Mumbai, India — February 20, 2026
📊 Market Preview — What to Expect Today
Market Alert: Indian equities may open flat with a slight upward bias today after Thursday’s sharp plunge. Oil at six-month highs, heavy FII selling, and weak global sentiment are keeping traders cautious. Key Nifty support sits near 25,300 while resistance stands around 25,700. Oil stocks could gain, refiners may lag, and multiple dividend stocks will be in focus. Short-term traders are advised to stay defensive until markets stabilize.
📉 Previous Session Recap
Thursday saw a steep sell-off across benchmark indices:
Sensex dropped 1,236 points to close at 82,498.14
Nifty 50 fell 365 points to settle at 25,454.35
The decline reflected profit-booking, global uncertainty, and institutional selling pressure.
🌍 Global Cues Weighing on Sentiment
Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran pushed crude oil prices to around $72 per barrel, a six-month high. Elevated oil prices typically pressure import-dependent markets like India by raising inflation concerns and corporate costs.
📊 Key Trading Levels for Today
Nifty 50
Support: 25,300–25,350
Strong Support: 25,200 (near 200-day EMA)
Resistance: 25,650–25,700
Bank Nifty
Support: 60,300–60,400
Resistance: 61,100–61,200
Technical analysts note a bearish engulfing pattern on Bank Nifty charts, signaling potential downside if key support breaks.
👀 Stocks in Focus Today
Several companies are expected to remain active due to corporate developments:
Novartis India — Promoter planning to sell 70.68% stake
CIE Automotive — Profit up 10.4%
ABB India — Net profit declined in quarterly results
Waaree Energies — Likely active on sector momentum
Oil-Linked Stocks
Higher crude prices could lift upstream companies such as ONGC and Oil India, while putting pressure on refiners like HPCL and BPCL.
💰 Ex-Dividend Stocks Today
More than 25 companies trade ex-dividend today, including:
Alkem Labs — ₹43
BBTC — ₹17
India Nippon — ₹15.50
IRCTC — ₹3.50
Dividend adjustments may affect price movements in these counters.
📉 Institutional Flow Data
On February 19:
Foreign Institutional Investors (FII): Net sold ₹880 crore
Domestic Institutional Investors (DII): Net sold ₹596 crore
Persistent institutional selling signals cautious sentiment among large investors.
📈 Technical Insight
According to technical chart signals cited by market analysts, HFCL shows a double-bottom pattern, indicating a possible bullish setup if buying volume increases.
🧭 Market Strategy for Traders
Experts suggest a “Sell on Rise” strategy until Nifty sustains above 25,700, indicating that rallies may face resistance unless supported by strong buying.
