Indian Equities End Volatile Week Lower as Sensex Falls 468 Points, US Stocks Mixed on Earnings

Indian equity markets posted modest weekly losses in the session ended August 21, 2026, with the BSE Sensex shedding 468 points, or 0.60%, to close at 77,540.83, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 114 points, or 0.47%, to settle at 24,252.00. Bank Nifty bucked the trend, gaining 0.87% on the week to finish at 57,761.95. Global crude oil prices hovering between $87 and $93 per barrel weighed on sentiment, while surging US bond yields and geopolitical uncertainty kept Foreign Institutional Investors cautious.

Domestic institutional investors provided meaningful support during sharp mid-week dips. Nifty Metal and Nifty Realty were the week's outperforming sectors, while IT, FMCG, and Auto indices ended in the red. On the individual stock front, Welspun Corp surged nearly 7% to a 52-week high after securing a major USD 1.8 billion order in the US, and Bajel Projects rallied sharply after winning the Lakadia Inter-State Transmission Project bid.

Sugar producers Balrampur Chini Mills and Uttam Sugar Mills traded near 52-week lows following government import announcements. In US markets, Walmart fell 9.15% after mixed analyst reactions to its second-quarter earnings and share buyback updates, while Target gained 3.30% after raising its full-year sales outlook. Estee Lauder surged 14.00% on stronger-than-expected annual profit forecasts and improved Asian market trends.

The 1-day VIX remained subdued below 13, with markets watching for Federal Reserve remarks from Jackson Hole on August 28, when Kevin Warsh is expected to speak at 10 a.m. ET.