Stock Market Open Report Today, September 21, 2026: Sensex, Nifty Rise Tracking Asian Gains, Easing Oil

Mumbai, September 21: Indian equity benchmarks rose on Monday, tracking gains across Asian markets as easing crude oil prices offered some relief to a market on edge over escalating Middle East tensions.

Sensex & Nifty

The BSE Sensex jumped 419.94 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 74,714.90, while the NSE Nifty added 39.75 points, or 0.17 per cent, to 23,386.15 in early deals, with the Sensex’s sharper gain reflecting outsized strength in a handful of large-cap heavyweights even as the broader market stayed more measured.

The upbeat moves came even as Iran’s central military command said Sunday it had received information suggesting the United States, backed by regional partners, could be preparing fresh military action against Tehran, a claim that has injected fresh uncertainty into markets just as US President Donald Trump prepares to meet leaders of six Gulf nations this week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Iran warned that any new US attack would trigger sustained strikes on American bases and interests across the region, and cautioned that countries assisting such operations would be treated as parties to the conflict.

Gainers & Losers 

Among individual stocks, InterGlobe Aviation (INDIGO) led the gainers on the Nifty, rising 1.55 per cent to a last traded price of Rs 4,996.50 against Friday’s previous close of Rs 4,920. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SUNPHARMA) climbed 1.39 per cent to Rs 1,862.90 from a previous close of Rs 1,837.30, while Reliance Industries (RELIANCE) advanced 1.36 per cent to Rs 1,243.10 versus its prior close of Rs 1,226.40. ITC (ITC) gained 1.18 per cent to trade at Rs 265.40 compared with a previous close of Rs 262.30, and NTPC (NTPC) rose 1.07 per cent to Rs 327.10 from a previous close of Rs 323.65.  

On the losing side, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (ADANIPORTS) fell the most among Nifty constituents, down 2.8 per cent to Rs 1,773 against a previous close of Rs 1,824. Bharti Airtel (BHARTIARTL) declined 2.33 per cent to Rs 1,849.10 from a previous close of Rs 1,893.30, while Wipro (WIPRO) slipped 1.84 per cent to Rs 163.76 versus a prior close of Rs 166.83. Bajaj Finance (BAJFINANCE) shed 1.1 per cent to Rs 1,028.90 from a previous close of Rs 1,040.30, and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (APOLLOHOSP) lost 0.96 per cent to trade at Rs 8,858.50 compared with a previous close of Rs 8,944.50. 

Broad Market & Sectoral Indices 

Among broader market gauges, the Nifty Next 50 led the gainers, rising 0.30 per cent, followed by the Nifty 100, up 0.18 per cent, and the Nifty Bank, higher by 0.16 per cent. On the other side, a reversal from Friday’s midcap and smallcap-led rally saw the Nifty Midcap 150 slip 0.29 per cent, the Nifty Midcap 100 fall 0.26 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 ease 0.15 per cent.  

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Realty index led the pack with a gain of 0.88 per cent, followed by the Nifty FMCG index, up 0.68 per cent, and the Nifty Pharma index, higher by 0.66 per cent. The Nifty IT index was the biggest sectoral laggard, down 0.58 per cent, while the Nifty Media index slipped 0.07 per cent and the Nifty PSU Bank index eased 0.06 per cent. 

Crude Oil 

Crude oil prices extended their decline on Monday morning, with Brent crude falling 2.22 per cent to $101.56 a barrel and WTI crude dropping 2.36 per cent to $97.93. Murban crude, the key Gulf benchmark, slid 2.86 per cent to $117.92, while the Opec Basket tumbled 3.90 per cent to $119.20, among the steeper single-session declines this month. Natural gas eased 1.44 per cent to $2.870 and gasoline slipped 1.62 per cent to $3.470, extending the broad retreat in energy markets even as the underlying Saudi-Houthi conflict and Iran-US tensions kept prices from falling further. The pullback offered some relief to net oil-importing economies like India, even as dealers cautioned that prices remained vulnerable to any escalation this week, with the Trump-Gulf meeting seen as a key swing factor for the direction of crude through the rest of the month. 

Asian Markets on Monday Morning  

Asian markets closed Friday’s session broadly higher, led by South Korea’s Kospi, up 1.43 per cent, and Japan’s Nikkei, which advanced 1.38 per cent. Taiwan’s benchmark rose 0.69 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and mainland China’s Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component also ended firmer, up 0.44 per cent, 0.41 per cent and 0.87 per cent respectively. Australia’s ASX 200 was among the few laggards, slipping a marginal 0.1 per cent, even as the broadly positive regional close set a constructive tone heading into the new trading week. 

US Markets 

US markets ended Friday’s session mixed, with the Nasdaq gaining 0.4 per cent and the S&P 500 adding 0.17 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.18 per cent. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, tumbled 4.08 per cent to 14.81, signalling a sharp easing in near-term risk perception even as the headline indices diverged. The mixed finish came as investors weighed the prospect of a US military response to Iran against otherwise resilient corporate earnings expectations. 

Iran War 

The Middle East conflict showed fresh signs of escalation through the weekend, with Iran’s central military command warning Sunday that it had received information suggesting the United States, supported by regional partners, could be preparing new military action against Tehran. Iran cautioned that any such strike would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests across the region, and that nations assisting the operation would be treated as parties to the conflict. Renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis intensified over the weekend, with Riyadh accusing the group of targeting Mecca and the Houthis claiming to have downed a Saudi F-15 fighter jet and struck sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu. The US State Department and its embassy in Saudi Arabia issued fresh security advisories, warning that the conflict “has the potential to escalate rapidly” as officials monitor the risk of further attacks involving Iran, Iran-aligned groups and US partners in the region, with the embassy separately restricting travel by government personnel to the cities of Taif and Yanbu without special authorisation. 

Indian Markets on Friday 

Indian equity benchmarks had ended Friday’s session mixed after the Closing Auction Session, with the Nifty holding on to gains to close at 23,346, up 76 points or 0.33 per cent, even as the Sensex slipped 20 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 74,295 after paring almost all of a 245-point intraday advance. The broader market significantly outperformed the headline indices, with the smallcap index jumping 1.7 per cent and the midcap index rising 1.2 per cent, while market breadth stayed firmly positive at 2,531 advances against 1,452 declines on the NSE. Metals, media, realty, infrastructure and energy stocks led the gains on Friday, each rising more than 1 per cent, even as the Nifty IT index fell 1.03 per cent and several Tata Group counters came under pressure amid the ongoing tussle over Tata Sons’ leadership and listing plans. The India VIX tumbled 7.2 per cent during Friday’s session, signalling a sharp easing in domestic market volatility heading into the new week. 

Source

• nseindia.com
• bseindia.com