The Indian stock market opened on a negative note on September 17, 2026, following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement of its first interest rate hike in three years, along with plans for further increases later this year. The Nifty 50 index started the session at 23,195.25, down 22.35 points (approximately 0.1%), while the Bank Nifty fell 165.85 points from its previous close. The Sensex declined 153.83 points to 74,182.62.
Broader Market Performance
Broader markets also faced pressure, with the Nifty Midcap 100 index ending flat and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index closing marginally lower. The Indian rupee opened weaker at 96.01 per U.S. dollar, compared to the previous close of 95.95.
Institutional Activity
On September 16, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs. 2,000 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) supported the markets by purchasing equities worth Rs. 3,900 crore during the day.
Sensex Technical Outlook
Technically, the Sensex recorded an intraday pullback from lower levels after a slow start. However, the short-term trend remains weak. According to Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities, “For day traders, 74,300 will act as an immediate resistance zone. Below these levels, weak sentiment is likely to continue. On the downside, the market could retest the 74,000–73,500 levels. On the upside, above 74,300, the pullback can extend towards 74,600–75,000.”
Nifty 50 Technical Outlook
On Wednesday, the Nifty 50 formed a small green candle with wicks on both sides, signaling indecision among traders. The daily RSI remains in the oversold zone but has recovered from yesterday’s low, indicating some improvement in momentum. Immediate support for the index is near 23,110–23,120, representing the lows of the previous two trading sessions. A decisive close above 23,460 would provide the first indication of improving short-term sentiment. A break below 23,110 would signal renewed weakness and could extend the decline toward 23,070, followed by 22,850.
Bank Nifty Technical Outlook
The Bank Nifty is consolidating near the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of the previous upward move from 52,783 to 58,706. Nevertheless, the general undertone remains weak as the index continues to trade below both short- and long-term moving averages. Sudeep Shah, Head of Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, noted, “Going forward, the 55,700–55,600 zone is likely to serve as an important support area for the index. A sustained breach below 55,600 could intensify selling pressure and open the door for further downside towards 55,000, followed by 54,500 in the near term. On the upside, the 56,700–56,800 zone is expected to act as a significant resistance band, and the index would need to surpass this hurdle to improve the short-term technical outlook.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrencies and stocks can be highly volatile and risky. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.