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Sensex, Nifty end higher, hit five-month peaks on Monday

Sensex closed 544 points higher at 78,639 and Nifty rose 391 points to 24,774 on Monday, marking a five-month high.

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The Sensex ended 544 points, or 0.7 per cent, higher at 78,639 on Monday, while the Nifty advanced 391 points, or 1.6 per cent, to close at 24,774.

The benchmark indices rose for a fourth straight session, reaching their highest levels in five months.

A steep decline in crude oil prices, renewed foreign institutional investor inflows, and a stronger rupee drove the day’s gains, as West Asia tensions eased.

IT stocks led the market, with the sector’s index rising more than 3 per cent during the session.

The Nifty Midcap 100 index gained 1.21 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 1.29 per cent in the broader market.

Investors are now focused on the upcoming Reserve Bank of India monetary policy meeting for further cues.

Monday’s close marked the fourth consecutive session of gains for both benchmark indices, a winning streak that has helped lift Indian equities to their strongest levels since roughly March 2026.

The rupee’s strength against the US dollar was cited alongside falling crude prices as a factor supporting investor sentiment, given India’s heavy reliance on imported oil.

Trading volumes on both the BSE and NSE were reported to be above recent averages during Monday’s session, reflecting the heightened investor activity that accompanied the rally.

The rally was broad-based, with the Nifty Midcap 100 index up 1.21 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index gaining 1.29 per cent over the session.

Information technology stocks led the gains, with the sector index rising more than 3 per cent as easing crude prices and a steadier rupee lifted sentiment across export-facing companies.

Investors remained focused on the upcoming Reserve Bank of India monetary policy meeting, which could influence the near-term direction of both equity and bond markets.

Renewed foreign institutional investor inflows and easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia were cited as key drivers behind the day’s gains, alongside a steep fall in crude oil prices.

Photo by Kumar Appaiah, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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FSSAI’s crackdown: 150+ notices to Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola

FSSAI has issued more than 150 notices to major food and beverage brands including Nestle, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola over misleading advertisements and labelling violations.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued more than 150 notices to major food and beverage companies as part of a crackdown on misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling violations.

Companies named in the drive include Nestle India, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola India, Abbott India, Red Bull India, Danone India and Monster Energy India, among several others.

FSSAI said the action was taken to protect consumers from misleading information and ensure products in the market comply with established safety and labelling standards.

Twelve notices were also sent to e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart, with one Amazon warehouse licence cancelled as part of the crackdown.

More than 30 notices went to food service chains including KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Costa Coffee, with five Domino’s licences suspended.

The regulator said several companies have already begun taking corrective measures following the notices, as part of what has been described as one of its biggest enforcement drives to date.

FSSAI said in a statement that the notices covered misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling non-compliances found during its review.

The regulator noted that several of the companies named have already begun taking corrective measures following the notices, as part of its ongoing compliance enforcement effort.

FSSAI has framed the drive as part of a broader push to strengthen consumer protection standards across the food and beverage industry, rather than a one-off campaign targeting specific brands.

The companies named include Nestle India, PepsiCo, Abbott India, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India, Hell Energy, Mondelez India, Coca-Cola India, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Ferrero India and Kenvue.

The violations flagged by FSSAI span misleading advertisements, false health claims and labelling non-compliances across the companies’ product lines.

Twelve notices were also issued to major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart, with one Amazon warehouse licence cancelled as part of the enforcement action.

Photo by Chaitra B.H., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Gold rate today: 24K near Rs 1.6 lakh per 10 grams in Delhi, Mumbai

Gold prices in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata held near Rs 1,60,640 per 10 grams for 24K today, as global bullion prices trade near two-month highs.

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Gold prices in India remained near record levels today, with 24-carat gold trading around Rs 1,60,640 per 10 grams in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai.

22-carat gold was priced at roughly Rs 1,47,260 per 10 grams in the same cities, while Mumbai and Kolkata saw similar rates, marginally below Delhi’s.

Silver also traded higher, with rates around Rs 27,710 per 100 grams in Delhi and Rs 27,090 per 100 grams in Mumbai.

The domestic strength reflects a broader global rally, with spot gold surging past $4,400 an ounce, its highest level in more than two months, up roughly 11 percent since the start of August.

The rally has been fuelled by cooling US inflation data reshaping expectations around Federal Reserve policy, a weaker dollar, and sustained heavy buying by central banks.

Market watchers are tracking upcoming US economic data and currency movements for further direction, with domestic Indian rates expected to continue tracking the international trend closely.

Silver prices have also moved higher alongside gold, with MCX silver futures gaining nearly 1 percent in trading tied to today’s session.

Domestic gold rates in India typically track international bullion trends closely, with the rupee’s movement against the dollar also playing a role in daily price swings.

Globally, spot gold has surged past $4,400 an ounce, its highest level in more than two months, rising roughly 11 percent since the start of August.

Cooling US inflation data has shifted expectations around Federal Reserve monetary policy, with moderating inflation and weaker labour market readings reducing the likelihood of further rate hikes.

Central banks bought a quarterly record of 288.9 tonnes of gold in the second quarter of this year, even as prices fell during that stretch.

A survey found roughly 45 percent of central banks expect to further increase their gold reserves over the next 12 months, according to industry data.

Photo by Adbh266, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Augmont Enterprises IPO subscribed 2.88 times as bidding continues

Augmont Enterprises’ Rs 825 crore IPO has been subscribed 2.88 times as bidding continues through August 25, with grey market premium signalling 35-36% listing gains.

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Augmont Enterprises’ initial public offering has been subscribed 2.88 times, with bidding for the Rs 825 crore issue continuing through August 25.

The IPO opened on August 21 with a price band of Rs 750-788 per share, made up of a fresh issue worth Rs 620 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 205 crore.

Non-institutional investors have shown the strongest demand at 4.18 times subscribed, followed by retail investors at 2.94 times and qualified institutional buyers at 1.85 times.

Augmont Enterprises operates an integrated precious metals platform spanning procurement and refining, bullion trading, digital gold, jewellery manufacturing and international sales.

The basis of allotment is expected to be finalised on August 27, with shares credited to successful applicants’ demat accounts by August 28 and listing on the BSE and NSE tentatively set for August 31.

Grey market premium ahead of listing has pointed to gains of around 35-36 percent over the issue price, though brokerages have flagged thin operating margins as a risk factor for investors.

Most brokerages tracking the issue have recommended subscribing, citing Augmont’s integrated business model spanning procurement, refining, bullion trading and digital gold, though some flagged thin operating margins of below 0.4 percent and customer concentration as risks.

Founded in October 2012 and based in Mumbai, Augmont Enterprises operates across 24 states in India, alongside international sales and gold-backed financial services.

The IPO’s minimum application lot is 19 shares, meaning a retail investor bidding at the upper price band of Rs 788 would need to invest at least Rs 14,972.

Augmont Enterprises reported a net profit of Rs 348.30 crore in FY26, with total income of Rs 94,282.47 crore, giving the company a market capitalisation of more than Rs 7,200 crore at the upper price band.

Nuvama Wealth Management is the book running lead manager for the issue, with MUFG Intime India serving as registrar.

Photo by Slav4 (Ariel Palmon), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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