Indian Stock Market Update: February 17, 2026

Indian benchmark indices rebounded on Monday, February 16, 2026, snapping a recent losing streak driven by strong buying in financial and energy stocks. Still, the GIFT Nifty signals a negative start to trading on February 17, 2026, potentially erasing gains from the previous session.

Market Overview

The Nifty 50 rose 211.65 points, or 0.83%, to close at 25,682.75 on Monday. The 30-share BSE Sensex bounced back from a three-session fall, increasing 650.39 points, or 0.79%, to end at 83,277.15. The India VIX, a volatility indicator, eased 0.28% to settle at 13.33.

GIFT Nifty Signals Negative Opening

As of 8:45 AM IST on February 17, 2026, the GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 25,632, down 85.20 points or 0.33%. This suggests a cautious opening for the Indian stock market today.

Global Market Trends

Asian markets presented a mixed picture. Japan’s Nikkei 225 experienced losses due to softer GDP data, falling 0.4%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.64% amid a lack of cues from US markets. Major financial markets in mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore remain closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.

US futures were also mixed. Dow Jones futures were flat, while S&P 500 futures rose slightly by 0.05%. Nasdaq 100 futures declined by 0.07%. US markets were closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day.

Commodity Market Update

Brent oil futures declined on Tuesday morning, trading at $68.41 a barrel, down 0.25% or 0.17%, as traders await the outcome of US-Iran talks scheduled in Geneva. Gold and silver futures also saw declines, falling 0.73% and 0.86% respectively, attributed to a strengthening US dollar.

Trade Deficit Concerns

India’s trade deficit widened to a three-month high of $34.68 billion in January. Imports increased 19% year-on-year to $71.24 billion, driven by higher gold and silver prices. Exports saw a modest increase of 0.6% year-on-year, reaching $36.56 billion, according to data from the Commerce Ministry. Source

IPO Watch

The initial public offering (IPO) of Fractal Industries is in its second day, having been subscribed 1.65 times on the first day. The IPO will close for subscription on Wednesday, with a tentative listing date of February 23.

Nuvama’s Recommendation

Nuvama has issued a ‘buy’ rating for KFin Technologies, setting a target price of Rs 1,450.