Stock markets bounce back early as crude oil prices drop

Stock markets bounced back in early trade on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, helped by lower crude oil prices even though foreign investors continued to sell shares. The 30-share BSE Sensex went up by 283.66 points to reach 74,812.74, while the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 85.55 points to stand at 23,414.55. Among the thirty Sensex companies, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, Larsen & Toubro, and Asian Paints saw gains. On the other hand, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HDFC Bank, and Mahindra & Mahindra traded lower. Brent crude, which is the global oil benchmark, dropped 0.97 percent to trade at $98.29 per barrel before recovering to around $99. Experts noted that lower oil prices bring relief to the wider economy because the country relies heavily on imported energy. However, continuous selling by foreign investors remains a major hurdle for local stocks, with middle east tensions adding to global market uncertainty. Foreign Institutional Investors sold shares worth ₹3,809.99 crore on Tuesday. This rebound follows a fall on Tuesday when the Sensex dropped 329.91 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 74,529.08, and the Nifty fell 85.30 points, or 0.36 percent, to finish at 23,329. Markets in Asia showed mixed trends, with South Korea's Kospi in the green while Shanghai and Hong Kong traded lower, following a mixed finish on Wall Street.