Market Pulse Lesson 22 of 22
Market Pulse

Stock Market Today 21 July 2026: NIFTY Dips Amid Mixed Sector Moves

BreakingTrade AI | | 6 min read | 6 views

📊 Market Summary

The NIFTY index closed lower by 0.20% at 24,193.05 on 21 July 2026, reflecting a cautious market mood. Among the ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, 91 advanced while 76 declined, with 53 unchanged, indicating a mixed breadth. Bank NIFTY also slipped 0.27% to close at 57,817.60. The session saw a predominance of range-bound activity with no strong directional trend.

🏆 Top Gainers & Losers

Top Gainers% ChangeSectorNotes
TVSMOTOR+5.74%AutomobileNeutral extended upward day, volume 2.3x average
MANAPPURAM+4.43%Banking & FinanceNormal varied upward day, 3.3x volume, strong buying tail
MUTHOOTFIN+3.45%Banking & FinanceNormal varied upward day, 3.3x volume, buying tail
SHRIRAMFIN+2.72%Banking & FinanceNormal varied upward day, 1.6x volume, buying tail
PRESTIGE+2.57%RealtyNeutral extended upward day, average volume
Top Losers% ChangeSectorNotes
PAYTM-3.75%Banking & FinanceNormal varied downward day, 2.9x volume
WAAREEENER-3.55%InfrastructureTrend downward day, 1.7x volume
PREMIERENE-3.41%InfrastructureTrend downward day, average volume
DIXON-3.17%DiversifiedNormal day, below average volume
INDIAVIX-2.79%DiversifiedNormal varied upward day, no volume recorded

🏭 Sector Scorecard

SectorAverage % ChangeNumber of Stocks
Chemicals+1.44%5
Cement+1.17%5
Realty+1.17%6
Metals & Mining+0.81%10
Automobile+0.74%16
Telecom+0.48%3
Pharmaceuticals+0.38%16
Banking & Finance+0.06%55
Energy & Oil-0.09%17
Diversified-0.22%35
Infrastructure-0.26%26
FMCG-0.45%14
Information Technology-0.52%12

💰 FII/DII Activity

As of 20 July 2026, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) showed a net bullish stance with a net futures long position of 333,880 contracts and a total net long position of 3,078,727 contracts across futures and options. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, held a net short position with a net futures short of 3,798,996 contracts and a total net short of 4,160,152 contracts, indicating selling pressure from DIIs.

📰 News That Moved Markets

  • ABSL AMC Q1 Results: Net profit rose 12% year-on-year to ₹310 crore, with assets under management climbing to ₹10.7 lakh crore, supporting positive sentiment.
  • CDSL Share Price Pressure: LKP Securities flagged downside risk with key support and stop-loss levels to watch, following a ₹1 crore fine imposed by SEBI.
  • Ganesh Housing: Scheduled Q1 FY27 earnings call on July 27, attracting investor attention.

📈 Volume & Smart Money Signals

Volume surges were seen in 66 stocks, with 50 more trading above average volume, indicating active participation. Notably, INDUSINDBK recorded a massive 10.1x volume, coupled with a buying tail, suggesting strong institutional interest. High delivery percentages were observed in GMRAIRPORT (77.6%), LICHSGFIN (72.7%), and SUNPHARMA (70.9%), highlighting smart money accumulation.

🔮 Under the Hood: Market Structure

The market displayed a mixed structure today. The majority of stocks (71) experienced a normal varied downward day, indicating moderate selling pressure within the day's price range. There were 35 stocks with a neutral center day type, reflecting indecision. Opening price behavior showed 116 stocks opening within the previous day's fair value zone (the price range where most trading occurred), while 56 opened above it and 19 below, suggesting no strong directional bias at the open.

There were 15 instances where price broke out of the first hour's range upwards, but 20 breakouts downward, confirming the slight bearish tilt. Selling tails (heavy selling at the day's highs) were more frequent (63) than buying tails (40), indicating sellers were more aggressive near resistance levels. The most-traded price level (Point of Control) remained close to the previous day, reflecting a stable price consensus. Rapid price movements with no trading activity left behind (single prints) were more common on the upside (11) than downside (6), hinting at some short-term upward attempts that lacked follow-through.

⚡ F&O Highlights

Today was a weekly F&O expiry day, which often brings increased volatility and volume as traders roll over or close positions. The stock 1KAYNES was in the F&O ban list, restricting fresh positions due to price volatility.

🎯 Stocks to Watch Tomorrow

  • INDUSINDBK: Exceptional volume and buying interest suggest potential continuation of gains.
  • TVSMOTOR: Strong 5.74% gain on high volume could attract momentum traders.
  • MANAPPURAM: Solid buying tail and volume spike may support further upside.
  • PAYTM: Sharp decline with high volume warrants monitoring for possible rebound or further weakness.
  • GMRAIRPORT: High delivery percentage indicates smart money accumulation worth watching.

📐 Key Levels for Tomorrow

IndexSupportResistanceFair Value Zone
NIFTY24,100.00 (Value Area Low)24,262.20 (Day High)24,100.00 to 24,180.00
BANKNIFTY57,737.60 (Value Area Low)58,226.60 (Day High)57,737.60 to 57,937.60

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the stock market on 21 July 2026?

The NIFTY index closed down 0.20% at 24,193.05 amid mixed sector performance. Among ~200 actively traded F&O stocks, 91 advanced and 76 declined. The market showed cautious trading with no strong trend.

Which stocks gained the most today?

Top gainers included TVSMOTOR (+5.74%), MANAPPURAM (+4.43%), MUTHOOTFIN (+3.45%), SHRIRAMFIN (+2.72%), and PRESTIGE (+2.57%), driven by strong volume and buying interest.

Did FIIs buy or sell today?

As of 20 July 2026, FIIs held a net bullish position with a net futures long of 333,880 contracts and a total net long of 3,078,727 contracts, indicating buying interest.

What are the key NIFTY levels for tomorrow?

Support is at 24,100.00 (Value Area Low), resistance at 24,262.20 (Day High), with the fair value zone between 24,100.00 and 24,180.00.

What does today's market structure indicate?

The market showed mostly normal varied downward days with more selling tails than buying tails, indicating moderate selling pressure. The most-traded price level stayed stable, and price breakouts were slightly more downward, reflecting cautious sentiment.

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