Sensex Prediction for Tomorrow: Post-Expiry Rally and VIX Crash Signal Bullish Bias for 21 August 2026

The Sensex prediction for tomorrow follows a session that the attached market outlook described as "broad-based strength rather than a narrow index-led move." BSE Sensex opened at 77,468.45 on 20 August, touched 77,611.11, held 77,371.00, and settled at 77,537.72 — a strong range that reflects genuine buying conviction rather than expiry-driven positioning. Ankit Jaiswal, Research Analyst at Univest, notes that the Sensex breaching 77,500 intraday after failing to hold 76,800 just a day ago is a technically significant reversal that directly shapes the Sensex prediction for tomorrow.

Kunal Singla, Research Analyst at Univest, observes that the Sensex prediction for tomorrow is further supported by the structure of today's rally. Banking stocks — which constitute over 30% of the Sensex — led today's recovery with Kotak Mahindra Bank (+1.82%) and Axis Bank (+1.30%) both showing institutional buying. IT stocks, the second-largest Sensex sector, extended their third consecutive recovery session. With both major Sensex drivers pointing upward, the Sensex prediction for tomorrow carries conviction that was absent during the four-day correction.

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Today's Market Recap: 20 August 2026

• BSE Sensex: Closed at 77,537.72 (+0.82%), gaining +628.04 points. Snaps the four-session losing streak. Session range 77,371.00 to 77,611.11.
• Banking Leadership: Kotak Bank +1.82%, Axis Bank +1.30%, ICICI Bank +0.71%, HDFC Bank +0.70% — all four major private banks positive. This banking conviction is the most important signal for the Sensex prediction for tomorrow.
• VIX Collapse: India VIX fell -4.42% to 10.82. The Sensex prediction for tomorrow's bullish bias is directly linked to this VIX reading — institutional investors have stopped hedging against a further decline.

Sensex Prediction for Tomorrow: Technical Analysis

Ankit Jaiswal's Sensex prediction for tomorrow identifies 77,370 to 77,400 as the immediate support. Today's intraday low of 77,371.00 anchors this zone. A hold above 77,370 in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow would confirm demand at current levels and support the mildly bullish bias. A break below 77,370 on 21 August would signal that today's recovery was an expiry-driven technical bounce rather than a genuine trend change in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow, with 77,200 as the next meaningful support.

The Sensex prediction for tomorrow places first resistance at 77,611, today's intraday high. Kunal Singla notes that a decisive move above 77,611 would open the path toward 77,800 to 78,000, the pre-correction range that Sensex was approaching before the four-day sell-off. A close above 77,611 on 21 August would shift the Sensex prediction for tomorrow to outright bullish, consistent with the broader market outlook's expectation of measured upside with selective stock leadership.

Trend for 21 August 2026: Sideways to Mildly Bullish
Support: 77,370 to 77,400 | 77,200
Resistance: 77,611 to 77,650 | 77,800 to 78,000

Global Cues for Sensex Prediction for Tomorrow

• US Markets (14 Aug close): Dow Jones at 53,732 (-0.20%), Nasdaq at 26,729 (-0.30%). Weekend position-squaring may bring additional calm to early Friday trade in global markets.
• Post-Expiry Environment: Thursday's Sensex weekly expiry has cleared, removing hedging and positioning distortions. This creates a cleaner directional framework for Friday's session, which typically favours the prevailing trend.
• FII and DII: FII net buyers Rs 508 Cr and DII Rs 356 Cr on 14 August (last confirmed). Today's post-expiry FII provisional data is a key input for 21 August predictions.

Key Events for 21 August 2026

• Post-expiry Friday: Sensex weekly expiry concluded Thursday, providing cleaner price discovery in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow
• IT sector third day of recovery: Infosys and TCS extending gains is the key intraday signal for the Sensex prediction for tomorrow
• FII 20 August provisional data: net institutional buying would validate the Sensex prediction for tomorrow bullish bias
• Weekend positioning: Friday sessions often see position-squaring before the weekend, which could create intraday swings in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow

Sensex Stocks to Watch Tomorrow

Stock	Close (Rs)	Day Change	Key Level for Tomorrow
Kotak Mahindra Bank	397.35	+1.82%	Support: 393 | Resistance: 400
Axis Bank	1,251.00	+1.30%	Support: 1,236 | Resistance: 1,254
Larsen and Toubro	4,081.00	+0.98%	Support: 4,049 | Resistance: 4,085
HDFC Bank	725.05	+0.70%	Support: 720 | Resistance: 728
Infosys	1,130.00	+0.91%	Support: 1,125 | Resistance: 1,145

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Sensex Prediction Strategy for 21 August 2026

• Buy Sensex dips toward 77,370 with stop below 77,200 for the Sensex prediction for tomorrow
• A break above 77,611 in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow targets 77,800; trail stop at 77,400 once 77,611 is cleared
• Watch Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank as the Sensex barometers for the Sensex prediction for tomorrow direction
• Monitor IT sector: Infosys above Rs 1,125 support and TCS above Rs 2,288 confirm the Sensex prediction for tomorrow bullish case

What Does Sentiment Indicate for Sensex Prediction for Tomorrow?

Sentiment for the Sensex prediction for tomorrow is the most constructive since the corrective phase began on 17 August. India VIX at 10.82 is the headline signal, but the quality of today's recovery reinforces it. Ankit Jaiswal notes that all four major private banking stocks (Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank) closed positive on 20 August — a combination that historically signals the start of a sustained market recovery rather than a one-day technical bounce, which directly informs the Sensex prediction for tomorrow.

Kunal Singla observes that the Sensex prediction for tomorrow benefits from the broader market outlook's assessment: "This combination typically supports a firm opening and a buy-on-dips session structure." With Sensex holding 77,370 support on the downside and targeting 77,611 resistance on the upside, the risk-reward in the Sensex prediction for tomorrow is among the most balanced it has been in five sessions — biased toward the upside with well-defined downside levels.

Risks to the Sensex's 21 August outlook

• A sharp overnight US market sell-off would reverse the post-expiry bullish setup in the Friday's BSE Sensex forecast
• Friday lower volumes amplify both upside and downside; thin market conditions make the the index's Friday prediction support at 77,370 more fragile
• Profit-taking in banking stocks after today's sharp gains could cap the the BSE benchmark's 21 August outlook upside near 77,611
• FII net selling on 20 August (post-market data) would undermine the institutional demand thesis in the Friday's Sensex forecast

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Conclusion

The the Sensex's 21 August outlook, 21 August 2026, is sideways to mildly bullish after BSE Sensex closed at 77,537.72 (+0.82%) on 20 August. Ankit Jaiswal's Friday's BSE Sensex forecast places support at 77,370 and resistance at 77,611. Kunal Singla notes VIX at 10.82 and all-positive private banking signals make the the index's Friday prediction the most constructive in five sessions.

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Disclaimer: Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Univest Research Analyst Registration No. INH000013776.

Frequently Asked Questions on the BSE benchmark's 21 August outlook

What is the Friday's Sensex forecast, 21 August 2026?

Ans. The the Sensex's 21 August outlook is sideways to mildly bullish. BSE Sensex closed at 77,537.72 (+0.82%) on 20 August, recovering +628.04 points to snap the four-day losing streak. Ankit Jaiswal's Friday's BSE Sensex forecast places immediate support at 77,370 to 77,400 and first resistance at 77,611 to 77,650. India VIX crashing -4.42% to 10.82 validates the positive the index's Friday prediction.

What drove the Sensex recovery on 20 August 2026?

Ans. BSE Sensex surged +628.04 points (+0.82%) on 20 August, driven by private banking (Kotak Bank +1.82%, Axis Bank +1.30%), IT recovery (Infosys +0.91%, TCS +0.39%), and infrastructure (LT +0.98%). Kunal Singla notes that this multi-sector leadership is exactly the kind of quality rally that improves the the BSE benchmark's 21 August outlook.

What are the Sensex support and resistance levels for 21 August 2026?

Ans. The Friday's Sensex forecast places immediate support at 77,370 to 77,400, aligning with today's session low of 77,371.00. Strong support is at 77,200. Resistance stands at 77,611 (today's high of 77,611.11) and stronger resistance at 77,800 to 78,000. A break above 77,611 would shift the the Sensex's 21 August outlook to bullish.

What does the post-expiry setup mean for Friday's BSE Sensex forecast?

Ans. Thursday's Sensex weekly expiry has concluded, clearing hedging and positioning distortions. Ankit Jaiswal notes that post-expiry sessions in a rising market tend to show clean follow-through as the prevailing trend reasserts itself. With the Sensex recovering strongly today, the post-expiry Friday environment adds a structural positive to the the index's Friday prediction.

Is the Sensex correction over based on prediction for tomorrow?

Ans. Based on the the BSE benchmark's 21 August outlook, the four-day correction from 77,728 to 76,823 appears to have ended with today's +0.82% recovery to 77,537.72. Kunal Singla notes that VIX falling to 10.82 and private banking leading the rally are the two confirming signals that the Friday's Sensex forecast marks a genuine floor rather than a one-day bounce.