Stock Market Live Updates Today: Where are Sensex, Nifty50 headed in the near term as US-Iran conflict uncertainty continues?
India’s Sensex and Nifty50 closed slightly lower on May 20, 2026, amid profit-booking and concerns over geopolitical tensions in the US-Iran conflict, despite early gains fueled by Trump’s pause on strikes. Oil prices dropped but remained volatile as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continued, while crude-linked disruptions weighed on investor sentiment and the rupee hit record lows.
India’s benchmark indices, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50, ended Tuesday’s trading session in the red after late-session selling in heavyweight stocks like HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries erased earlier gains. The Sensex settled at 75,200.85, slipping 114.19 points (0.15%), while the Nifty50 closed at 23,618, down 31.95 points (0.14%). The decline followed a midday rally, with the Sensex peaking at 75,746.27 after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a pause on additional strikes against Iran following requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Investor sentiment weakened amid concerns over the rupee touching a fresh record low and persistently high global crude oil prices, driven by geopolitical tensions. Despite the pressure, strong buying interest in information technology shares helped limit broader market losses. Analysts noted that the indices formed a small bearish candle with a long upper shadow, indicating consolidation within the range of 52,700–54,700 for the Nifty50, while the Sensex remained volatile. Oil prices moved lower on Wednesday after Trump reiterated that the conflict with Iran would conclude ‘very quickly,’ though investors remained cautious due to ongoing uncertainty over peace negotiations and supply disruptions in the Middle East. Earlier, crude benchmarks had dropped by nearly one dollar after U.S. Vice President JD Vance signaled progress in Washington-Tehran discussions. The Nifty50’s key support was identified at 52,700–52,400, with a break above 54,400–54,700 needed to signal a pause in the recent downtrend. Market participants highlighted that the daily 14-period RSI for the Nifty50 remained below its nine-period average, reinforcing a corrective bias. The indices’ performance reflected broader concerns over global crude prices and geopolitical risks, despite Trump’s statements suggesting a potential de-escalation. Analysts emphasized that sustained higher highs and lows would be required to reverse the current downtrend.
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