MUMBAI, India — February 26, 2026
Indian benchmark equity indices ended largely flat on Thursday after a volatile trading session, as investors remained cautious ahead of anticipated U.S.–Iran discussions and weakness in select blue-chip stocks weighed on sentiment.
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 27.46 points, or 0.03%, to close at 82,248.61. During the session, the index swung 608.69 points, touching a high of 82,579.16 and a low of 81,970.47.
The broader Nifty 50 edged up 14.05 points, or 0.06%, to settle at 25,496.55.
Blue-Chip Stocks Weigh on Market
Among Sensex constituents, losses were led by Trent, Eternal, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, and Axis Bank.
On the gaining side, Bharat Electronics, Sun Pharma, Adani Ports, Maruti Suzuki, and Bharti Airtel advanced.
Market analysts said caution prevailed amid global uncertainties and upcoming geopolitical developments, prompting investors to limit fresh exposure.
Rupee Weakens Marginally
The Indian rupee depreciated by 1 paisa against the U.S. dollar, closing at 90.92. Currency movement remained largely range-bound amid steady foreign fund flows and softer crude oil prices.
Global Market Overview
Asian markets showed mixed trends. South Korea’s Kospi surged 3.67%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended in positive territory. However, China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed lower.
European markets traded mostly higher during mid-session deals, and U.S. markets ended with gains on Wednesday.
Brent Crude Falls Below $71
Global oil benchmark Brent Crude declined 0.95% to $70.18 per barrel, providing some relief to import-dependent economies like India.
Institutional Investment Data
According to exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) purchased equities worth ₹2,991.64 crore on Wednesday. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were also net buyers, investing ₹5,118.57 crore.
In the previous session, the Sensex had risen 50.15 points to close at 82,276.07, while the Nifty gained 57.85 points to settle at 25,482.50.
Market Outlook
With geopolitical developments and global macroeconomic cues in focus, analysts expect markets to remain range-bound in the near term. Movement in crude oil prices, foreign fund flows, and currency trends will likely continue to influence investor sentiment.
