Indian equity markets opened lower on April 22, 2026, with benchmark indices remaining under pressure in early trade on the third trading day of the week. Both the BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 opened in negative territory and extended losses shortly after the opening.
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 253.99 points, or 0.32%, to open at 79,019.34. The Nifty 50 fell 105.75 points, or 0.43%, to start the session at 24,470.85.
Selling pressure intensified within minutes of opening. At around 9:40 am, the Sensex was trading lower by approximately 365 points at 78,907, while the Nifty 50 was down by about 90 points at around 24,485.
IT stocks led the decline in the session, with losses in major technology companies weighing on the broader market. Key laggards included HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and ICICI Bank. The pressure in the IT sector was attributed to weakness in global technology stocks and profit booking by investors.
Amid the broader decline, selective buying was observed in certain stocks. Top gainers included Trent, Bajaj Finance, Maruti Suzuki India, ITC, and Eternal Ltd. These stocks saw investor interest driven by expectations of domestic demand and sectoral growth.
In the previous session on Tuesday, April 21, the market had closed higher. The BSE Sensex had risen 753.03 points, or 0.96%, to settle at 79,273.33, while the Nifty 50 gained 211.75 points to close at 24,576.60. Banking and financial stocks had provided support to the market in that session, with buying seen particularly in private banks and finance companies.
