Pre-Market 22 May 2026: Sensex Ends Lower as Crude Jumps Above $107; GIFT Nifty Signals Flat Start

Markets head into Friday after the Sensex fell 135 points to settle at 75,183.36, while the Nifty 50 slipped 4 points to close at 23,654.70 on 21 May 2026.

What Happened In Thursday’s Session?

Indian equities traded in a narrow range on Thursday. IndiGo, Bharat Electronics Ltd and Trent shares ended among the top gainers on the Sensex, while Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra and Hindustan Unilever Ltd shares were the biggest laggards.

The BSE 150 Midcap Index gained 0.18%, while the BSE 250 Smallcap Index climbed 0.70%.

Market sentiment remained cautious as Brent crude moved back above the $107 per barrel mark amid fresh tensions in the Middle East. Investors also tracked the rupee, which recovered 49 paise from its record closing low to settle at 96.37 against the US dollar.

Concerns around possible RBI rate hikes, weak manufacturing PMI data and uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran negotiations also kept traders on edge through the session.

Global Cues After Market Hours

Global markets showed mixed reactions after Indian market hours.

Wall Street indices slipped in the early trading session after reports suggested Iran’s Supreme Leader had directed that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, dampening hopes of progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

By the end of trading hours on 21 May 2026, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up by 309.40 points or 0.62% at 50,318.75. The S&P 500 rose 12.03 points or 0.16% to 7,445.00, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 21.06 points or 0.08% to 26,291.42.

In European markets, the FTSE 100 Index gained 11.13 points or 0.11% to 10,443.47, while France’s CAC 40 Index rose 31.42 points or 0.39% to 8,086.00.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index surged 1,879.73 points or 3.14% to 61,684.14, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 264.60 points or 1.03% to 25,386.52.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty traded at 23,539.00, up 23.50 points or 0.10% as of 21 May 2026, 21:46 IST. The trend pointed to a muted-to-positive opening for domestic equities on Friday.

Key Levels To Watch

Nifty continues to trade within a key short-term range.

• Immediate support is placed around 23,500–23,400

• A break below 23,400 could drag the index towards 23,250–23,200

• On the upside, the 23,800–23,850 zone remains an important resistance area

• A sustained breakout above 23,850 could push the index towards 23,950–24,000

Also Read - Post-Market, 21 May 2026

What Should Investors Expect Today?

Markets may remain range-bound on Friday as investors continue to track developments around the US-Iran negotiations, crude prices and bond yields.

GIFT Nifty trends suggest a flat-to-mildly positive start for domestic markets. Investors are also likely to monitor the rupee, institutional activity and any fresh signals ahead of the RBI’s June policy decision.

Sources:

Mint

Reuters