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Sensex, Nifty trade flat with positive bias
Feb-20-2026

Indian equity benchmarks made a cautious start on Friday amid weak global cues following escalating tensions between US and Iran and the subsequent surge in crude oil prices to a 6-month high, taking the price of Brent oil to $72 per barrel. In early deals, Sensex and Nifty were trading flat with positive bias. Traders took note of a report that Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy has said that India will begin production of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) this year itself, marking a key step towards self-reliance in critical minerals for electric vehicles and renewable energy sectors. However, upside remained capped amid resumption of FPI outflows from domestic markets. Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 880.49 crore on Thursday

On the global front, Asian markets were trading mostly lower in thin trading as markets in China Taiwan were close. Japan's annual inflation eased to 1.5% in January 2026 from 2.1% in the prior month, the lowest since March 2022. Core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food but includes energy, rose 2 percent year-on-year in January 2026, cooling from 2.4 percent in December and marked the weakest pace of growth in two years. Meanwhile, latest survey from Jibun Bank revealed that the manufacturing sector in Japan continued to expand in February, and at a faster pace, with a manufacturing PMI score of 52.8.

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 82529.24, up by 31.10 points or 0.04% after trading in a range of 82206.21 and 82550.27. There were 19 stocks advancing against 12 stocks declining on the index.

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Capital Goods up by 0.76%, Power up by 0.64%, PSU up by 0.59%, Bankex up by 0.49% and Consumer Durables up by 0.48%, while IT down by 0.86%, TECK down by 0.77%, Telecom down by 0.16% were the few losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Bharat Electronics up by 1.41%, Titan Company up by 1.03%, NTPC up by 1.03%, Larsen & Toubro up by 0.70% and Hindustan Unilever up by 0.69%. On the flip side, Tech Mahindra down by 1.33%, Infosys down by 1.32%, Kwality Walls (India) down by 0.84%, Bharti Airtel down by 0.77% and Eternal down by 0.74% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, amidst recently concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU), the Commerce Ministry data has showed that India's exports of agricultural products and automobiles are making greater inroads into European markets, recording healthy growth during April-December 2025.

As per the data, India's automobiles exports rose to $19.3 billion during the nine-month period (April-December) of this fiscal from $16.8 billion in the corresponding period of last year. On this total exports, the EU's share rose to 11.6 per cent in April-December 2025 from 9.8 per cent in April-December 2024. In value terms, the shipments grew to $2.2 billion in April-December 2025 from $1.6 billion in April-December 2024 to the European Union.

Similarly, India's exports of fish, coffee, tea, spices, cereals, gums, and resins to the EU have also recorded healthy growth rates during the period under review. Cereal shipments have risen to $339 million in April-December 2025 from $181 million during April-December 2024. Zero-duty access under the trade agreement will further push shipments of these goods.

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 25482.30, up by 27.95 points or 0.11% after trading in a range of 25379.75 and 25486.90. There were 32 stocks advancing against 19 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were Coal India up by 1.98%, Bharat Electronics up by 1.49%, ONGC up by 1.46%, NTPC up by 1.00% and Titan Company up by 0.96%. On the flip side, Infosys down by 1.39%, Tech Mahindra down by 1.22%, Kwality Walls (India) down by 1.01%, Eternal down by 0.68% and HCL Technologies down by 0.68% were the top losers.

Asian markets were trading mostly in red; Nikkei 225 slipped 691.83 points or 1.2% to 56,776.00, Hang Seng declined 166.94 points or 0.63% to 26,539.00 and Jakarta Composite plunged 11.81 points or 0.14% to 8,262.27. On the other hand, KOSPI rose 116.44 points or 2.05% to 5,793.69 and Straits Times was up by 4.13 points or 0.08% to 5,005.69.
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