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Intraday Stocks for Today: ICICI Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank, Analyst Top Picks for 21 July 2026

Nifty closed 24,241.35, down 0.38% yesterday. Bank Nifty -0.94%, Private Bank -2.2%, PSU Bank +2.74%. HDFC Bank fell 5.12%, Axis Bank 5.46%. Today is Nifty’s weekly expiry. Crude above $90.


20 Jul 20265:19 pm

Intraday Stocks for Today: ICICI Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank, Analyst Top Picks for 21 July 2026

The intraday stocks for today, 21 July 2026, are ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and HDFC Bank, chosen for their technical setups and today’s specific market triggers. Yesterday, the Nifty 50 closed at 24,241.35, down 0.38 percent, recovering from a sharp morning fall driven by disappointing HDFC Bank and Axis Bank results and Brent crude crossing 90 dollars a barrel. Today is also confirmed as Nifty’s weekly options expiry day, which historically brings higher volume and sharper intraday moves.

These intraday stocks for today are based on observations from Ankit Jaiswal, Senior Research Analyst at Univest, and Kunal Singla, Associate Director at Univest. Both analysts track technical setups, the sharp divergence within banking, and today’s expiry day dynamics to flag actionable intraday stocks for today’s session, and they revisit the intraday stocks for today list every trading morning.

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What Are Intraday Stocks for Today?

Intraday stocks for today are shares identified for buying and selling within the same trading session, based on technical setups, volume activity, and same-day triggers rather than long term fundamentals. Unlike swing or positional picks, intraday stocks for today are meant to be squared off before the market closes, using tight entry zones, defined targets, and strict stop losses. The best intraday stocks for today usually combine high liquidity, a clear technical level to trade around, and a specific catalyst, such as an expiry day volume surge, a results reaction, or a sector divergence, that can move the price meaningfully within a single session. This is exactly why today’s list of intraday stocks focuses on names with an active trigger rather than a random screen of gainers.

Today’s Market Overview for Intraday Stocks for Today

  • Nifty direction: Nifty closed near 24,241 yesterday, down 0.38 percent, with support at 24,135 and resistance at 24,367. Today’s Nifty expiry can widen the broader market range meaningfully, which is why today’s intraday stocks need tighter risk management than usual.
  • Key sector in focus: Banking split sharply yesterday, with PSU banks surging 2.74 percent even as private banks fell 2.2 percent, a divergence that keeps the intraday stocks for today skewed toward stock specific setups rather than a broad banking rally.
  • Expiry and global risk: Today’s Nifty weekly expiry adds a fresh volume trigger, while Brent crude above 90 dollars a barrel on escalating Iran-US tensions keeps global headline risk elevated across the intraday stocks for today.

ICICI Bank, Intraday Stock for Today

Share Price Target: Rs 1,495 | Stop Loss: Rs 1,420 | Market Cap: Rs 10,34,455 Cr

Among today’s intraday stocks, ICICI Bank closed up 1.1 percent yesterday at Rs 1,460.20, extending its gains after posting 13.9 percent year on year profit growth with genuinely improving margins. Ankit Jaiswal notes the stock’s RSI has pushed into overbought territory, with the price well above its 50 day average, keeping it one of the more reliable intraday stocks for today, especially given its deep liquidity on an expiry day.

ICICI Bank qualifies as one of the intraday stocks for today because banking heavyweights like it typically see the heaviest volume swings during expiry day settlement, and its confirmed results strength gives traders a clearer directional bias than most names on the board. Traders can watch the Rs 1,445 to Rs 1,462 zone for entries, with a target of Rs 1,495 and a stop loss at Rs 1,420 given the stock’s elevated RSI.

State Bank of India, Intraday Stock for Today

Share Price Target: Rs 1,110 | Stop Loss: Rs 1,020 | Market Cap: Rs 9,63,769 Cr

Among today’s intraday stocks, SBI was yesterday’s standout performer, surging 1.5 percent to Rs 1,060.00 as Nifty PSU Bank jumped 2.74 percent. Kunal Singla observes RSI at 61.5, a price well above the 50 day average of Rs 1,004, and a positive MACD histogram, all confirming genuine momentum heading into today.

SBI earns its place among the intraday stocks for today because sustained PSU bank buying often continues into the next session when the broader setup holds, and its liquidity makes it easy to trade through today’s expiry volatility. Traders can watch entries near Rs 1,045 to Rs 1,062, targeting Rs 1,110, with a stop loss at Rs 1,020. This is the highest conviction momentum name among the intraday stocks for today.

HDFC Bank, Intraday Stock for Today

Share Price Target: Rs 825 | Stop Loss: Rs 745 | Market Cap: Rs 12,62,370 Cr

Among today’s intraday stocks, HDFC Bank fell over 5 percent yesterday to Rs 777.60 after its net interest margin dropped to a record low of 3.26 percent in its Q1 FY27 results. Ankit Jaiswal is candid that RSI at 43.4 and a negative MACD histogram show the technical picture remains weak, making this a name to watch for early stabilisation rather than a confident buy among today’s intraday stocks.

HDFC Bank fits the intraday stocks for today list because a fall this sharp, on India’s second largest bank by market capitalisation, often produces a volatile push-pull session the next day as value buyers test the waters against continued selling pressure. Traders can watch the Rs 765 to Rs 780 zone for entries only on signs of stabilisation, targeting Rs 825, with a stop loss at Rs 745. This is the highest-risk, contrarian name among the intraday stocks for today.

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Intraday Trading Strategy for Today’s Session

Trading intraday stocks for today profitably depends as much on discipline as on stock selection, especially on an expiry day layered with continued banking sector divergence and elevated crude oil prices. Treat this intraday stocks for today list as a starting point, not a guarantee.

  • Let the expiry settle before committing size: With today’s Nifty expiry likely to drive sharp moves into the settlement window, wait for the first 15 to 30 minutes before entering any of today’s intraday stocks for today.
  • Trade with confirmed strength first: Names that showed genuine momentum yesterday, like ICICI Bank and SBI, deserve priority over speculative bounce plays among the intraday stocks for today.
  • Size down for expiry and global risk: With crude oil above 90 dollars a barrel and today’s expiry both in play, use smaller position sizes than usual across all of the intraday stocks for today.
  • Book partial profits into strength: Trim a portion of the position once a target zone is reached, and trail the stop loss on the remainder rather than holding for the full move on every one of the intraday stocks for today.

Risks of Intraday Trading Today

Every list of intraday stocks for today carries risk alongside opportunity, and today’s Nifty expiry raises that risk further for anyone trading these intraday stocks for today, so review each setup before acting on today’s intraday stocks.

  • Expiry day whipsaws: Heavy options unwinding into the settlement window can cause sudden reversals that differ sharply from the earlier session trend across the intraday stocks for today.
  • Crude oil headline risk: With Brent above 90 dollars a barrel amid escalating Iran-US tensions, any fresh escalation can trigger sudden intraday gaps that invalidate technical levels on today’s intraday stocks for today.
  • HDFC Bank’s unconfirmed bounce risk: A stock this technically weak can continue falling before it stabilises, adding real risk to that specific name among the intraday stocks for today.

Conclusion

The intraday stocks for today, 21 July 2026, are ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and HDFC Bank, chosen for their technical setups, yesterday’s sharp banking divergence, and today’s specific triggers around the Nifty weekly expiry and elevated crude oil prices. Ankit Jaiswal expects ICICI Bank to see steady volume through the expiry given its confirmed results strength, while Kunal Singla favours SBI for PSU bank momentum continuation and flags HDFC Bank as a higher-risk stabilisation watch. These remain among the best intraday stocks to buy today for traders who can monitor positions actively, but every trade on today’s intraday stocks should carry a predefined stop loss given the elevated volatility from today’s expiry. Revisit this list of intraday stocks for today before placing any trade, and treat every intraday stocks for today pick with independent risk checks, since levels can shift sharply once the session opens.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to get daily intraday stocks for today and live research from SEBI registered analysts.

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).

FAQs on Intraday Stocks for Today

What are the best intraday stocks for today, 21 July 2026?

Ans. The intraday stocks for today are ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and HDFC Bank. ICICI Bank and SBI carry confirmed strength after yesterday’s results and PSU bank rally, while HDFC Bank is watched for an early stabilisation bounce after its sharp fall, making all three well suited for today’s Nifty expiry day session.

Which analysts have picked today’s intraday stocks?

Ans. Today’s intraday stocks are based on observations from Ankit Jaiswal, Senior Research Analyst at Univest, and Kunal Singla, Associate Director at Univest. Both analysts track technical setups, banking sector divergence, and today’s expiry day dynamics to flag the intraday stocks for today.

Why does today’s Nifty expiry matter for intraday trading?

Ans. Today is confirmed as Nifty’s weekly options expiry day, which historically brings higher volume and sharper intraday swings, especially in the final hour of trade. Combined with yesterday’s sharp divergence between strong and weak banking stocks, today’s intraday stocks carry more than the usual number of tradeable setups, though volatility also means risk is elevated.

What is the stop loss for HDFC Bank as an intraday stock for today?

Ans. HDFC Bank is watched with a stop loss near Rs 745 as one of today’s intraday stocks, based on its recent support zone after yesterday’s sharp fall. Traders should treat this as an observational level, not investment advice, and adjust for their own risk appetite given the stock’s weak technical picture.

How should traders approach intraday stocks for today amid the Nifty expiry?

Ans. Traders should size positions smaller than usual on intraday stocks for today because Nifty’s weekly expiry can cause sharp last-hour reversals as options positions unwind. Keeping strict stop losses and favouring names with confirmed strength over speculative bounces are the safest ways to trade today’s intraday stocks.

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Note: This blog is for information purpose only. Investments and trading are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

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