Stock market today: Trade guide for Nifty 50, Sensex and Bank Nifty, 21 September 2026

For the stock market today, Gift Nifty points to a flat to muted start. It was at 23,378, up 17 points or 0.07%, but 18.1 points below the Nifty 50's previous close. Global signals were mixed: Hang Seng and DAX were live in the green, while the latest available US and European closes showed a varied picture.

The domestic benchmark recap was positive. Sensex closed at 74,735.62, gaining 440.66 points or 0.59%, while Nifty 50 settled at 23,396.1, up 49.7 points or 0.21%. Both benchmarks ended near the upper end of their respective previous-session ranges, leaving calculated reference levels central to the opening assessment.

Market snapshot: how the previous session ended

Nifty 50 opened at 23,330.2, marked a low of 23,314.8 and a high of 23,407.8 before closing at 23,396.1. Its close was positioned at 87.4% of the session range. Sensex opened at 74,535.18, moved between 74,454.18 and 74,787.26, and finished at 74,735.62, at 84.5% of its range.

Breadth favoured advances, with 35 Nifty 50 advancers and 15 decliners, producing an advance-decline ratio of 2.33. Estimated turnover was 2,399.6 crore. Insurance led with a 1.67% move, followed by Healthcare at 1.35%, Crude Oil at 0.93% and FMCG at 0.84%. IT was the lagging sector at -0.25%, followed by Finance at -0.13%; Iron & Steel gained 0.09% and Bank gained 0.32%. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 2.35%, HDFC Life Insurance gained 2.02%, while Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone fell -2.76% and Bharti Airtel declined -2.45%.

What Gift Nifty signals for today's open

Gift Nifty was marked live/latest at 23,378 at 9:43 AM IST, with an age of 2 minutes. Its 17-point rise and 0.07% gain are set against a level 18.1 points, or -0.08%, versus the Nifty 50's previous close of 23,396.1. For stock market today, this gap supports the stated flat to muted opening signal rather than a strong directional indication.

The comparison is with the Nifty 50 spot close, not with the prior intraday range. Traders can therefore compare the opening behaviour with the Nifty 50 pivot at 23,373 and the previous session's high of 23,407.8 after the cash market begins.

Global market cues

US: The Dow Jones last close was 51,703.64, down 95.4 points or -0.18%. The S&P 500 last close was 7,667.04, up 8.28 points or 0.11%. DJI Futures were last marked at 51,727, up 46.3 points or 0.09%.

Asia: Hang Seng was live/latest at 24,858, higher by 107.21 points or 0.43%. Nikkei's last close was 65,018.95, up 882.75 points or 1.38%. The live Hang Seng reading gives the most current Asian cue in the available data.

Europe: DAX was live/latest at 25,411.5, up 110 points or 0.43%. FTSE's last close was 10,659.13, down 29.37 points or -0.27%, while CAC last closed at 8,065.02, down 75.57 points or -0.93%.

Nifty 50 trade guide: key levels for today

Nifty 50's calculated pivot is 23,373. Support is near 23,338 and then 23,280, while resistance is near 23,431 and then 23,466. The index closed at 23,396.1, at 87.4% of its previous-session range, placing the close closer to the high of 23,407.8 than the low of 23,314.8. A move above 23,431 would place the index above its first calculated resistance reference, while a move below 23,338 would place it below its first calculated support reference.

Sensex outlook

Sensex has a calculated pivot of 74,659, with support near 74,531 and 74,326 and resistance near 74,864 and 74,992. It closed at 74,735.62, positioned at 84.5% of its previous-session range. A move above 74,864 would take Sensex beyond its first calculated resistance reference, whereas a move below 74,531 would take it below its first calculated support reference.

Bank Nifty outlook

Nifty Bank closed at 56,473.4, up 114.7 points or 0.2%, and was at 84.4% of its range. Its calculated pivot is 56,418, with support near 56,325 and 56,177, and resistance near 56,566 and 56,659. A move above 56,566 would be above the first calculated resistance reference; a move below 56,325 would be below the first calculated support reference.

F&O expiry watch

Nifty 50 expiry is due on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. Sensex and BSE Bankex expiry are due on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services and Nifty Midcap Select are due on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. None of these indices has expiry today, but the Nifty 50 and BSE expiry dates are the nearer dates in the available schedule.

Stocks to watch today

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.: The healthcare stock is on the radar as the top Nifty 50 gainer in the previous session. It closed at 1,880.4 after rising 2.35%, with a range from 1,832.2 to 1,883.

HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd.: This insurance name was a top Nifty 50 gainer in the previous session. It gained 2.02% to close at 562.1, after trading between 551.65 and 562.75.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.: The logistics stock is on the list as the top Nifty 50 loser in the previous session. It declined -2.76% to 1,773.6 and recorded a range of 1,766.7 to 1,793.7.

Bharti Airtel Ltd.: The telecom stock was another top Nifty 50 loser in the previous session. It closed at 1,847, down -2.45%, after moving between 1,840.5 and 1,854.8.

HDFC Bank Ltd.: HDFC Bank features among the highest-turnover Nifty 50 stocks in the previous session, with turnover of 407.65 crore. It rose 0.78% to 736.7, with a range from 729.05 to 738.3.

Reliance Industries Ltd.: Reliance Industries was also among the highest-turnover Nifty 50 stocks, with turnover of 197.48 crore. It gained 1.04% to close at 1,239.1 after trading between 1,234.1 and 1,244.4.

What traders should track today

• Gift Nifty at 23,378, which is 18.1 points below the Nifty 50 previous close.
• Nifty 50's calculated pivot at 23,373, support at 23,338 and resistance at 23,431.
• Whether Nifty Bank holds its 56,418 pivot after closing at 56,473.4.
• Insurance, Healthcare, Crude Oil and FMCG leadership versus the IT and Finance sector moves.
• The Nifty 50 expiry due on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, and Sensex expiry due on Thursday, 24 September 2026.

Univest Insights

The Indian stock market today begins with a muted Gift Nifty indication following a positive domestic close. Nifty 50 breadth was favourable, and the index settled near the upper end of its range. Insurance and Healthcare were the leading groups, while IT and Finance were the lagging groups in the available sector data.

The calculated pivot structure offers clear reference points for the session. Nifty 50 is above its 23,373 pivot at the prior close, but Gift Nifty is below the Nifty 50 spot close. This keeps attention on whether the opening market action remains around the pivot or tests the nearby 23,338 support and 23,431 resistance references.

With Nifty 50 expiry due on Tuesday, the opening signal, the pivot zone and sector follow-through are the practical markers for today's market. For traders and investors, the key signal to watch is whether Nifty 50 sustains above the 23,373 calculated pivot while approaching 23,431 resistance.

Published on 21 September 2026 at 9:46 AM IST. Figures are from the previous session (Monday, 21 September 2026) and pre-market global data.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Gift Nifty indicate for today's opening?

Gift Nifty was at 23,378, up 17 points or 0.07%. It was 18.1 points, or -0.08%, versus the Nifty 50's previous close of 23,396.1, indicating a flat to muted start.

What are the key Nifty 50 levels for today?

Nifty 50's calculated pivot is 23,373, with support near 23,338 and 23,280. Calculated resistance levels are 23,431 and 23,466.

How did Nifty 50 and Sensex close in the previous session?

Nifty 50 closed at 23,396.1, gaining 49.7 points or 0.21%. Sensex finished at 74,735.62, up 440.66 points or 0.59%.

When is the next Nifty 50 expiry?

Nifty 50 expiry is on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, and it is not expiry today. Sensex and BSE Bankex expiry are scheduled for Thursday, 24 September 2026.

Which sectors led and lagged the previous session?

Insurance led with a 1.67% gain, followed by Healthcare at 1.35% and Crude Oil at 0.93%. IT was the lagging sector at -0.25%, while Finance was at -0.13%.

Which stocks are on watch today?

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries gained 2.35% to 1,880.4, while HDFC Life Insurance gained 2.02% to 562.1. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone declined -2.76% to 1,773.6, and HDFC Bank recorded turnover of 407.65 crore.

Disclaimer

Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks. Read all related documents carefully before investing. This pre-market guide is for informational and educational purposes only. Support, resistance and pivot levels are mathematical reference points calculated from the previous session and are not forecasts. Stocks mentioned are based on the previous session's price data and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any security.