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EQUITY
Key gauges end lower for third consecutive day
Jul-22-2026

Indian equity benchmarks ended sharply lower on Wednesday, taking the losses to the third consecutive day, due to selling pressure in Realty, IT and Healthcare stocks. Investor sentiment also weakened amid escalating Middle East tensions, rising oil prices and concerns over potential US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports.

Some of the important factors in trade: 

India aims to increase share of global merchandise exports to around 10% by 2047: A World Trade Organization (WTO) report has stated that India aims to increase its share of global merchandise exports from around 1.8 per cent in 2024 to about 10 per cent by 2047. 

India’s debt-to-GDP ratio eases to 58.2% in FY26: Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary has said that India’s debt-to-GDP ratio has eased to 58.2 per cent (provisional) in FY26 as compared to 58.5 per cent in FY25, reflecting an improvement in the country's debt profile. 

RBI proposes future-ready foreign investments rules to enhance ease of doing business: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed simplified and future-ready rules related to foreign investments, including those pertaining to overseas listing of Indian companies. 

Tractor industry's volume growth likely to ease to 1-4% in FY27 from 23.5% in FY26: Ratings agency Icra said that the tractor industry's volume growth is likely to ease to 1-4 per cent in the current financial year (FY27) from 23.5 per cent in FY26, on account of a high base effect and a forecast of a below-normal monsoon. 

Global front: European markets were trading higher as the annual inflation rate in the UK eased to 2.6% in June 2026 from 2.8% in May, slowing more than the expected fall to 2.7%. Asian markets closed mixed with uncertainty around U.S. trade policy and rising crude oil prices amid persistent tensions in the Middle East weighed on sentiment. 

Finally, the BSE Sensex fell 715.06 points or 0.92% to 76,755.05 and the CNX Nifty was down by 191.45 points or 0.79% to 23,996.25.

The BSE Sensex touched high and low of 77,384.95 and 76,641.19, respectively. There were 24 stocks advancing against 6 stocks declining on the index. 

The lone gaining sectoral index on the BSE was FMCG up by 0.41%, while Realty down by 2.62%, IT down by 1.47%, Healthcare down by 1.27%, Bankex down by 1.18% and TECK down by 0.85% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Power Grid up by 0.96%, NTPC up by 0.62%, Titan Company up by 0.56%, Hindustan Unilever up by 0.54% and Bharti Airtel up by 0.09%. On the flip side, Interglobe Aviation down by 3.64%, Eternal down by 2.79%, Infosys down by 1.94%, State Bank of India down by 1.84% and Axis Bank down by 1.64% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, with an aim to diversify export markets in response to changing global geopolitical and economic conditions, Ministry of Commerce & Industry has said that several initiatives have been undertaken by the government including expansion of network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership/Cooperation Agreements (CEPAs/CECAs); trade negotiations with major economies and regions to secure preferential market access for exporters. The government is also undertaking focused export promotion activities through Export Promotion Mission, Indian Missions overseas, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry associations and other stakeholders.

Ministry further noted that the efforts also include implementation of district and sector-specific export promotion initiatives under the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative; and capacity-building programmes. According to the Commerce Ministry, FTAs are entered into with the concerned trading partner countries primarily with the aim of increasing bilateral trade through enlarging the scope of market access and building on the trade complementarities for increasing trade and investment, thereby providing enhanced export potential, creating benefits for industry and farmers and enhancing job opportunities.

It further said that the FTAs facilitate preferential market access for labour intensive sector products to boost growth and employment opportunities in sectors like textile, apparel and leather goods. FTAs endeavor to deliver a comprehensive, balanced, broad based and equitable agreement based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity and overall benefit to all the stakeholders. It also noted that the FTAs include provisions on Technical Barriers to Trade to promote mutual understanding of each sides’ standards, technical regulations, and measures to enhance transparency.

CNX Nifty touched high and low of 24,166.30 and 23,961.40, respectively. There were 10 stocks advancing against 40 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Bajaj Auto up by 5.92%, Nestle India up by 3.31%, Tata Consumer Products up by 1.43%, Eternal up by 1.01% and Power Grid Corporation up by 0.80%. On the flip side, Interglobe Aviation down by 3.58%, Dr. Reddy's down by 2.16%, JIO Financial Services down by 2.14%, Infosys down by 2.00% and Axis Bank down by 1.96% were the top losers. 

European markets were trading higher; UK’s FTSE 100 increased 123.48 points or 1.17% to 10,709.39, France’s CAC rose 89.46 points or 1.07% to 8,452.60 and Germany’s DAX gained 185.35 points or 0.74% to 25,196.70.

Asian markets closed mixed on Wednesday, as a rebound in memory and semiconductor shares on optimism over AI-driven demand helped offset concerns over an intense escalation in the US-Iran conflict, inflation and US trade policy. Global investors were tracking developments involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement after the group threatened a naval blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea. They also looked ahead of a flurry of major US tech earnings reports due this week for additional clues on the trajectory of the AI trade. Japan’s Nikkei declined after data showed Japan’s trade balance shifted to a deficit in June as import growth outpaced exports, while the yen slid past 163 per dollar for the first time since 1986. Seoul shares rose after data showed South Korea's semiconductor exports soared 180% year-on-year in the first 20 days of July, underscoring sustained AI-driven demand.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,867.03

2.67

0.07

Hang Seng

24,892.66

-239.63

-0.95

Jakarta Composite

6,334.48

-5.54

-0.09

KLSE Composite

1,711.37

-9.00

-0.52

Nikkei 225

66,115.60

-116.59

-0.18

Straits Times

5,595.42

68.70

1.24

KOSPI Composite

6,797.70

49.75

0.74

Taiwan Weighted

44,825.78

592.91

1.34
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