Pre-Market 23 April 2026: What To Expect After Nifty Slides 199 Points; Oil Over $100

Indian equity markets head into Thursday after a weak close in the previous session.

Selling was visible across sectors, and the benchmarks ended lower. The Sensex fell 757 points to close at 78,516. The Nifty 50 dropped 199 points to settle at 24,378 on 22 April 2026.

What Happened In Wednesday’s Session?

Markets remained under pressure through the day after opening on a weak note.

IT stocks dragged the indices lower. The sector saw sharp selling after disappointing earnings. HCL Technologies was the top loser, falling about 11%. Infosys, TCS and Tech Mahindra also declined. Persistent Systems and Tata Elxsi dropped 5–6%.

The Nifty snapped its three-session winning streak.

On the other hand, Tata Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. and NTPC offered support.

Global Cues After Market Hours

Global markets were mixed after Indian trading hours.

In the US, indices moved higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 340 points, or 0.7%. The S&P 500 gained 1% and was close to its record high, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.6%, supported by earnings.

At the same time, markets were tracking developments around the Iran situation, which continues to influence sentiment.

Asian markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.42%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.22%.

European markets were lower. The FTSE 100 fell 0.21%, while the CAC 40 declined 0.96%.

Oil And Commodities In Focus

Crude oil prices moved higher in the previous session.

US crude rose 3.67% to $92.96 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 3.48% to around $101.91.

Gold prices moved up slightly in the last session. Spot gold was at $4,737.69 per ounce, up 0.55%. US gold futures also rose 0.93% to $4,742.20.

GIFT Nifty Update

GIFT Nifty was around 24,340, down 24 points (0.10%) as of 22 April 2026. It suggests a flat start for the market.

The index is still moving around the 24,300–24,400 range. This zone remains important for now.

Technical Levels To Watch

Support is seen in the 24,200–24,100 zone. If this breaks, the Nifty index could move towards 23,900. On the upside, resistance is placed near 24,600.

The recent slip below short-term averages points to some loss of momentum. The broader trend, however, is still holding.

Also Read - Post-Market, 22 April 2026

What Should Investors Expect Today?

The session may begin on a flat to slightly weak note, tracking mixed global cues.

IT stocks will be in focus after the recent decline. Earnings will also drive stock-specific moves. Developments in the Middle East and oil prices remain key triggers.

After the recent fall, the market may stay in a narrow range. The focus will be on whether the index holds near support levels.

Sources:

Reuters

AP News

CNBC TV18