Stock Market Highlights: Sensex ends flat at 74,295, Nifty closes at 23,346 in volatile session - The Times of India

• Nearly 75% of Americans reported feeling stressed about the general economy and their personal finances over the last six months. • This sentiment comes from a recent survey conducted by Edelman Financial Engines, a wealth and financial planning company.

• The Kospi index opened 2.5% higher at 6,886 on August 17, 2026, led by Korean memory chipmakers following a positive demand outlook from Nvidia. • The Nikkei 225 is trading near 64,136 as investors anticipate a Bank of Japan rate hike of 25 basis points to 1.25%.

• Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea are seeing accelerated hotel performance driven by record growth in international visitor arrivals. • Japan recorded 21.08 million arrivals during the first half of 2026, with June seeing record-breaking results from travelers from India, the United States, Korea, and Taiwan.

• Donald Trump stated he must soon decide on a final strategy for dealing with Iran. • Trump framed the decision as a choice between whether to "annihilate them or not."

• Central Retail partnered with Vietnam to launch "Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2026" on September 18, 2026, to strengthen bilateral trade ties. • The initiative focuses on promoting Vietnamese products and culture within Thailand's retail landscape.

• Braskem released its second-quarter 2026 financial results and hosted an earnings call on Friday. • The company reported a 73% increase in the polyethylene spread—the difference between the price of the finished plastic and the raw material—in the United States.

• The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty indices closed nearly flat on Thursday following a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike and signals of further monetary tightening. • The 30-share BSE Sensex dipped 21.86 points, or 0.03 per cent, to settle at 74,314.59 after erasing intraday gains of 341.11 points.

• Wall Street stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors reacted to falling oil prices, lower Treasury yields, and positive labor data. • Financial markets now price in a 53.1% chance of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike at the next Federal Reserve meeting in October, up from 27.2% last week.

• The S&P 500 fell on Friday, putting the index on track for a losing week. • Nearly 90% of economists surveyed by CNBC expected a 25 basis point tightening, which is a 0.25% increase in interest rates.

• The Bank of Italy published research in June showing that gas price shocks create more persistent inflation than oil shocks. • These gas-driven price increases seep into the underlying inflation metrics most closely monitored by the European Central Bank.

• The FTSE 100 index is expected to rise on Thursday as investors anticipate the Bank of England's latest interest rate decision. • The day's economic calendar includes the UK rate announcement alongside final inflation figures from the eurozone and trade data from Switzerland.