Indian equities are set for a soft start on Friday, mirroring mixed global cues as investors adopt a cautious stance ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium later today. At 7:30 a.m., GIFT Nifty futures were trading 28 points lower at 25,084, signalling a gap-down opening for the Sensex and Nifty.

On Thursday, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty continued their gaining streak for the sixth straight session, registering their longest rally in two months. The 30-share Sensex rose by 0.17% to reclaim the crucial 82,000 mark, while the Nifty added 0.13% to settle at 25,083.75, as cautious prevailed in the market ahead of the Jackson Hole Symposium.

The BSE Sensex has rallied 1,765 points and the NSE Nifty gained 596 points in the past six sessions, driven by optimism around GST rationalisation, S&P’s sovereign rating upgrade for India, and easing geopolitical concerns. This sustained market momentum has significantly boosted investor wealth, adding nearly ₹12 lakh crore in just six sessions. The total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies climbed to ₹456.27 lakh crore as of August 21, up from ₹444.25 lakh crore recorded on August 12, 2025.

U.S. stocks end in red ahead of Powell speech

On Wall Street, major indices extended their losing streak overnight ahead of the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.4% for its fifth straight decline, while the Dow Jones and Nasdaq each lost 0.34%. Investors remained wary after Fed minutes indicated concerns around the labor market and inflation, even as policymakers opined it premature to cut rates.

Asian markets edge higher

In Asia-Pacific region, all major markets were trading higher, with South Korea’s KOSPI climbing nearly 1%, Japan’s Nikkei gaining 0.1%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up 0.2%. Other regional markets, including Singapore, Taiwan, and China, were trading in a narrow positive range ahead of Powell’s remarks, which are expected to provide fresh direction on the Fed’s policy path.

Stocks to watch today

Vedanta: The metal and mining company has declared a second interim dividend of ₹16 per share for FY26, amounting to a total payout of ₹6,256 crore.

Wipro: The IT major has signed an agreement to acquire the Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) unit of Harman, a Samsung company.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise: Promoter Suneetha Reddy is likely to sell up to a 1.25% stake in the company worth around ₹1,395 crore through block deals, at a floor price of ₹7,747 per share.

Hindustan Unilever (HUL): The FMCG major has appointed Niranjan Gupta as CFO-designate from September 1.

Titagarh Rail Systems: The company received an LOI worth ₹467.25 crore from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers to build two research vessels for the Geological Survey of India.

Texmaco Rail & Engineering: The company has won an order worth ₹103.16 crore from Leap Grain Rail Logistics for the supply of BCBFG wagons and BVCM Brake Vans, to be delivered within 10 months.

NTPC Green Energy: Its arm NTPC Renewable Energy declared commercial operations of an additional 49.125 MW from the 300 MW Khavda Solar Project in Gujarat.

Yes Bank: The shareholders of the private lender has approved the reappointment of Prashant Kumar as MD & CEO for a fresh term from October 6, 2025, to April 5, 2026.

Eternal: The parent company of Zomato and Blinkit has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Blinkit Foods Pvt Ltd, on August 21.

Hindustan Foods: The company signed a Share Subscription Agreement to acquire 24,643 Series B CCPS, translating to a 25.07% stake in Asar Green Kabadi, for ₹5 crore.

SJVN: The first 660 MW unit of the 1,320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project has been successfully synchronized with the National Grid.

Hikal: The company received a warning letter from the USFDA for its Jigani, Bengaluru facility following an inspection conducted between February 3–7.

GHV Infra Projects: The company has secured an order worth ₹2,000 crore from Valor Estate to serve as EPC partner for the PAP & Police Housing Project in Malad (East), Mumbai.

R Systems International: The IT company will acquire Novigo Solutions, a specialist in low-code/no-code and automation services, for an upfront cash consideration of ₹400 crore plus stock-based earnouts. The board also cleared the issue of NCDs worth up to ₹275 crore on a private placement basis.

(DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by investment experts on fortuneindia.com are either their own or of their organisations, but not necessarily that of fortuneindia.com and its editorial team. Readers are advised to consult certified experts before taking investment decisions.)