February 21: Top Things to Know Before the Market Opens!

The GIFT Nifty signaled a slightly negative start for Indian equities. At 7:00 AM IST, Nifty futures were trading at 22,852, down 0.24 per cent.

Market Update 8:15 AM: U.S. stocks ended Thursday’s session in the red as traders reacted to Walmart’s subdued sales outlook for fiscal year 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.0 per cent, shedding 444.59 points to close at 44,176. The S&P 500 declined 0.4 per cent, slipping 27.15 points to settle at 6,117, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.4 per cent, dropping 94.25 points to finish at 19,962.

Asian markets traded mixed on Friday morning, with indices in Hong Kong and South Korea posting gains, while Japanese stocks remained under pressure.

The GIFT Nifty signaled a slightly negative start for Indian equities. At 7:00 AM IST, Nifty futures were trading at 22,852, down 0.24 per cent.

The dollar index remained steady at 106.5 but was on track for its third straight weekly loss, as investors perceived President Donald Trump’s tariff stance to be less aggressive than initially feared.

Meanwhile, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note hovered around 4.5 per cent, while the 2-year note yield stood at 4.27 per cent on Friday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued to be net sellers for the second consecutive session, offloading Rs 3,311 crore worth of equities in the cash market. On the other hand, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) maintained their buying momentum, acquiring shares worth Rs 3,907 crore.

Oil prices were set to end a four-week correction phase with gains. WTI crude oil hovered at USD 72 per barrel, while Brent crude traded near USD 76 per barrel. For the week, crude prices have advanced 2.5 per cent.

Manappuram Finance remains on the F&O ban list for the day.

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