Indian Stock Market Opens Lower: Sensex, Nifty Slip in Early Trade After Friday’s Sharp Fall

Mumbai, India — February 16, 2026

Domestic equity benchmarks opened Monday’s session in negative territory, extending weakness seen in the previous trading session. Investor sentiment remained cautious as markets reacted to recent volatility and global cues.

At the opening bell, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex slipped 83.85 points (0.10%) to 82,542.91, while the National Stock Exchange Nifty 50 declined 21.80 points (0.09%) to 25,449.30.

Previous Session Recap

Markets had ended sharply lower on Friday:

• Sensex: fell 1,048.16 points to close at 82,626.76

• Nifty: dropped 336.10 points to settle at 25,471.10

The sharp decline reflected broad-based selling pressure across sectors, with traders booking profits after recent gains.

Currency Market Snapshot

In early trading Monday, the Indian rupee remained largely steady against the U.S. dollar, holding around 90.66, indicating limited volatility in currency markets despite equity weakness.

Market Sentiment

Analysts say the cautious opening suggests investors are waiting for fresh triggers such as global economic cues, inflation data, and institutional fund flows. Early-session movement often reflects overnight global trends and positioning ahead of key macroeconomic developments.

Short-Term Outlook

Market experts note that while minor declines at open are common after a sharp previous-session fall, the day’s direction will likely depend on:

• Institutional buying or selling activity

• Global market trends

• Sector-specific news flows

Traders are expected to remain watchful as volatility could persist in the near term.