Indian equity markets traded firm on Thursday, May 21, with the Sensex gaining 351.63 points (0.47%) to 75,670.02 and the Nifty rising 136.25 points (0.58%) to 23,795.25 at 9:57 a.m. The rally was driven by a sharp fall in global crude oil prices and improved investor sentiment amid hopes of easing tensions in West Asia. Brent crude, which fell 5.6% overnight, remained near $105.50 per barrel in early trade. Market mood improved after US President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran were in the final stages, easing fears of an immediate escalation.
Around 180 companies are set to declare their latest quarterly results for the period ended March 2026 on Thursday, May 21. According to reports from The Economic Times, the earnings announcements span across multiple sectors including insurance, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and technology companies. The comprehensive list includes both established market leaders and emerging companies across various industries, with Life Insurance Corporation of India, ITC, Max Healthcare Institute, LG Electronics India, GAIL India, and Aurobindo Pharma among the prominent names releasing results.
Several companies reported impressive financial results for Q4 FY26. Max Healthcare Institute posted a 46% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit to ₹1,561.56 crore in Q4 FY26, compared to ₹82.4 crore in the March quarter. The company also reported 18% growth in consolidated revenue for the quarter ended March 2026 at ₹6,605 crore. LG Electronics India showed strong performance with consolidated net profit of ₹159.7 crore compared to ₹139.9 crore in the same quarter last year. Life Insurance Corporation of India and Page Industries are also among the companies expected to announce their quarterly results today.
The softer oil prices are seen as a relief for India, which is heavily dependent on crude imports, as elevated energy costs pressure inflation, economic growth and corporate earnings. Asian markets also advanced after strong earnings from Nvidia and easing labour tensions at Samsung Electronics. However, foreign investors continued selling Indian equities while domestic institutions remained net buyers. The comprehensive list of companies releasing Q4 results includes Sun TV Network, Emami, Bikaji Foods International, JSW Cement, Dr Agarwals Health Care, Engineers India, Happy Forgings, and Honasa Consumer among others.
