an eye on market cues will be key.

📰 News That Moved Markets

  • NOCIL, a small-cap chemical stock, surged 12% after reporting a 61% year-on-year jump in Q1 profits, signaling strong sector fundamentals.
  • Wheels Consolidated posted a 17.82% year-on-year increase in June 2026 net sales to ₹1,491 crore, supporting positive sentiment in the automobile sector.
  • CCL Products reported a 13.72% rise in consolidated June 2026 net sales to ₹1,200 crore, reflecting steady demand in the FMCG space.

📈 Volume & Smart Money Signals

Volume surged significantly in 193 of the ~218 scanned stocks, indicating strong participation. Several top gainers like APLAPOLLO and DIVISLAB saw volume multiples of 63x and 16.7x their averages respectively, confirming aggressive buying. High delivery percentages in blue-chip stocks such as HINDUNILVR (78.7%), TITAN (77.6%), and HDFCBANK (74.8%) suggest strong conviction among long-term investors.

🔮 Under the Hood: Market Structure

Today’s market structure showed a bullish bias with 64 stocks experiencing a normal varied upward day (a session where prices moved higher but within a broader range) and only 43 showing downward variation. The opening was strong with 78 stocks gapping up and 52 opening above the previous day’s fair value zone (the price range where most trading occurred). There were 47 instances of a strong directional move from the opening bell (open drive up), while none showed a downward open drive.

The most-traded price levels (Point of Control) generally shifted higher, supporting the upward trend. Buying tails, which indicate aggressive buying at the day’s lows, appeared in 80 stocks, double the number of selling tails at 40. Rapid price movements with no trading left behind (single prints) were more frequent on the upside (14) than the downside (2), reinforcing bullish momentum.

⚡ F&O Highlights

No stocks were placed on the F&O ban list today, allowing unrestricted trading in all futures and options contracts. The market is approaching the weekly expiry tomorrow, 4 August 2026, which may bring increased volatility.

🎯 Stocks to Watch Tomorrow

  • LTM – With a 7.5% gain today on strong volume and a neutral extended upward day, it could continue its momentum.
  • JUBLFOOD – Showing strong buying interest and a powerful opening move, watch for further upside.
  • APLAPOLLO – Exceptional volume surge and buying at lows suggest potential continuation.
  • DIVISLAB – Pharmaceutical sector stock with strong rejection upwards and buying tail, worth monitoring.
  • MUTHOOTFIN – After a sharp 7.3% decline, watch for possible recovery or further weakness.

📐 Key Levels for Tomorrow

IndexSupportResistanceFair Value Zone
NIFTY24,538.20 (Value Area Low)24,618.20 (Value Area High)24,538.20 to 24,618.20
BANKNIFTY57,635.70 (Value Area Low)57,835.70 (Value Area High)57,635.70 to 57,835.70

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the stock market on 3 August 2026?

The NIFTY index rose 1.60% to close at 24,774.30, supported by broad gains across sectors. Among ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, 153 advanced while 40 declined, reflecting a bullish market mood with strong volume and buying interest.

Which stocks gained the most today?

Top gainers included LTM (+7.52%), JUBLFOOD (+7.31%), APLAPOLLO (+6.71%), DIVISLAB (+6.57%), and NATIONALUM (+5.41%), driven by strong volume and buying tails.

Did FIIs buy or sell today?

As of 31 July 2026, FIIs were net buyers with a futures net long position of 471,350 contracts and a total net long of 760,001 contracts, indicating a bullish stance in recent trading.

What are the key NIFTY levels for tomorrow?

Support is at 24,538.20 (Value Area Low) and resistance at 24,618.20 (Value Area High). The fair value zone lies between 24,538.20 and 24,618.20.

What does today's market structure indicate?

The market showed a bullish structure with many stocks opening above the previous day's fair value zone and strong directional moves from the open. Buying tails and upward rapid price moves (single prints) outnumbered selling signals, suggesting sustained buying interest.

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