Market Close Report Today, September 21, 2026 : Nifty, Sensex Gain After Six Weekly Declines

Mumbai, September 21: Indian equity benchmarks ended higher on Monday as bargain buying after six consecutive weekly declines, softer crude prices and gains in pharma and realty stocks helped lift sentiment. However, the recovery remained selective, with negative market breadth, weakness in midcaps and smallcaps, and concerns over elevated oil prices and continuing Middle East tensions keeping investors cautious. 

The Sensex gained 564.03 points, or 0.76 percent, to close at 74,858.99, while the Nifty rose 67.90 points, or 0.29 percent, to 23,414.30 after the post-Closing Auction Session (CAS). The benchmarks had traded higher through most of the session, with bargain hunting supporting stocks following last week’s extended selloff. 

Indian equities entered the week after both the Nifty and Sensex posted their sixth straight weekly decline, their longest losing streak in six years. 

Oil Retreats, But Middle East Risks Remain 

Crude prices provided some relief to Indian equities on Monday. Brent futures fell around 2.2 percent to $101.6 a barrel in early trade as investors looked for a recovery in Saudi oil shipments despite continuing attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. Oil nevertheless remained above the $100-a-barrel mark, keeping concerns over inflation and interest rates alive for India, one of the world’s largest oil importers. 

The broader geopolitical backdrop also remained unsettled, with Iran and the United States exchanging fresh threats. The unresolved conflict has continued to fuel concerns over potential supply disruptions and the impact of the energy shock on global inflation. 

Pharma, Realty Lead Sectoral Gains 

Pharma and realty were the strongest sectoral performers, with the Nifty Pharma index gaining 1.16 percent and Nifty Realty advancing 1.14 percent. FMCG and consumer durables also rose nearly 1 percent each. 

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries gained 1.7 percent, while Dr Reddy’s Laboratories rose 1.12 percent. Reliance Industries advanced 1.7 percent and Titan Company gained 1.6 percent. HDFC Life also ended 1.5 percent higher. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank rose 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively.  

Metals, IT Stocks Weigh 

The Nifty Metal index fell 0.6 percent, while infrastructure, IT and PSU banks also ended lower. Bharti Airtel dropped 3.3 percent and was the biggest Nifty loser. Adani Ports fell 2 percent, while Bajaj Finance and Adani Enterprises declined 1.8 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. Infosys slipped 1.2 percent. 

Broader Market Remains Weak 

The broader market underperformed the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 fell 0.29 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 0.07 percent. Market breadth was negative, with 1,995 shares advancing against 2,111 declines. India VIX fell 1.07 percent, indicating some moderation in near-term volatility. 

Foreign investors provided some support after buying Indian equities worth Rs 600 crore on Friday, ending six consecutive sessions of net selling. However, foreign investors had remained significant net sellers in September, while the primary market also continued to absorb liquidity as the $2.3-billion NSE IPO closes for subscription on Monday. 

Source

• NSE
• BSE