Indian markets staged a strong recovery in afternoon trade on Wednesday, with Nifty 50 reclaiming the 24,000 mark and Sensex surging over 650 points as crude oil prices cooled and DII support remained robust. Here’s your 2 PM markets update.
📈 Afternoon Session: Market Snapshot
The Nifty 50 is trading near 24,000 in afternoon trade — recovering sharply from Tuesday’s close of 23,854.15. The BSE Sensex jumped 665.79 points to 76,866, buoyed by a 1% dip in Brent crude prices that eased inflation concerns. The session opened weak at 23,795.80 but bulls stepped in decisively, with the day’s range stretching from 23,789 to a high of 24,013. IT stocks led the charge, with the Nifty IT index gaining over 1.14%, even as the broader sector faces long-term headwinds from AI disruption. The India VIX rose 8.6%, signalling elevated intraday volatility. On the institutional front, FIIs turned net buyers at ₹17.90 Cr while DIIs added ₹680.20 Cr, providing crucial downside support. Top afternoon gainers include JSW Infrastructure (+6.4%) and Standard Engineering (+6.1%).
₿ Crypto at 2 PM — Live Prices
Bitcoin is under mild pressure today, trading at approximately $62,606 (~₹59.2 lakh), down 1.9% in 24 hours, amid macroeconomic uncertainty and concerns over potential US interest rate hikes. Ethereum is trading at around $1,648 (~₹1.56 lakh). The broader crypto market is down 3.1% over the past 7 days, weighed by ETF outflows and hawkish Fed signals. On the regulatory front, US Senate Democrats are calling for hearings on Trump’s crypto venture World Liberty Financial over a reported $500 million UAE investment, adding political uncertainty to the sector. On the positive side, Bitcoin “OG” wallets have cut selling activity to near two-year lows, hinting at long-term holder conviction.
💰 Live Rates — 2 PM IST
| Asset | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | ~24,000 | +0.6% from prev close |
| Sensex | 76,866 | +0.87% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | ₹59.2L / $62,606 | -1.90% (24hr) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | ₹1.56L / $1,648 | ~-1.5% (24hr) |
| Gold (10g, MCX) | ₹1,46,776 | Stable |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹2,44,900 | Flat |
| USD/INR | ₹94.50 | -0.3% |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | $76.29 | -1.02% |
📰 Top 5 Financial News Stories of the Day
- Sensex Surges 665 Points on Crude Oil Dip — Indian equity benchmarks staged a sharp recovery as Brent crude slid to $76.29/barrel, easing domestic inflation worries. The recovery was broad-based, with banking, IT, and infrastructure stocks leading the rally. Investors should watch for crude oil direction as the key macro trigger this week.
- AI Disruption Hammers Indian IT Sector’s Nifty Weight to Record Low — The combined weightage of Indian software exporters in the Nifty 50 has dropped below 7.6% — a record low — as AI tools threaten traditional IT outsourcing. TCS, Infosys, and HCLTech have seen sharp erosion in 2026, with the Nifty IT index down 21% earlier this year. Analysts warn of long-term “existential risk” for the $283 billion Indian IT industry.
- IRFC OFS: Government to Offload 2% Stake for ₹2,375 Crore — The Government of India has approved selling up to a 2% stake in Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) via an Offer for Sale (OFS), targeting ₹2,375 crore. The move is part of the Centre’s ongoing disinvestment programme and gives retail investors a chance to acquire IRFC shares, a key railway infrastructure financing entity, at potentially discounted prices.
- US-Iran Peace Talks Ease Global Oil Supply Fears — Washington has granted Iran a 60-day licence to sell crude oil on international markets as part of ongoing peace diplomacy, raising expectations of higher global supply. This triggered a 1%+ dip in Brent and WTI crude prices. For Indian markets, lower crude prices reduce the import bill and ease pressure on the rupee and inflation — a net positive for consumers and oil-importing sectors.
- Bitcoin Under Pressure as Rate Hike Fears Return — Bitcoin has dropped ~1.9% in 24 hours to $62,606 as BoFA’s note on potential US rate hikes rattled risk assets including crypto. The Nasdaq fell 2.21% on Tuesday, dragging down AI-related stocks and Bitcoin in tandem. However, long-term holders remain committed, and the US Senate’s Clarity Act progress — though delayed — is being watched as a key regulatory catalyst for crypto markets in July.
🌐 Global Markets & Tomorrow’s Outlook
US stock futures edged higher on Wednesday as markets await Micron Technology’s earnings — a bellwether for the AI chip cycle. The S&P 500 had dropped 1.44% and Nasdaq fell 2.21% on Tuesday after BoFA flagged the risk of at least one Fed rate hike in 2026, spooking rate-sensitive tech stocks. For Indian investors, a positive Micron result tonight could revive sentiment in IT and semiconductor-linked stocks on Thursday. Watch for US Fed speakers, Iran-US diplomacy updates, and Brent crude direction as the key overnight triggers heading into the June 25 session.
Data sourced from NSE, BSE, MCX, CoinMarketCap, and live market feeds. Last updated: 2:00 PM IST, 24 June 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a SEBI-registered advisor before investing.
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