Stock Watch — July 31, 2026
Market Day Summary | Not investment advice
📊 INDICES
| Index | Prev Close (Jul 30) | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 24,317.15 | +66.95 | +0.28% ↗️ |
| Nifty Bank | 56,150.00 | -55.90 | -0.10% ↘️ |
| FinNifty | 26,251.25 | -35.85 | -0.14% ↘️ |
| Nifty IT | ~31,194 | +71 | +0.23% ↗️ |
| GIFT Nifty (Jul 31) | 24,425.00 | +107.85 | +0.25% ↗️ |
Pre-market signal: GIFT Nifty at 24,425 (+0.25%) — flat to marginally positive open expected. US markets bounced overnight (Microsoft/chip rally). Fed’s “hawkish hold” keeps bond yields elevated. Nikkei surged 4.5% on BoJ policy shift; Kospi jumped 13%. Brent crude near $87.
Key levels for Jul 31: Nifty Support: 24,150–24,200 | Resistance: 24,350–24,500. Bank Nifty: S 56,000 | R 57,300.
🏦 BANKS — Digital Payments Focus
| Bank | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI | SBIN | 1,025.30 | +1.02% | ↗️ |
| HDFC Bank | HDFCBANK | 753.95 | ~+0.13% | ➡️ |
| ICICI Bank | ICICIBANK | 1,433.90 | ~-0.58% | ↘️ |
| Axis Bank | AXISBANK | 1,228.90 | ~-0.73% | ↘️ |
| Kotak Mahindra | KOTAKBANK | 389.40 | ~-1.10% | ↘️ |
Expectation: Banking stocks saw mild profit-booking on Jul 30 despite broader market gains. NIM pressures and Brent crude near $90 continue to weigh on the sector. SBI was the standout gainer (+1%), supported by its ₹4,691 cr Basel III AT1 bond raise at 7.75% and strongest UPI volumes. HDFC Bank flat. ICICI, Axis, Kotak all declined — Kotak Investment Banking announced new Co-CEOs (Jayasankar & Mallik). Bank Nifty remains listless below 57,300 resistance.
💳 FINTECH — Pure Play
Tier B1: Digital Payments & Wallets
| Company | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paytm (One97) | PAYTM | ~1,330.00 | ~-0.08% | ➡️ |
| MobiKwik | MOBIKWIK | 200.62 | ~-0.70% | ↘️ |
Paytm launched a “Split Bills” feature (Jul 29) for group expense management — positioning beyond payments. Q1 FY27: Net profit ₹220 cr (+79% YoY), highest-ever EBITDA ₹203 cr (+182% YoY, 8.29% margin). Goldman Sachs: Buy, TP ₹1,425. Stock consolidating near ₹1,330 post-bonus share consideration (Jul 20).
Tier B2: Insurance & Credit Marketplaces
| Company | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PB Fintech (PolicyBazaar) | PBFINTECH | ~1,593.50 | ~-1.10% | ↘️ |
PB Fintech targeting ₹1,000 cr PAT by FY27. Retail health insurance surge (20% growth) driving optimism.
Tier B3: Payment Infrastructure & Gateways
| Company | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPST | NPST | 1,108.00 | +15.50% | ↗️ |
| Pine Labs | PINELABS | 140.17 | -3.09% | ↘️ |
| Infibeam (AvenuesAI) | INFIBEAM | ~16.55 | ~-1.08% | ↘️ |
NPST was the top gainer — surged 15.5% on strong volumes. UPI infrastructure play benefiting from 22.72 billion UPI transactions in June 2026 (+23% YoY). Pine Labs reported Q1 FY27 operating revenue of ₹737 cr. Infibeam (now AvenuesAI) trading flat-to-weak near ₹16.50.
Tier B4: Payments Banking & Cards
| Company | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fino Payments Bank | FINOPB | ~163.05 | ~-2.05% | ↘️ |
| SBI Card | SBICARD | ~644 | ~-1.10% | ↘️ |
Fino witnessing first revenue contraction in 3 years. SBI Card under pressure from NIM compression and weak credit growth outlook.
Tier B5: ATM & Cash (Peripheral)
| Company | Symbol | Prev Close (₹) | Change % | Direction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGS Transact | AGSTRA | ~3.01 | ~-4.75% | ↘️ | ⚠️ Under CIRP |
AGS Transact remains under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). Stock near penny-stock levels. Not recommended for new positions.
📰 Sector News
- NPCI mandates phone number masking for UPI by Sep 4, 2026 — new privacy rules for UPI transactions
- UPI hits 22.72 billion transactions in June 2026 (+23% YoY) — network continues to scale
- Google Pay integrates Gemini AI into app, expands credit push — intensifying competition in UPI space
- PhonePe launches “PulsePro” — hyperlocal market intelligence for businesses; maintains 47.2% UPI market share
- Fed holds rates (hawkish hold) — 3 of 12 voters dissented, wanting a hike. Long-term Treasury yields spiked
- SEBI introduces Closing Auction Session (CAS) from Aug 3 — changes to F&O and cash market trading mechanics
- Brent crude at ~$87/barrel (down from $90+ highs) — US-Iran tensions easing with peace talks
- FII net buyers ₹3,089 cr on Jul 30; DII net sellers ₹1,610 cr
- RBI issues revised Basel Pillar 3 disclosure framework for commercial, small finance, and payments banks
- GPF interest rate unchanged at 7.1% for Jul-Sep 2026 quarter
🔥 Top Movers (Jul 30)
| Stock | Direction | Move |
|---|---|---|
| NPST | ↗️ | +15.50% |
| SBI | ↗️ | +1.02% |
| Paytm | ➡️ | ~Flat |
| Pine Labs | ↘️ | -3.09% |
| Fino Payments | ↘️ | -2.05% |
| Kotak Mahindra | ↘️ | -1.10% |
| SBI Card | ↘️ | -1.10% |
Sources: Moneycontrol, NSE India, Economic Times Markets, 5paisa, Trendlyne, SAHI Markets Disclaimer: AI-generated for educational purposes. Not investment advice. For informational purposes only. Summary as of 08:15 IST, July 31, 2026