Indian markets remained in green in early afternoon session despite escalating trade tensions with the United States. Traders turned their focus towards domestic Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation figures. Investors took note of report that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is negotiating trade agreements with several countries, including the US, and stressed that many nations are keen to engage with New Delhi on the trade front. He also exuded confidence that India's exports in 2025-26 will exceed last year's figures. In 2024-25, India's goods and services exports touched $825 billion. India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since March. On the global front, Asian markets were trading mixed amid concern about the economic impact of US President Donald Trump's ‘reciprocal tariffs’ targeting more than 90 trading partner nations. 

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 80103.03, up by 245.24 points or 0.31% after trading in a range of 79772.46 and 80223.82. There were 22 stocks advancing against 8 stocks declining on the index.

The broader indices were trading mixed; the BSE Mid cap index gained 0.40%, while Small cap index was down by 0.08%.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Realty up by 0.80%, PSU up by 0.56%, Power up by 0.53%, Healthcare up by 0.51% and Industrials was up by 0.48%, while Consumer Durables down by 0.69%, Telecom down by 0.17% and Oil & Gas was down by 0.06% were the few losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Tata Motors up by 3.07%, SBI up by 1.92%, Trent up by 1.90%, Ultratech Cement up by 1.35% and Axis Bank up by 0.80%. On the flip side, ICICI Bank down by 0.91%, Maruti Suzuki down by 0.40%, Tata Steel down by 0.38%, Bharti Airtel down by 0.30% and Bharat Electronics down by 0.25% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is negotiating trade agreements with several countries, including the US, and stressed that many nations are keen to engage with New Delhi on the trade front. He also exuded confidence that India's exports in 2025-26 will exceed last year's figures. In 2024-25, India's goods and services exports touched $825 billion. India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since March. For the next round of talks, a US team is scheduled to visit India from August 25. These talks assume significance as the US has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. A 25 per cent duty came into effect on August 7, with the remaining 25 per cent set to be implemented from August 27.

The commerce minister said India has recently inked trade agreements with several countries, including the UAE, Mauritius, Australia, EFTA (European Free Trade Area), and the UK. Asked how India will deal with the current global trade order and penal tariffs of the US, he said ‘I do not see any de-globalisation. I see countries restructuring their trade routes and their trade partners and I am quite confident this year, India will do more exports than last year.’ 

He further said that the Indian economy is growing faster and the world is looking up to India. He said ‘the whole world recognises us as the fastest growing large economy. We are contributing 16 per cent in the global growth, our inflation is amongst the lowest in the world compared to other emerging market economies, our macro economic fundamentals are the best. India today is stronger, much more confident, much more respected.’ He also said ‘India is growing at 6.5 per cent and we will of course have trading arrangements with whom we have complimentarities.' These remarks assume significance as US President Donald Trump had remarked that India is a dead economy.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 24443.50, up by 80.20 points or 0.33% after trading in a range of 24347.45 and 24475.20. There were 34 stocks advancing against 16 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Adani Enterprises up by 4.85%, Tata Motors up by 2.90%, SBI up by 1.97%, Grasim Industries up by 1.92% and Trent up by 1.88%. On the flip side, ICICI Bank down by 0.86%, Hero MotoCorp down by 0.78%, Bajaj Auto down by 0.69%, HDFC Life Insurance down by 0.66% and Maruti Suzuki down by 0.44% were the top losers.

Asian markets were trading mixed; Taiwan Weighted added 114.24 points or 0.47% to 24,135.50, Jakarta Composite gained 56.77 points or 0.75% to 7,590.16 and Shanghai Composite was up by 12.42 points or 0.34% to 3,647.55. On the flip side, KOSPI dropped 3.24 points or 0.1% to 3,206.77, Straits Times fell 9.08 points or 0.21% to 4,230.75 and Hang Seng was down by 47.82 points or 0.19% to 24,811.00.