Indian benchmark indices are likely to open lower on Thursday, tracking weak cues from GIFT Nifty, which was trading around 22,687, down approximately 40 points in early trade.

Domestic markets remained under pressure for the second consecutive session on Wednesday, October 21, as broad-based selling weighed on investor sentiment amid elevated crude oil prices and concerns over corporate earnings.

On Wednesday, the 30-share benchmark index ended at 73709.69 down by -143.21 points or by -0.19 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22811.35 down by -77.6 points or by -0.34 %.

On the global front, Asia-Pacific markets were trading lower as concerns about AI-trade sustainability. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.78 per cent and 1.94 per cent, respectively.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 ended 0.69 per cent and 0.58 per cent higher, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite settled 1.05 per cent higher. Back home, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – Eternal Ltd. 30152462.00, HDFC Bank Ltd. 26573703.00, Tata Steel Ltd. 21577704.00, ITC Ltd. 21000241.00, Infosys Ltd. 18597997.00, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – Eternal Ltd. 30152462.00, HDFC Bank Ltd. 26573703.00, Tata Steel Ltd. 21577704.00, ITC Ltd. 21000241.00, Infosys Ltd. 18597997.00,

On NSE Future and Options, total number of contracts traded in index futures was 133016 with a total turnover of Rs. 20498.08 Crore. Along with this total number of contracts traded in stock futures were 1816439 with a total turnover of Rs. 116563.56 Crore. Total numbers of contracts for index options were 79862169 with a total turnover of Rs. 12043118.46 Crore. and total numbers of contracts for stock options were 11130773 with a total turnover of Rs. 744350.88 Crore.

The FIIs on 21/10/2026 stood as net buyer in equity and debt. Gross equity purchased stood at Rs. 12043.52 Crore and gross debt purchased stood at Rs. 376.33 Crore, while the gross equity sold stood at Rs. 12456.72 Crore and gross debt sold stood at Rs. 85.66 Crore. Therefore, the net investment of equity and debt reported were Rs. -413.20 Crore and Rs. 290.67