Closing Bell: Sensex, Nifty 50 Rise Nearly 1% on April 21; FMCG Leads, Pharma Slips

Market Update at 04:05 PM: India’s benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty 50, closed nearly 1 per cent higher on Tuesday, April 21, as investors weighed the prospects of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran alongside domestic quarterly earnings. Positive sentiment in heavyweight stocks and strong buying in FMCG counters supported the rally.

The Nifty volatility index declined by 6 per cent, slipping below the 18 mark, indicating reduced market fear. The benchmark Nifty 50 opened on a flat note but traded higher throughout the session, extending gains for the third consecutive day. By the close, the index rose 211.75 points, or 0.87 per cent, to settle at 24,576.60, managing to hold above the 24,500 level. The Sensex advanced 753.03 points, or 0.96 per cent, to close at 79,273.33.

In a key development, the Reserve Bank of India partially rolled back restrictions on rupee derivative trades that were imposed earlier this month to curb the currency’s fall to record lows. The move, announced on Monday, is expected to ease pressure on banks that were initially seen facing potential losses.

Global cues remained mixed as uncertainty persisted over possible peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan ahead of the end of a two-week ceasefire. However, downside risks were capped by strong investor interest in FMCG stocks. Meanwhile, crude oil prices traded slightly lower, with Brent crude hovering around USD 95 per barrel.

Investors are also closely tracking global developments, particularly a U.S. Senate hearing for Kevin Warsh, nominated by Donald Trump to head the Federal Reserve. Trump has earlier criticised the central bank for not cutting interest rates more aggressively.

On the sectoral front, 10 out of 11 key indices ended in positive territory. Broader markets underperformed the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap index rising 0.49 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index gaining 0.88 per cent.

The Nifty FMCG index emerged as the top-performing sector, advancing 2.55 per cent, with 12 out of its 15 constituents closing higher. The rally was led by gains in Nestle India after the company reported strong Q4 FY26 results. In contrast, the Nifty Pharma index was the only sector to close in the red, slipping 0.08 per cent and extending losses for the second straight session.

Market breadth remained tilted towards advancing stocks. Out of 3,437 stocks traded on the NSE, 2,089 advanced, 1,247 declined, and 101 remained unchanged. A total of 146 stocks hit their 52-week highs, while 45 touched their 52-week lows. Additionally, 123 stocks were locked in Upper Circuits, whereas 67 stocks hit Lower Circuits.

Market Update at 2:25 PM: Indian equity benchmarks, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, were trading at the day’s high on Tuesday, supported by strong buying in banking heavyweights such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. Positive global cues also lifted sentiment, as Asian equities advanced amid rising hopes that the U.S. and Iran could reach a resolution before the ceasefire deadline.

The Nifty 50 was trading 0.76 per cent or 186.10 points higher at 24,550.95, while the Sensex rose 0.87 per cent or 683 points to 79,203.39.

Among the Top Gainers in the Nifty 50 index were Asian Paints, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, and Trent, which led the market rally.

Broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices, indicating wider participation. The Nifty MidCap index was trading 0.77 per cent higher, while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 1.14 per cent.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty Realty, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty Private Bank indices outperformed, reflecting strong buying interest in rate-sensitive and financial stocks. However, the Nifty Pharma index lagged the broader market and underperformed.

Despite the positive momentum, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain a key concern. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated in a post on X that the country does not support negotiations under threats and is prepared to reveal new strategies on the battlefield.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that significant military action could follow if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline later today, adding an element of caution to global markets.

Market Update at 12:19 PM: ndian equity benchmarks, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, were trading at the day’s high on Tuesday, supported by gains in heavyweights such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. Positive global cues also aided sentiment as Asian equities moved higher amid growing optimism that the U.S. and Iran could reach a resolution ahead of the ceasefire deadline.

The Nifty 50 was trading 0.69 per cent or 166.5 points higher at 24,532, while the Sensex gained 0.83 per cent or 655.4 points to trade at 79,176.

Among the top gainers on the Nifty 50 index were Asian Paints, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, and Trent, which contributed to the upward momentum in the benchmark indices.

Broader markets outperformed the benchmarks, with the Nifty MidCap index rising 0.77 per cent and the Nifty SmallCap index advancing 1.14 per cent, indicating broader participation across segments.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty Realty, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty Private Bank indices led the gains, reflecting strong buying interest in rate-sensitive and financial stocks. However, the Nifty Pharma index underperformed compared to other sectoral indices.

Despite the positive momentum, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran remained a key concern. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated in a post on X that the country does not support negotiations under threats and is prepared to reveal new strategies on the battlefield.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that significant military escalation could occur if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline expires later today, adding an element of caution to the markets.

Market Update at 09:35 AM: India’s benchmark indices, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, opened higher on Tuesday, tracking gains in Asian markets amid rising optimism that the U.S. and Iran could reach a resolution before the ceasefire deadline expires.

As of 9:18 AM, the Nifty 50 was trading 0.32 per cent, or 78.90 points higher, at 24,443.75. The Sensex advanced 0.39 per cent, or 304.75 points, to 78,825.05.

Broader markets also witnessed buying interest, with the Nifty MidCap index rising 0.48 per cent and the Nifty SmallCap index gaining 0.73 per cent during early trade.

Despite the positive momentum, geopolitical tensions remain elevated. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated in a post on X that the country does not support negotiations under threats and is prepared to reveal new strategies on the battlefield.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that significant military action could follow if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline later today, adding to uncertainty in global markets.

Pre-Market Update at 7:40 AM: India’s benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a positive note on Tuesday, April 21, tracking mixed global cues. Optimism surrounding potential U.S.-Iran peace talks is supporting investor sentiment, although caution persists ahead of an expected ceasefire deadline.

Asian markets traded higher on hopes of diplomatic progress, while U.S. equities ended slightly lower in the previous session. Gift Nifty hovered around the 24,405 mark, trading at a premium of about 64 points over the previous close of Nifty futures, indicating a firm start for domestic markets.

Geopolitical developments remain a key focus. U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that there will be no extension of the ceasefire deadline with Iran. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Pakistan for discussions related to the situation, adding to market sensitivity around global tensions.

In the corporate space, Apple Inc. announced a major leadership change. Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1 and transition to the role of executive chairman, while John Ternus will take over as the new CEO.

On the domestic macro front, India’s core infrastructure sectors contracted by 0.4 per cent in March, marking the first decline in five months. Growth for FY26 slowed to 2.6 per cent, reflecting some moderation in economic momentum.

Crude oil prices declined on optimism around U.S.-Iran peace talks. Brent crude stood at USD 94.53 per barrel, while WTI crude was at USD 88.07 per barrel.

From a derivatives perspective, the Put-Call Ratio (PCR) stands at 1.12. On the Put (PE) side, significant open interest is concentrated at the 24,000 and 24,300 strike levels, suggesting strong support zones. On the Call (CE) side, notable open interest addition was seen at the 24,400 strike, indicating immediate resistance, while higher open interest at the 25,000 strike reinforces it as a key hurdle.

Technically, the Nifty 50 has immediate support at 24,241. A break below this level could drag the index towards the 24,030–24,090 zone. On the upside, 24,500 remains a crucial resistance level, and a sustained move above this could trigger a rally towards 24,752.

SAIL will remain under the F&O ban for April 21.

On April 20, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 1,059.93 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 2,966.89 crore.

On Monday, Indian markets ended with marginal gains. The Sensex rose by 26.76 points, or 0.03 per cent, to close at 78,520.30, while the Nifty 50 gained 11.30 points, or 0.05 per cent, to settle at 24,364.85. Market sentiment remained cautious due to fluctuations in crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

U.S. markets closed slightly lower on Monday amid renewed tensions related to the U.S.-Iran situation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 4.87 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 49,442.56. The S&P 500 fell 16.92 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 7,109.14, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 64.09 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 24,404.39.

Among major stocks, Nvidia rose 0.19 per cent and Apple gained 1.04 per cent, while Microsoft fell 1.12 per cent, Meta Platforms declined 2.56 per cent, Netflix dropped 2.55 per cent, QXO plunged 3.12 per cent, and Tesla slipped 2.03 per cent.

Gold prices remained largely steady after hitting a one-week low in the previous session. Spot gold was unchanged at USD 4,820.84 per ounce, while spot silver declined by 0.1 per cent to USD 79.82 per ounce.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

What’s your strategy for today’s volatile market? Share in the comments!