HSL Prime End of the Day Summary: 21 August 2026

Selective Buying Supports Broader Markets as Nifty Stays Range-Bound

Nifty extended its recovery for a second consecutive session, edging up 20 points to close at 24,252. The index opened 53 points higher but remained range-bound for most of the day, consolidating within a narrow 60-point band amid the absence of clear directional momentum. Nifty also gained 19 points during the closing auction session. NSE cash-market turnover was marginally higher by 1% compared with the previous session, reflecting subdued market participation.

Among Nifty 50 constituents, Power Grid, HDFC Life and Nestlé led the gains, while Trent, Maruti Suzuki and IndiGo were the major laggards.

Sectoral trends remained mixed, with Metals, Private Banks and Realty ending higher, whereas Auto, Media and IT indices witnessed the sharpest declines.

Broader-market performance was selectively positive: the Nifty Midcap 100 rose 0.10% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.69%. Market breadth was marginally favourable, with the advance-decline ratio at 1.08, indicating stock-specific buying rather than a broad-based risk-on move.

The Indian rupee remained largely unchanged at around 95.71 against the US dollar. A softer dollar and easing US Treasury yields lent some support to the domestic currency, though elevated crude oil prices and sustained importer demand for dollars limited further appreciation. This reflects a balanced near-term currency environment, with global risk sentiment and oil-price movements likely to remain key drivers.

Technically, Nifty managed to sustain above its 50-day and 100-day EMAs, clustered near 24,200, but it remains below the 20-day EMA at 24,300 and the 200-day EMA at 24,376. The index therefore continues to display a choppy, momentum-less structure. A decisive close above 24,400 could confirm a resumption of the bullish trend, while a sustained move above 24,400 would be required to establish a short-term bullish reversal.