Thursday, 1 October 2026. This is what happened in the market today, taken from exchange data and news reports. It is a record of the session, not a view on where the market goes next: I don't publish levels, targets or trade ideas.
The Nifty fell 0.88% to 22,421.95, its lowest close since 30 March 2026 and its fourth straight daily fall. Auto stocks were the weakest part of the market, after companies reported September sales. IT stocks rose. Markets are closed tomorrow for Gandhi Jayanti, so this was the last session of the week.
Today's numbers
| Market | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 22,421.95 | −198.50 pts (−0.88%) |
| Sensex | 71,909.70 | −570.59 pts (−0.79%) |
| Bank Nifty | 54,450.75 | −182.30 pts (−0.33%) |
| Nifty Midcap 100 | 58,732.00 | −600.05 pts (−1.01%) |
| Nifty Smallcap 100 | 19,058.65 | −187.05 pts (−0.97%) |
| India VIX | about 14.5 | Up from 13.49 on 30 September (+7.19% on Kite's figure) |
How the day went
The Nifty opened at 22,543.70, 76.75 points below Wednesday's close of 22,620.45. It reached its high for the day, 22,610.60, in the 10:00 to 10:05 AM candle. At 12:00 noon its five-minute close was 22,544.10. It fell 108.40 points, from 22,433.20 at the open of the 12:45 PM candle to 22,324.80 at the close of the 12:55 PM candle.
The low of the day, 22,217.30, came in the 2:05 to 2:10 PM candle. It was the lowest level since 2 April, when the Nifty's low was 22,182.55. The index sat at 22,446.00 from 3:15 PM until the closing auction set the final value of 22,421.95, which is 24.05 points below the 3:15 PM level and 204.65 points above the day's low. The day's range was 393.30 points.
The Sensex opened at 72,192.89, with a high of 72,572.90 and a low of 71,292.88, and closed 570.59 points lower. Bank Nifty ranged between 54,066.60 and 55,091.45 and closed 182.30 points lower.
India VIX was about 14.5 at the close, up from 13.49. Kite's quote showed a low equal to the open of 13.49 and a high of 15.69. HDFC Sky cited rupee weakness, high US bond yields, crude volatility and auto stocks as the reasons for the rise.
Four falls in a row, eight weeks down
Since the close of 23,140.50 on Friday 25 September, the Nifty has fallen 718.55 points, or 3.11%, in four sessions. The Sensex has closed lower on each of those four sessions: 72,771.72 on 28 September, 72,529.07, 72,480.29 and 71,909.70 today.
Kite's weekly data shows the Nifty's week-ending close has fallen for eight weeks in a row. The weekly closes were 24,570.65 on 7 August, then 24,366.00, 24,252.00, 24,175.65, 23,897.70, 23,398.10, 23,346.40, 23,140.50 on 25 September and 22,421.95 today. Because Friday is a holiday, Thursday is this week's last session. Business Standard's live blog described it as the longest weekly losing streak since 2001; I have not checked that independently.
Today's close is the lowest since 30 March, when the Nifty closed at 22,331.40.
Business Standard cited elevated bond yields, firm crude and rate-hike apprehensions as the drivers of the fall.
Sectors: auto fell most, IT rose
| Nifty index | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | 25,384.95 | −3.46% |
| Metal | 12,460.70 | −2.35% |
| Media | 1,546.30 | −2.33% |
| FMCG | 43,789.85 | −1.61% |
| Realty | 835.00 | −1.46% |
| PSU Bank | 7,937.80 | −0.98% |
| Energy | 36,388.15 | −0.68% |
| Pharma | 26,311.55 | −0.48% |
| Financial Services | 24,556.10 | −0.38% |
| Private Bank | 26,697.25 | +0.01% |
| IT | 28,304.70 | +2.17% |
Of the sector indices above, only IT and Private Bank ended higher.
Auto stocks fell after September sales
Upstox reported that the Nifty Auto index fell as much as 3.3% to 25,420.65 during the session, and that Bajaj Auto was down as much as 9%. The index closed 3.46% lower.
| Stock | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bajaj Auto | ₹10,055.00 | −7.53% |
| Maruti Suzuki | ₹11,350.00 | −5.16% |
| M&M | ₹2,854.70 | −3.23% |
| Eicher Motors | ₹6,975.00 | −2.45% |
Companies reported September sales today. September sales, as reported by IndMoney, NewsDrum and Kotak Neo from company figures:
- Maruti Suzuki: 236,013 units, up 24.4% on a year earlier
- M&M: 114,874 vehicles, up 15%
- Bajaj Auto: 538,443 units, up 5%, with domestic sales of 294,456 (down 9%) and exports of 243,987 (up 32%)
- Royal Enfield: 133,958 units, up 8%
- Hyundai: 77,916 units, up 10.8%
IndMoney, Kotak Neo and Upstox gave these reasons for the fall: the sales had been expected to be strong and were already priced in, Bajaj's domestic volume fell while its exports rose, and M&M's tractor sales fell. Kotak Neo reported that Hyundai's shares turned positive on its record September sales.
IT stocks rose
The Nifty IT index rose 2.17% to 28,304.70. Business Standard's live blog listed Infosys, TCS and HCL Tech among the Sensex gainers. I haven't found a source for why IT rose during the session.
| Stock | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Infosys | ₹1,028.90 | +3.50% |
| HCL Technologies | ₹1,247.50 | +1.42% |
| TCS | ₹2,075.90 | +1.23% |
Other movers
Among other large stocks, HDFC Bank rose 1.78% to ₹721.30, HDFC Life 2.46% to ₹534.00 and SBI Life 1.60% to ₹1,723.60. Falling were Shriram Finance (−4.24% to ₹941.00), Tata Steel (−3.20% to ₹178.40), Adani Ports (−3.21% to ₹1,740.60), Grasim (−2.87% to ₹2,974.00), Adani Enterprises (−2.70% to ₹2,825.00) and ITC (−2.61% to ₹255.90).
FII and DII flows
For 30 September, two data sites, 5paisa and NiftyTrader, agree on provisional cash-market figures: foreign institutional investors were net sellers of ₹10,148.40 crore, and domestic institutions were net buyers of ₹11,271.70 crore.
For 1 October, one data site, Tapetide, reports foreign institutions as net sellers of ₹9,484 crore and domestic institutions as net buyers of ₹10,042 crore. 5paisa and NiftyTrader had no 1 October data when I checked, so these numbers are not confirmed, and the official provisional numbers should be checked. Whalesbook reported that foreign institutions are on a five-day selling streak; I haven't verified that.
Overnight and tomorrow
Accenture reported fourth-quarter results on 1 October, in the US morning, after the Indian market had closed, so they did not affect today's session. According to Yahoo Finance, revenue was $18.7 billion and new bookings were $22.2 billion, with full-year bookings of $84.5 billion, a record. Earnings per share were $3.29 against an estimate of $3.18, and guidance for FY27 revenue growth is 3% to 6%. Its shares were up by as much as 18% in US pre-market trade, which is not a closing figure.
GIFT Nifty was at 22,578 at 8:34 PM IST, with a session high of 22,700, a low of 22,278 and a previous close of 22,491. The session was still trading, and the level is not like-for-like with the Nifty's spot close of 22,421.95.
Tomorrow and this week
- Friday, 2 October: markets closed for Gandhi Jayanti. The next session is Monday, 5 October.
- Tuesday, 6 October: NSE weekly expiry.
- Wednesday, 7 October: RBI Monetary Policy Committee decision (the meeting runs 5 to 7 October).
What I'll check before the next open
These are the data points I'll look at, not a forecast:
- Where GIFT Nifty trades compared with the Nifty's close of 22,421.95.
- NSE's official provisional FII and DII figures for 1 October, against the single-site numbers above.
- How Accenture's shares and US IT stocks close in the US session.
Sources
- Index, sector and stock prices, intraday path and India VIX: Zerodha Kite market data (NSE and BSE)
- Fourth fall, weekly streak and drivers: Business Standard live blog
- India VIX: HDFC Sky
- Auto sales and sell-off: IndMoney, Upstox, Kotak Neo
- Accenture results: Yahoo Finance
- FII and DII flows (30 September): 5paisa, NiftyTrader
- FII and DII flows (1 October, single site): Tapetide
- FII selling streak: Whalesbook
- GIFT Nifty: Zerodha Kite (NSEIX)
This note summarises public news and data for information only. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. I am not registered with SEBI as an investment adviser or research analyst.