The SGX Nifty May 2026 futures are currently up by 211.00 points, suggesting a favourable start for the benchmark index today. The Oil Marketing Companies have increased petrol prices by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 2.71 per litre on Monday, marking the fourth hike in less than two weeks. With the latest change, the overall increase in petrol and diesel prices has approached almost Rs 7.5 per litre since the restart of fuel rate updates on May 15, after a prolonged period of stability.
Institutional Flows:
On 22 May 2026, foreign portfolio investors divested shares worth Rs 4,440.47 crore, while domestic institutional investors recorded net purchases of Rs 6,003.53 crore in the Indian equity market, based on provisional data. The foreign institutional investors have sold shares worth Rs 32,228.65 crore as of May 22, 2026. This follows their cash sales of 70,135.46 crore in April, 122,540.41 crore in March, and 6,640.78 crore in February.
Global Markets:
In Asia, markets showed encouraging movement, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 exceeding the 65,000 mark for the first time on Monday, reaching a record high during a week with reduced trading activity due to the holiday. This surge came after reports indicated a possible reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, leading to a drop in oil prices and improved investor sentiment. Markets in Hong Kong and South Korea are presently not operational because of public holidays. U.S. markets will not be open on Monday due to Memorial Day observance. President Donald Trump reportedly stated in a social media post that negotiations with Iran were “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner,” adding that he had instructed his representatives “not to rush into a deal as time is on [their] side.
Oil prices fell by more than 5% after Trump’s comments, easing some of the strain on investors. Prices surged significantly following the blockade imposed by the Trump administration on Iranian ports, coinciding with Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy transportation. The West Texas Intermediate futures for July dropped 4.47% to $92.28 per barrel during early trading in Asia. Brent crude futures for July saw a drop of 4.13%, closing at $99.26 per barrel.
Last week, stocks saw a rise on Friday as Treasury yields eased, leading to a favourable week for Wall Street despite heightened fluctuations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 294.04 points, reflecting a rise of 0.58%, closing at 50,579.70. The 30-stock index achieved an intraday all-time high and marked yet another closing peak. The S&P 500 increased by 0.37%, closing at 7,473.47. The Nasdaq Composite saw a rise of 0.19%, finishing at 26,343.97.
Domestic Market:
The major stock indices wrapped up Friday’s trading with modest gains, supported by positive global cues and a sense of hope regarding a potential peace agreement between the US and Iran. The Nifty 50 wrapped up the trading session above the 23,700 mark, hitting an intraday high of 23,835.65. Investor sentiment improved as Brent crude oil prices fell to around $105 per barrel from recent highs near $110. The index showed a positive trend for most of the session; however, it saw a decline in gains towards the end of the trading day, due to profit-taking at higher levels.
Private banks and financial stocks led the gains, while healthcare and pharma shares faced selling pressure. Nevertheless, the general mood in the market stayed wary due to ongoing withdrawals by foreign institutional investors and worries about inflation and worldwide bond yields. The S&P BSE Sensex increased by 231.99 points, reflecting a rise of 0.31%, reaching a total of 75,415.35. The Nifty 50 index saw an uptick of 64.60 points, marking a gain of 0.27%, resulting in a total of 23,719.30.