Stock Markets News as on 18th May, 2026
Indian Stock Market Performance – May 18, 2026 (Post-Close Summary)
Indian benchmark indices staged a dramatic intraday recovery to close marginally higher on Monday, May 18, 2026, after a volatile session driven by West Asia geopolitical tensions and surging crude oil prices.
Official Closing Data (Post-Market)
| Index | Close Level | Change (pts) | Change (%) | Intraday Low | Recovery from Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSE Sensex | 75,315.04 | +77.05 | +0.10% | 74,180.26 | +1,135 pts |
| NSE Nifty 50 | 23,649.95 | +6.45 | +0.03% | 23,317.00 | +333 pts |
Both indices erased steep early losses—Sensex crashed over 1,000 points and Nifty dipped below 23,350 before rebounding sharply.
Key Drivers
These factors wiped nearly ₹7 lakh crore from BSE market cap, bringing it to ₹454 lakh crore.
Top Gainers & Losers (Sensex Stocks)
| Top Gainers | Change | Top Losers | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Mahindra | +4.85% | Tata Steel | -3% |
| Infosys | +2.38% | Power Grid | — |
| Bharti Airtel | +1.66% | Maruti | — |
| Sun Pharma | +1.37% | HDFC Bank | — |
| Wipro | +1.31% | Titan | — |
IT stocks led recovery with all 10 Nifty IT constituents ending green after a 6% drop last week.
Sectoral Performance
Broader Market & Volatility
- Nifty Midcap 100: Closed -0.15% in red, erasing most morning losses
- India VIX: Climbed 5%+ to ~19.78, signaling heightened fear
- Stock breadth: Weak despite rally, keeping sentiment cautious
Weekly Context & Outlook
Nifty 50 closed the week at 23,643.50, down 2.20%—a five-week low—while Sensex fell 2.70% to 75,237. Midcap and Smallcap indices dropped 2.20% and 4.56%, respectively.
The week ahead (May 18–22) is expected to remain volatile with a cautious-to-negative bias due to unresolved geopolitics, elevated crude, and continued FPI outflows. Defensive sectors (pharma, healthcare) showed resilience, while riskier assets face pressure.
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Markets at Close
18th May, 2026
Sensex, Nifty end flat after volatile session; IT stocks offset broader market weakness
Sensex and Nifty ended largely flat on Monday after a highly volatile session, as strong gains in IT stocks helped benchmark indices recover from sharp early losses triggered by weak global cues, elevated crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions. At close, the Sensex rose 77.05 points or 0.10 percent to settle at 75,315.04, while the Nifty gained 6.45 points or 0.03 percent to 23,649.95. Broader market sentiment remained sharply weak through the session, with 2,891 shares declining against only 1,216 advances. IT stocks emerged as the biggest support for the market, while auto, PSU bank, media and metal stocks remained under pressure. India VIX also jumped nearly 4.5 percent, reflecting heightened volatility concerns.
Rupee at Close
18th May, 2026
The rupee closed at a record low of 96.35 per US dollar against Friday’s close of 95.97 amid elevated crude oil prices and persistent geopolitical tensions.
Source : moneycontrol
FII’s & DII’s Activity on 18th May, 2026
Net value in crores
| BUY | SELL | |
| DII | 2,682.12 | |
| FII | 2,813.69 |
*Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.
NOTE: *** The above information is based on the source and just for educational purposes only. Please consult your financial advisor before buying any stocks. Thank You ***
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