Nifty Auto Today: Index Gains 0.30% in Closing Bell

At the close on 18 August 2026, Nifty Auto emerged as the top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices. The index added 86.45 points, or 0.30%, to finish at 29,264.55.

Quick sector takeaways

• Nifty Auto today closed at 29,264.55, up 0.30% or 86.45 points from its previous close of 29,178.10.
• The index traded between 29,178.65 and 29,390.25 during the session, finishing below the day’s high but above the previous close.
• Breadth was mixed: 7 of 15 displayed stocks advanced while 8 declined, with no unchanged stocks.
• Tube Investments of India and Bosch posted the strongest gains, while Tata Motors and Exide Industries were the largest decliners. Next session, investors can track whether gains broaden across the index.

Nifty Auto today: closing bell wrap

Nifty Auto ended the session with a modest gain despite mixed stock-level participation. From a previous close of 29,178.10, the index rose 86.45 points to settle at 29,264.55. Its 0.30% advance made it the strongest gainer among the configured sector indices for the day.

The closing level indicates that the index retained a positive daily change after moving through a 211.60-point intraday range. The session’s stock performance was uneven, however, with sharp advances in select names coexisting with declines in several large and widely tracked automobile stocks. That distinction is important when reading the day’s positive index close.

Price snapshot

The index opened at 29,182.70, marginally above the previous close of 29,178.10. It recorded an intraday low of 29,178.65 and climbed to a high of 29,390.25 before closing at 29,264.55. The close was 125.70 points below the session high and 85.90 points above the day low.

In plain terms, Nifty Auto held above its prior closing level through the end of the session, although it did not finish at the strongest point of the day. The high-low range reflects meaningful movement within the session, while the final 0.30% gain defines the actual day-on-day index outcome.

Sector ranking

Nifty Auto ranked first among the configured sector indices on 18 August. Its 0.30% gain was ahead of Nifty Pharma, which rose 0.08%, while the other configured indices in the comparison ended lower. This ranking is based on the day’s percentage movement in the tracked sector indices and places auto at the top of the gainers’ list at the closing bell.

The leadership was narrow in percentage terms, but it remained notable because the rest of the configured sector picture was predominantly negative. The ranking describes relative performance for this session; it does not by itself indicate the outlook for future sessions.

Constituent breadth

Participation within Nifty Auto was mixed rather than broad-based. Of the 15 displayed stocks, 7 advanced and 8 declined, while none were unchanged. The advance-decline ratio stood at 0.88, meaning decliners slightly outnumbered advancers even as the index closed in positive territory.

This combination shows that the positive index result was supported by gains in selected stocks rather than by a majority of displayed names. Tube Investments of India, Bosch, Samvardhana Motherson International, Mahindra & Mahindra, MRF, Bharat Forge and Hero MotoCorp ended higher. The remaining eight displayed stocks closed lower.

Heavyweights versus broader participation

Among the named heavyweight stocks, Mahindra & Mahindra rose 0.92% to ₹3,421.50, providing a positive counterpoint to weakness in several peers. Maruti Suzuki fell 0.50% to ₹13,691, Tata Motors declined 2.24% to ₹322.80, Bajaj Auto slipped 0.48% to ₹11,607 and Eicher Motors eased 0.39% to ₹8,018.50.

The mixed heavyweight picture aligns with the sector breadth data. Mahindra & Mahindra’s gain was constructive, but declines in Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto and Eicher Motors meant the index’s rise was not mirrored uniformly across these large names. Readers can follow the broader market context through Univest Market View.

Key Nifty Auto stocks

Biggest positive movers

Tube Investments of India led the gainers, jumping 7.94% or ₹217.60 to ₹2,959. The stock traded between ₹2,755.80 and ₹2,989, ending ₹30 below its intraday high. Bosch followed with a 3.75% gain, or ₹1,760, to ₹48,730 after touching a high of ₹48,940.

Samvardhana Motherson International gained 1.39% to ₹170.40, while Mahindra & Mahindra rose 0.92%. MRF added 0.37% to ₹133,505. These movements formed the strongest positive part of the day’s displayed sector stock performance.

Biggest negative movers

Tata Motors was the largest displayed loser, falling 2.24% or ₹7.40 to ₹322.80. It closed at its intraday low of ₹322.80. Exide Industries declined 2.20% to ₹465.25, after trading between ₹463.75 and ₹477.60.

Balkrishna Industries fell 1.27% to ₹2,376.70, TVS Motor Company declined 0.66% to ₹4,356.80, and Maruti Suzuki eased 0.50% to ₹13,691. These declines underscore the mixed composition beneath the positive Nifty Auto close.

Stocks to watch next session

Tube Investments of India and Bosch will remain in focus after their outsized gains. Mahindra & Mahindra is relevant after closing higher at ₹3,421.50, near its day high of ₹3,435. Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki merit attention after ending at ₹322.80 and ₹13,691 respectively, both at their session lows. Bharat Forge, which gained 0.28% to ₹2,098.90 and closed at its day high, is another stock to monitor.

The constructive case

The constructive evidence is clear at the index level: Nifty Auto closed higher by 0.30%, ranked first among the configured sector indices, and remained above both its previous close and opening level. Strong gains in Tube Investments of India and Bosch, alongside a positive close for Mahindra & Mahindra, added support to the sector’s finish.

The index also stayed well above its intraday low by the close. While this is an observation rather than a forecast, it shows that the day’s final reading remained positive after the sector had moved through its full intraday range.

The cautious case

Caution comes from the breadth profile. Decliners outnumbered advancers by 8 to 7, and several heavyweight names, including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto and Eicher Motors, finished lower. The index also closed below its intraday high of 29,390.25.

Accordingly, the 0.30% advance should be viewed alongside the uneven stock-level performance. A positive sector close and negative moves in several individual stocks can occur at the same time, as they did in this session.

Univest Insights

Nifty Auto today delivered the strongest sector-index gain in the configured universe, but the session was selective rather than comprehensive. The 86.45-point rise was achieved with more displayed stocks declining than advancing.

The day’s major upside contribution came from Tube Investments of India and Bosch, whose gains were materially larger than those of the other advancing names. Their moves stood out against the more moderate increase in Mahindra & Mahindra and the small gains in MRF, Bharat Forge and Hero MotoCorp.

At the other end, Tata Motors and Exide Industries registered the sharpest declines, while other heavyweight stocks also ended in the red. This makes the next session’s breadth worth tracking alongside the index level and intraday range.

For traders and investors, the key signal to watch is…

Published on 18 August 2026 at 4:15 PM IST

Frequently asked questions

How did Nifty Auto perform today?

Nifty Auto rose 86.45 points, or 0.30%, to close at 29,264.55 on 18 August 2026.

What was Nifty Auto’s previous close?

The previous close was 29,178.10.

What were Nifty Auto’s intraday high and low?

The index recorded a high of 29,390.25 and a low of 29,178.65.

Which stocks were the top gainers in Nifty Auto?

Tube Investments of India gained 7.94%, Bosch rose 3.75%, and Samvardhana Motherson International advanced 1.39%.

Which stocks were the biggest decliners in Nifty Auto?

Tata Motors fell 2.24%, Exide Industries declined 2.20%, and Balkrishna Industries lost 1.27%.

What was the Nifty Auto market breadth today?

Among 15 displayed stocks, 7 advanced and 8 declined, with no unchanged stocks.