February 18: Key Things to Know Before the Market Opens!
The GIFT Nifty was trading flat, signaling a subdued opening for Indian equities. At around 7:10 AM IST, Nifty futures were hovering at 23,006.00.
Market Update 8:15 AM: U.S. stock markets remained shut on Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
Asian equities traded mixed ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy announcement, while European markets saw gains, led by a rally in defense-related stocks on Monday.
The GIFT Nifty was trading flat, signaling a subdued opening for Indian equities. At around 7:10 AM IST, Nifty futures were hovering at 23,006.00.
Indian stock markets managed to break their eight-day losing streak, ending slightly higher in a choppy session on February 17, as gains in pharma, metal, and financial stocks provided support. The Sensex gained 57.65 points or 0.08 per cent to close at 75,996.86, while the Nifty inched up 30.25 points or 0.13 per cent to settle at 22,959.50.
U.S. Treasury yields saw mixed movement, with the 10-year yield climbing 56 basis points to 4.5 per cent, while the 2-year yield remained unchanged at 4.26 per cent.
The U.S. dollar hovered near a two-month low at 106.83, as investors assessed tariff concerns and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar held near its two-month high, despite growing expectations of an imminent rate cut.
WTI crude oil futures slipped to approximately USD 71.2 per barrel on Tuesday but retained most of their previous session’s gains. Oil prices remained supported by reports that OPEC+ is considering delaying planned monthly supply hikes set to begin in April, even as President Donald Trump pushed for lower prices.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued their selling streak, offloading equities worth Rs 3,937 crore on February 17. On the other hand, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth Rs 4,759 crore on the same day.
Deepak Nitrite and Manappuram Finance are under F&O ban today.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.