Markets Hold Steady Amid RBI’s Repo Rate Decision, Trade Tensions Linger
Indian equities traded within a tight range as the Reserve Bank of India maintained its benchmark repo rate at 5.5%, aligning with market expectations. The Monetary Policy Committee's neutral stance reflects cautious optimism, with Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlighting robust growth prospects alongside inflationary risks. Retail inflation projections for FY26 were trimmed to 3.7% after June's six-year low of 2.1%.
Sectoral performance diverged sharply, with Asian Paints leading Nifty gainers at ₹2,501.10 (+2.64%) while Wipro dragged the IT sector down 1.56% to ₹242.08. The subdued market reaction suggests investors are weighing domestic policy stability against persistent concerns over US trade policies and global risk sentiment.