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Key gauges end higher amid cooling crude oil prices
Sep-21-2026

Indian equity benchmarks ended higher on Monday, as oil prices extended slide and global bond yields dipped amid hopes that diplomatic efforts could help ease tensions in West Asia. Fresh foreign fund inflows and a positive trend in global equities also supported the markets. 

Both the indices ended in positive territory, with the Sensex outperforming the Nifty. The Sensex gained around 0.75%, while the Nifty was up about 0.30%, reflecting buying interest in several heavyweight constituents. UltraTech Cement, HCL Technologies and Eternal were among the top performers in the Sensex index.    

Some of the important factors in trade:

India, Canada discuss progress of ongoing negotiations for proposed CEPA: With an aim to fast track the process of trade deal, trade ministers of India and Canada have discussed the progress of ongoing negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). 

Private investment will be crucial to achieving India’s Viksit Bharat goal: Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur said that private investment will be crucial to achieving India’s Viksit Bharat goal, as public expenditure alone cannot bridge the massive financing gap. 

India's exports to core BRICS nations surge 34% to $19.9 billion in April-August: The commerce ministry in its latest data has showed that India's exports to core BRICS nations--China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia-- surged 34 per cent to $19.9 billion in April-August 2026-27 as compared to $14.9 billion in the corresponding period last year.

India, New Zealand FTA to come into force on October 20: In an encouraging move, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on Dussehra, which falls on October 20, 2026. New Zealand has committed to invest $20 billion over 15 years in India. 

Global front: European markets were trading higher, while Asian markets ended mostly higher as oil prices extended slide to their lowest levels in more than a week and global bond yields dipped amid hopes that diplomatic efforts could help ease tensions in Middle East. 

Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 564.03 points or 0.76% to 74,858.99 and the CNX Nifty was up by 67.90 points or 0.29% to 23,414.30.     

The BSE Sensex touched high and low of 74,987.40 and 74,454.18, respectively. There were 24 stocks advancing against 6 stocks declining on the index.              

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Realty up by 1.71%, Consumer Durables up by 1.55%, Healthcare up by 1.12%, FMCG up by 1.07% and Energy up by 0.61%, while Telecom down by 1.56%, TECK down by 0.32%, Power down by 0.23%, Utilities down by 0.22% and Metal down by 0.11% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Ultratech Cement up by 4.11%, HCL Technologies up by 3.42%, Eternal up by 2.59%, Titan Company up by 2.49% and ITC up by 1.93%. On the flip side, Bharti Airtel down by 1.93%, Power Grid down by 1.15%, Infosys down by 0.97%, Adani Ports &SEZ down by 0.72% and Tata Steel down by 0.62% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, in an encouraging move, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on Dussehra, which falls on October 20, 2026. New Zealand has committed to invest $20 billion over 15 years in India.

The two countries had on April 27, 2026 signed the FTA to boost two-way commerce in goods and services and promote investments, after concluding negotiations in December 2025. New Zealand’s parliament subsequently passed legislation to give effect to the agreement, while both countries have now completed the necessary ratification procedures.

The FTA provides duty-free access for 100 per cent of India's exports to New Zealand. Currently, New Zealand maintains peak tariffs of up to 10 per cent on key Indian goods, including ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.

CNX Nifty touched high and low of 23,466.80 and 23,314.80, respectively. There were 30 stocks advancing against 20 stocks declining on the index. 

The top gainers on Nifty were Eternal up by 2.77%, HCL Technologies up by 2.54%, ITC up by 1.79%, Sun Pharma up by 1.72% and Reliance Industries up by 1.71%. On the flip side, Bharti Airtel down by 3.33%, Adani Ports &SEZ down by 2.02%, Bajaj Finance down by 1.83%, Power Grid down by 1.55% and Adani Enterprises down by 1.49% were the top losers. 

European markets were trading higher; UK’s FTSE 100 increased 95.97 points or 0.9% to 10,755.10, France’s CAC rose 68.38 points or 0.84% to 8,133.40 and Germany’s DAX gained 293.24 points or 1.15% to 25,597.30.

Asian markets ended mostly higher on Monday supported by strong AI-fuelled global demand for semiconductors and cooling crude oil prices amid hopes of a diplomatic path to de-escalate the US-Iran conflict. Chinese shares gained as the People’s Bank of China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for a 16th consecutive month at record lows. Market sentiments were also supported by positive signals from US-China trade talks ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. Meanwhile, trading volumes across the region remained notably thin as Japanese markets were closed for a three-day holiday weekend ending September 23.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,949.91

38.04

0.97

Hang Seng

25,042.71

291.93

1.18

Jakarta Composite

6,384.73

-56.43

-0.88

KLSE Composite

1,666.94

1.38

0.08

Nikkei 225

--

--

--

Straits Times

5,675.23

19.12

0.34

KOSPI Composite

7,007.72

113.49

1.65

Taiwan Weighted

47,718.84

538.09

1.14
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