Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 ended higher on Monday, October 26, recovering from early losses and snapping a four-session losing streak. Buying in metal, pharmaceutical and select heavyweight stocks supported the rebound, while elevated crude oil prices and geopolitical uncertainties continued to influence market sentiment.
The BSE Sensex advanced 482.92 points, or 0.66%, to close at 73,606.75. The NSE Nifty 50 gained 153.20 points, or 0.68%, to settle at 22,753.20.
Both indices recovered from their intraday lows to finish near their session highs. The Nifty had fallen to 22,387.35 during the day, while the Sensex touched an intraday low of 72,514.57 before buying activity lifted the benchmarks.
The recovery followed four consecutive sessions of losses in the domestic equity market. According to Reuters, the Nifty and Sensex had declined approximately 0.9% over the previous week.
Sensex, Nifty Today: Key Market Levels
Index | Closing level | Change |
|---|---|---|
BSE Sensex | 73,606.75 | +482.92 (0.66%) |
Nifty 50 | 22,753.20 | +153.20 (0.68%) |
Nifty Midcap 100 | 56,465.40 | +1.19% |
Nifty Smallcap 100 | — | +1.38% |
Nifty 500 | 21,608.75 | +0.85% |
Source: Market closing reports for October 26, 2026.
Metal, Pharma Stocks Lead Market Recovery
Metal stocks recorded strong gains during Monday's session. The Nifty Metal index rose approximately 2.2%, recovering some of the losses recorded over the previous four trading sessions.
JSW Steel shares advanced 6.3% after the company reported a sharp increase in quarterly profit, supported by record production volumes and improved capacity utilisation. Other metal stocks also contributed to the sector's recovery.
Pharmaceutical stocks were another major contributor to the market's gains. The Nifty Pharma index climbed around 1.8%, while Dr. Reddy's Laboratories shares surged 6.6% following quarterly results that exceeded profit expectations.
The oil and gas index gained approximately 1.4%. Information technology stocks also moved higher, with the Nifty IT index rising 0.87%, according to market closing reports.
The gains across these sectors helped the benchmark indices recover from their early declines.
Top Nifty 50 Gainers and Losers
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and JSW Steel were among the leading gainers in the Nifty 50. BSE shares also advanced around 4%, while Adani Ports, Eternal and Kotak Mahindra Bank recorded gains.
Kotak Mahindra Bank rose 2.4% after reporting quarterly profit growth that exceeded expectations, supported by loan demand and lower provisions for bad loans.
On the losing side, Shriram Finance declined 4.6% after lowering its annual loan-growth forecast and flagging higher credit costs. Tata Consumer Products and select financial and consumer-facing stocks also faced selling pressure.
The mixed performance among individual stocks reflected the market's focus on company-specific earnings announcements during the September-quarter results season.
Midcap and Smallcap Stocks Outperform Benchmarks
The recovery extended beyond large-cap stocks, with midcap and smallcap indices recording stronger percentage gains than the benchmark indices.
The Nifty Midcap 100 rose 1.19%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 advanced 1.38%. The Nifty 500 gained 0.85%.
The broader-market recovery indicated that buying interest extended to a wider group of stocks rather than being restricted to the Sensex and Nifty heavyweights.
However, the session's gains followed several days of declines, leaving investors attentive to further earnings announcements and changes in global market conditions.
Crude Oil Prices Remain a Concern
Despite Monday's rebound, elevated crude oil prices remained a key concern for Indian equities. Brent crude was trading around $115 per barrel during the session, keeping attention on the potential implications for India's import bill, inflation and corporate operating costs.
Higher energy prices can increase input and transportation expenses for several industries. They can also influence inflation expectations and the country's external balances.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East added to concerns about potential supply disruptions. These developments remained important factors for investors assessing the near-term direction of domestic equities.
The Indian rupee also weakened against the US dollar, closing at approximately ₹95.19 per dollar, compared with its previous close of ₹94.94, according to market reports.
US Federal Reserve Decision and Q2 Earnings in Focus
Investors are also monitoring the upcoming US Federal Reserve policy decision scheduled for Wednesday. Expectations surrounding US interest rates and the central bank's policy outlook could influence global financial markets and foreign investment flows into emerging economies.
Meanwhile, the September-quarter earnings season remains a key domestic market driver. Investors are assessing corporate profits, management commentary and business outlooks to understand how companies are responding to changing economic conditions and cost pressures.
Monday's session ended with gains across the major Indian equity indices, supported by metal, pharmaceutical and selected heavyweight stocks. However, crude oil prices, geopolitical developments, currency movements and quarterly earnings announcements remain central to the market's near-term backdrop.