Nifty Auto Today: Index Slips 0.29% in Opening Trade

Opening Bell update, 31 August 2026:Nifty Auto was the top gaining sector index in the configured sector-index ranking, even as it traded 0.29% lower in early trade. The index reflected a comparatively smaller decline than the other configured sector indices at the time of the update.

Quick sector takeaways

• Nifty Auto today stood at 28,768.40, down 83.40 points, or 0.29%, from the previous close of 28,851.80.
• The index moved between 28,674.05 and 28,795.95 in the early session, with the latest level below both its opening value and previous close.
• Market breadth was negative: 2 of 15 tracked stocks advanced while 13 declined; no stock was unchanged.
• Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company were the gainers, while Tube Investments of India, Tata Motors and Balkrishna Industries were among the notable losers. Watch whether the narrow positive pocket broadens during the session.

Nifty Auto today: early-session read

Nifty Auto today opened at 28,772.55 and was quoted at 28,768.40 at 10:00:00 AM IST. That placed the index 83.40 points below its previous close of 28,851.80. The early-session reading was modestly negative at the index level, although its relative position in the configured sector ranking was stronger than the other tracked sector indices.

The designation as the top gaining sector index should therefore be read as a relative ranking, rather than as an indication of an absolute rise. Nifty Auto’s 0.29% fall was smaller than the declines recorded by the other configured sector indices, including Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services, Nifty FMCG, Nifty Pharma, Nifty Mid Select, Nifty IT and Nifty Metal.

For market participants tracking the auto pack, the opening picture was one of selective resilience rather than broad-based strength. The index was only marginally below its opening level, but the stock-level balance remained tilted towards declines.

Price snapshot

The index’s intraday range was 121.90 points. Its latest value sat closer to the day’s high than the day’s low, while remaining below the previous close. The early high of 28,795.95 was only modestly above the opening print, whereas the low of 28,674.05 showed that the index had moved lower during the first phase of trade before recovering some ground.

Sector ranking

Within the configured sector-index universe, Nifty Auto ranked first among the top gaining sector indices at the update time. This ranking was driven by relative performance: its 0.29% decline was shallower than Nifty Bank’s 0.31% fall, Nifty Financial Services’ 0.52% fall, Nifty FMCG’s 0.72% fall, Nifty Pharma’s 0.82% fall, Nifty Mid Select’s 0.88% fall, Nifty IT’s 1.71% fall and Nifty Metal’s 2.37% fall.

This comparison gives the auto index a useful relative-performance context for the opening session. It does not change the absolute index move, which remained negative. Investors can track the broader market backdrop through Univest Market View.

Constituent breadth

The breadth picture was weak despite the index’s relative ranking. Of the 15 displayed Nifty Auto stocks, 2 advanced and 13 declined, with no unchanged stocks. The advance-decline ratio was 0.15, highlighting that early gains were concentrated in a small part of the sector.

A narrow set of gainers can help moderate an index decline, but the 13-to-2 decline-to-advance split shows that the opening move was not broadly supported across the displayed auto names. Breadth will remain important through the session: an increase in advancing stocks would signal wider participation, while a persistently negative balance would keep attention on the index’s lower intraday range.

Heavyweights versus broader participation

Among the named heavyweight stocks, Mahindra & Mahindra traded at Rs 3,321.70, down 0.37%, while Maruti Suzuki India was nearly flat at Rs 13,371.00, down 0.04%. Tata Motors declined 1.24% to Rs 315.45 and Eicher Motors fell 0.73% to Rs 8,000.00. Bajaj Auto was the exception in this group, rising 0.65% to Rs 11,987.00.

The same group featured in the supplied active-stock context, keeping focus on these large, closely tracked names. Bajaj Auto’s gain and Maruti Suzuki’s limited decline helped provide some offset, but the weaker moves in Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Eicher Motors coincided with the index remaining below the previous close.

Key Nifty Auto stocks

Biggest positive movers

Bajaj Auto led the displayed gainers, adding Rs 77.00 to trade at Rs 11,987.00, up 0.65%. Its intraday range was Rs 11,877.00 to Rs 12,040.00. TVS Motor Company followed, rising Rs 23.30, or 0.54%, to Rs 4,327.50 after moving between Rs 4,255.00 and Rs 4,332.90.

These two stocks accounted for all the displayed advances in the sector at the snapshot. Their positive moves were notable against the broader decline count, but the index remained lower on the day.

Biggest negative movers

Tube Investments of India was the largest displayed percentage loser, down 1.81% to Rs 2,788.50. Tata Motors and Balkrishna Industries each fell 1.24%, to Rs 315.45 and Rs 2,311.10 respectively. Bharat Forge declined 1.05% to Rs 2,016.40, while Exide Industries fell 0.94% to Rs 440.40.

The losses were spread across several auto-linked names rather than confined to a single stock. That pattern aligned with the negative breadth count and the index’s move below the previous close.

Stocks to watch next session

• Bajaj Auto, after its 0.65% gain and movement up to Rs 12,040.00 during the session.
• TVS Motor Company, which rose 0.54% and reached Rs 4,332.90 intraday.
• Tata Motors, following its 1.24% decline to Rs 315.45.
• Tube Investments of India, the sharpest displayed percentage decliner at 1.81%.
• Mahindra & Mahindra, which traded 0.37% lower at Rs 3,321.70.
• Maruti Suzuki India, which was nearly unchanged but remained marginally below its previous close.

The constructive case

The constructive evidence at the opening bell was relative, not absolute. Nifty Auto’s 0.29% decline was the smallest among the configured sector indices, placing it at the top of that ranking. The index also held above its day low of 28,674.05 at the latest update, indicating that it had recovered part of the early dip.

At stock level, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company were positive, while Maruti Suzuki’s decline was limited to 0.04%. These observations show that selective pockets of the sector were holding up better than the overall breadth reading.

The cautious case

The cautious signal is the gap between relative sector ranking and internal participation. Nifty Auto was still down 0.29%, traded below its previous close, and had 13 decliners against only 2 advancers. Several prominent names, including Tata Motors, Eicher Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, were lower in early trade.

The index also remained below its opening level of 28,772.55 at the latest reading. Continued monitoring of the day’s range, especially the relationship between the latest price and the intraday low and high, can help frame how the opening move develops.

Univest Insights

Nifty Auto today presents a nuanced early-session picture. It ranked best among the configured sector indices because its decline was comparatively contained, yet the sector’s absolute direction and stock breadth were negative. This distinction matters when reading an opening-bell ranking.

The sector’s two gainers, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company, offered isolated strength. However, the broader set of declines, led by Tube Investments of India and joined by Tata Motors and Balkrishna Industries, kept the participation profile weak.

For the rest of the session, the key reference points are the index’s previous close of 28,851.80, early high of 28,795.95 and early low of 28,674.05. These are observed price markers from the current session, not forecasts.

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

Published on 31 August 2026 at 10:00 AM IST

Frequently asked questions

What is Nifty Auto today?

Nifty Auto was at 28,768.40 at 10:00:00 AM IST on 31 August 2026, down 83.40 points or 0.29% from the previous close.

Why was Nifty Auto called the top gaining sector index despite falling?

It ranked first on relative performance among the configured sector indices because its 0.29% decline was smaller than the declines in the other tracked indices.

What was Nifty Auto’s intraday range?

The index traded between 28,674.05 and 28,795.95 in the early session.

How was Nifty Auto breadth at the opening bell?

Among 15 displayed stocks, 2 advanced and 13 declined, while none were unchanged.

Which stocks gained in Nifty Auto?

Bajaj Auto rose 0.65% and TVS Motor Company gained 0.54%.

Which stocks were the biggest losers in Nifty Auto?

Tube Investments of India fell 1.81%, while Tata Motors and Balkrishna Industries each declined 1.24%.