Pre-Market 20 July 2026: Sensex Soars 964 Points, GIFT Nifty Signals Firm Start; What To Expect From Nifty Today

Dalal Street begins a new week after ending Friday with a strong rebound, as upbeat June-quarter earnings and renewed buying in large-cap IT stocks lifted benchmark indices despite weakness in the broader market. GIFT Nifty was trading higher later in the night, pointing to a firm opening for Monday.

The Sensex jumped 964 points to close at 78,151, while the Nifty 50 gained 262 points to settle at 24,334, marking one of its strongest single-day advances this month.

How Did The Market End The Week?

Large-cap stocks led the recovery as investors shifted money into relatively attractive blue-chip names.

IT stocks remained at the centre of buying after encouraging June-quarter earnings, helping the benchmarks outperform the broader market.

The trend was different outside the frontline indices. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 both slipped by up to 0.4%, suggesting investors booked profits in expensive broader-market stocks while increasing exposure to large caps.

Consumer durable shares also attracted buying amid expectations of healthy domestic demand in the second half of FY27.

Global Cues Before Monday's Trade

US markets ended lower on Friday as investors turned cautious after the recent rally.

On 17 July:

• Dow Jones fell 406.55 points to 52,146.42

• S&P 500 declined 76.08 points to 7,457.69

• Nasdaq Composite dropped 361.70 points to 25,520.24

Asian markets also finished on a weak note.

• Nikkei 225 declined 2,694.42 points to 64,141.12

• Hang Seng lost 446.36 points to 24,562.24

• Singapore's Straits Times slipped 29.95 points to 5,509.43

European markets were mixed:

• FTSE 100 gained 28.13 points to 10,600.37

• CAC 40 fell 39.05 points to 8,338.81

GIFT Nifty Before Market Open

As of 06:30 IST on 20 July, GIFT Nifty was trading at 24,373.50. The futures contract remained above Friday's Nifty close of 24,334, indicating a positive start to Monday's trade.

Key Nifty Levels For Today's Trade

Support: 24,200

A sustained move below 24,200 could lead to a phase of consolidation.

Resistance: 24,800

Nifty has moved above the range where it spent the last few sessions. The index is also trading above its key moving averages, keeping the broader trend positive. The next level on the upside is around 24,800.

What's On The Market's Radar Today?

The June-quarter earnings season gathers pace this week, with several companies scheduled to report their results. Corporate commentary is expected to shape stock-specific action.

Friday's rally was led by large-cap stocks, particularly IT. Whether that trend extends into the new week remains one of the key questions for the market. Consumer-focused stocks will also be watched after signs of improving demand.

For the Nifty outlook today, 24,200 has emerged as an important level after Friday's breakout. Staying above it keeps the recent recovery intact. A move below that mark may bring consolidation back into play.

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