Nifty and Sensex edge up as crude tops $86 on US-Iran tensions
The Nifty rose 75 points, or 0.31%, to 24,160.85 at Wednesday’s open, while the Sensex added 230 points, or 0.30%, to 77,422.76.
Source: Times Now · July 21, 2026 at 6:53 PM · AI-assisted report
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WASHINGTON, 22 JULY 2026 —
Both the Nifty and the Sensex began the trading day with marginal gains on July 15, 2026 even as investors continued to track the fresh US and Iran tensions. The Nifty and Sensex gained 0.18 percent at open. The Nifty gained over 75 points and opened at 24,085.85 and the Sensex gained over 200 points and 77,192.76. The Indian rupee opened at 96.17 to the dollar versus Tuesday's close of 96.20 to the dollar.
Crude oil prices continued to surge, with Brent Crude trading near 86 dollars per barrel (at the time of filing this copy) after US forces struck Iranian targets and Washington reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Asian markets also gained after softer-than-expected US inflation data strengthened expectations of US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
The Sensex and Nifty tumbled on Tuesday as a sharp surge in crude oil prices due to the renewed flare-up in West Asia dented investors' sentiment. Fresh foreign fund outflows and the falling rupee had also put pressure on the markets.
"Domestic equities came under renewed pressure as escalating West Asia tensions drove crude oil prices sharply higher, reviving fears that global energy supply will further delay a recovery in India's corporate earnings," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd told PTI. On Tuesday, the rupee weakend past the 96 to the US dollar mark for the first time since May.
Experts belive geopolitical uncertainty given the fresh escalation between US and Iran, the over 9 percent spike in crude oil prices and the demand for the US dollar are factors weighing on the Indian currency. Forex traders said it is time yet again to closely monitor the geopolitical developments and the impact on energy prices as India imports over 85 percent of its crude oil needs.
In fact market experts are awaiting global cues that will help signal the direction for the Indian rupee in the days ahead. Get Latest News live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Business, Companies and around the world. (AI-assisted rewrite, based on the original source)
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