Indian benchmark indices opened the week sharply lower on Monday, October 26, 2026, as the Infosys guidance cut dragged IT stocks and crude oil stayed elevated amid the unresolved Middle East crisis. The Sensex was down 535.28 points, or 0.73%, at 72,588.55 at 9:22 am, while the Nifty slipped below 22,500, according to HDFC Sky.
Only nine of the 50 Nifty stocks were trading in the green, and the Nifty IT index tumbled 1.79% at that point.
Sensex and Nifty Today: How the Session Opened
Early trade was volatile. India TV News reported that the Sensex fell 133.79 points, or 0.18%, to start the session at 72,990.04, while the Nifty shed 75.60 points to open at 22,524.40. Within minutes, selling deepened, and the Sensex was down more than 500 points at 9:22 am. Newsbytes reported a smaller loss of 284.62 points, with the Sensex at 72,839.21 and the Nifty at 22,499.25, down 0.45%, by around 9:39 am.
All figures here are intraday readings and will change as the session progresses.
| Reading | Sensex | Nifty 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Friday close, October 23 | 73,123.83 (-125.56) | 22,600.00 (-87.65) |
| Monday open | 72,990.04 (-133.79) | 22,524.40 (-75.60) |
| About 9:22 am | 72,588.55 (-535.28) | Below 22,500 |
The Nifty is now just over 1% above its 52-week low of 22,179.90, according to HDFC Sky.
How the Market Closed on Friday
The benchmarks ended Friday lower for the fourth session in a row. The Sensex fell 125.56 points, or 0.17%, to close at 73,123.83, and the Nifty 50 dropped 87.65 points, or 0.39%, to settle at 22,600.
The Nifty opened at 22,742.20 and swung between a high of 22,787.25 and a low of 22,372, according to 5paisa, before buying at lower levels pulled it back to the close. The Nifty Bank index fell 638.35 points, or 1.16%, to 54,287.35, with losses concentrated in public sector and some private sector lenders.
Goodreturns reported that metal, realty and PSU bank stocks were among the main laggards on Friday, while consumption and IT stocks showed relative resilience. That reversed on Monday, when IT led the decline.
The recovery from Friday’s low was about 228 points, from 22,372 to the 22,600 close. Persistent selling in mid-cap and small-cap stocks added to concerns, according to Goodreturns, while ScanX noted that domestic institutional investors continued to support the market. GIFT Nifty had pointed to a flat open at 22,611 before the session began, but domestic indices opened lower.
Why Markets Are Falling: IT Weakness, Oil and Geopolitics
Three factors weighed on sentiment at the start of the week.
- Infosys guidance cut: Infosys lowered its FY27 revenue growth guidance to 1% to 2% in constant currency. The stock fell as much as 4% to ₹1,107 in early trade, and the Nifty IT index touched a low of 31,184.70, down 2.53%.
- Crude oil: Goodreturns reported crude oil topping $114 a barrel ahead of Monday’s session. HDFC Sky noted that oil eased on Monday but stayed elevated because of the Middle East conflict.
- Global cues: India TV News said uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s policy outlook also weighed on sentiment. Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply in the previous session, according to ScanX.
Higher crude prices matter for India because the country imports most of its oil. They raise the import bill and can add to inflation, which in turn affects interest rate expectations.
Gainers and Losers in Early Trade
Sector moves were uneven. Kotak Mahindra Bank led the Sensex gainers with a rise of about 2.77% in early trade, according to India TV News, and the private bank index rose 0.47%, based on Newsbytes. Sun Pharma, Axis Bank, ITC and Tata Steel were also among the early gainers.
On the losing side, Infosys, HCL Technologies, UltraTech Cement, Hindustan Unilever and NTPC were among the main laggards. Realty, auto and PSU bank stocks were also lower, and the broader midcap and smallcap indices slipped.
What Traders and Investors Are Watching
Intraday traders who follow live index levels on a stock trading app are watching the Nifty’s support near 22,372, a level flagged by Goodreturns, along with the 52-week low of 22,179.90. Those who hold shares in a trading account may also check how much of their portfolio is exposed to IT stocks, which led the fall.
Nothing in the data above signals where the market goes next, and daily moves can reverse quickly.
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