Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty -- ended the range-bound session in green terrain on Thursday. Index made a positive start despite mixed cues from other Asian markets. Market sentiments improved after HSBC's flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rocketed to 65.2 in August from 61.1 last month. However, upside remained capped as market participants avoid risky bid ahead of weekly F&O expiry. Further, the government data showed that eight infrastructure sectors' growth fell to a two-month low of 2 per cent in July 2025 due to a dip in the production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products. 

In afternoon session, index continued its trade in green. Market participants took some support as the Labour Ministry in its latest payroll data showed that retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) recorded a 13.46% year-on-year growth in net member addition of 21.89 lakh in June, marking the highest recorded addition since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. In last leg of the trade, index trimmed most of its gains but closed above 25,050 mark.

Traders were seen piling up positions in Pharma, Realty and Oil & Gas stocks, while selling was witnessed in FMCG, Auto and PSU Bank. The top gainers from the F&O segment were PG Electroplast, Mankind Pharma and Cipla. On the other hand, the top losers were BSE, Angel One and Multi Commodity Exchange of India. In the index option segment, maximum OI continues to be seen in the 25900 - 26100 calls and 24900 - 25100 puts indicating this is the trading range expectation.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility decreased by 3.50% and reached 11.37. The 50 share Nifty up by 33.20 point or 0.13% to settle at 25,083.75.

Nifty August 2025 futures closed at 25110.40 (LTP) on Thursday, at a premium of 26.65 points over spot closing of 25083.75, while Nifty September 2025 futures ended at 25255.00 (LTP), at a premium of 171.25 points over spot closing. Nifty August futures saw a contraction of 3,392 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,08,465 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on August 28, 2025. (Provisional) 

From the most active contracts, BSE August 2025 futures traded at a discount of 9.10 points at 2321.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 2330.10. The numbers of contracts traded were 38,975. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries August 2025 futures traded at a discount of 0.80 points at 1423.50 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1424.30. The numbers of contracts traded were 29,234. (Provisional)

Tata Consultancy Services August 2025 futures traded at a discount of 2.00 points at 3098.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 3100.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 22,822. (Provisional)

Infosys August 2025 futures traded at a premium of 1.90 points at 1497.40 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1495.50. The numbers of contracts traded were 19,575. (Provisional)

ETERNAL August 2025 futures traded at a premium of 0.10 points at 321.60 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 321.50. The numbers of contracts traded were 18,745. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 25100 SP from the August month expiry was the most active call with an addition of 24,271 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 25100 SP from the August month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 29,164 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (1,45,869 units) and that for Puts was at 25000 SP (1,12,899 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 25139.97 -- Pivot Point 25097.43 -- Support 25041.22.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.01) for August month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (1.24), Maruti Suzuki India (1.12), L&T Finance (1.12), Petronet LNG (1.11) and Interglobe Aviation (1.05).

Among most active underlying BSE witnessed an addition of 6,890 units of Open Interest in the August month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 119 units of Open Interest in the August month future, Eternal witnessed an addition of 2,414 units of Open Interest in the August month futures, HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 1,463 units of Open Interest in the August month futures and ICICI Bank witnessed an addition of 2,767 units of Open Interest in the August month futures. (Provisional).