Stock market recap, March 23 -- The Indian equity benchmarks staged a resilient recovery on Friday, 20 March 2026, as Nifty 50 climbed 0.49% to settle at 23,114.50, while Sensex gained 325.72 points to end at 74,532.96. This rebound followed a period of intense volatility and provided a relief rally after recent sharp sell-offs.

Market sentiment was buoyed by easing crude oil prices, which retreated toward $105 per barrel following diplomatic signals aimed at de-escalating West Asian tensions. On the sectoral front, Nifty pharma and PSUbanks led the gainers, while Nifty IT found support from global value-buying.

On the other hand, realty and financial services underperformed, with HDFC Bank facing pressure following high-level leadershi...