Stock markets end flat as elevated crude oil prices cap gains
Indian stock markets Sensex and Nifty ended the trading session flat on August 21, 2026. Investors remained cautious due to rising U.S. Treasury yields and persistent geopolitical tensions affecting crude oil prices.
Why it matters
Market volatility and energy price fluctuations directly impact the economic stability of major importing nations like India.
Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat on Friday (August 21, 2026), a day after registering a rebound, as elevated crude oil prices induced by geopolitical uncertainties and a sharp fall in the U.S. markets made investors cautious.
In a largely range-bound trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended almost unchanged from the previous close at 77,540.83, up 3.11 points. During the day, it hit a high of 77,725.67 and a low of 77,445.86, gyrating 279.81 points.
The 50-share NSE Nifty also ended flat, up 20.15 points, or 0.08%, at 24,252.
A rebound in U.S. Treasury yields and persistently elevated crude oil prices discouraged investors from taking aggressive directional positions, an expert said.
"Indian equity benchmarks ended a choppy Friday session largely unchanged, as investors defended Thursday's recovery but showed little conviction to push the market decisively higher.
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