HOME > MARKETS > MARKET COMMENTARY
  MARKET COMMENTARY
EQUITY
Post Session: Quick Review
Oct-23-2026

Indian equity markets ended lower on Friday, with the Sensex and Nifty extending their losing streak to a fourth consecutive session as surging crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia amid concerns over potential supply disruptions following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia weighed on investor sentiment. However, gains in select heavyweight stocks helped limit the markets’ losses.

Some of the important factors in trade:

FIIs remain sellers: Traders remained cautious as exchange data showed Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,458.70 crore on a net basis on Thursday. 

European companies express keen interest in investing in India: Traders overlooked that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal noted that several European companies have expressed keen interest in investing in India, with many carmakers exploring manufacturing opportunities in the country

India's private sector business activity signals continued growth in October: Traders paid no heed towards a preliminary survey showing India's business activity expanded at its fastest pace in four months in October as stronger orders drove a services-led pickup, but hiring almost stalled as companies met rising workloads with existing staff. HSBC's flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose to 56.7 this month from September's final 55.9. 

On the global front: European stocks were trading in red after U.S. technology shares sold off overnight amid growing concerns over the weakening global AI trade. Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher, after Japan's private sector expanded at a solid pace in October as services activity picked up, while manufacturing growth slowed to a seven-month low. 

The BSE Sensex ended at 73123.83, down by 125.56 points or 0.17% after trading in a range of 72452.37 and 73766.51. There were 7 stocks advancing against 23 stocks declining on the index. (Provisional)

The top losing sectoral indices on the BSE were Metal down by 2.71%, Realty down by 2.63%, Capital Goods down by 2.51%, Utilities down by 2.30% and Power down by 2.11%, while there were no gaining sectoral indices on the BSE. (Provisional)

The top gainers on the Sensex were Eternal up by 3.61%, Larsen & Toubro up by 1.37%, TCS up by 1.14%, Reliance Industries up by 0.75% and Infosys up by 0.61%. On the flip side, Tata Steel down by 3.24%, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone down by 2.99%, Interglobe Aviation down by 2.74%, Bharat Electronics down by 2.56% and Trent down by 2.50% were the top losers. (Provisional)

Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has assured global investors that India provides a stable and predictable business environment and emphasised that businesses investing and expanding in the country would not face the uncertainties seen in other parts of the world. He said that the world is fragmented today and trust is a scarce commodity. But India, he said, ensures a fair play for every investor, business person, and trader.

Goyal also said that India has finalised nine free trade agreements (FTAs), covering 38 countries, whose combined gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds $60 trillion. He noted that India, before 2014, entered into some free trade agreements, including with Singapore. But collectively, all those free trade agreements covered a GDP of $10 trillion.

The minister said India is negotiating FTAs with a host of countries and blocs, including Canada, Israel, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Mexico, the SACU (Southern African Customs Union) region, Brazil-led Mercosur, and Russia-led Eurasia. He said ‘all of these economies collectively will add $15 trillion. So, I would have opened the doors of India and opened Indian businesses, getting opportunities in GDP of $85 trillion out of a global GDP of $115 trillion. That’s 76 per cent of global GDP that will be open to Indian businesses.’ 

The CNX Nifty ended at 22600.00, down by 87.65 points or 0.39% after trading in a range of 22372.00 and 22787.25. There were 14 stocks advancing against 36 stocks declining on the index. (Provisional)

The top gainers on Nifty were Eternal up by 4.25%, Apollo Hospital up by 1.65%, ONGC up by 1.11%, Asian Paints up by 0.97% and TCS up by 0.92%. On the flip side, Shriram Finance down by 3.98%, Adani Enterprises down by 2.86%, JSW Steel down by 2.83%, JIO Financial Services down by 2.74% and Tata Steel down by 2.70% were the top losers. (Provisional)

European markets were trading lower; Germany’s DAX lost 213.65 points or 0.84% to 25,158.10, France’s CAC fell 54.86 points or 0.7% to 7,756.40 and UK’s FTSE 100 decreased 63.65 points or 0.59% to 10,661.38.

Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday, with South Korea’s Kospi, Hong Kong and Chinese indices recovering from an early slide as bargain hunters stepped in to buy heavily discounted technology and semiconductor shares. However, Japanese markets dropped as investors shifted from high-performing tech and artificial intelligence shares into safe-haven government bonds. Further, market participants remain cautious due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, following reports that the US and Israel had prepared plans for possible renewed strikes against Iran after next month’s midterm elections. Taiwan's markets were closed as Typhoon Champi approached. Traders also shifted their focus on the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for October 27-28, 2026, at the conclusion of which the Fed is expected to announce its interest rate decision.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,690.48

32.45

0.89

Hang Seng

23,093.37

158.69

0.69

Jakarta Composite

5,439.26

51.35

0.95

KLSE Composite

1,611.56

3.42

0.21

Nikkei 225

62,693.16

-214.68

-0.34

Straits Times

5,422.16

7.02

0.13

KOSPI Composite

5,550.30

16.53

0.30

Taiwan Weighted

--

--

--
  RELATED NEWS >>
Most Viewed >>
EXPLORE
© CITRUS INTERACTIVE
Designed & Developed Accord Fintech Pvt. Ltd.