Stock Market Today Set for Positive Start as GIFT Nifty Trades Near 23,928 on 27 July 2026

The stock market today looks set for a positive opening, with GIFT Nifty trading around 23,928 at 9:08 AM IST on 27 July 2026, up 0.69 percent from the previous close, after benchmark indices closed lower for a fifth straight session on Friday.

While the setup for the stock market today points to a gap-up start, brokerages caution that Friday's underlying weakness and elevated volatility could keep the day's gains measured rather than a sharp rally.

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Stock Market Today: Friday's Closing Recap

The stock market today follows a weak finish to last week. The Sensex declined 331.62 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 76,059.77 on Friday, while the Nifty 50 fell 102.15 points, or 0.43 percent, to settle at 23,767.45, marking a fifth consecutive losing session for both benchmarks.

Index	Friday Close	Change
Sensex	76,059.77	Down 331.62 pts (-0.43%)
Nifty 50	23,767.45	Down 102.15 pts (-0.43%)
Bank Nifty	56,693.50	Up 101.50 pts (+0.18%)
India VIX	14.03	Up 4.08%

Bank Nifty was the one outperformer among key benchmarks, gaining 0.18 percent even as the broader market slipped, while the India VIX surged over 4 percent, signalling a rise in short-term volatility and cautious trader positioning heading into the new week.

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Market breadth on Friday was mildly positive even as the indices closed lower, with about 2,050 stocks advancing against 1,961 declining on the NSE, a divergence that reflects how the stock market today weakness was concentrated in a handful of heavyweight auto, metal and energy names rather than the broader market.

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Stock Market Today: Institutional Flows and Sector Trends

FII and DII activity remains a key theme for the stock market today. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 3,892.77 crore on Friday, continuing their recent selling streak, while domestic institutional investors bought a net Rs 5,453.55 crore, cushioning the market from a sharper fall.

Sector-wise, auto, metal and energy stocks bore the brunt of Friday's selling pressure, while information technology and media shares offered support to the index. HCL Technologies, Cipla and Wipro were among the notable gainers, while Eternal, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Bajaj Finance featured among the laggards.

Gainers (Friday)	Losers (Friday)
HCL Technologies Ltd	Eternal Ltd
Cipla Ltd	Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd
Wipro Ltd	Bajaj Finance Ltd

Stock Market Today: What's Driving the GIFT Nifty Gap-Up

The positive cue for the stock market today comes from GIFT Nifty, which touched an intraday high of 23,980 and a low of 23,900.50 in early trade, indicating that domestic benchmarks could open well above Friday's close. This follows a broader improvement in global risk sentiment after easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East over the weekend.

Even so, with India VIX elevated and the market having closed lower for five straight sessions, traders are likely to watch whether early gains can hold through the session or fade as has happened on previous attempted bounces.

Conclusion

The stock market today is set to open higher, with GIFT Nifty pointing to a gap-up after Friday's fifth consecutive losing session for the Sensex and Nifty 50. Strong DII buying continues to offset persistent FII selling, while elevated volatility calls for caution even as the setup turns positive. Investors should consult a SEBI-registered advisor before making trading decisions based on the day's opening cues.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

How is the stock market today expected to open?

Ans. The stock market today is expected to open higher, with GIFT Nifty trading around 23,928 at 9:08 AM IST, up 0.69 percent from the previous close.

Where did the Sensex and Nifty 50 close on Friday?

Ans. The Sensex closed at 76,059.77, down 0.43 percent, and the Nifty 50 closed at 23,767.45, down 0.43 percent, marking a fifth consecutive losing session heading into the stock market today.

What were the FII and DII flows affecting the stock market today?

Ans. FIIs sold equities worth Rs 3,892.77 crore on Friday while DIIs bought a net Rs 5,453.55 crore, a trend that continues to influence the stock market today.

Which sectors are in focus for the stock market today?

Ans. Auto, metal and energy stocks were under pressure on Friday, while IT and media shares held up better, a sector split that remains relevant for the stock market today.

What is the India VIX level for the stock market today?

Ans. India VIX surged 4.08 percent to settle at 14.03 on Friday, indicating elevated short-term volatility heading into the stock market today.

Which stocks were the top gainers and losers ahead of the stock market today?

Ans. HCL Technologies, Cipla and Wipro were among Friday's gainers, while Eternal, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Bajaj Finance were among the laggards ahead of the stock market today.

Where can I track live stock market today updates?

Ans. Live stock market today updates, including index levels and stock-specific moves, can be tracked on the Univest platform and app.