Closing Bell, 20 August 2026: Benchmarks Close In The Green

Bears finally gave way to bulls as benchmarks snapped their long losing streak. At the end of today's trading, they ended in the green. A mix of positive domestic and global cues lifted benchmarks. At the closing bell, the:

• BSE Sensex stood at 77,537.72, up 0.82%

• Nifty 50 stood at 24,231.85, up 0.64%

Broader markets also ended in positive territory. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 ended 0.41% and 0.68% higher, respectively. Sector-wise, the Nifty IT, Nifty Private Bank, Nifty Realty and Nifty Auto outperformed (see table).

Nifty 50 Today: Gainers And Losers

Stocks of the following firms were the top five gainers and losers on the Nifty 50 index today:

Gold And Silver Prices Today

Gold and silver prices surged on positive global developments, with both trading high on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). At 15:37, MCX gold prices for October futures stood at ₹1,58,151 per 10 grams, up 0.10%. MCX silver prices for September futures during the same time stood at ₹2,39,150 per kg, up 1%.

Other Important Headlines

Some of the other major headlines of the day are as follows:

• India and Japan on Thursday agreed to step up maritime security cooperation, improve naval coordination and explore joint development in naval shipbuilding and design.

• Small-ticket systematic investment plan (SIP) accounts with monthly contributions of ₹1,000 or less in mutual funds fell by 1.4 million in 2025-2026, even though big-ticket accounts continued to surge.

Crude Oil Prices Today

Crude oil prices remained above $92 per barrel in early trading amid fresh escalation of the war between the US and Iran. At around 15:38, Brent crude oil October futures stood at $93.80 per barrel. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil October futures stood at $86.56 per barrel.

What’s Next?

Industry watchers feel markets are likely to remain sensitive to global cues, crude oil prices and foreign investor flows in the upcoming trading sessions. The recent rebound after a prolonged losing streak could keep short-covering activity in focus, while elevated oil prices may continue to weigh on sentiment.

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