February 20: Top Things to Know Before the Market Opens!

GIFT Nifty indicated a flat to negative start for Indian equities. As of 07:10 AM IST, Nifty futures were trading at 22,913.50.

Market Update 8:15 AM: U.S. equities wrapped up Wednesday’s session with modest gains, with the S&P 500 securing its second consecutive record closing high. Investors analyzed the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes and evaluated President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariff measures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 71.25 points or 0.16 per cent to finish at 44,627.59. The S&P 500 advanced 14.57 points or 0.24 per cent to settle at 6,144.15, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 14.99 points or 0.07 per cent to end at 20,056.25.

Asian markets traded lower on Thursday as investors digested the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, which suggested the central bank is in no hurry to cut interest rates.

GIFT Nifty indicated a flat to negative start for Indian equities. As of 07:10 AM IST, Nifty futures were trading at 22,913.50.

The domestic market extended its losing streak for the fourth straight session, closing marginally lower on February 19 in a highly volatile trade. Caution prevailed after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on auto, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports. At the closing bell, the Sensex declined 28.21 points or 0.04 per cent to 75,939.18, while the Nifty 50 slipped 12.40 points or 0.05 per cent to 22,932.90.

The yield on U.S. 10-year Treasuries edged down to 4.52 per cent, while the 2-year yield slipped slightly to 4.26 per cent in early Thursday trade.

The U.S. dollar remained steady at 107.08, as traders assessed the impact of Trump’s tariff plans on the global economy and potential implications for future interest rate decisions by major central banks.

WTI crude oil futures dipped below USD 72 per barrel on Thursday, breaking a three-session winning streak. The decline followed an industry report revealing a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude inventories. The API data indicated a 9-million-barrel surge in crude stockpiles, significantly exceeding forecasts of a 2.8 million barrel increase.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers, offloading Rs 1,881 crore worth of equities on February 19. Meanwhile, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) continued their buying spree, acquiring Rs 1,957 crore worth of stocks.

Manappuram Finance remains under the F&O ban today.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.