Nifty Bank Today Rises 0.46% to 57,761.95: Closing Bell

Quick sector takeaways

• Nifty Bank ended 266.05 points, or 0.46%, higher at 57,761.95 on 21 August 2026, versus the previous close of 57,495.90.
• The index traded between 57,481.55 and 57,772.45 during the session and finished close to its intraday high.
• Market breadth was positive, with 10 of 14 tracked banking stocks advancing and four declining.
• AU Small Finance Bank, Federal Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank led the gains, while Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India and Axis Bank ended lower. The next-session watch is whether the positive breadth holds.

Nifty Bank today: closing bell wrap

Nifty Bank today delivered a positive end-of-session performance, closing at 57,761.95, up 266.05 points from 57,495.90 in the preceding session. The 0.46% rise made banking the second top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices for the day.

The index opened at 57,613.20, already above its previous close, and moved within a 290.90-point intraday range. Its closing level was only 10.50 points below the day’s high of 57,772.45, an observation that reflects a firm finish within the session’s range. The move was accompanied by positive participation across the tracked banking names rather than being limited to just one or two gainers.

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Price snapshot

The index’s low of 57,481.55 was marginally below the previous close, showing that the session included some movement on either side of that reference point. It then recovered to close higher. From the day’s low to its close, Nifty Bank added 280.40 points; from the open to the close, it gained 148.75 points.

Sector ranking

Nifty Bank was the second top gaining sector index in the configured sector universe on 21 August 2026. Nifty Metal led the gainers with a 0.86% rise, while Nifty Bank followed with a 0.46% advance. Nifty Financial Services gained 0.22%, whereas Nifty Mid Select was nearly unchanged at -0.01%.

Several other tracked sector indices closed lower: Nifty Pharma declined 0.21%, Nifty IT fell 0.46%, Nifty Auto lost 0.60% and Nifty FMCG declined 0.74%. This ranking places the banking index among the stronger sector performances of the session on the supplied index readings.

Constituent breadth

Breadth within Nifty Bank was constructive. Of the 14 display-safe banking stocks tracked, 10 advanced and four declined, with none unchanged. That works out to an advance-decline ratio of 2.5, meaning there were two-and-a-half advancing stocks for every declining stock.

This distribution is relevant because the index rise was supported by a majority of the tracked names. Gains were spread across private banks, public-sector banks and small finance banking representation. At the same time, the four declines show that participation was positive but not uniform across every stock in the index.

Heavyweights versus broader participation

The listed heavyweight names presented a mixed but net-positive picture. ICICI Bank rose 0.57% to 1,420.00, while HDFC Bank added 0.26% to 726.95. State Bank of India edged up 0.07% to 1,048.70, and Kotak Mahindra Bank gained 1.37% to 402.80. Axis Bank, however, declined 0.42% to 1,245.80.

The same set of named stocks also featured in the supplied activity list, making their price direction useful context for the overall banking-index close. ICICI Bank ended at its day high of 1,420.00, while HDFC Bank closed below its intraday high of 732.80. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s 1.37% rise stood out among the heavyweight group, even though its day high was 406.00.

Key Nifty Bank stocks

Biggest positive movers

AU Small Finance Bank led the supplied gainers, climbing 1.86% to 1,108.20 from 1,088.00. The stock reached 1,108.20 during the day, matching its closing level. Federal Bank rose 1.60% to 361.00 and also ended at its day high.

Kotak Mahindra Bank advanced 1.37% to 402.80, IDFC First Bank gained 1.06% to 86.75, and Bank of Baroda added 1.02% to 247.00. Both IDFC First Bank and Bank of Baroda closed at their respective day highs. These moves formed the leading positive end of the banking-stock performance list.

Biggest negative movers

Punjab National Bank fell 1.23% to 116.55, after trading between 115.41 and 117.52. Union Bank of India declined 0.67% to 183.45, while Axis Bank lost 0.42% to 1,245.80. IndusInd Bank slipped 0.24% to 1,005.60.

These declines did not prevent the index from closing higher because the broader count of advancing stocks remained stronger. They nonetheless mark the weaker end of the day’s banking-stock performance and remain relevant when assessing whether breadth stays positive in the next session.

Stocks to watch next session

• AU Small Finance Bank: closed at 1,108.20 after a 1.86% rise.
• Federal Bank: ended at 361.00, up 1.60%.
• Kotak Mahindra Bank: closed at 402.80, gaining 1.37%.
• ICICI Bank: finished at 1,420.00, up 0.57% and at its day high.
• Punjab National Bank: ended at 116.55 after a 1.23% decline.
• Axis Bank: closed at 1,245.80, down 0.42%.

The constructive case

The positive case for Nifty Bank today rests on three observable points: a 0.46% index gain, a close near the intraday high, and favourable breadth of 10 advances against four declines. The index also closed above both its previous close and opening level.

Leadership was visible in AU Small Finance Bank, Federal Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bank of Baroda. Positive moves in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and State Bank of India added support from the supplied heavyweight list, although the size of each stock’s influence on the index is not assessed here.

The cautious case

The session was positive, but it was not a universal rise across the banking pack. Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Axis Bank and IndusInd Bank closed in the red. Axis Bank’s fall was notable alongside gains in other supplied heavyweight names.

Nifty Bank also traded below its previous close at the day’s low before recovering. The next session can therefore be read through both the index’s ability to maintain its closing strength and whether the advance-decline balance continues to favour gainers.

Univest Insights

Nifty Bank’s 0.46% rise positioned it as the second top gaining sector index in the configured set, behind Nifty Metal’s 0.86% advance. That relative placement gives the banking sector a positive closing-session profile without requiring assumptions about external triggers.

The close at 57,761.95 was near the session peak of 57,772.45, while the index had opened at 57,613.20. This left the index above its opening and previous-close levels by the end of trade. The intraday range from 57,481.55 to 57,772.45 also shows the full path of the session rather than only the closing change.

Stock-level participation broadened the picture. AU Small Finance Bank and Federal Bank were the strongest supplied percentage gainers, while Kotak Mahindra Bank added strength among the named heavyweight stocks. ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank also ended higher, counterbalanced by weakness in Axis Bank.

For traders and investors, the key signal to watch is…

Published on 21 August 2026 at 4:17 PM IST

Frequently asked questions

What was Nifty Bank today?

Nifty Bank closed at 57,761.95 on 21 August 2026, up 266.05 points or 0.46% from its previous close of 57,495.90.

What were the Nifty Bank day high and day low?

The index recorded a day high of 57,772.45 and a day low of 57,481.55.

Why was Nifty Bank the second top gaining sector index?

Nifty Bank gained 0.46%, placing it second among the configured sector indices. Nifty Metal was ahead with a 0.86% rise.

How was Nifty Bank breadth at the close?

Of 14 tracked banking stocks, 10 advanced and four declined, with no unchanged stocks. The advance-decline ratio was 2.5.

Which stocks were the top gainers in Nifty Bank?

AU Small Finance Bank gained 1.86%, Federal Bank rose 1.60%, Kotak Mahindra Bank added 1.37%, IDFC First Bank gained 1.06%, and Bank of Baroda rose 1.02%.

Which stocks were the top decliners in Nifty Bank?

Punjab National Bank fell 1.23%, Union Bank of India declined 0.67%, Axis Bank lost 0.42%, and IndusInd Bank slipped 0.24%.