Weekly wrap: SENSEX closes above 74,500, NIFTY50 ends flat; Shriram Finance, HDFC Bank, Cipla among top losers

The rising oil prices in the global market towards near previous record high level, major FII outflow, US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance, along with the poor performance of the index heavyweights weighed down on the benchmark indices this week amid the looming tensions about the conflict between United States and Iran.

Oil prices & FII outflow

The US-Iran conflict, which is nearing the end of the third week since its beginning on February 28, 2026, has been driving the sentiment of investors in the financial markets, and with India, a major importer of crude oil from foreign nations, the trade of the energy source is even more essential which are disrupted due to the frequent attacks on the Strait of Hormuz.

Although oil prices are hovering near the $108 per barrel (bbl) zone as of 4:48 p.m. (IST) on Friday, the Brent crude surged to $119.13 per bbl, close to the previous record high of $119.50 per bbl level due to the escalating tensions, having a ripple effect on the Indian stocks this week.

The FII/FPI data showed that as of March 20, the foreign investors kept their ongoing selling streak on the Indian stock market with around ₹5,339.62 crore of outflow from equities in a single session on Friday.

Stock market today

The NIFTY50 index closed 0.49% higher at 23,114.50 points after Friday’s stock market session, compared to 23,002.15 points at the previous market close, according to the data collected from NSE website.

BSE data showed that the SENSEX closed 0.44% higher at 74,532.96 points on Friday, compared to 74,207.24 points at the previous market close.

Top 5 gainers & losers this week

Eternal, Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), JSW Steel, and Tech Mahindra were the top five stocks which gained the most for the week ending on March 20. Eternal stock was up 7.7%; Tata Steel shares were up 7.2%; M&M shares up 4.6%; JSW Steel gained 4.5%, and Tech Mahindra stock was up 3.9% in the last one week period on the Indian benchmark index NIFTY50.

While other companies like Shriram Finance, HDFC Bank, Cipla, Hindalco Industries, and Hindustan Unilever stock were the top five losers for this week.

Shriram Finance lost 6.5%; HDFC Bank lost 4.5%; Cipla lost 4.4%; Hindalco Industries lost 3.9%; and Hindustan Unilever lost 3.6% over the past week, as of the stock market close on Friday.

Top performing sectors this week

On a sectoral basis, NIFTY AUTO was the biggest gainer this week rising 2.2% as of the market close on March 20, followed by NIFTY METAL up 1.1%, and NIFTY PSU BANK up 0.8%, among others.

While NIFTY OIL & GAS lost 2.2%, NIFTY FMCG down 1.9%; NIFTY REALTY down 1.9%; NIFTY FIN SERV down 1.4%, and NIFTY PHARMA down 1.3% as of the stock market closing on Friday, March 20.

On the mid-cap front, the NIFTY MIDCAP 100 index gained 0.2% this week with stocks like Waaree Energies up 16%, Premier Energies up 10%; One97 Communications up 8%; Bharti Hexacom up 7.6%; and Page Industries up 5.7%.

While others like HPCL was down 8.8%; Blue Star was down 6.8%; Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services lost 6.6%; Mankind Pharma was down 6.5%; and Voltas lost 6.3% over the last week.

The NIFTY SMALLCAP 100 index lost 1.1% over the last one week period with stocks like Bandhan Bank losing 9.7%; Cholamandalam Financial Holdings down 9.4%; Swan Corp. down 8.2%.

While, JBM Auto gained 14.8%, Brainbees Solutions gained 12.2%, International Gemmological Institute (IGI) was up 9.6%, and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals was up 7.3% over the last five market sessions.

Buzzing stocks today