Stock market today (April 20, 2026): Nifty50 ends above 24,350; BSE Sensex closes flat after recovering losses

Nifty50 ended the day at 24,364.85, up 11 points or 0.046%. BSE Sensex closed at 78,520.30, up 27 points or 0.034%.A key factor to watch will be the next round of diplomatic talks between the US and Iran, particularly as the April 22 ceasefire deadline draws closer.Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Renewed disputes over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz injected volatility into global markets. Investors interpreted the recent disruptions in the Middle East as potential negotiation tactics rather than the onset of a full-scale conflict. With the ceasefire set to expire this week, market participants remain cautious, awaiting further developments. Oil prices surged but stayed below the $100 mark, while the rupee weakened, raising concerns about inflationary pressures. Despite these headwinds, investors are giving some weights to the progressing Q4 earnings season. This has led to selective accumulation in growth-oriented sectors such as power, capital goods, and consumer durables, which continue to attract attention for their long-term potential."Meanwhile, in international markets oil prices surged by more than 5% on Monday, while global equity markets showed a mixed trend, as tensions between Iran and the United States disrupted tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The key shipping route in the Persian Gulf was shut once again after Tehran reversed its earlier decision to reopen it, even as Donald Trump reiterated that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue.US benchmark crude rose 5.3% to $87.88 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed by the same margin to $95.62 per barrel. In equities, US futures pointed lower, with contracts linked to the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both slipping 0.7%.European markets opened weaker, with Germany’s DAX falling 1.6%, France’s CAC 40 dropping 1.2% to 8,325.67, and the UK’s FTSE 100 declining 0.6% to 10,601.64. In Asia, shares were largely higher but pared earlier gains as uncertainty lingered over the resumption of oil shipments from the Middle East.Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 0.6% to 58,824.89, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.4% to 6,219.09. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index and China’s Shanghai Composite Index each gained 0.8%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1%. Taiwan’s Taiex added 0.4%, and Thailand’s SET index slipped 0.2%.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)