Stock markets rose in early trade on positive sentiment from global competitors, leading to softening of oil prices.

Benchmark equity indices were trading higher in early trade on Thursday (May 21, 2026), helped by a sharp rally in global markets amid softening oil prices and hopes that the Middle East conflict will end soon.

In early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex rose 327.74 points to 75,646.13. The 50-share NSE Nifty rose 111.75 points to 23,772.05.

Among the 30-Sensex companies, InterGlobe Aviation, Bharat Electronics, Asian Paints, Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro and Eternal were among the major winners.

Trent, Infosys, Sun Pharma and Bajaj Finserv were among the laggards.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude cooled and was trading at $105.7 per barrel.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s benchmark Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index and Shanghai’s SSE Composite index were trading higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was marginally lower. The Kospi traded up more than 7%.

On Wednesday (May 20, 2026), US markets closed with significant gains.

“Brent crude falling to $106 this morning is a positive sign. Perhaps the market is taking cues from President Trump’s comment that ‘the conflict will end soon and oil prices will come down’,” said VK Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd.

According to exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth ₹1,597.35 crore on Wednesday (May 20, 2026).

Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth-tech firm. That said, there has been a meaningful improvement in investor sentiment as the market begins to price in the prospects of de-escalation of tensions and a possible diplomatic solution between the US and Iran.

The 30-share BSE benchmark closed 117.54 points or 0.16% higher at 75,318.39 on Wednesday (May 20, 2026). Nifty closed at 23,659, up 41 points or 0.17%.