Summary
The Sensex added just 3.11 points to close at 77,540.83 and the Nifty 50 rose 20.15 points to end at 24,252 on Friday, 21 August 2026, capping a second consecutive week of losses for both benchmarks.
Nifty Metal and Private Bank outperformed while FMCG, Auto and IT lagged, with Trent, Maruti Suzuki and InterGlobe Aviation the top Nifty losers.
Technocrats Plasma Systems listed at a 74% premium on the BSE SME platform and hit the upper circuit at ₹241.50, up 82.95% from its ₹132 issue price.
Ceigall India rose about 2% on a ₹225 crore Himachal Pradesh order, and crude eased with Brent down 0.35% at $93.45.
The Sensex eked out a 3.11 point gain to end at 77,540.83, while the Nifty 50 closed 20.15 points, or 0.08%, higher at 24,252. Despite the marginally positive close, this was the second consecutive week of decline for both benchmarks.
The broader market did better. The Nifty MidCap rose 0.1% and the Nifty SmallCap gained 0.69%, with smaller stocks continuing to attract buyers even as the frontline names stalled.
Impact on the stock market
Sectoral gainers: Nifty Metal and Nifty Private Bank outperformed the market, while the Nifty SmallCap’s 0.69% rise kept the broader tape constructive.
Sectoral losers: Nifty FMCG, Nifty Auto and Nifty IT underperformed, with the weakness in autos showing up directly in Maruti Suzuki’s place among the top Nifty losers.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.46% |
| Healthcare sector | -0.25% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.04% |
| Real estate sector | 0.40% |
| PSU Bank in India | 0.04% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Power Grid Corp | 272.40 | 2.87 |
| HDFC Life | 554.80 | 2.36 |
| Kotak Mahindra | 402.80 | 1.37 |
| Nestle | 1,477.10 | 1.31 |
| Bharat Electronics | 414.00 | 1.12 |
Top losers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Maruti Suzuki | 13,565.00 | -1.77 |
| Trent | 2,924.00 | -1.55 |
| HCL Tech | 1,302.50 | -1.21 |
| Interglobe Aviation | 5,110.00 | -1.06 |
| ONGC | 236.40 | -0.88 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Ceigall India: A 2% Rise on a ₹225 Crore Himachal Pradesh Order
Ceigall India shares gained around 2% on Friday, trading at ₹318.80 on the NSE at 12:54 pm, after the company bagged a ₹225 crore order in Himachal Pradesh.
The infrastructure developer received a Letter of Award from the Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation for developing the Bulk Drug Park at Una. The item rate contract has an execution period of 18 months, and the scope covers formation cutting, internal roads, storm water drains, a bridge and fencing as part of Phase I of the development. The company said the project will create essential infrastructure for a strategically important industrial ecosystem and expands its presence across geographies and infrastructure segments.
HAL: Gains Up to 1% as NCLT Dissolves the Dormant Cyient Joint Venture
Hindustan Aeronautics shares gained up to 1% after the National Company Law Tribunal ordered the dissolution of Infotech HAL, a dormant 50:50 joint venture between HAL and Cyient. The stock hit an intraday high of ₹5,092 on the NSE, rising 1.9%, before profit booking trimmed the move to 0.63% at ₹5,029.70 around 12:30 pm.
The winding up process for the non performing entity began in March 2024, and the Bengaluru bench’s order formally brings it to a close. The dissolution is not expected to have any material bearing on HAL’s ongoing defence programmes or its balance sheet, given the venture had remained dormant. The stock stays in focus amid the government’s push to deepen defence indigenisation, and the clean up removes a small piece of legacy clutter from the books.
Technocrats Plasma Systems: A 74% Listing Premium and an Upper Circuit
Technocrats Plasma Systems delivered the debut of the day, listing at ₹230 on the BSE SME platform against an issue price of ₹132, a premium of 74%. The shares then hit the 5% upper circuit at ₹241.50, taking the total gain to 82.95% over the issue price. The debut beat grey market expectations, which had pointed to a listing gain of around 53%.
The IPO ran from August 14 to 18, with allotment finalised on August 19. Incorporated in 1994, the engineering company provides plasma based surface treatment and coating solutions for industrial applications, from system customisation and installation to maintenance and technical consulting. From the fresh issue proceeds, ₹8.79 crore will fund plant and machinery for manufacturing plasma cutting machines, welding equipment and customised automation systems, while ₹40 crore will go towards long term working capital. The listing extends the remarkable run for new issues this month, even as the secondary market struggles.
Crude Oil: A Breather at Last as Prices Slip on Weak Global Cues
Crude oil prices fell in Friday’s futures trade amid weak global trends, offering the first sign of relief after five straight sessions of gains. On the MCX, September crude futures slipped ₹18, or 0.22%, to ₹8,286 per barrel in a turnover of 3,477 lots. Analysts said prices fell as participants offloaded holdings amid weak demand in the spot market.
The softness was global. West Texas Intermediate traded 0.58% lower at $86.33 per barrel, while Brent declined 0.35% to $93.45. The dip is welcome, but with Brent still above $93 and the US Iran standoff unresolved, one soft session does not change the supply risk picture that has dominated the month.
Conclusion
Friday closed a week that promised a turnaround and delivered a stalemate. The benchmarks finished flat, sealing a second straight weekly loss, while smallcaps quietly outperformed and the primary market kept booming, capped by Technocrats Plasma’s 83% debut gain. Ceigall’s ₹225 crore order and HAL’s joint venture clean up added to the stock specific news flow. Oil finally eased, but at $93.45 Brent remains the market’s biggest worry. The setup for next week is simple: a decisive fall in crude could unlock the rebound, while another leg higher would test the benchmarks’ recent lows. Watch the oil price first and everything else second.
