Stock Market Today Highlights: Sensex ends 753 points up, crosses 79,000 mark; Nifty settles above 24,550 on hopes of US-Iran peace talks, drop in crude oil prices

The 30-share Sensex climbed 753.03 points, or 0.96%, to close at 79,273.33, after touching an intraday high of 79,367.08, up 846.78 points or 1.07%. The 50-share Nifty advanced 211.75 points, or 0.87%, to settle at 24,576.60.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.75% lower at $4.76 per barrel.

"Indian equity markets traded on a positive note, as investors positioned for a potential near-term de-escalation in the Middle East. Energy markets remained in a consolidation phase, as traders balanced hopes of a near-term resolution and a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz against ongoing uncertainty around ceasefire negotiations," Ponmudi R said.

Across Asia, key indices including South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225, China’s SSE Composite Index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended higher, while European markets were also trading in the green. US equities, however, closed slightly lower on Monday.

"The bullish momentum was largely driven by a combination of macro and market-specific triggers. Easing geopolitical concerns, particularly around the US–Iran situation, played a central role in improving risk appetite. This was further supported by a cooling in crude oil prices, which helped ease inflation concerns for an oil-import-dependent economy like India and improved margin visibility across sectors," Hariprasad K said.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,059.93 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.

"Amid hopes for progress in Iran–US peace talks and supportive global cues, India’s equity markets rebounded strongly," Vinod Nair said.

HUL: Current Price 2,311 | Price Change 79.20 ↑ | 3.55% ↑

Trent: Current Price 4,391 | Price Change 148.00 ↑ | 3.49% ↑

ICICI Bank: Current Price 1,388 | Price Change 32.20 ↑ | 2.38% ↑

Bajaj Finance: Current Price 938.85 | Price Change 21.10 ↑ | 2.30% ↑

HDFC Bank: Current Price 811.75 | Price Change 16.30 ↑ | 2.05% ↑

Eternal: Current Price 259.48 | Price Change 4.61 ↑ | 1.81% ↑

Axis Bank: Current Price 1,378 | Price Change 23.00 ↑ | 1.70% ↑

ITC: Current Price 309.65 | Price Change 4.65 ↑ | 1.53% ↑

TCS: Current Price 2,611 | Price Change 30.90 ↑ | 1.20% ↑

Bajaj Finserv: Current Price 1,851 | Price Change 20.80 ↑ | 1.14% ↑

1. BEL: Current Price 451.50 | Price Change -6.06 ↓ | -1.33% ↓
2. Kwality Wall's: Current Price 27.52 | Price Change -0.34 ↓ | -1.23% ↓
3. RIL: Current Price 1,353 | Price Change -10.00 ↓ | -0.74% ↓
4. Titan Company: Current Price 4,480 | Price Change -33.31 ↓ | -0.74% ↓
5. NTPC: Current Price 396.20 | Price Change -1.81 ↓ | -0.46% ↓
6. Tech Mahindra: Current Price 1,501 | Price Change -3.61 ↓ | -0.24% ↓
7. Sun Pharma: Current Price 1,665 | Price Change -3.40 ↓ | -0.21% ↓
8. Power Grid: Current Price 319.35 | Price Change -0.35 ↓ | -0.11% ↓

The index formed a bullish candlestick pattern with a higher high and a higher low highlighting continuation of the up move. Index in the process sustaining above its 50 days EMA.

Bias remain positive above last Wednesday gap up area of 23,850-24,100. Index is expected to maintain positive bias and gradually head towards 24,700-24,800 levels being the confluence of the 200 days EMA and the 61.8% retracement of the entire decline 26,373 to 22,183.

Volatility is expected to remain high on account of the geopolitical tension and volatile crude oil prices

Short-term support is positioned around 23,600–23,500 range being the confluence of last week low and 38.2% retracement of the last 3 weeks pullback (22,183-24,601). Forming higher high and higher low in weekly chart will keep the current pullback trend intact.

Stock market today: Nifty50 closed the day at 24,576.60, up 212 points or 0.87%. BSE Sensex ended at 79,273.33, up 753 points or 0.96%.

Indian equity markets ended sharply higher today, with the Nifty and Sensex rising by 212 and 753 points, respectively, marking the third consecutive session of gains. The Nifty Midcap index was up 0.5 percent, while the Smallcap index rose nearly 1 percent.

All sectoral indices closed in the green, with FMCG and Realty gaining 2% each, and Bank and Telecom indices up 1% each. The 4QFY26 earnings season began on a healthy note with companies such as ICICI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, PNB Housing Finance, Nestle etc reporting strong set of results. Most of the companies across the sectors are either reporting in-line set of results or beating the expectation.

The global backdrop remains tense as uncertainty persists over the exact expiry of the US‑Iran ceasefire and Tehran’s willingness to join the next round of negotiations. While report suggest that delegations may arrive in Islamabad amid heightened diplomatic and security preparations. Meanwhile, US Dow futures and European markets are currently trading higher. Key events to watch include the RBI MPC Meeting Minutes and the release of the UK’s March 2026 CPI and Core CPI figures, both scheduled for April 22, 2026, says Suny Agrawal, Head - Fundamental Research at SBI Securities.

Indian equity indices ended on a strong note on April 21, with Nifty closing the weekly expiry session above 24,550, supported by optimism around potential US–Iran peace negotiations and steady domestic earnings momentum. Market participants are expected to closely track developments in Middle East tensions and crude oil price movements in the coming week.

At close, the Sensex advanced 753.03 points (0.96%) to settle at 79,273.33, while the Nifty gained 211.75 points (0.87%) to end at 24,576.60.

Broader markets remained constructive, with the Nifty Midcap index rising 0.5% and the Smallcap index gaining approximately 1%.

Sectoral performance was broadly positive, with all indices ending in the green. FMCG and Realty outperformed with gains of 2% each, while Banking and Telecom indices were higher by around 1%.

"Amid hopes for progress in Iran–US peace talks and supportive global cues, India’s equity markets rebounded strongly. FMCG and realty stocks led the rally, backed by solid earnings updates, while banking stocks gained after the RBI eased forex restrictions. Small caps outperformed broader indices. In the near term, investors are expected to remain focused on corporate earnings, which are tracking in line with expectations, while monitoring developments in the U.S.–Iran conflict and trends in the rupee and crude oil prices, where signals remain positive,” says Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.

Indian benchmark indices ended the session on a strong note, posting solid gains.

The BSE Sensex jumped 753.03 points to settle at 79,273.33.

The NSE Nifty 50 climbed 211.75 points to close at 24,576.60.

Markets finished firmly in the green, reflecting broad-based buying across sectors.

Indian equity markets were trading higher in late afternoon deals, with benchmark indices posting strong gains.

The BSE Sensex stood at 79,287.54, up 767.24 points or 0.98% as of 3:10 pm.

The NSE Nifty 50 was at 24,576.75, gaining 211.90 points or 0.87% during the same period.

Both indices remained in positive territory, reflecting sustained buying interest across key sectors.

The frontline indices maintained their upward trajectory, with broader market indices also witnessing strong bullish momentum. Within the broader space, the Nifty Smallcap 100 stands out with marked outperformance.

Among the major sectoral indices, Nifty Realty emerged as the top performer, gaining 2.73%, while Nifty Metal remained the underperformer, marginally declining 0.01%, reflecting sectoral divergence.

Coming to Nifty levels, the 24400–24380 zone will act as a crucial support area, while the 24600–24630 zone is likely to act as an immediate resistance band.

On the downside, a decisive break below 24380 may lead to further weakness towards the 24280–24250 zone.

On the upside, a sustained move above 24630 could trigger an extension of the rally towards the 24750 level.

On the derivatives front, meaningful call writing has been observed at the 24600 and 24700 strikes. On the put side, 24500 holds significant open interest, followed by the 24400 strike, indicating near-term support positioning.

Market internals remain strong, with the Advance-Decline ratio at 41:09. The PCR stands at 1.52, suggesting a positive undertone.

For Sensex, the immediate support is placed at 78600, while 79500 remains the key resistance level.

The Indian rupee weakened by 16 paise to 93.32 against the US dollar in early trading on Tuesday, pressured by a firm greenback and a move by the Reserve Bank of India to relax curbs on speculative positions in the currency.

Traders noted that gains in domestic equities and continued foreign inflows offered some support to the rupee, although lingering uncertainty over a possible West Asia peace deal kept market sentiment cautious.

On Monday, the Reserve Bank partially rolled back measures introduced on April 1 to rein in excessive speculation in the rupee. Earlier, banks had been required to limit their net open positions in non-deliverable forward markets to $100 million, with compliance mandated by April 10.

Under the updated framework, authorised dealers and banks are now allowed to resume offering non-deliverable derivative contracts linked to the rupee for both resident and non-resident clients, subject to specified restrictions on transactions involving related parties.

Shares of Adani Power have witnessed a sharp upswing this month, climbing as much as 37% over the past 13 trading sessions. This surge has lifted its market capitalisation to about Rs 3.93 lakh crore, making it the most valuable entity within the Adani Group, ahead of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, which stands at Rs 3.70 lakh crore.

A part of the diversified Adani Group, Adani Power is the country’s largest private-sector thermal power producer. It operates a combined generation capacity of 18,110 MW across thermal facilities located in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, along with a 40 MW solar installation in Gujarat.

Crude oil futures declined on Tuesday, with prices dropping by Rs 154 to Rs 8,030 per barrel, tracking softer global cues as concerns over excess supply weighed on the market.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange of India, crude contracts for May delivery fell Rs 154, or 1.88%, to Rs 8,030 per barrel, with a trading volume of 4,226 lots.

According to analysts, the downturn was driven by traders trimming their positions amid subdued demand in the physical market. In international trade, West Texas Intermediate crude was down 1.14% at $88.59 per barrel, while Brent crude slipped 1.27% to USD 94.27 per barrel in New York.

* The transmission and distribution (T&D) value chain, particularly segments focused on high-voltage transformers, continues to benefit from a robust capex outlay of INR9t until 2032, alongside a much stronger opportunity unfolding from global markets for quality players. This T&D capex cycle, which began in FY22-23, has driven sharp growth in order books, revenue, and the margin profiles for industry participants.

* We have already witnessed the initial phase of this capex upcycle in transformers, and based on our discussions with industry stakeholders, there remains room for the cycle to continue over the next couple of years. With capacity expansions announced for most players in the system, the industry is positioning itself to meet sustained demand from both domestic and export markets. The demand is sufficient enough to absorb the increased capacity without exerting downward pressure on prices in the near term. We maintain our positive stance on the T&D capex cycle and expect transformer players to continue delivering strong earnings growth over FY25-28.

* However, valuations are no longer cheap for the industry players but possibility of further earning upgrades and unfolding of export opportunities can sustain these valuations. We initiate coverage on CG Power (Buy, TP: INR900), Atlanta Electricals (Buy, TP: INR1,650), and GE Vernova T&D India (BUY, TP: INR4,750). Additionally, we reiterate our Buy rating on Siemens Energy (TP: INR3,700) and upgrade our rating on Hitachi Energy to Neutral (TP: INR27,000).

(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Asian markets delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday, while oil prices edged lower, as uncertainty persisted over potential talks to end the conflict between the United States and Iran.

The subdued tone followed a modest pullback on Wall Street, although US futures were slightly higher. With the outlook for negotiations between Washington and Tehran still unclear, Brent crude held above $95 per barrel, slipping 0.4% to $95.10. US benchmark crude also declined 0.9% to $86.66 per barrel.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.1% to 59,485.54, supported by strong gains in technology stocks such as Tokyo Electron, which advanced 4.4%, and SoftBank Group Corp., which climbed 5.5%. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.8%, while Taiwan’s Taiex gained 1.7%.

However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.1% to 26,382.30, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.3% to 4,068.28. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also edged down 0.1%.

Geopolitical tensions escalated after Donald Trump criticised opponents following uncertainty over a second round of talks with Iran, triggered by the US Navy’s seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel. While Trump indicated that Vice President JD Vance would travel to Islamabad, Tehran has not confirmed further engagement.

Stock market today: Sensex and Nifty rallied strongly in trade on Tuesday. At 10:03 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 24,505.00, up 140 points or 0.58%. BSE Sensex was at 79,035.74, up 515 points or 0.66%.

"Indian equity markets are expected to open on a mildly positive note on Tuesday (21st April 2026), supported by stable global cues and a firm trend in GIFT Nifty. GIFT Nifty is currently trading around 24,388, up by 50 points, indicating a positive start for domestic benchmark indices. Early trends also suggest a steady undertone as global equities remain stable and macro uncertainty is limited.

In the previous session (20th April 2026), benchmark indices ended on a flat to marginally positive note after a volatile trading session. The Nifty 50 closed at 24,364.85, up 11.30 points (0.05%), reflecting a cautious yet resilient undertone in the market.

Sectorally, the market witnessed mixed participation across sectors. Buying interest was seen in banking, PSU, and power stocks, while some pressure was observed in IT and metals, indicating selective profit booking. Broader markets also showed signs of mild consolidation, suggesting stock-specific action despite the overall stable undertone.

From a technical perspective, the Nifty 50 continues to hold above the crucial 24,300 zone, reinforcing the near-term positive bias, although momentum appears to be slowing. Immediate support is placed near 24,150–24,200, while resistance is seen around 24,450–24,500. A sustained move above this resistance band could extend the ongoing rally, while failure to hold higher levels may result in range-bound movement.

The Bank Nifty remains in a positive structure, though consolidation at higher levels cannot be ruled out. The index is likely to face resistance near 57,000–57,200, while support is placed around 56,200–56,000.

On the institutional front, as per provisional data for 20th April, FIIs were net sellers with outflows of ₹1,059.93 crore, while DIIs were net buyers with inflows of ₹2,966.89 crore, indicating that domestic institutions continued to provide support to the market despite foreign selling pressure.
Meanwhile, India VIX closed at 18.79, rising sharply by around 9%, reflecting an increase in near-term volatility expectations and some caution among market participants.

Overall, the market setup for today suggests a mildly positive to range-bound opening, supported by firm GIFT Nifty trends and stable global cues. However, the sharp rise in volatility (India VIX at 18.79, up 9.21%) along with FII selling and ongoing consolidation near resistance levels indicates that some profit booking or sideways movement cannot be ruled out. Sustaining above the 24,450–24,500 zone will remain crucial for further upside momentum in the near term, while strong DII buying is likely to provide support on declines,” says Aakash Shah, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking Private Limited.

Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “In the near-term the market will continue to be news-driven, oscillating between hope and fear. Reports of a second round of talks between US and Iran are keeping hopes of resolution to the conflict alive. Brent crude at $95 and declining spot prices of crude reflect market confidence that the conflict may not last long. But if it does, crude prices will again spike, impacting stock markets. The mother market US cruising at high levels do not reflect any concern of prolonged war.

A prolonged war means slower growth and higher inflation for long. Such a scenario will push the market down. In brief, uncertainty looms large. During such periods of uncertainty, the only thing investors can do is to remain calm and exercise utmost discipline in investing. Fairly-valued fundamentally sound stocks will be available at reasonable prices during this period of uncertainty and fear. Such stocks can be accumulated in a calibrated manner for the long-term."

* ICICI Bank: ₹1,372.1 ▲ 15.9
* Axis Bank: ₹1,373.2 ▲ 18.5
* Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone: ₹1,598 ▲ 19.2
* Kwality Wall's: ₹28.13 ▲ 0.27
* NTPC: ₹401.75 ▲ 3.75
* Tata Steel: ₹213.65 ▲ 1.94
* HDFC Bank: ₹802 ▲ 6.55
* Bajaj Finance: ₹925 ▲ 7.25
* Trent: ₹4,272 ▲ 29.2
* Larsen & Toubro: ₹4,079.7 ▲ 28.7

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex opened in green on Tuesday on positive global cues. While Nifty50 went above 24,400, BSE Sensex rose over 250 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 24,431.20, up 66 points or 0.27%. BSE Sensex was at 78,791.40, up 271 points or 0.35%.

In the pre-open session, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, were flat, though both indices were in green. Nifty50 was hovering around 24,370, and BSE Sensex was around 78,500.

"Both the consolidation near 24400 and dips thereof getting contained in the 24277/250 region evolved on anticipated lines. However, the subsequent upswing did not gain enough traction to put the 24900 view firmly in play. This prompts us to start the day on a cautious note, eying dips to 24150. While 24400 is expected to keep a lid on upside attempts, a break of the same is less likely to lead to vertical upsides,” says Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited.

Broader markets also saw mild declines, with the BSE SmallCap Select index slipping 0.15% and the MidCap Select index falling 0.12%.

Sectorally, power stocks led gains with a 1.24% rise, followed by utilities (0.88%), PSU banks (0.70%) and capital goods (0.55%).

On the other hand, IT-related segments underperformed, with BSE Focused IT down 0.93%, IT losing 0.79%, while realty, telecom and commodities also closed in the red.

The Indian rupee gave up early gains and ended 25 paise weaker at 93.16 against the US dollar on Monday, as renewed tensions in West Asia boosted demand for the greenback and kept crude prices elevated.

Currency traders said the domestic unit remained under pressure amid a fresh standoff between the United States and Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted global supply flows.

In the interbank forex market, the rupee opened at 92.73 and strengthened to an intraday high of 92.70 before weakening to a low of 93.24. It eventually settled at 93.16, down 25 paise from its previous close. The currency had ended at 92.91 on Friday, gaining 28 paise, after rising 19 paise in the session before that.

Anuj Choudhary noted that the rupee declined due to a stronger dollar and higher crude prices, as risk sentiment deteriorated following Iran’s decision to shut the Strait of Hormuz again. He added that the currency is likely to trade with a negative bias amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, though support could come from the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. He expects the USD-INR pair to move within the 93 to 93.60 range.

According to Jateen Trivedi, the rupee remained weak as uncertainty surrounding the next round of US-Iran talks weighed on sentiment. He said rising crude prices, driven by supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, are increasing concerns over India’s import bill and continuing to pressure the currency. Given the rupee’s sensitivity to oil prices and geopolitical risks, he sees it trading cautiously within a 92.65-93.45 band in the near term.

The dollar index, which tracks the US currency against a basket of six peers, rose 0.14% to 98.03.

US equity markets retreated slightly on Monday, trimming some of their recent record-setting gains, even as oil prices moved higher amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran. The increase in crude prices was more restrained compared to earlier phases of the conflict.

The S&P 500 declined 0.2% from its record high, shedding 16.92 points to close at 7,109.14. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 4.87 points, or less than 0.1%, to 49,442.56, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 64.09 points, or 0.3%, to settle at 24,404.39.

In contrast, the Russell 2000, which tracks smaller companies, rose 16.06 points, or 0.6%, to 2,792.96.

Meanwhile, the price of Brent crude climbed back above the $95-per-barrel mark. However, the relatively moderate reaction in markets suggests that investors continue to factor in the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran that could restore oil flows from the Middle East.

On a year-to-date basis, the S&P 500 has gained 263.64 points, or 3.9%. The Dow is up 1,379.27 points, or 2.9%, while the Nasdaq has advanced 1,162.40 points, or 5%. The Russell 2000 has outperformed, rising 311.05 points, or 12.5%, so far this year.

Asian equities edged higher on cautious optimism that Iran may participate in fresh talks with the US ahead of the ceasefire deadline. Futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.1%, Hang Seng futures gained 0.4%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2%, while Euro Stoxx 50 futures declined 1.1%.

India’s benchmark equity indices ended Monday’s session nearly flat after a volatile day of trading, as investors stayed cautious amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and a sharp rise in crude oil prices.

The BSE Sensex edged up just 26.76 points, or 0.03%, to close at 78,520.30. During the session, it swung widely—touching an intraday high of 78,942.45 and a low of 78,203.30, a movement of over 700 points. Similarly, the Nifty 50 inched higher by 11.30 points, or 0.05%, to settle at 24,364.85.

Among Sensex constituents, gains were led by companies such as Trent, State Bank of India, Asian Paints, NTPC, Bajaj Finance and InterGlobe Aviation. On the downside, stocks like Kotak Mahindra Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Electronics and HCL Technologies lagged.