Stock Market Today (18 August 2026): Sensex Falls 493 Points, Nifty Slips Below 24,200 as Crude Oil and IT Stocks Drag Market

The Indian stock market ended sharply lower on 18 August 2026, extending its recent losing streak. The Nifty 50 declined for the sixth consecutive trading session, while the Sensex fell for the fifth time in the last six sessions.

The BSE Sensex fell 492.70 points, or 0.63%, to close at 77,235.46. The Nifty 50 declined 132.75 points, or 0.55%, to settle at 24,154.90.

The selling pressure was largely driven by rising crude oil prices, renewed geopolitical concerns in West Asia, higher global bond yields and weakness in heavyweight IT stocks. The Nifty also slipped below the important 24,200 level.

The broader market also remained weak. The Nifty Midcap 100 declined around 0.43%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 ended broadly flat.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

• Sensex closed at 77,235.46, down 492.70 points.
• Nifty 50 ended at 24,154.90, down 132.75 points.
• Nifty declined for the sixth consecutive session.
• Sensex declined in five of the last six sessions.
• Nifty closed below the important 24,200 level.
• Nifty Midcap 100 declined around 0.43%.
• Nifty Smallcap 100 ended broadly flat.
• IT stocks were among the biggest drags.
• Realty stocks also remained under pressure.
• Auto, Media and selected Pharma and Healthcare stocks showed relative strength.
• Brent crude moved above $91 per barrel during the session.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹?

𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 $𝟵𝟭

Crude oil remained one of the biggest concerns for Indian investors.

Brent crude moved above the $91 per barrel mark as geopolitical uncertainty increased and hopes of an early resolution to the Iran-US conflict weakened.

Brent crude for October 2026 settlement was around $90.88 per barrel in the Indian market commentary, while other market reports noted prices moving above $91 during the session.

Higher crude prices are particularly important for India because the country relies heavily on imported energy. A sustained rise in oil prices can increase the import bill, put pressure on the rupee and create additional inflation concerns.

𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Geopolitical uncertainty remained a major factor behind the market weakness.

The expiry of the US-Iran ceasefire and fading hopes of an immediate peace agreement increased concerns about the duration of the conflict.

Uncertainty surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz also remained a key issue for global energy markets.

Oil prices subsequently moved higher as concerns increased over potential disruptions to energy supplies. Brent crude eventually settled at around $91.02 per barrel on 18 August.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀

Higher global bond yields also affected investor risk appetite.

US long-term bond yields remained elevated, making emerging-market equities relatively less attractive and increasing concerns around global financial conditions.

The combination of higher oil prices and elevated bond yields created a risk-off environment for Indian equities.

𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

IT stocks were among the biggest drags on the benchmark indices.

The Nifty IT index declined around 1.9%, with major technology stocks including Infosys, HCL Technologies and TCS facing selling pressure.

The weakness in IT stocks added significant pressure to the Nifty because several large IT companies have substantial weight in the index.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲

Realty stocks also declined sharply.

The Nifty Realty index fell around 1.42%, making it one of the weaker sectoral indices during the session.

Higher bond yields and the cautious market environment contributed to pressure on the real estate sector.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

The sectoral picture remained largely negative, with 12 of the 16 major sectoral indices declining.

𝗜𝗧

Nifty IT fell around 1.9% and was one of the biggest sectoral drags.

Infosys, HCL Technologies, TCS and Wipro were among the major IT stocks under selling pressure.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆

Nifty Realty declined around 1.42% as investors remained cautious amid elevated yields and broader market weakness.

𝗙𝗠𝗖𝗚

Nifty FMCG declined around 0.77%, adding to the broader market pressure.

𝗣𝗦𝗨 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀

Nifty PSU Bank also remained under pressure and declined around 1%.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀

Contrary to the previous session, metal stocks also saw some profit-taking.

The Nifty Metal index declined around 0.61% on 18 August after gaining in the previous session.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼

Auto stocks were among the relatively stronger sectors.

The Nifty Auto index gained around 0.30%, providing some support to the broader market.

𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲

Pharma and healthcare stocks showed relative resilience.

The Nifty Pharma index was broadly positive, while healthcare stocks also outperformed several other sectors during the session.

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

Nifty Media was among the few sectoral indices to close higher, gaining around 0.40%.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

The major Nifty gainers included:

• Axis Bank
• Max Healthcare Institute
• Mahindra & Mahindra
• Grasim Industries
• Power Grid Corporation

Axis Bank emerged as the top Nifty 50 gainer, rising around 1.28%.

Max Healthcare Institute gained around 1.07%, while Mahindra & Mahindra advanced around 0.92%.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀

The major Nifty losers included:

• Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles
• Asian Paints
• Infosys
• HCL Technologies
• Wipro
• TCS

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles was among the biggest Nifty losers, falling around 2.24%.

Asian Paints declined around 2.20%, while Infosys fell around 2.18%.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

𝗔𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸

Axis Bank was the strongest performer among Nifty 50 stocks.

The stock gained around 1.28% and emerged as the top Nifty gainer during the session.

The relative strength in Axis Bank helped limit some of the pressure from the weak IT and Realty sectors.

𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲

Max Healthcare gained around 1.07% and was among the strongest Nifty performers.

The stock showed resilience despite the broader weakness in benchmark indices.

𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 & 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮

M&M gained around 0.92%, supported by relative strength in the Auto sector.

Auto stocks were among the sectors that performed better than the broader market.

𝗧𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles was the biggest Nifty 50 loser.

The stock declined around 2.24% and remained under significant selling pressure during the session.

𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀

Asian Paints declined around 2.20% and was one of the biggest drags on the Nifty.

The stock was also among the weakest large-cap counters during the session.

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀

Infosys fell around 2.18% as the broader IT sector came under heavy selling pressure.

The weakness in Infosys, HCL Technologies, TCS and other IT stocks contributed significantly to the decline in the Nifty.

𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

The broader market also remained under pressure, although the decline was less severe than in some frontline stocks.

The Nifty Midcap 100 declined approximately 0.43%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 ended broadly flat.

This indicated that selling was concentrated more heavily in large-cap benchmark stocks, particularly IT, Realty and selected financial counters.

Market breadth remained negative, with declining shares outnumbering advancing shares on the BSE.

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆

Interestingly, institutional flows provided some support despite the fall in the benchmark indices.

Foreign institutional investors turned net buyers in Indian equities on 18 August.

FIIs purchased shares worth approximately ₹13,543 crore and sold shares worth around ₹11,892 crore, resulting in net buying of approximately ₹1,652 crore.

Domestic institutional investors also remained net buyers, purchasing shares worth around ₹15,566 crore and selling approximately ₹12,987 crore, resulting in net buying of around ₹2,579 crore.

Therefore, both FIIs and DIIs were net buyers on 18 August, even though the headline indices ended sharply lower.

𝗥𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗶𝗹

The Indian rupee remained under pressure against the US dollar.

The rupee closed around ₹95.68 per US dollar, compared with approximately ₹95.60 in the previous session.

The RBI was reported to have intervened in the foreign-exchange market to limit excessive volatility.

India's 10-year government bond yield also increased by around 2 basis points to 6.827%, adding to concerns over financial conditions.

Brent crude remained elevated around the $91 per barrel region as Middle East tensions continued.

Higher crude prices remain a major concern for India because they can increase the import bill, pressure the rupee and potentially raise inflationary risks.

𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸

The Nifty closed at 24,154.90, below the important 24,200 level.

The immediate support zone is around 24,150–24,100, followed by the psychological 24,000 level.

A decisive break below 24,000 could increase selling pressure and potentially push the index towards the 23,800–23,900 region.

On the upside, 24,200–24,300 is likely to remain an important resistance zone. A sustained move above 24,300 could improve the short-term structure and open the way towards 24,400–24,500.

Options positioning also pointed towards 24,200 as an important near-term resistance and 24,000 as a major support zone.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁

Investors will closely monitor:

• Crude oil prices around the $90–91 zone
• Developments between the US and Iran
• Strait of Hormuz developments
• Global bond yields
• Rupee movement against the US dollar
• IT sector performance
• Foreign institutional investor flows
• Domestic institutional investor flows
• Nifty support around 24,100–24,000
• Nifty resistance around 24,200–24,300
• Global equity market cues

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸

The short-term market outlook remains cautious to mildly bearish.

The Nifty has now recorded six consecutive sessions of losses and has slipped below the important 24,200 level.

Elevated crude oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty and higher global bond yields could continue to keep volatility elevated.

At the same time, the fact that both FIIs and DIIs were net buyers on 18 August provides some evidence that domestic and foreign institutional participants were still selectively accumulating stocks despite the weakness in the benchmark indices.

Investors should therefore watch whether the Nifty can defend the 24,100–24,000 support zone.

Long-term investors should continue to focus on fundamentally strong companies rather than reacting to short-term geopolitical volatility.

Short-term traders should maintain disciplined risk management because movements in crude oil and geopolitical headlines can quickly change market sentiment.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?

If crude oil remains above $90 and Middle East tensions continue, the Nifty could remain under pressure.

A decisive break below 24,000 could increase selling pressure towards the 23,800–23,900 region.

On the other hand, if crude prices cool, global bond yields decline and geopolitical tensions ease, the Nifty could attempt a recovery towards 24,200–24,300.

A sustained move above 24,300 would improve the short-term market structure and could bring 24,400–24,500 into focus.

The performance of IT, Realty, Auto, Pharma and financial stocks will also be important in determining the market's next direction.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Indian stock market ended sharply lower on 18 August 2026, with the Sensex falling 492.70 points and the Nifty declining 132.75 points.

The Sensex closed at 77,235.46, while the Nifty settled at 24,154.90, extending its losing streak to the sixth consecutive session.

Rising crude oil prices, renewed Middle East tensions, higher global bond yields and heavy selling in IT and Realty stocks were the major factors weighing on the market.

The Nifty IT index fell around 1.9%, while Nifty Realty declined around 1.42%. Metal stocks also corrected, with the Nifty Metal index falling around 0.61%.

On the positive side, Auto, Media and selected Pharma and Healthcare stocks showed relative strength. Axis Bank, Max Healthcare and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the notable Nifty gainers, while Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Asian Paints and Infosys were among the major losers.

Institutional activity was relatively supportive, with FIIs recording net buying of approximately ₹1,652 crore and DIIs recording net buying of around ₹2,579 crore.

Going forward, crude oil prices, Middle East developments, global bond yields, institutional flows and the Nifty's 24,000–24,300 range are expected to remain the key factors determining market direction.