SGX Nifty March 2026 futures declined by 21.00 points, indicating a bearish opening for the Nifty 50 today.
Institutional Flows:
On 26 February 2026, provisional data indicated that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) divested shares amounting to Rs 3,465.99 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) recorded net purchases totaling Rs 5,031.57 crore in the Indian equity market. Foreign Institutional Investors have acquired shares valued at Rs 895.58 crore in the cash market up to February 26, 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:
On Friday, the Asian market exhibited a mixed performance, following a decline in U.S. stocks overnight, as Nvidia shares fell despite surpassing quarterly earnings expectations. In the realm of Asian technology equities, SK Hynix, a significant provider of high-bandwidth memory to Nvidia, experienced a decline of more than 2%. Samsung Electronics, a long-standing collaborator of Nvidia, experienced a decline of 0.69%. Gold prices remained largely stable on Friday, as investors processed the outcomes of the U.S.-Iran nuclear discussions from the previous day. Meanwhile, the dollar, positioned close to three-week highs, exerted pressure on the yellow metal. An Omani mediator involved in the U.S. and Iran nuclear discussions has reportedly provided an optimistic assessment following the latest round of negotiations. However, uncertainty continues to loom over energy markets, with no indication of a breakthrough that could prevent potential U.S. military action.
In light of these developments, Brent crude futures concluded the session with a decline of 10 cents, representing a decrease of 0.14%, settling at $70.75 per barrel. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 experienced a decline as the recent earnings reports from tech leader Nvidia and software powerhouse Salesforce did not provide the anticipated uplift for the overall market. The broad market index experienced a decline of 0.54%, concluding at 6,908.86, whereas the Nasdaq Composite saw a decrease of 1.18%, finishing at 22,878.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 17.05 points, representing a 0.03% rise, closing at 49,499.20. Nvidia shares declined over 5%, despite the chip giant reporting fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded widely anticipated forecasts.
Conversely, Salesforce, a notable entity affected by recent concerns surrounding artificial intelligence disruptions, experienced a 4% increase following the release of its latest quarterly results, which surpassed widely reported expectations for both revenue and earnings. However, the company provided a lackluster fiscal 2027 revenue outlook. Sentiment in the software and cybersecurity sectors has shown fragility this year, as concerns persist regarding the swiftly advancing capabilities of AI products that may disrupt the operations of established software vendors.
Domestic Market:
The primary equity benchmarks concluded the session with a sideways trend, as market participants kept a close watch on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The visit occurs against a backdrop of increased geopolitical tensions in the region, U.S. warnings, and shifting global diplomatic dynamics, contributing to a more cautious market sentiment.
The Nifty experienced a brief dip into negative territory due to volatility linked to the monthly F&O expiry, but managed to recover slightly in the final hour, ultimately closing with minimal change. Nifty concluded the session close to the 25,500 mark. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex decreased by 27.46 points, reflecting a decline of 0.03%, closing at 82,248.61. The Nifty 50 index increased by 14.05 points, reflecting a change of 0.06%, reaching a level of 25,496.55.