Today’s stock market news brings major developments across geopolitics, commodities, capital markets, industrial expansion and the global economy. From the reported Iran-Oman agreement over the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar’s sharp decline in LNG exports to falling trading volumes, Reliance’s aluminium ambitions and slowing US GDP growth, Jarvis Invest brings you the key developments shaping markets and the economy today.
Stock Market News: Iran and Oman Reportedly Reach Hormuz Revenue-Sharing Agreement as Traffic Remains Paralysed
Iran and Oman have reportedly reached an agreement on splitting revenues from ships transiting through the Straits of Hormuz. However, Iran has also underlined that normalcy will only be restored after the US calls off its financial sanctions and port blockade. This comes in the light of the US imposing fresh sanctions on Iran; in what Scott Bessent called “Economic Asphyxiation.” The 2 nations will set up a joint navigational corridor and also undertake to clear the waters of mines. Even 6 months after the war, traffic through the Straits of Hormuz stays paralyzed.
Stock Market News: Qatar LNG Exports Fall 95% as Hormuz Blockade Takes a $24 Billion Toll
The one nation that is taking the impact of the blockade of the Straits of Hormuz on its chin is Qatar. One of the richest countries in the world, with one of the highest per capita income levels, Qatar has seen its primary LNG exports fall by 95% over the last 6 months since the war started. Qatar has lost more than $24 billion in gas revenues in this period. While they have deep pockets, the monetary tightness has started to hit spending domestically and abroad. The Middle East manages sovereign funds of nearly $5 trillion and that has global investment implications.
Gold and Silver Traders Push Government to Cut 15% Import Duties as Unofficial Inflows Rise
Bullion traders and jewellers have been pushing the Indian government to cut the duties on gold and silver from the current 15%. Apparently, these duties are encouraging more of gold inflows through unofficial channels. Government has not given any commitment, but it is evaluating as to whether a cut in duties would push more of gold inflows through the formal channels. India annually imports close to 800 tonnes of gold. Annual gold imports are up 82% yoy, and that is something that is also worrying the government, due to its implications for the CAD.
Stock Market News: Cash and Options Trading Volumes Slide as Regulatory Measures Reshape Market Activity
The stock exchanges witnessed a fall in cash market volume as well as a very sharp fall in option trading volumes. In fact, the August F&O expiry on 25-August saw one of the lowest option volumes in the last 12 months. Even cash market volumes in August have fallen to the lowest level since November last year. This is the cumulative impact of several measures taken to restrict retail volumes in derivatives. This includes, reducing number of weekly expiries, increasing F&O contract sizes, and cutting bank funding to prop firms. The introduction of CAS has also hit volumes.
NSE IPO Raises Listing Question as Exchange May Need SEBI Approval to Trade Its Shares on NSE
With the NSE IPO coming up, the issue of listing has also come up. As per extant regulations, an exchange cannot list on itself. Hence NSE will have to list on the BSE. However, there is the permitted to trade (PTT) category, where it is possible to permit trading on the NSE. It is not clear if NSE can do that, but it will certainly require the approval of SEBI. One concern SEBI will have is that the price discovery should happen in the exchange where the stock is listed. However, with NSE having 90% share in cash volumes, PTT could end up discovering the stock price.
Stock Market News: Reliance Plans Aluminium Foray and Eyes Odisha Bauxite Block
Even as Adani group is creating a war chest of $11.5 billion for its aluminium business, the Reliance group is also planning an aluminium foray. This will align with its coal gasification project. Reliance also plans to put in bids for a bauxite block in Odisha. The Karlapat Bauxite block in Odisha is spread across 3,100 hectares and is estimate to have 200 million tonnes of bauxite. Coal gasification coverts coal into synthetic gas used to generate power as an industrial fuel. Aluminium is power intensive and this would logically fit in. Adani is setting up a 2 MTPA plant in Odisha.
South India Outpaces North India in Auto Demand Across Key Segments in Q1FY27
According to a Kotak Research report, South India has outperformed North India in all segments of the auto industry in Q1FY27. In the passenger vehicles (PV) segment, South demand grew 35%, while North India volumes grew 20%, against the national average of 25%. A similar trend was also seen in the demand for two-wheelers. In the case of commercial vehicles (CV), growth in South India at 21% bettered the North India growth at around 19%. Auto demand had picked up rapidly across India in the second half of 2025 after GST rates were cut by the government.
Stock Market News: US Q2 GDP Growth Slows to 1.5% as PCE Inflation Remains Above Fed Target
US GDP growth in Q2-2026 came in lower at 1.5%, compared to 2.1% in the first quarter. While inventories dropped and government spending was lower, the other economic drivers continued to be robust. Consensus estimates had pegged the GDP growth at 1.8%. PCE inflation for July 2026 came in flat at 3.7% with core PCE inflation at 3.3%. There has been no spike in inflation, but it still remains substantially above the Fed target of 2.0%. The Fed uses PCE inflation for its monetary policy, while analysts closely track core inflation for a more structural long-term picture.
Conclusion
From developments around the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar’s LNG exports to gold and silver import duties, declining market volumes, the NSE IPO listing question, Reliance’s aluminium plans and regional auto demand, today’s stock market news spans several important themes. Stay informed with Jarvis Invest as we track the developments influencing businesses, investors and global markets.
