Nifty Auto Today: Index Gains 0.43% in Opening Trade

Nifty Auto today opened with a constructive tone, rising 125.05 points, or 0.43%, to 29,303.15 in early trade on 18 August 2026. The sector index was the second top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices at 10:00:04 AM IST, with gains spread across 10 of its 15 tracked stocks.

Quick sector takeaways

• Nifty Auto rose 0.43% to 29,303.15, compared with its previous close of 29,178.10.
• The index traded between 29,178.65 and 29,390.25 in the opening session, placing the latest level below the day high but above the previous close.
• Breadth was positive: 10 stocks advanced and five declined among 15 display-safe stocks.
• Tube Investments of India, Samvardhana Motherson International, Bosch, Bajaj Auto and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the notable gainers. The next signal to watch is whether the index can sustain its position above the previous close while participation remains broad.

Nifty Auto today: early-session strength in focus

The nifty auto today move reflects a measured positive start for the sector. The index began at 29,182.70, only marginally above its previous close, and subsequently moved higher to an intraday high of 29,390.25. At the latest reading, it was up 125.05 points from the previous close.

The index had eased from its session high by the time of the update, yet it remained positive for the day. That keeps the opening picture constructive without suggesting that every auto-linked stock moved in the same direction. The sector’s advance was accompanied by a favourable advance-decline balance, while a group of stocks remained under pressure.

For readers tracking the broader market context alongside this sector move, Univest Market View provides the relevant market dashboard.

Price snapshot

Nifty Auto’s latest level was 29,303.15, against a previous close of 29,178.10. This translates into an increase of 125.05 points, or 0.43%. The day’s opening level was 29,182.70, the intraday high was 29,390.25 and the intraday low was 29,178.65.

The 211.60-point range between the day high and day low shows that the sector index saw movement soon after the opening bell. The latest value was 87.10 points below the day high and 124.50 points above the day low. These are intraday observations rather than price forecasts, but they frame where the index stood at the time of this update.

Sector ranking

Nifty Auto was the second top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices in the opening session. Its 0.43% rise trailed Nifty Pharma, which gained 0.68%, while the other configured sector indices were lower at the time of the reading. This ranking places auto near the top of the sector performance board in early trade.

The ranking matters because it compares the sector’s percentage change with the configured peer indices at the same update point. It does not by itself determine the direction for the rest of the session. The key facts remain the index’s positive change, its intraday range and the distribution of stock-level moves within the sector.

Constituent breadth

Participation within Nifty Auto was positive. Of 15 display-safe stocks, 10 advanced and five declined, producing an advance-decline ratio of 2:1. No stock in this tracked set was unchanged. This positive breadth aligns with the index’s 0.43% gain, indicating that gains extended beyond a single advancing name.

However, the presence of five decliners also shows that the opening strength was selective. A sector index can rise even while some stocks decline, and this session reflected that mixed composition. Monitoring whether advancing stocks retain their lead through the session will help show whether the broad positive tone persists.

Heavyweights versus broader participation

Among the supplied heavyweight stocks, Mahindra & Mahindra rose 0.67% to ₹3,413.10, Maruti Suzuki India added 0.31% to ₹13,803, Bajaj Auto gained 0.70% to ₹11,745 and Eicher Motors edged up 0.12% to ₹8,059.50. Tata Motors, in contrast, was down 0.86% at ₹327.35.

The supplied active-stock list features the same group of Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto and Eicher Motors. Within this set, four stocks were positive and one was negative. This split supports the index’s gain while also underlining that heavyweight performance was not uniformly positive.

Key Nifty Auto stocks

Biggest positive movers

Tube Investments of India led the gainers with a 6.56% rise to ₹2,921.20 from ₹2,741.40. Its latest price was close to the day high of ₹2,924 after opening at ₹2,755.80. Samvardhana Motherson International followed with a 1.07% gain to ₹169.86, while Bosch climbed 0.94% to ₹47,410.

Bajaj Auto and Mahindra & Mahindra also contributed positively, rising 0.70% and 0.67%, respectively. These moves, together with smaller gains in other stocks, helped deliver the 10-to-five positive breadth reading.

Biggest negative movers

Exide Industries fell 0.92% to ₹471.30, followed by Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, each down 0.86%. Bharat Forge declined 0.83% to ₹2,075.70, while Hero MotoCorp was lower by 0.39% at ₹5,722.50.

The declines are important context for nifty auto today because they show that the sector’s advance was not a blanket move. In particular, the declines in Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Bharat Forge sat alongside advances in several other auto and auto-component names.

Stocks to watch next session

• Tube Investments of India: following its 6.56% advance and latest price near the day high.
• Samvardhana Motherson International: after a 1.07% gain to ₹169.86.
• Bosch: after a 0.94% rise to ₹47,410.
• Mahindra & Mahindra: following its 0.67% gain to ₹3,413.10.
• Bajaj Auto: after a 0.70% advance to ₹11,745.
• Tata Motors: after a 0.86% decline to ₹327.35.

The constructive case

The constructive evidence is clear in the opening data: Nifty Auto was up 0.43%, ranked second among the configured sector gainers and remained above its previous close. The index also moved from an opening level of 29,182.70 to a high of 29,390.25, demonstrating an early upward push.

At stock level, 10 of 15 tracked names advanced. Tube Investments of India posted a pronounced gain, while Motherson, Bosch, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India, TVS Motor, Eicher Motors, MRF and Balkrishna Industries were also positive.

The cautious case

The latest index level remained below the intraday high of 29,390.25, meaning part of the early rise had cooled by the update time. In addition, five stocks were in the red, including Exide Industries, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge and Hero MotoCorp.

That mixed stock-level performance calls for attention to breadth as the session develops. A positive sector index with both advancing and declining heavyweight names can change composition during the trading day, so the index level, the day range and the advance-decline mix remain the direct indicators to follow.

Univest Insights

Nifty Auto today presents an early-session picture of relative sector strength. The 0.43% gain places the index at 29,303.15, above the prior close of 29,178.10 and near the upper half of its morning range. Its second-place sector ranking adds useful context to that performance.

The breadth reading is equally relevant. Ten advancing stocks against five declining stocks indicates that the sector’s gain had support across a majority of the tracked names. Tube Investments of India stood out sharply, while gains in Motherson, Bosch, Bajaj Auto and Mahindra & Mahindra reinforced the positive side.

At the same time, the negative moves in Exide Industries, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge and Hero MotoCorp prevent the move from being viewed as uniform. The contrast between gainers and decliners is a central feature of this opening update.

For traders and investors, the key signal to watch is whether Nifty Auto can hold above its previous close while the positive advance-decline balance remains intact.

Published on 18 August 2026 at 10:01 AM IST

Frequently asked questions

How is Nifty Auto performing today?

Nifty Auto was up 0.43% at 29,303.15 as of 10:00:04 AM IST on 18 August 2026.

What was Nifty Auto’s previous close?

The previous close was 29,178.10.

What were Nifty Auto’s day high and day low?

The day high was 29,390.25 and the day low was 29,178.65.

Why is Nifty Auto in focus today?

It was the second top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices, with a 0.43% rise in early trade.

How was Nifty Auto’s market breadth?

Ten of 15 tracked stocks advanced, while five declined and none were unchanged.

Which stocks led Nifty Auto gainers today?

Tube Investments of India, Samvardhana Motherson International and Bosch were the top three percentage gainers in the tracked sector set.