📊 Market Summary
On 28 July 2026, the NIFTY index closed slightly lower by 0.06% at 23,987.80, reflecting a mixed market mood. Bank NIFTY also slipped 0.70% to 56,718.75. Among the ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, 89 advanced while 100 declined, with 31 unchanged. The average price change was a modest 0.03%, indicating a day of cautious trading amid the monthly F&O expiry.
🏆 Top Gainers & Losers
| Top Gainers | % Change | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| COFORGE | +9.94% | Information Technology |
| LODHA | +8.85% | Realty |
| KALYANKJIL | +7.53% | Diversified |
| SWIGGY | +4.83% | Diversified |
| RADICO | +4.42% | FMCG |
| Top Losers | % Change | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| SUZLON | -9.73% | Infrastructure |
| GODFRYPHLP | -8.10% | FMCG |
| VBL | -7.43% | FMCG |
| HINDUNILVR | -7.07% | FMCG |
| NUVAMA | -6.30% | Banking & Finance |
🏭 Sector Scorecard
| Sector | Average % Change | Stocks Traded |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | +3.30% | 12 |
| Realty | +2.87% | 6 |
| Diversified | +0.60% | 35 |
| Automobile | +0.18% | 16 |
| Pharmaceuticals | +0.16% | 16 |
| Banking & Finance | -0.13% | 55 |
| Cement | -0.36% | 5 |
| Metals & Mining | -0.43% | 10 |
| Chemicals | -0.57% | 5 |
| Telecom | -0.74% | 3 |
| Energy & Oil | -0.77% | 17 |
| FMCG | -0.91% | 14 |
| Infrastructure | -1.27% | 26 |
💰 FII/DII Activity
On 28 July 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 358,608 contracts. This means FIIs are generally optimistic about the market's near-term prospects, which can be a positive signal for retail traders looking for upward momentum. Their futures long positions stood at 3,537,055 contracts against 3,178,447 shorts, indicating a moderate preference for buying over selling.
On the other hand, DIIs showed a significant net short position in futures, with a net of -3,886,508 contracts. This suggests DIIs are more cautious or bearish, possibly expecting some downward pressure in the market. Their futures shorts were quite high at 4,215,236 contracts compared to just 328,728 longs.
For retail traders, this divergence means that while FIIs are betting on gains, DIIs are hedging or expecting some corrections. It’s a good idea to watch how these opposing forces play out in the coming sessions.
| Participant | Futures Long | Futures Short | Futures Net Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| FII | 3,537,055 | 3,178,447 | +358,608 |
| DII | 328,728 | 4,215,236 | -3,886,508 |
📰 News That Moved Markets
- Bearish: Ambuja Cements reported a 33.60% decline in consolidated net profit for Q1 June 2026, pressuring cement stocks.
- Bullish: Pine Labs posted a 20% revenue increase to ₹737 crore and a fourfold profit jump in Q1, boosting investor confidence in fintech.
- Bullish: Manipal Health Enterprises IPO generated positive buzz ahead of listing.
- Other: UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF led returns among index funds and ETFs, highlighting sectoral strength.
📈 Volume & Smart Money Signals
Among the ~200 F&O stocks, 87 saw volume surge above 1.5 times their average, signaling active trading. High delivery percentages in stocks like SUNPHARMA (83.1%), KOTAKBANK (74.3%), and POWERGRID (74.2%) suggest strong institutional interest. Notably, HDFCBANK had 69.7% delivery, indicating smart money accumulation despite the broader market's mixed tone.
🔮 Under the Hood: Market Structure
The market exhibited a mixed bias with a variety of day types: 64 stocks showed a normal session with downward variation, while 51 had normal upward variation. Only 2 stocks experienced strong upward trending sessions, and none trended down. The opening was diverse with 22 stocks gapping up, 12 gapping down, and 110 opening within the previous day's fair value zone (the price range where most trading occurred).
There were 25 instances where price broke out of the first hour's range upwards and 23 downwards, reflecting indecision. Aggressive buying at the day's lows (buying tails) appeared in 46 stocks, but selling pressure at highs (selling tails) was stronger with 65 occurrences. Rapid price moves with no trading left behind (single prints) were balanced, with 11 up and 11 down.
Overall, the most-traded price levels (Points of Control) and fair value zones shifted modestly, indicating a non-trending day with mixed participation and no clear directional conviction.
⚡ F&O Highlights
Today was the monthly F&O expiry day, which typically brings higher volatility and rollover activity. No stocks were placed under the F&O ban list, allowing free trading across all derivatives stocks.
🎯 Stocks to Watch Tomorrow
- COFORGE: Strong 9.94% gain on high volume and buying interest suggests momentum continuation.
- LODHA: Realty sector leader with 8.85% rise and buying tails; watch for breakout confirmation.
- PINE LABS: Positive Q1 results may drive further gains.
- HDFCBANK: High delivery percentage signals institutional support despite broader banking weakness.
- SUZLON: Sharp 9.73% decline on heavy volume; watch for possible bounce or further weakness.
📐 Key Levels for Tomorrow
| Index | Support | Resistance | Fair Value Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIFTY | 23958.20 (Value Area Low) | 24038.20 (Value Area High) | 23958.20 to 24038.20 |
| BANKNIFTY | 56835.70 (Value Area Low) | 57035.70 (Value Area High) | 56835.70 to 57035.70 |