Nifty Declines Amid RBI, LIC OFS and Brent Concerns


    By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)

    Summary :


    The Nifty 50 declined more than 1% on August 4 as investors remained cautious ahead of the RBI's monetary policy decision. Selling pressure intensified amid the government's LIC offer for sale, a rise in Brent crude prices following fresh geopolitical tensions, and weakness in heavyweight stocks including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries.

    Why Did Indian Markets Fall Today?

    The Nifty 50 was trading lower in Tuesday's session at 24,480.75, down 293.55 points or 1.18%, while the BSE Sensex was hovering at 78,331.66, lower by 307.37 points or 0.39%. The session was marked by broad-based selling pressure, with multiple headwinds weighing on market sentiment throughout the day. 

    CAS Confusion Inflates Monday's Close, Leaves Tuesday Open Exposed

    Monday's session had ended with an unusual divergence between the two benchmark indices. The Nifty 50 rose 1.6% to close at 24,774.30, while the Sensex ended 0.7% higher at 78,639.03, a gap far wider than what the two indices would typically show on a single shared trading session.

    The reason was structural rather than market-driven. NSE introduced its Closing Auction Session, or CAS, on August 3, 2026, replacing the earlier method of determining closing prices for F&O-eligible stocks, which was based on the volume-weighted average price of trades during the final 30 minutes of continuous trading. Under CAS, buy and sell orders at the close are matched through a single-price auction, and the resulting price becomes the official close. Since the Sensex continued to use VWAP-based pricing for its constituent stocks, the two indices diverged sharply in their closing prints.

    The CAS runs as a separate 20-minute session from 3:15 pm to 3:35 pm. The first five minutes are reserved for reference price calculation and the transition from continuous trading, followed by five minutes for order entry before the auction price is determined. The Nifty's elevated Monday close was not a signal of genuine buying strength but an artefact of the new system's first day in operation. Traders who had positioned overnight on the back of that close were left exposed as Tuesday's session opened significantly lower, setting an immediate negative tone that the market struggled to shake through the day.

    LIC Offer for Sale Weighs on Market Sentiment 

    The government's announcement of an offer for sale (OFS) in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) also weighed on market sentiment. Under the two-day OFS, the government plans to divest up to a 6.5% stake (2.5% base plus a 4% green shoe option) at a floor price of ₹382 per share—approximately a 10% discount to Monday's closing price—with the issue opening for non-retail bidders on Tuesday.

    RBI MPC Meeting on August 5 Keeps Markets on Edge 

    The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India was scheduled to meet on August 5, 2026, and given that there was uncertainty regarding the outlook for interest rates, market participants stayed on guard. There were divided expectations on whether the MPC would continue with the existing policy stance or react to changes in inflation and international commodity prices. The cautious sentiment ahead of the policy decision weighed on the market. 

    Brent Jumps 2.5% as Strait of Hormuz Standoff Deepens

    Brent crude surged nearly 2.5% to approach $86 per barrel after fresh tensions flared over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes each day.

    Mohsen Rezaee, a senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, stated on Monday that Tehran would not permit any shipping route through the waterway other than the one designated by the Islamic Republic. This came in direct response to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had suggested discussions were under way to reopen the strait fully. The back-and-forth escalated further after Trump called Iranian leadership "unbelievably duplicitous," accusing them of requesting talks only to publicly deny any such discussions were taking place. Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that no negotiations with the US were ongoing and added that Tehran was separately in discussions with Oman regarding a temporary safe corridor through the strait. The absence of diplomatic progress reignited fears of a supply disruption and sent Brent sharply higher, a particularly painful development for India, which is a major crude importer and acutely sensitive to oil price swings.

    HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Reliance Decline 2%

    Sharp drops in three of the Nifty 50's most influential constituents amplified the decline. HDFC Bank fell approximately 2%, ICICI Bank dropped around 1.5%, and Reliance Industries declined close to 2%. Given their combined weight in the index, these three stocks alone accounted for a significant share of the headline loss. Banking stocks were additionally pressured by MPC uncertainty, while Reliance's decline reflected market concerns over the direct impact of rising crude oil prices on downstream profitability.

    Source: Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ), NSE

    About the Author

    SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).


    Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise. 

    Published Date : 04 Aug 2026

    Disclaimer :

    Investments in securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

    The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes.

    The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and/or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.

    Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.

    BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.


    Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



    This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

    For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer

    Read More Blogs

    Our Secure Trading Platforms

    Level up your stock market experience: Scan the QR to download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading

    QR code to download Bajaj Broking App

    1 M+ Users

    4.8 App Rating

    4 Languages

    ₹7,300 Cr+ MTF Book