Top Stock Market Updates Today (5 Aug 2026): LIC OFS, Airtel, Nykaa, ONGC & Marico News

The Indian stock market had plenty to process on 5 August 2026, with a heavy slate of first-quarter earnings releases running alongside the retail bidding window of the government's landmark LIC Offer for Sale. Bharti Airtel, Nykaa, Marico, ONGC and Berger Paints all reported results that drew active investor attention, while Bharat Forge came under pressure on a sharp drop in overseas truck orders. The session reinforced a familiar earnings-season pattern — strong results were not always rewarded with stock gains, and cautious management commentary could weigh even on companies that beat estimates.

LIC OFS Attracts ₹36,000 Crore, Retail Round Oversubscribed

The LIC Offer for Sale wrapped up its retail investor window on 5 August with strong demand, drawing total bids of ₹36,000 crore across the entire exercise. The retail portion was oversubscribed 1.82 times, while a separate report cited the overall OFS as having been oversubscribed 3.3 times ahead of the retail round, with the government also exercising the greenshoe option given the level of demand. The broad-based participation, spanning global funds, domestic institutions and now retail investors, marks a successful conclusion to what was described as one of the largest stake-sale transactions of the year. LIC's Q1 results were also set to be announced the following day, with profit and Value of New Business growth expected to be the key metrics watched.

Bharti Airtel Jumps 4% as Results and Expansion Plans Impress

Bharti Airtel was among the stronger performers on the day, gaining around 4% following its quarterly results. The company reported gaining one million postpaid users in Q1 FY27, taking total postpaid subscribers to 30 million, and said it is targeting higher average revenue per user through data usage charges as part of its monetization strategy. On the infrastructure side, Airtel announced plans to expand its data center capacity to 1 gigawatt. The company also confirmed it is exploring a London IPO for its Africa-focused Airtel Money unit, targeting an Africa-focused growth push and additional capital for the business. CLSA rated Airtel 'Outperform' with a target of ₹2,330, while Jefferies and CLSA both weighed in constructively following the results.

Nykaa's Profit Soars Over 3x But Stock Falls

Nykaa delivered one of the more striking results of the day, with its PAT soaring over 3 times year-on-year, GMV hitting ₹5,590 crore, and revenue up 29% year-on-year. Despite this, the stock fell around 3% during the session, continuing the familiar pattern this earnings season of strong numbers failing to translate into stock gains. Separately, a ₹52.35 crore block deal on the NSE added some near-term supply to the market. On the outlook front, management shared ambitious targets — eyeing 25 cities and 35% GMV growth by FY30, alongside 3 to 3.5 times overall growth over five years. Brokerages stayed broadly positive, with Nuvama setting a ₹414 target, Jefferies retaining a buy at ₹400, Nomura at ₹411 and HSBC at ₹380.

Marico Posts Best Q1 in Five Years, Eyes ₹20,000 Crore Revenue by 2030

Marico was among the clearest positive earnings stories of the day. The company's Q1 EBITDA hit a seven-year high, with hair oils growing 20% and margins boosted by a 45% drop in copra prices. Management outlined a confident growth outlook, targeting ₹20,000 crore in revenue by 2030, with the digital business expected to reach ₹4,000 crore. Separately, the company laid out plans to generate ₹15,000 crore in growth through its Parachute and Saffola brands and said it expects double-digit growth in Q2. Goldman Sachs rated Marico 'Buy' with a target of ₹950, adding further brokerage confidence to a company that described this as its best first quarter in five years.

ONGC Profit Rises 21% on Higher Crude and Gas Prices

ONGC reported a 21.4% year-on-year rise in first-quarter profit, driven by higher crude oil and natural gas price realizations, with crude realizations reported to have jumped significantly quarter-on-quarter as well. On the operational side, oil output fell during the quarter, adding a note of caution to an otherwise positive headline number. Separately, the company's overseas arm ONGC Videsh secured a new oil exploration license in Venezuela, adding to its international portfolio. Macquarie maintained a constructive view on the stock, setting a 20% upside target at ₹290.

Berger Paints Delivers a Strong Quarter

Berger Paints was one of the cleaner earnings beats of the session, posting a 29% year-on-year jump in profit to ₹405 crore on revenue of ₹3,583.8 crore, with the stock gaining around 3% in response. The result was driven by strong volume growth and continued demand recovery in the decorative paints segment, making it one of the more straightforward positive stories in an otherwise mixed earnings landscape for the consumer sector.

Bharat Forge Under Pressure on US Truck Order Slump

Bharat Forge was a notable underperformer, slumping after data showed US Class 8 truck orders dropped 75% year-on-year in July. Heavy commercial vehicle orders in North America are a key demand indicator for Bharat Forge given its significant exposure to the global auto forgings market, and a decline of this magnitude in a single month is likely to raise questions about the company's near-term revenue trajectory from this segment. The company separately said it plans to consider equity fundraising options at a board meeting on 10 August, adding a further event for investors to track.

Sector Analysis

The consumer and FMCG sector delivered a mixed but broadly positive earnings picture, with Marico and Berger Paints leading the way while Nykaa's stock fell despite a strong print. Telecom had a strong session driven by Airtel's results and expansion commentary. The energy sector saw ONGC report solid profit growth despite an operational softness in oil output. Auto ancillaries stayed in focus with stocks like Uno Minda reportedly surging on strong growth visibility, while Bharat Forge's weakness highlighted the pockets of cyclical risk still present in the global auto supply chain. BSE also reported a 63% revenue jump driven by record derivatives volumes, reflecting continued strength in the exchange business.

Market Outlook

The day's news flow offered a broadly constructive picture of India's corporate earnings cycle, with results from Airtel, ONGC, Marico, Berger Paints and Nykaa all pointing to underlying business momentum across telecom, energy, FMCG and beauty retail. The LIC OFS drawing ₹36,000 crore in bids and achieving retail oversubscription adds to the sense of healthy investor appetite for quality public sector equity. Bharat Forge's pressure from the US truck order decline serves as a reminder that global cyclical headwinds remain a risk for Indian exporters with significant overseas exposure. Investors may want to monitor LIC's Q1 results announcement expected the following day, further earnings from Bharatforg's board meeting on August 10, and management commentary around demand trends as the festive season approaches, as these factors are likely to shape sector sentiment through the remainder of the quarter.