NIFTY SLIPS BELOW 22,450; SENSEX TANKS 571 POINTS AS AUTO STOCKS CRASH
Indian equity benchmarks ended sharply lower on Thursday, October 1, 2026, extending their losing streak to a fourth consecutive session. The Nifty 50 settled at 22,421.95, losing 198.50 points or 0.88%, while the BSE Sensex ended 570.59 points, or 0.79%, lower at 71,909.70 .
The sell-off was broad-based, with the auto sector leading the decline after weak September sales data. The market witnessed a volatile session with the Sensex falling over 1,000 points intraday before recovering some losses .
Key Driver: The Nifty Auto index crashed 3.46%, with Bajaj Auto tumbling 7.62% and Maruti Suzuki plunging 4.86% after reporting weak domestic sales .
Sector Laggards: Nifty Metal declined 2.35%, Nifty Media fell 2.33%, while Nifty Healthcare slipped 0.48% .
IT STOCKS OUTPERFORM; AUTO AND METAL CRASH ON WEAK SALES DATA; CRUDE REBOUNDS
The Nifty IT index gained 2.17%, emerging as the top sectoral gainer. Infosys surged 4.11% to Rs 1,035, while HCL Technologies and TCS also advanced .
The Nifty Private Bank index ended marginally positive, up 0.01%. Kotak Mahindra Bank rose 1.28% after RBI approved Anup Kumar Saha as its next MD & CEO .
Global Cues: A rebound in crude oil prices dented sentiment. Data showing slower-than-expected US inflation in August reduced the probability of a Fed rate hike later this month, supporting IT stocks .
Broader Market: The broader market underperformed significantly. Nifty Midcap 100 fell 1.93%, while Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 2.06% .
RUPEE WEAKENS ON CRUDE REBOUND; VIX SURGES 16% AS PANIC SETS IN
The rupee remained under pressure as crude oil prices rebounded, hurting import-sensitive sectors. Brent crude futures gained on geopolitical concerns, weighing on the domestic currency .
India VIX, the volatility gauge, surged 16.31% to 15.69, signalling heightened fear among market participants. The sharp rise in volatility reflected panic selling across sectors .
FII/DII Flows: Foreign institutional investors continued their relentless selling, offloading equities worth ₹10,148.41 crore. Domestic institutional investors provided strong support, purchasing equities worth ₹11,271.73 crore .
FIIs have sold shares worth ₹19,027 crore in the past seven days and ₹35,008 crore in the past month .
▲ TOP GAINERS
▼ TOP LOSERS
SUP: 22,300 → 22,200 → 22,000
SUP: 54,300 → 54,000
✅ POSITIVES
- Bank Nifty outperforms; closes above 54,500
- IT index surges 2.17%; Infosys up 4.11%
- DIIs net buyers at ₹11,271 crore
- Kotak Bank rises on new MD & CEO approval
- HDFC Life and HDFC Bank provide support
⚠️ NEGATIVES
- Nifty extends losing streak to 4th session
- Auto index crashes 3.46%; Bajaj Auto -7.62%
- FII selling continues; ₹10,148 crore outflow
- India VIX surges 16.31% to 15.69
- Nifty closes below 200-week moving average
This publication is solely for informational and educational use. It does NOT constitute investment advice, a research report, or a solicitation to buy/sell securities. The author/publisher is NOT a SEBI-registered Research Analyst. All data sourced from publicly available exchange filings, NSE/BSE official websites, and brokerage updates as of 01 October 2026 (provisional).
Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers are strongly advised to consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before making any financial decisions.
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