Pre-Market 22 April 2026: What To Expect After Sensex Jumps 753; Rupee Weakens, GIFT Nifty Slips

Indian equity markets head into Wednesday after extending gains in the previous session, with indices closing near a two-month high.

The Sensex rose 753 points to close at 79,273. The Nifty 50 added 212 points to settle at 24,577 on 21 April 2026.

What Happened In Tuesday’s Session?

Markets remained firm through the session, with strong buying in banking stocks.

HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank were among the main contributors. The Nifty Bank index rose sharply, gaining 789 points.

Among individual stocks, Nestlé India, Hindustan Unilever and Trent were the top gainers. SBI Life Insurance, Bharat Electronics and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories were among the laggards.

The Nifty has now risen close to 11% from its recent lows, marking the highest level in the current upmove.

Global Cues After Market Hours

In the US, indices edged lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.59%, while the S&P 500 dropped by 0.63%, and the Nasdaq Composite also declined.

Asian markets, however, showed mixed trends. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.15%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell by 0.99%.

European markets were weak, with the FTSE 100 declining over 1%.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty stood around 24,423, down 152 points (0.62%) as of 21 April 2026. The move suggests a slightly weak start.

Technical Levels To Watch

• Immediate resistance is seen near 24,800–25,000

• A move above this could extend the rally further

• On the downside, support is placed around 24,400

Macro & Policy Cues

The rupee weakened for a second straight session, falling 37 paise. The move came amid ongoing tensions in West Asia and a stronger US dollar.

On the trade front, India–US talks are progressing. A delegation is in Washington between 20-22 April to push the first phase of a bilateral deal. Only a few issues remain, and there are expectations of a formal announcement.

Separately, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Germany. Discussions are underway on a potential ₹70,000–₹99,000 crore deal for next-generation stealth submarines.

Also Read - Post Market, 21 April 2026: Markets Rally As Global Cues Improve

What Should Investors Expect Today?

The session may start on a flat note, in line with mixed global cues.

Focus will remain on the US–Iran situation. The ceasefire outlook is still uncertain, and oil prices are reacting to every update.

After the recent upmove, the market looks to be pausing. Moves on either side may be limited for now.

Sources:

CNBC TV18

Reuters