Closing Bell, 21 August 2026: Benchmarks End Flat

Benchmark indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, traded in a narrow range throughout the day. However, they closed almost flat at the end of today’s session. At the closing bell, the:

• BSE Sensex stood at 77,540.83 (0%)
• Nifty 50 stood at 24,252.00 (+0.08%)

Broader markets also ended in positive territory. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 ended 0.10% and 0.69% higher, respectively. Sector-wise, the Nifty IT, Nifty Auto and Nifty FMCG declined. The Nifty Realty 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 due to uncertainty in the US-Iran conflict, with both trading high on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). At 15:36, MCX gold prices for October futures stood at ₹1,61,382 per 10 grams, up 1.23%. MCX silver prices for September futures during the same time stood at ₹2,46,315 per kg, up 1.26%.

Other Important Headlines

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

• Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) announced a hike in the price of its cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) across its portfolio by up to ₹25,000 from 1 September.

• ICICI Bank's board has approved borrowings via bonds, notes and offshore certificates of deposit in overseas markets of up to $5 billion.

Crude Oil Prices Today

Crude oil prices remained elevated as the deadlock between the US and Iran continued. At around 15:37, Brent crude oil October futures stood at $94.05 per barrel. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil October futures stood at $87.19 per barrel.

What’s Next?

Benchmarks are likely to remain sensitive to global cues, crude oil prices and developments around the US-Iran conflict in the upcoming sessions. With the Sensex and Nifty closing flat after a narrow-range trade, investors may continue to track sector-specific moves and stock-specific developments for direction.

Also Read - Gold Funds: Tata Mutual Fund Resumes Large Investor Subscriptions In Gold ETF, Removes FOF Limits