Sensex, Nifty Today 27 Oct: IT Drags on Expiry Day
Indian markets opened lower on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, as selling in IT and metal stocks outweighed gains in FMCG and defence counters. The session is also the NSE monthly derivatives expiry day, which traders expect to keep intraday swings sharp. Brent crude stayed above $115 a barrel and the rupee slipped to 95.22 against the US dollar in early trade, while investors await the US Federal Reserve's policy decision on 28 October.
Morning snapshot (as reported in early trade, 27 October 2026): the BSE Sensex opened at 73,484.38 and fell to 73,276.08 by 9:20 AM, down 330.67 points or 0.45% from Monday's close. The NSE Nifty 50 opened at 22,708.80 and slipped to 22,671.25 by 9:20 AM, down 81.95 points or 0.36%.
Monday recap: recovery snapped a 4-session losing streak
Monday's rebound sets the context for today's cautious open. After touching an intraday low, the benchmarks recovered sharply on buying at lower levels.
| Index | Monday close (26 Oct 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sensex | 73,606.75 | +482.92 (+0.66%) |
| Nifty 50 | 22,753.20 | +153.20 (+0.68%) |
| Nifty Midcap 100 | — | +1.19% |
| Nifty Smallcap 100 | — | +1.38% |
Broader markets outpaced the benchmarks on Monday, a partial recovery after the previous week's sharp fall in midcaps and smallcaps.
Why markets opened lower today
- IT selling: Infosys, TCS, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra were among the early losers, with the Nifty IT index down about 1.7% in early trade.
- Monthly expiry: Tuesday is the NSE monthly derivatives expiry, a factor widely expected to amplify intraday volatility. Traders were advised to avoid chasing the initial gap-down and stay selective.
- Crude above $115: Brent crude traded around $114.76–115 a barrel in early trade, near a six-month high, after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure raised supply-disruption fears.
- Fed decision ahead: The US Federal Reserve meets on 27–28 October, with its decision due Wednesday. Markets are watching for signals on the future interest-rate path, which affects Treasury yields, the dollar and foreign flows into emerging markets.
- FII selling: Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 1,462.49 crore on a net basis on Monday, according to exchange data.
Early gainers and losers
| Stock | Early move (27 Oct) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Consumer Products | +3.04% to Rs 965.00 | Q2 profit up about 16% YoY; stock led Nifty gainers |
| Bharat Electronics (BEL) | +1.35% to Rs 367.90 | Defence counters held firm |
| Max Healthcare | +1.25% to Rs 845.40 | Early gainer |
| BSE Ltd | +0.99% to Rs 3,392.20 | Early gainer |
| Infosys | -2.51% to Rs 1,136.70 | Top Nifty loser in early trade |
| JSW Steel | -1.40% to Rs 1,242.30 | Metal selling |
| Asian Paints | -1.28% to Rs 2,292.20 | Early loser |
| TCS | -1.15% to Rs 2,505.80 | IT weakness |
Rupee, crude and dollar: the macro backdrop
| Indicator | Early trade, 27 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rupee vs US dollar | 95.22 (down 7 paise); opened at 95.17, touched 95.11, after closing at 95.15 on Monday |
| Brent crude | About $114.76–115 a barrel, near a six-month high |
| US dollar index | 101.86 (up 0.06%) |
| US 10-year bond yield | Around 4.97% |
The rupee has now fallen for three straight sessions, losing 77 paise over that period, despite likely RBI intervention support noted by forex traders. Elevated crude and a stronger dollar ahead of the Fed decision are the near-term headwinds, while strong domestic fund inflows and improving Q2 earnings remain supports, according to Geojit Investments chief investment strategist V K Vijayakumar.
Q2 results in focus: Tata Consumer, Paytm lead the news
Tata Consumer Products reported Q2 FY27 consolidated net profit of Rs 470.1 crore, up 15.7% year-on-year from Rs 406.5 crore, on revenue of Rs 5,661.1 crore, up 14%. EBITDA rose 16.5% to Rs 783 crore, and India branded volume grew 11%. The stock closed at Rs 936.50 on Monday, down 2.84%, before rebounding over 3% in early trade on Tuesday.
Paytm (One 97 Communications) reported a nearly 11-fold jump in Q2 consolidated profit to Rs 226 crore, from Rs 21 crore a year earlier, as revenue grew 28.5% to Rs 2,648 crore. It was the company's sixth consecutive profitable quarter on a reported basis.
Nazara Technologies swung to a Q2 profit of Rs 35.36 crore from a loss of Rs 33.9 crore a year earlier, with revenue up 52.6% to Rs 803.2 crore.
Results due today include Larsen & Toubro, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, Tata Steel, Cipla, SBI Life, ACC, SAIL, Tata Capital, Mazagon Dock, Waaree Energies and United Breweries, among about 110 companies scheduled to report.
What to watch next
- Monthly expiry swings: expect sharp intraday moves through the close, with expiry-related positioning dominating.
- US Fed decision (28 Oct): any shift in the rate outlook could move US yields, the dollar and FII flows.
- Crude and West Asia: further attacks on Saudi infrastructure or shipping could push Brent higher and keep risk appetite low.
- Q2 earnings: today's heavy results calendar, led by L&T and Maruti Suzuki, will set the tone for Wednesday.
- Jio and Paras listings (28 Oct): both large IPOs list on Wednesday, adding to market focus this week.
For context on the rate backdrop, see our earlier coverage: RBI Hikes Repo Rate to 5.50% on 7 Oct, FD Rates After RBI Hike, and Sensex, Nifty Today 26 Oct: Red Open, Then Recovery.
FAQs
Why did Sensex and Nifty fall on 27 October 2026?
Selling in IT and metal stocks, monthly derivatives expiry volatility, Brent crude above $115, a weaker rupee and caution ahead of the US Fed decision on 28 October pulled the benchmarks lower in early trade.
How much did Sensex and Nifty fall in early trade?
By 9:20 AM, the Sensex was down 330.67 points (0.45%) at 73,276.08 and the Nifty was down 81.95 points (0.36%) at 22,671.25, from Monday's closes of 73,606.75 and 22,753.20 respectively.
Which stocks gained in early trade on 27 October?
Tata Consumer Products (+3.04%), Bharat Electronics (+1.35%), Max Healthcare (+1.25%) and BSE Ltd (+0.99%) led early gainers, while Infosys (-2.51%), JSW Steel (-1.40%) and TCS (-1.15%) led losers.
What is the rupee level today?
The rupee traded at 95.22 against the US dollar in early trade on 27 October, down 7 paise from Monday's close of 95.15.
When is the US Fed decision?
The Federal Reserve's policy decision is due on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, after its 27–28 October meeting.
Conclusion
Tuesday's open was a classic expiry-day trade: weak global cues, expensive crude and a soft rupee weighed on sentiment, IT led the fall, and selective buying in FMCG and defence limited the damage. With the Fed decision and a heavy Q2 results calendar landing over the next 24 hours, plus the Jio and Paras listings on Wednesday, volatility is likely to stay high — but Monday's sharp recovery from intraday lows shows buyers are still willing to step in on dips.
Note: Morning levels in this article are early-trade figures reported on 27 October 2026, not closing levels. Figures are sourced from exchange data and financial press reports; intraday levels move through the session.