SGX Nifty October 2026 futures declined by 15.50 points, indicating a bearish start for the Nifty 50. Jio Platforms’ IPO commences for subscription today, 21 October 2026, with the objective of raising Rs 30,213 crore via a fresh issue of up to 27 crore equity shares. The price band has been established at Rs 1,065-1,119 per share, positioning it as India’s largest public offering to date.
Institutional Flows:
Foreign portfolio investors divested shares amounting to Rs 1,148.64 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors recorded net purchases of Rs 3,201.19 crore in the Indian equity market on 19 October 2026, as per provisional data. Foreign Portfolio Investors divested shares amounting to Rs 52,007.92 crore in October, up to the 19th of the month in 2026. This follows net selling of Rs 45,536.89 crore in September 2026, while FPIs were net buyers of Rs 17,366 crore in August 2026.
Global Markets:
Asian equity indices commenced trading on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, with an upward trajectory, primarily driven by advancements in Japan and South Korea. This positive momentum was bolstered by a resurgence of optimism surrounding investments in artificial intelligence, which helped to alleviate the negative sentiment stemming from the sell-off observed in the prior session. Asian technology stocks faced pressure on Tuesday due to concerns regarding substantial AI infrastructure expenditures and increasing financing costs. Investors are evaluating corporate earnings to ascertain if significant investments in AI will result in enduring growth.
Sentiment experienced an uplift following Super Micro Computer’s preliminary revenue guidance for Q1 FY27, which surpassed expectations. The company anticipates revenue in the range of $18.5 billion to $19.5 billion, an increase from its previous forecast of $14.5 billion to $15.5 billion and surpassing analyst expectations of approximately $15 billion. It also raised its gross margin outlook to 12%-12.5% from 10.4%-10.8%, citing a more favourable customer and product mix. Meanwhile, Japan’s exports increased by 16.7% year-on-year in September, representing the 13th consecutive month of growth. However, the increase did not meet market expectations. Exports to the US experienced a notable increase of 22.9%, whereas shipments to China saw a rise of 8.6%. Japan’s trade deficit has contracted to 536.6 billion yen. Overnight, US equity markets concluded with a mixed performance on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.02% to 52,495.88, while the S&P 500 gained 0.28% to 7,712.57. The Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.02% to 26,424.82 as weakness in technology stocks offset gains elsewhere.
Healthcare and industrial stocks bolstered the Dow’s progression as investors evaluated corporate earnings and re-examined the valuations of technology firms. Concerns regarding the expenses and prospective yields from AI-related investments persisted in shaping market sentiment. On the economic front, US housing starts experienced a decline of 5.2% month-on-month in September, while building permits saw a slight decrease of 0.2%. Single-family housing starts experienced a decline of 4.6%, reaching an annualised rate of 859,000 units. Single-family permits declined by 4% to 845,000, marking their lowest point in three-and-a-half years, indicating persistent fragility in the housing market. Meanwhile, crude oil prices experienced an uptick on Wednesday, driven by heightened apprehensions regarding potential supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Brent crude increased by 85 cents, reaching $109.64 per barrel. Prices experienced fluctuations on Tuesday, influenced by contradictory reports regarding the advancement of diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran. Ongoing threats to energy infrastructure and shipping routes have maintained a spotlight on supply risks. Corporate earnings are anticipated to continue serving as a significant catalyst for global markets this week. Investors will evaluate the capacity of earnings growth to sustain equity valuations in the context of high borrowing costs and ambiguity surrounding AI expenditures. Developments in the Middle East and fluctuations in crude oil prices are expected to impact sentiment significantly.
Domestic Market:
The domestic equity benchmarks concluded the trading session on Monday with a significant decline, as the Nifty 50 settled beneath the 22,900 threshold. Significant selling pressure in major private banking stocks, high crude oil prices, lacklustre global indicators, and profit-taking following the rally of the past two sessions negatively impacted market sentiment. Persistent foreign investor outflows in October continued to raise concerns. The sell-off exhibited a widespread nature, characterised by declines in midcap and smallcap stocks.
However, the Nifty PSU Bank index diverged from the prevailing trend, appreciating by more than 2% due to robust quarterly results reported by certain public sector lenders. The S&P BSE Sensex declined by 876.37 points, representing a decrease of 1.17%, closing at 73,852.90. The Nifty 50 index experienced a decline of 257.20 points, reflecting a decrease of 1.11%, closing at 22,888.95. Over the last four trading sessions, the Sensex and Nifty experienced increases of 2.68% and 2.31%, respectively. The domestic stock market was closed on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, in observance of Dussehra.
