Stock Market Close, May 26, 2026: Sensex Falls Nearly 500 Points, Nifty Slips Below 24,000 On Expiry-day Volatility Amid Oil Rebound

Mumbai, May 26:Indian benchmark indices ended lower in a volatile expiry-day session on Tuesday as rising crude oil prices, renewed geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weakness in banking and IT stocks weighed on investor sentiment.

The Sensex fell 479.26 points, or 0.63%, to close at 76,009.70, while the Nifty 50 declined 118 points, or 0.49%, to settle at 23,913.70, slipping below the key 24,000 mark. Investors remained cautious after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran dampened hopes of a near-term peace agreement and triggered a rebound in global crude oil prices.

Oil Rebound, Iran Tensions Pressure Markets

Market sentiment weakened after Brent crude prices rebounded following the latest escalation in West Asia. Rising oil prices remained a key concern for Indian equities due to their potential impact on inflation, fiscal balances and the rupee.

Sensex fell as investors remained cautious after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran. Source: BSE

The latest military action by the U.S. against targets in southern Iran dented optimism that diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran could ease tensions and stabilise global energy supplies. Investors also monitored disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Analysts said heightened geopolitical uncertainty, coupled with expiry-related volatility in derivatives trading, kept investors cautious through the session.

Banks and Realty Drag Benchmark Indices

Selling pressure was visible across most sectors, with PSU banks, private banks, realty and consumer durable stocks declining between 0.5% and 1%.

The Nifty tried rising in early trade but fell after noon. Source: NSE

Among the biggest losers on the Nifty were Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Bharti Airtel, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and Trent.

On the other hand, gains in FMCG and metal stocks helped limit broader market weakness. Top Nifty gainers included Adani Enterprises, Tata Motors, Tech Mahindra, Nestle India and Eternal.

Broader Markets Outperform Despite Weak Benchmarks

Despite weakness in frontline indices, broader markets remained relatively resilient.

The Nifty Midcap index rose 0.5%, while the Smallcap index gained 0.35%, supported by stock-specific buying in sectors such as telecom, renewable energy, railways and infrastructure.

Among actively traded stocks, Vodafone Idea remained the most traded counter for at least the tenth consecutive session after its recent credit rating upgrade and 5G rollout announcements. Suzlon Energy gained following strong quarterly operational performance, while Jaiprakash Power Ventures extended gains after Adani Power’s stake acquisition deal.

Meanwhile, railway-linked stocks such as Rail Vikas Nigam and Container Corporation of India remained under pressure after weak quarterly earnings.

Analysts expect volatility to remain elevated in the near term as investors continue to track crude oil prices, geopolitical developments, global bond yields and foreign fund flows for further direction.

Source:

• NSE
• BSE