Closing Bell, 21 October 2026: Bulls Give Way To Bears As Sensex And Nifty Decline To Close In The Red

Bears took control towards the end of today’s trading session as the benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty 50, closed in the red. Gains made in early trade were wiped out due to profit booking, elevated oil prices and fresh tensions in the Middle East. At the closing bell, the:

• Sensex tumbled over 140 points and closed at 73,709.69, down 0.19%

• Nifty 50 fell over 70 points and finished at 22,811.35, down 0.34%

Broader markets also closed in the red. While the Nifty Midcap 100 finished 1.58% lower, the Nifty Smallcap 100 tumbled 2.37%. Sector-wise, the Nifty IT finished 2.88% higher. On the other hand, the Nifty Chemical declined and closed 2.64% lower.

Nifty 50 Today: Gainers And Losers

The following stocks emerged as the top five gainers and losers on the Nifty 50 index today:

Crude Oil Prices Today

Crude oil prices rose past $110 per barrel on Wednesday in intraday deals, driven by fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East and growing concerns over maritime security and Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities. At around 15:41, Brent crude December futures stood at $110.77 per barrel. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude December futures stood at $99.94 per barrel.

Gold And Silver Prices Today

Gold and silver traded lower on the Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX). At 15:43, MCX gold December 2026 futures stood at ₹1,45,678 per 10 grams, down 0.57%. At the same time, MCX silver December 2026 futures stood at ₹2,08,659 per kg, down 1.34%.

Other News Headlines

Here are some other headlines for the day:

• Carlsberg is preparing to file initial public offering (IPO) documents for its India operations, potentially paving the way for a public offering worth up to $700 million.

• Coal stocks are running critically low at half of India’s 191 coal-fired power plants, as rising power demand and El Niño-linked heat increase pressure on supplies.

What’s Next?

Indian equity markets may remain volatile as investors weigh elevated crude oil prices, escalating Middle East tensions and continued profit booking. Concerns over coal availability amid rising power demand could add to uncertainty, while movements in global markets and foreign investor flows may influence sentiment in the coming sessions.

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