Why Markets Closed 1.5% Down On May 29


By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)

Summary:

 

Indian markets ended sharply lower on May 29, with Nifty falling 1.5% and Sensex dropping 1.44% amid weakness in HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries. MSCI rebalancing triggered heavy outflows, while geopolitical uncertainty kept sentiment weak. IT stocks outperformed, while metals and banks dragged indices lower. Broader markets declined, though select stocks like Supriya Lifesciences saw strong gains.

Closing Bell

The Sensex and Nifty 50 ended in the red on Friday, May 29, as heavyweight HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries dragged markets down amid broader caution over lingering Middle East tensions and MSCI index rebalancing outflows.

The Nifty 50 opened flat on Friday and traded in the short range. Later during the session, the benchmark fell by more than 400 points from the day's high, extending losses for the 3rd consecutive trading session. The reason behind the last hour's fall is highly likely due to the MSCI index rebalancing.

The US and Iran reached an agreement on Thursday to extend their ceasefire and lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sources told Reuters, though US President Donald Trump has yet to approve it, and Iranian state media said it had not been finalised.

At close, the Nifty 50 settled just below the 23,550 mark at 23,359.40, down by 359.40 points, or 1.5%. The Sensex also ended lower, losing 1,092.05 points or 1.44% to close at 74,775.74 on Friday. The Bank Nifty index fell by over 1%, extending previous losses dragged by HDFC Bank. The India VIX jumped by 8%, above the level of 16. 

On a weekly basis the Nifty 50 index has ended down by 0.72%, while the Sensex Declined by 0.85%. In the month of May the Nifty 50 has declined by 2.78%.

Oil And Natural Gas Corp

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265.4-8.64 (-3.15 %)

Updated - 29 May 2026
276.05day high
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261.55day low
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74403401
VOLUME (BSE)

MSCI Rebalancing 

The MSCI Global Standard Index adjustments take effect today, driving an estimated $103 million to $1,204 million in foreign passive outflows for India as per CNBC TV18. The rebalancing has led to notable market volatility, with specific stocks facing significant reallocations and passive flows.

Crude Oil Fell to $90 per barrel

Brent crude futures fell toward $90 per barrel on Friday and remained on track for a sharp monthly loss after reports indicated that the US and Iran had tentatively agreed to extend their ceasefire by 60 days and possibly permit unrestricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Rupee Strengthened  by 95 per dollar

The Indian rupee hovered near 95 per dollar, strengthening after the holiday break on reduced pressure from elevated oil prices and easing Middle East tensions.

Nifty Media Emerged as Top Gainer

On the sectoral front, only one out of 11 key sectoral indices ended in positive territory. Meanwhile, broader indices such as the Nifty Midcap 100 index dropped by 1.33%, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index ended lower by 0.85%. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 250 index recorded another all-time high.

On Friday, the Nifty IT index closed in the green, up 0.6%, emerging as the top-gaining sector, with 8 out of 10 constituents ending in positive territory. Wipro gained 1.32% following a partnership with ServiceNow to implement agentic AI workflows. Peers TCS and HCLTech rose up to 1.5%.

On the other hand, the Nifty Metal index emerged as the top loser, falling by 2.02%. The index snapped a 6-day winning streak.

Stock-Specific Highlights:  Max Healthcare, Bharat Dynamics, Bata India, Supriya Lifesciences and PC Jeweller Remained in Focus 

Among individual stocks,

  • Hospital chain operator Max Healthcare fell 2.85%, dropping 10% in five sessions after subdued quarterly earnings.

  • Defence firm Bharat Dynamics lost 6.05% and footwear retailer Bata India fell 3.41% after reporting a fall in fourth-quarter profit.

  • Pharmaceutical company Supriya Lifesciences climbed 20% and jewellery maker PC Jeweller jumped 4.35% after both companies posted higher March quarter profits.

Nifty 50: Top Pullers and Draggers of the Day

The key drivers of the index gains were:

  • Larsen & Toubro: +7.39 points

  • HCL Technologies: +4.25 points

  • Tech Mahindra: +3.91 points 

On the other hand, these stocks weighed on the index:

  • HDFC Bank: -47 points

  • Reliance Industries: -43.08 points

  • ICICI Bank: -25.42 points 

Market Breadth on May 29

As of May 29, 2026, the market breadth was in favour of declining stocks. Out of 3,422 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,145 advanced, 2,171 declined, and 106 remained unchanged. 

A total of 155 stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 59 hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 130 stocks were locked in their upper circuits, whereas 131 stocks were locked in lower circuits.

Source: NSE, DSIJ

About the Author

SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).


Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise. 

Published Date : 29 May 2026

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Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

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