Local stock markets are expected to begin on a subdued note today. The Gift Nifty April 2026 futures are modestly lower by 0.11 points, pointing to a subdued start for the benchmark index today. The domestic equity market ended slightly lower in last session, with BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 modestly lower.The BSE Sensex has slipped 1.72% over the last one month, while the NSE Nifty has drifted lower 2.75% over the same period.

In Asia today, sentiment was mildly weak. China’s SSE Composite Index edged lower 1.45% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 eased 1.72%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index posted modest gains of 0.30%.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 3,458 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 2,891 crore in the Indian equity market on 22 October 2026, provisional data showed.

Overnight on Wall Street, stocks posted modest losses across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly higher by 11.89 points, or 0.02%, and closed at 52888.98. The S&P 500 drifted lower 1.22% to end at 7683.54, and the NASDAQ Composite edged lower 2.61% to 26027.65.

In last session, the S&P BSE Sensex posted modest losses of 460.30 points or 0.62% to 73249.39. The Nifty 50 index slipped 123.70 points or 0.54% to 22687.65. Bajaj Finance Ltd was top gainer in Nifty 50 yesterday, moving higher by 1.74% to Rs 942.10. The stock has moved higher around 1.43% in last one-week and stands lower 10.47% over last one-month.

In sectoral indices, only Nifty Pharma index ticked up yesterday, advancing 0.12% on the day.