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Key gauges end higher on Friday
Feb-20-2026

Indian equity benchmarks, a day after a rout, staged a comeback to end higher on Friday after heavy buying in Power and Utilities shares amid optimism over trade deal progresses and India's participation in Pax Silica. However, gains remain capped amid resumption of FPI outflows from domestic markets. Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 880.49 crore on Thursday. 

Some of the important factors in trade:

India, US to finalize trade pact legal text: The report said that a three-day meeting between Indian and American officials to finalise the legal text for an interim trade agreement will begin in the US on February 23, 2026. 

India’s private sector grows with composite PMI rising to 59.3 in February: According to the data report, the HSBC Flash India PMI Composite Output Index rose from 58.4 in January to 59.3 in February, indicating the strongest rate of expansion for three months.  

India's agri products, auto exports making greater inroads in EU: The Commerce Ministry data showed that India's exports of agricultural products and automobiles are making greater inroads into European markets (EU), recording healthy growth during April-December 2025.

India well positioned to be leader in AI: The former British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said that India is well positioned to be a leader in AI and demonstrate its mass adoption and deployment in society, supported by deep talent pool, strong digital public infrastructure, and very supportive public stance towards technology. 

Global front: European equity markets were trading in green on the back of strong corporate earnings and easing AI concerns. Asian markets ended mixed amid renewed concerns about a military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, with reports suggesting American military intervention may be imminent.

Finally, the BSE Sensex rose 316.57 points or 0.38% to 82,814.71 and the CNX Nifty was up by 116.90 points or 0.46% to 25,571.25.        

The BSE Sensex touched high and low of 83,132.08 and 82,206.21 respectively. There were 22 stocks advancing against 9 stocks declining on the index. 

The top gaining sectoral indices on the BSE were Power up by 1.91%, Utilities up by 1.53%, Capital Goods up by 1.51%, Metal up by 1.27% and Industrials up by 1.27%, while IT down by 0.98% and TECK down by 0.79% were the few losing indices on BSE.

The top gainers on the Sensex were NTPC up by 2.73%, Larsen & Toubro up by 2.37%, Hindustan Unilever up by 1.56%, Bajaj Finance up by 1.47% and Power Grid Corporation up by 1.44%. On the flip side, Tech Mahindra down by 1.75%, Infosys down by 1.23%, Eternal down by 1.10%, HCL Technologies down by 0.92% and Bharti Airtel down by 0.76% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, with an aim to further strengthen economic ties, India called for increased collaboration in research and development (R&D), biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and advanced therapeutics with Switzerland.  In a meeting with President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin, the Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, called for Swiss investments in sectors where Switzerland has established niche technological strengths. 

During the meeting, both parties acknowledged the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility in the context of AI and highlighted that TEPA presents valuable opportunities for technological collaboration in fields such as precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, innovation and research and development. 

Last year, India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) implemented the trade and economic partnership agreement (TEPA). EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Goyal mentioned ‘The Agreement opens doors for 'Make in India' products to integrate into the $1 trillion market of Switzerland. From farmers and fishermen to forest dwellers, workers, women, youth, small businesses, and professionals, TEPA has opened doors to new opportunities and a brighter economic future.’ TEPA aims to facilitate investments of $100 billion into India and support the creation of one million direct jobs.

CNX Nifty touched high and low of 25,663.55 and 25,379.75 respectively. There were 36 stocks advancing against 15 stocks declining on the index. 

The top gainers on Nifty were Hindalco up by 3.21%, NTPC up by 2.64%, Larsen & Toubro up by 2.33%, SBI Life Insurance up by 1.81% and Hindustan Unilever up by 1.71%. On the flip side, Kwality Wall's (India) down by 3.46%, Eternal down by 1.31%, Infosys down by 1.28%, Tech Mahindra down by 1.03% and Grasim Industries down by 1.02% were the top losers.

European equity markets were trading in green; UK’s FTSE 100 increased 65.41 points or 0.62% to 10,692.45, France’s CAC rose 56.12 points or 0.67% to 8,454.90 and Germany’s DAX gained 79.53 points or 0.32% to 25,123.10. 

Asian markets ended mixed on Friday, with thin trading volumes due to Lunar New Year holidays in China and Taiwan. Japanese markets lost ground amid escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, sell-off in US technology, and cautiousness ahead of upcoming US economic data that could shape expectations for Federal Reserve's interest rate policy. In Seoul, the Kospi average breached the 5,800-point mark for the first time to hit a fresh record high led by chip and defense shares. The upbeat tone in Seoul came with optimism that upcoming investor-friendly measures will boost shareholder returns and lift market valuations.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

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--

--

Hang Seng

26,413.35

-292.59

-1.10

Jakarta Composite

8,271.77

-2.31

-0.03

KLSE Composite

1,752.83

0.72

0.04

Nikkei 225

56,825.70

-642.13

-1.12

Straits Times

5,017.60

16.04

0.32

KOSPI Composite

5,808.53

131.28

2.31

Taiwan Weighted

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