The BSE Sensex settled at 82,200.34, rising by 442.61 points or 0.54%. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 closed at 25,090.7, gaining 122.3 points or 0.49%. Initially, global trade concerns had caused some hesitation, but the strength in domestic corporate earnings helped lift the sentiment as the day progressed.
In the broader market, the Nifty Midcap 100 rose by 0.66%, driven by strong performances in companies like Persistent Systems, UPL, and L&T Finance. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index remained flat with a slight negative bias, reflecting mixed sentiment in the smaller stocks.
Meanwhile, the India VIX, which tracks market volatility, decreased by 1.67%, settling at 11.20 points, reflecting a reduction in market anxiety.
You may also read: L&T Finance stock analysis & expert insights in detail
Impact on the stock market
Sectoral indices performance
Sectoral performance presented a mixed picture. On one hand, banking stocks were the champions, driving the market’s rise. The Nifty Private Bank index surged by 1.05%, and the Nifty Bank index followed suit with a 0.98% increase. Other sectors such as Nifty Metal (up 0.94%), Nifty Auto (up 0.44%), and Nifty Midcap 100 (up 0.46%) also posted solid gains.
On the flip side, some sectors faced selling pressure. The Nifty Oil & Gas index dropped by 1.22%, followed by Nifty PSU Bank (-0.73%) and Nifty FMCG (-0.60%). The subdued volatility, reflected by a 0.70% drop in India VIX, helped in maintaining investor confidence despite sectoral pulls.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.30% |
| Healthcare sector | -0.23% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -1.09% |
| Real estate sector | 0.64% |
| PSU Bank in India | -0.62% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Eternal Share Price | 271.70 | 5.64 |
| ICICI Bank Share Price | 1,465.80 | 2.81 |
| HDFC Bank Share Price | 2,000.50 | 2.20 |
| HDFC Life Share Price | 752.30 | 1.73 |
| M&M Share Price | 3,246.70 | 1.70 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Reliance Share Price | 1,428.60 | -3.21 |
| Wipro Share Price | 260.35 | -2.47 |
| IndusInd Bank Share Price | 858.80 | -1.29 |
| Eicher Motors Share Price | 5,558.00 | -1.24 |
| HCL Tech Share Price | 1,530.40 | -1.19 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Eternal’s performance (Zomato’s rebranded company)
In a surprise move, Eternal Ltd, the rebranded Zomato, posted a significant decline in its profit. The company’s quarterly profit after tax (PAT) fell by 90% YoY, coming in at just Rs 25 crore in Q1FY26, down from Rs 253 crore a year ago. However, its revenue from operations saw a 70.4% growth, reaching Rs 7,167 crore compared to Rs 4,206 crore last year. Despite strong revenue growth, the steep profit drop has raised concerns about the company’s future trajectory.
Also read: Eternal share price drops 5% after Q4 results
UltraTech Cement: Strong profit growth but below estimates
UltraTech Cement reported a 49% YoY increase in its net profit, reaching Rs 2,226 crore for Q1FY26, up from Rs 1,495 crore in Q1FY25. While this is a substantial profit increase, it fell short of analysts’ expectations, which had pegged net profit to be around Rs 2,463 crore. Revenue from operations grew by 17.7% to Rs 21,275 crore from Rs 18,818 crore last year. The company benefitted from 9.7% volume growth driven by its recent acquisitions of India Cements Ltd and the cement business of Kesoram Industries.
You may also read: Reliance Retail Buys Kelvinator to Boost Consumer Durables Business
Globe Civil Projects
Globe Civil Projects saw its shares rise by up to 3% ahead of its Q1 results, reflecting positive sentiment as investors were optimistic about the company’s upcoming earnings. With the cement industry continuing to grow and benefiting from infrastructure development, Globe Civil Projects is expected to post strong performance in its earnings report. As the anticipation of strong results drove investor interest, the stock remained in the positive for most of the day.
You may also like: Axis Bank Q1 FY26 Results: Profit Falls 4% on Rise in Bad Loans
Crude oil
Crude oil prices saw a slight uptick on July 21st, following EU sanctions on Russia that raised concerns about potential disruptions in global supply. On the MCX, July crude oil futures traded at ₹5,816, up by 0.31% from the previous close. Internationally, Brent oil futures were at $69.36, and WTI was at $66.18.
The sanctions on Russia include lowering the oil price cap from $60 to $47.60 a barrel, which will come into effect in September. While this may tighten the market further, experts believe that shadow fleets and refined oil products from countries like India and Turkey may ease some of the potential supply chain issues.
Conclusion
Today’s market performance shows the resilience of the Indian stock market, driven by strong earnings from the banking and cement sectors. Despite some challenges, particularly for companies like Eternal Ltd, the overall sentiment remains positive, as investors are focusing on the growth prospects of leading firms. As we move forward, the impact of global developments such as crude oil prices and EU sanctions on Russia will be crucial to watch.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
