Sensex & Nifty Fall Today: 4 August 2026 Market Report on Windfall Tax Hike

Today at a glance

Today, 4 August 2026: Sensex closed at 78,428.95, down 210 points (0.27%), while Nifty 50 settled at 24,614.90, declining 0.64%. Realty and oil & gas stocks led the decline as the government raised windfall taxes on fuel exports. Apollo Hospitals was the top Nifty gainer; Grasim the top loser. For SIP investors, days like these are a reminder that policy-driven dips are part of the long-term journey.

What happened in the markets today

On Tuesday, 4 August 2026, the Sensex today closed at 78,428.95, down 210.08 points or 0.27%, while the Nifty 50 settled at 24,614.90, declining 0.64%. Both benchmarks extended their losing streak as markets reacted to the government’s decision to raise windfall taxes on fuel exports. Realty and oil & gas stocks took the hardest hit, while media and metal stocks bucked the trend with modest gains. Global cues were mixed — US markets had risen on Monday, but Asian markets showed a divided trend on Tuesday. Gold climbed to Rs 4,155.80 per ounce, up 1.60%, and silver surged over 4%, while crude oil tumbled more than 5% to $75.89 per barrel. Why did Sensex fall today? The windfall tax hike on petrol, diesel, and ATF exports spooked energy and commodity-linked stocks, dragging the benchmarks lower.

Movers: Media and metals gain, realty and oil & gas drag Nifty 50

Today’s Nifty 50 gainers were Apollo Hospitals, Trent, Hero MotoCorp, ITC, and Eternal.

Today’s Nifty 50 losers were Grasim, HDFC Life, Divi’s Lab, Bajaj Auto, and Reliance Industries.

Realty and oil & gas stocks dominated the losers list, while media and metal stocks managed to post gains. Apollo Hospitals share price today closed at ₹9,050, up 2.61%, making it the clear leader on the upside. Grasim’s share price today fell 3.74% to ₹3,138, leading the downside.

In the news

• Government — raised windfall taxes on fuel exports: petrol duty up to ₹3.50 per litre, diesel to ₹25.50, and ATF to ₹22, effective August 3. [Source: ET]

• Bharti Airtel — Q1 FY27 net profit surged 37% year-on-year to ₹8,167 crore, driven by higher ARPU and subscriber additions. [Source: ET]

• L&T — subsidiary LTEH Offshore secured an ultra-mega order worth over ₹15,000 crore from ADNOC Offshore for multiple offshore facilities in the Middle East. [Source: Livemint]

• Nykaa — Q1 FY27 net profit jumped 243% year-on-year to ₹80 crore; the board also approved acquiring a 51% stake in skincare brand Aminu Wellness for up to ₹32 crore. [Source: NDTV Profit]

• Zydus Lifesciences — received USFDA final approval for Indocyanine Green for Injection with 180-day exclusivity. The drug has annual US sales of about $125.8 million. [Source: Business Standard]

• Pidilite Industries — Q1 FY27 consolidated net profit rose 30% year-on-year to ₹884 crore, with revenue up 21% on strong volume growth. [Source: Fortune India]

• LIC — Rs 31,410 crore OFS was subscribed over 3.3 times by institutional investors on day 1. The government is selling up to 6.50% stake at a floor price of ₹382. [Source: NSE filing]

Term of the day — Offshore

In finance, “offshore” describes any entity — a company, bank, or investment fund — registered in a country other than where it primarily operates, typically to benefit from lighter regulation or lower taxes. Common offshore jurisdictions include the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, and the Bahamas. An offshore fund might invest in Indian equities but be domiciled in Luxembourg, while an offshore bank account lets someone hold foreign currency with fewer disclosure requirements.

For SIP investors, this matters because many international mutual funds you might consider for diversification are actually offshore vehicles. Understanding the structure helps you evaluate tax implications and regulatory protection — an offshore fund distributing to Indian residents faces different withholding rules than a domestic scheme.

What it means for SIP investors

Market dips driven by policy announcements — like today’s windfall tax hike — are part of the normal ebb and flow of Indian equities. The Sensex has weathered countless such events over its history, and long-term SIP investors have generally been rewarded for staying the course through these fluctuations. If headlines like these make you nervous about your SIP, here’s how experienced investors handle volatile days: continue SIP during crashes.

A well-diversified portfolio across large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds helps cushion the blow when specific sectors face headwinds. For a deeper look at building the right mix for your goals, see how to build a mutual fund portfolio.

Returns snapshot — 1-day & long-term

1-Day Returns:

Long-Term Returns (20-Year CAGR):

Nasdaq led the long-term CAGR race at 13.43% per annum over the past 20 years, outpacing both Indian indices and the Dow Jones. Sensex today, 4 August 2026 closed at 78,428.95 — a policy-driven dip in an otherwise resilient long-term trend.