Why Is the Stock Market Rising Today? Sensex Surges 829 Points, Nifty Rises 1%: Key Factors Driving Dalal Street Explained
- October 21, 2026
- Posted by: Ankit Jaiswal
- Category: News
The stock market rising today, Wednesday 21 Oct 2026, reflects hopes of an India-US trade deal, a strong run in IT stocks and results-season optimism. The Sensex gained about 829 points and the Nifty about 1% at the peak of the morning, but by 10:26 AM IST the gains had eased to 307 points on the Sensex (74,159.87) and 59 points on the Nifty (22,948.10). Brent crude near $110 and high US bond yields remain the main brakes.
Quick Answer
The stock market rising today is driven by five things: optimism about a possible India-US trade deal, a rebound in IT stocks led by Infosys, TCS and LTTS, positive early results such as Bajaj Finance and LTTS, a strong Wall Street session with the Dow up 1.02%, and Asian markets rallying. The Sensex and Nifty peaked at about +1.1% and +1.0% and then gave back part of the gain. Brent crude near $110, US bond yields and the opening of the Jio Platforms issue are the main swing factors for the stock market rising today.
Why is the stock market rising today after a sharp fall on Monday 19 Oct, when the Sensex lost 876 points? NSE and BSE were shut on 20 Oct for Dussehra, so Wednesday is the first session on Dalal Street after that fall, and the opening gap reflects two days of global news.
This guide to the stock market rising today explains each driver with the data, shows how much of the morning gain has held, lists the key levels and sets out the risks. It is educational and not a recommendation to buy or sell any share.
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Why Is the Stock Market Rising Today? The Morning Numbers
| Index | Previous close (19 Oct) | Open | Day high | Level at 10:26 AM IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensex | 73,852.90 | 74,337.93 | 74,679.18 (up 826 points, my calculation) | 74,159.87, up 0.4% |
| Nifty 50 | 22,888.95 | 23,016 | 23,120.90 (up 1.0%) | 22,948.10, up 0.3% |
| Nifty IT | 31,516.30 | 31,910.25 | 32,347.30 (up 2.6%) | 32,231.55, up 2.3% |
The headline figure of 829 points matches the peak of the morning, and my day-high reading of 74,679.18 is 826 points above the previous close, so the small gap is a timing difference. The stock market rising today has been led by IT, which has held most of its gain while the broader indices have given back about 60% of theirs (my calculation).
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Five Factors Behind the Stock Market Rising Today
| Driver | What the data say |
|---|---|
| India-US trade deal hopes | Analysts say markets are tracking a possible deal, and one analyst expects the direction to depend on its progress |
| IT stocks | Nifty IT was up about 2% early, with Infosys up 2.47% and TCS up 2.08% at one point |
| Earnings | Bajaj Finance reported consolidated profit up 29%, and LTTS jumped on its Q2 results |
| Global cues | The Dow rose 1.02% and the S&P 500 rose 0.28% on Tuesday, and Asian markets were firm |
| Flows and events | The Jio Platforms issue opened for retail subscription and Q2 results continue |
The trade deal is the largest driver of the stock market rising today, but it is still a hope and not an announcement, so a delay can erase the gain. Among Nifty stocks, UltraTech Cement rose about 1.96% early, while Bajaj Finance fell 2.32% even after a 29% profit rise.
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Global Cues Behind the Stock Market Rising Today
| Market | Latest move |
|---|---|
| Dow Jones (Tuesday close) | 52,495.88, up 1.02% |
| S&P 500 (Tuesday close) | 7,712.57, up 0.28% |
| Nasdaq Composite (Tuesday close) | 26,424.82, about flat |
| MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan (Wednesday) | Up 1.16% |
| Kospi (Wednesday) | Up 3.6% after a 3.73% fall on Tuesday |
| Nikkei 225 (Wednesday) | Up 1.17% after a 1.30% fall on Tuesday |
Asian markets rebounded after a weak Tuesday, which supports the stock market rising today in India. Wall Street also recovered, helped by weak US housing data that pulled bond yields lower. One report put the US 10-year yield at 5.12%, down 3 basis points, though I could not confirm it with a second source.
Crude Oil and Bond Yields: What Can Cap the Stock Market Rising Today
| Factor | Latest data | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Brent crude | About $110.34, up 1.43% | Raises India’s import bill and inflation risk |
| US bond yields | Elevated, with the 10-year near 5.12% in one report | Weighs on foreign flows into emerging markets |
| US Federal Reserve | Meeting on 27 and 28 Oct, with a hold expected at 3.75% to 4.00% | A hawkish tone could hit growth stocks |
Brent touched a five-month high on Tuesday and then eased, and shipping risks around the Strait of Hormuz keep the market nervous. Crude is the biggest threat to the stock market rising today. Geojit’s chief investment strategist V K Vijayakumar called it a stock picker’s market and expects a sell-on-rally pattern in the near term.
Risk: If crude oil climbs above its recent high or the trade deal stalls, the stock market rising today could reverse within a session.
Nifty Levels to Track as the Stock Market Rises
| Level | Zone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | 23,000 to 23,100 | Vipin Dixena |
| Support | 22,800 to 22,700 | Vipin Dixena |
| Session high | 23,120.90 on 21 Oct | Exchange data |
| Recent high | 23,175.25 on 19 Oct | Exchange data |
The Nifty is trading near the lower edge of the resistance zone, so a close above 23,100 would be a positive sign for the stock market rising today, while a fall below 22,800 would erase the gain.
What to Watch Next as the Stock Market Rises
- Any official word on the India-US trade deal
- Brent crude near $110 and the rupee
- Q2 results from Eternal and Adani Green later today
- Subscription data for the Jio Platforms issue
- Foreign investor flows and the US Fed meeting on 27 and 28 Oct
Conclusion
The stock market rising today is a real move, but it is thinner than the headline suggests, with the Sensex now up about 0.4% and the Nifty about 0.3% against peaks of 1.1% and 1.0%. Trade deal hopes, IT stocks, results and global cues are supporting the market, and crude oil and yields are the limits. Watch the levels and the news before you act on the stock market rising today.
Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the stock market rising today, 21 Oct 2026?
Ans. Optimism over a possible India-US trade deal, a rally in IT stocks, early results and a strong Wall Street session have all helped. Asian markets were also higher on Wednesday.
How many points did the Sensex and Nifty gain?
Ans. The Sensex gained about 829 points and the Nifty about 1% at the morning peak. By 10:26 AM IST the gains had eased to 307 points on the Sensex and 59 points on the Nifty.
Which sectors are driving the stock market rising today?
Ans. IT stocks are leading, with the Nifty IT index up about 2.3% at 10:26 AM IST. PSU banks and metals also gained early, while Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv were weak.
What is the role of crude oil in the stock market rising today?
Ans. Brent is near $110 a barrel, close to a five-month high, which raises import costs and inflation risk for India. It is the main risk that can reverse the gain.
What are the Nifty support and resistance levels for the stock market rising today?
Ans. Vipin Dixena sees resistance at 23,000 to 23,100 and support at 22,800 to 22,700. The Nifty was at 22,948 at 10:26 AM IST.
Is the Jio Platforms issue affecting the stock market rising today?
Ans. The issue opened for retail subscription on 21 Oct and is a focus for investors alongside Q2 results. Reliance Industries was up about 1.1% at 10:26 AM IST.
What are the risks to the stock market rising today?
Ans. A delay in the trade deal, higher crude oil, elevated US yields and a hawkish Fed on 27 and 28 Oct could all reverse the gains. Foreign selling in October is also a concern.
Is this article investment advice?
Ans. No. It is educational and not a recommendation to buy or sell. Please check the figures against company filings and your own risk profile before you act on anything you read here.
