Global markets mixed in 2026, Japan's Nikkei leads with 27.4% gain, India's Sensex lags down 8.8%.

As of July 20, 2026, five of nine major global stock indexes are in positive territory for the year. Japan's Nikkei 225 leads with a strong 27.4% gain, followed by Canada's TSX (+10.2%) and the U.S. S&P 500 (+8.7%). Meanwhile, India's BSE Sensex has fallen 8.8%, the worst performer, with China's Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng also down by 1.9% and 4.3%, respectively. The report also compares these indexes to their historical peaks and tracks their performance since recent recessions, providing context for investors on global market trends and relative strength across regions.