Stock Markets News as on 21st May, 2026

Indian benchmarks finished the day in red, with the Sensex ending at 75,183.36, down 135.03 points or 0.18%, while the Nifty closed at 23,654.70, down 4.30 points or 0.02%.

What happened today

The market opened strongly on positive global cues and lower crude, but the rally faded as the session progressed and profit-taking set in. By the close, the indices had given up most of the early gains, showing that sentiment improved at the open but weakened into the afternoon.

Main drivers

Crude oil remained an important support factor because easing oil prices help reduce pressure on India’s inflation and import bill, but that positive effect was offset by caution around the rupee and continued foreign investor selling. Sector-wise, IT and FMCG were under pressure, while auto, metal, and pharma managed to hold up better through the day.

Market tone

This was a classic volatile session: strong opening, sharp intraday swings, and a soft close. The Nifty finishing almost flat while the Sensex lost more ground suggests the broader market was not under heavy selling, but conviction was still weak. The day’s action points to a market that is responsive to global cues, but still waiting for a stronger domestic trigger before breaking out decisively.

Reader take

For a one-line summary, today’s Indian stock market was range-bound and slightly negative at the close, despite a bullish start. The key near-term watchpoints remain crude oil, rupee moves, and FII flows, since those were the main forces shaping today’s trade

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The biggest stocks supporting the indices were Grasim, ICICI Bank, InterGlobe Aviation, Bharat Electronics, and Apollo Hospitals, while the main draggers were Reliance, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, and HUL.

Stocks pulling indices up

• Grasim: CMP 3154.50, contribution +14.99.
• ICICI Bank: CMP 1242.80, contribution +8.57.
• InterGlobe Aviation: CMP 4403.00, contribution +6.84.
• Bharat Electronics: CMP 420.40, contribution +5.51.
• Apollo Hospital: CMP 8308.50, contribution +5.17.

Stocks dragging indices down

• Reliance: CMP 1349.60, contribution -14.85.
• Bharti Airtel: CMP 1885.30, contribution -12.96.
• Infosys: CMP 1181.20, contribution -9.54.
• Bajaj Finance: CMP 907.65, contribution -8.94.
• HUL: CMP 2179.00, contribution -5.85

Markets at Close

21st May, 2026

Sensex slips 135 points, Nifty ends flat; Grasim jumps 6%, broader markets outperform

Sensex and Nifty ended little changed on Thursday after a volatile session, as gains in realty, healthcare and select auto stocks were offset by weakness in financial, IT and FMCG counters. At close, the Sensex fell 135.03 points or 0.18 percent to settle at 75,183.36, while the Nifty slipped just 4.30 points or 0.02 percent to 23,654.70. Market breadth remained firmly positive, with 2,307 shares advancing against 1,688 declines. Realty stocks led sectoral gains, while IT and FMCG indices lagged. Broader markets outperformed benchmark indices, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 index rising 0.63 percent, while India VIX declined more than 3 percent, signalling easing volatility.

Rupee at Close

21st May, 2026

The rupee strengthened significantly against the US dollar, ending at 96.20 compared with Wednesday’s record closing low of 96.82. The domestic currency recovered more than 60 paise during the session.

Source : moneycontrol

FII’s & DII’s Activity on 21st May, 2026

Net value in crores

*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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