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Market Pulse

Stock Market Today 31 July 2026: NIFTY Edges Higher — Banking & Infrastructure Lead Gains

BreakingTrade AI | | 6 min read | 1 views

📊 Market Summary

The NIFTY index closed higher by 0.29% at 24,366.70 on 31 July 2026, reflecting a broadly bullish sentiment among the ~200 actively traded F&O stocks. The Bank NIFTY also edged up 0.19% to 57,214.10. Among F&O stocks, 109 advanced while 65 declined, with an average gain of 0.46%. The market opened with a mix of gap ups and trading within the previous day's price range, signaling cautious optimism.

🏆 Top Gainers & Losers

Top Gainers% ChangeSector
BAJFINANCE+7.84%Banking & Finance
HYUNDAI+6.99%Automobile
BAJAJFINSV+6.35%Banking & Finance
TORNTPHARM+5.11%Pharmaceuticals
INOXWIND+4.37%Infrastructure
Top Losers% ChangeSector
APLAPOLLO-4.49%Infrastructure
DIXON-3.98%Diversified
MANKIND-3.81%Pharmaceuticals
LODHA-3.50%Realty
LICHSGFIN-3.34%Banking & Finance

🏭 Sector Scorecard

SectorAverage % ChangeNumber of Stocks
Infrastructure+1.57%26
Automobile+1.54%15
Banking & Finance+1.04%54
Energy & Oil+0.77%17
Telecom+0.75%3
Pharmaceuticals+0.29%16
Metals & Mining+0.15%10
Chemicals+0.04%5
Realty-0.25%6
Cement-0.39%5
Diversified-0.42%35
Information Technology-0.74%12
FMCG-1.07%14

💰 FII/DII Activity

As of 30 July 2026, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) showed a bullish stance with a net futures long position of 435,677 contracts and a total net long position of 720,860 contracts. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, held a net short futures position of -3,881,880 contracts and a total net short position of -3,958,902 contracts. This divergence suggests FIIs were buyers while DIIs were sellers in the recent session.

📰 News That Moved Markets

  • Indian IT Stocks Rally: Global funds shifted away from AI stocks, boosting Indian IT shares, contributing to sector gains.
  • Strides Pharma Science Q1 PAT: Reported a 56.7% rise to ₹165.5 crore, supporting pharmaceutical sector sentiment.
  • Multibagger Apollo Micro Systems: Jumped 3% after completing an Indian Navy project, highlighting defense sector interest.
  • Asia Stocks Climb: KOSPI rebound and BOJ rate hold lifted regional markets, adding to positive sentiment.
  • Bearish Note: Indian suppliers of cables and cooling products face AI-related challenges, slightly weighing on sentiment.

📈 Volume & Smart Money Signals

Volume surged above 1.5 times average in 81 stocks, indicating strong participation. BajFinance led with a 10.7x volume spike alongside a strong upward move and aggressive buying at lows. Several infrastructure stocks like KEI and Ashok Leyland also showed elevated volumes with buying interest. High delivery percentages in stocks such as SBILIFE (75.0%), MFSL (74.6%), and NYKAA (70.9%) suggest strong conviction among long-term investors.

🔮 Under the Hood: Market Structure

Today’s market showed a Normal Var Up day type for the NIFTY, indicating a range expansion with a slight upward bias. The opening was mixed, with 42 stocks gapping up and 93 opening within the previous day's fair value zone (the price range where most trading occurred). There were 44 instances of a strong directional move from the opening bell upwards, compared to 20 downwards, supporting the bullish tone.

The Point of Control (the most-traded price level) remained steady near 24,358.20, while the Value Area High (the upper boundary of the fair value zone) shifted slightly higher to 24,398.20. Aggressive buying at the day’s lows (buying tails) were seen in 88 stocks, reinforcing support levels, while selling tails appeared in 41 stocks. Rapid price moves without much trading activity (single prints) were more frequent on the upside (13) than downside (6), suggesting strong buying interest.

⚡ F&O Highlights

No stocks were placed on the F&O ban list today, indicating healthy market conditions without extreme volatility in any single stock.

📅 Upcoming Events

The next weekly F&O expiry is scheduled for 4 August 2026, with the monthly expiry on 25 August 2026. No major corporate results or macroeconomic events are expected in the coming days.

🎯 Stocks to Watch Tomorrow

  • BAJFINANCE: With a 7.8% gain and 10.7x volume surge today, watch for continuation or profit booking.
  • HYUNDAI: Strong 7.0% rally on high volume; monitor for momentum in the automobile sector.
  • TORNTPHARM: Pharmaceutical sector pick with 5.1% gain and buying interest.
  • APLAPOLLO: After a 4.5% drop, watch for potential support or further weakness in infrastructure.
  • SBILIFE: High delivery percentage (75.0%) signals strong institutional interest.

📐 Key Levels for Tomorrow

IndexSupportResistanceFair Value Zone
NIFTY24,358.20 (Value Area Low)24,398.20 (Value Area High)24,358.20 to 24,398.20
BANKNIFTY57,135.70 (Value Area Low)57,335.70 (Value Area High)57,135.70 to 57,335.70

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the stock market on 31 July 2026?

The NIFTY index closed higher by 0.29% at 24,366.70, supported by gains in Banking, Infrastructure, and Automobile sectors. Market breadth was positive among the ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, with 109 advancing and 65 declining.

Which stocks gained the most today?

Top gainers included BAJFINANCE (+7.84%), HYUNDAI (+6.99%), BAJAJFINSV (+6.35%), TORNTPHARM (+5.11%), and INOXWIND (+4.37%). These stocks showed strong volume and buying interest.

Did FIIs buy or sell today?

As of 30 July 2026, FIIs were net buyers with a net futures long position of 435,677 contracts and a total net long position of 720,860 contracts, indicating bullish sentiment.

What are the key NIFTY levels for tomorrow?

Support is at 24,358.20 (Value Area Low), resistance at 24,398.20 (Value Area High), with the fair value zone between 24,358.20 and 24,398.20.

What does today's market structure indicate?

The market showed a Normal Var Up day type, with the most-traded price level steady and the fair value zone expanding slightly higher. Aggressive buying at lows and more rapid upward price moves suggest strong buying interest and a bullish bias.

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