New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- Indian equities closed sharply lower on 19 October 2026, with Sensex down 876.37 points (1.17%) at 73,852.90 and Nifty 50 declining 257.20 points (1.11%) at 22,888.95. Private Banks led the decline after their Q2 FY27 results missed profit estimates, and HDFC Bank slipped 2% on worries over net interest margins and modest earnings growth.

Crude oil stayed elevated, with Brent at $108.27 a barrel and WTI at $100.83, as geopolitical tensions kept prices high. Global cues were also weak.

US markets fell sharply on Friday, with the Nasdaq down 2.19% on renewed selling in AI-related technology stocks, and most Asian markets traded lower amid concerns about AI funding needs.

The India VIX rose nearly 4% to 14.52, a sign...