GIFT Nifty March 2026 futures increased by 37.00 points, indicating a positive opening for the Nifty 50 today.
Institutional Flows:
On 24 February 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) acquired shares valued at Rs 2,991.64 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net purchasers amounting to Rs 5,118.57 crore in the Indian equity market. Foreign Institutional Investors have acquired shares valued at Rs 4,361.57 crore in the cash market up to February 25, 2026. Their cash sales amounted to Rs 41,435.22 crore in January 2026, compared to Rs 34,349.62 crore in December.
Global Markets:
Asian markets experienced an uptick on Thursday, following the upward momentum from Wall Street, as robust earnings reports from Nvidia and Oracle bolstered investor confidence. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index increased by 1.1%, reaching a historic peak of 59,199.31, thereby extending its series of record highs for a third consecutive session. The broader Topix increased by 1.45%, reaching a new high. On Wednesday, the Japanese government appointed Ayano Sato from Aoyama Gakuin University and Toichiro Asada from Chuo University as members of the central bank board. Both individuals are known for their dovish policy stance, which is in line with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approach. The two individuals will take over the positions of outgoing central bank board members Asahi Noguchi and Junko Nakagawa, whose terms are set to conclude at the end of March and in June, respectively.
Japanese equities have reached several record highs lately, driven by the “Takaichi trade,” as investors anticipate that the prime minister’s growth-focused strategies will elevate stock prices while putting downward pressure on the yen through more accommodative monetary policy and heightened fiscal expenditure. Meanwhile, South Korea’s central bank maintained its interest rates on Thursday and indicated that policy would remain stable for the next six months, as a surge in chip exports and consistent inflation provide policymakers with additional time to evaluate financial stability risks. The Bank of Korea’s seven-member monetary policy board has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 2.50%. The central bank has adjusted this year’s growth forecast upward to 2.0%, an increase from the previous estimate of 1.8%.
Overnight in the U.S., equities experienced an uptick, bolstered by Nvidia and Oracle, as stocks continued to build on the gains from the previous trading day. The S&P 500 increased by 0.81%, finishing at 6,946.13, while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 1.26%, closing at 23,152.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 307.65 points, representing a 0.63% gain, closing at 49,482.15. Nvidia reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that exceeded widely reported expectations, driven by a 75% increase in revenue from its primary data center segment. Shares experienced an increase of up to 2% in after-hours trading subsequent to the announcement. The company disclosed adjusted earnings per share of $1.62, surpassing the widely reported forecast of $1.53. Revenue reached $68.13 billion, surpassing the widely reported estimates of $66.21 billion.
Domestic Market:
The Indian equity benchmarks successfully regained some ground on Wednesday, concluding the day slightly in the green following a session marked by significant volatility. The Sensex concluded the trading session with a modest increase of 50.15 points, representing a rise of 0.06%, ultimately settling at 82,276.07. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 saw an uptick of 57.70 points, or 0.23%, to finish at 25,482.35. The day commenced with a notable relief rally, as the Sensex climbed 732 points during morning trade. This surge was attributed to a calming of global market anxieties after the announcement of a 10% universal tariff in the U.S., a figure that proved to be less drastic than the previously anticipated 15% rate.
However, the indices relinquished a significant portion of these intraday gains as a result of substantial profit booking and ongoing selling pressure in major stocks such as Reliance Industries (down 2.23%) and State Bank of India (down 1.93%). The recovery was primarily driven by the Nifty Metal index, which surged due to robust performances from Tata Steel and National Aluminium Company. The IT sector, having endured a significant “Claude Code” decline in the prior session, experienced a partial recovery, supported by value purchasing in Infosys and TCS.
While the benchmarks closed positively, the overall market sentiment exhibited a mixed outlook, with sectors like FMCG, PSU Banks, and Realty finishing in the negative territory. Investors maintained a cautious stance in anticipation of the GDP data release scheduled for February 27th. This comes as volatility, indicated by the India VIX, decreased by nearly 5%, suggesting a momentary stabilization in market sentiment.