Top Gainers & Losers on 20 July: Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Ceat, India Cements, OLA, HFCL among top losers

Indian markets ended lower on 20 July, with the Nifty 50 falling 0.40% to 24,233 and the Sensex dropping 0.53% to 77,737, weighed by escalating US-Iran geopolitical tensions. Brent crude climbed above $90 per barrel as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely stalled, fueling fears of tighter monetary policy. The Nifty Private Bank index plunged 2.25% on net interest margin concerns, while the Nifty PSU Bank index surged nearly 3% and broader midcap and smallcap indices ended in the green.