Pre-Market 21 August 2026: Nifty Snaps Losing Run; Oil And US Bond Yields To Guide Markets
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The BSE Sensex rose 628 points to 77,538 and the Nifty 50 gained 154 points to 24,232 on Thursday, snapping a 7-session losing run. Oil prices, GIFT Nifty, US bond yields and global markets remain on the radar for Friday.
Indian equities broke a seven-session losing run on Thursday as IT and financial stocks moved higher. The recovery came after the US Treasury announced larger buybacks of longer-duration debt, easing some pressure in global bond markets.
What Happened In Thursday's Session?
The BSE Sensex rose 628.04 points, or 0.82%, to close at 77,537.72, while the Nifty 50 index advanced 153.55 points, or 0.64%, to 24,231.85.
Buying was seen across most sectors. IT stocks rose 0.8%, while financial stocks advanced 0.7%. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices also moved higher, rising 0.41% and 0.68%, respectively.
The rupee closed at 95.7050 against the US dollar, compared with 95.7525 in the previous session. The currency remained in a narrow range as the Reserve Bank of India continued to intervene in the market.
Oil, however, remained a concern. Brent crude rose for a fifth straight session and was around $93.61 a barrel. Supply concerns linked to the Iran conflict and reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz kept prices elevated.
Global Markets
US stocks ended lower on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 703.84 points at 52,759.21, while the S&P 500 fell 66.82 points to 7,641.16. The Nasdaq Composite declined 263.92 points to 26,067.17.
The pressure on US equities followed another rise in long-term Treasury yields. The 30-year yield was around 5.239%, while the 10-year yield was near 4.698% in the latest reading. The move came a day after the US Treasury announced larger buybacks of long-duration bonds.
European markets ended mixed. The FTSE 100 closed at 10,748.16, up 0.04%. The CAC 40 ended at 8,453.09, down 0.57%, while the DAX index fell 0.42% to 25,983.04.
Asian markets closed slightly higher on Thursday. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.36% to 66,216.79, while the Hang Seng advanced 0.80% to 25,698.49.
GIFT Nifty Today
On 21 August 2026 at 7:41 am, GIFT Nifty was trading at 24,333.00, up 35.50 points, hinting at a flat-to-positive start for Indian benchmarks on Friday.
Nifty 50 Technical Setup
The 24,200-24,150 range is a key support zone for the Nifty 50. If the index holds above this range and sustains a move above 24,300, it could advance towards 24,400-24,500. However, a decisive break below 24,150 may weaken the setup and lead to a period of consolidation.
What Could Shape Friday's Trade?
Crude oil will remain a key trigger after Brent moved above $93 a barrel. US Treasury yields and developments around the Iran conflict will also be closely tracked. Asian market moves and the latest GIFT Nifty reading will provide further cues before Friday’s opening bell.
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Vishwa has spent 10+ years across fintech and FMCG doing what most people miss, connecting the dots, catching trends before they trend, and finding the angle nobody else thought to ask about.
At Kotak Neo, she drives content strategy for neoshorts, Kotak News Desk, and Investing Guide, turning market noise into something worth reading.
When she's not decoding markets, she trades charts for canvases, chasing art, painting, and architecture across cities she's yet to explore.
