📌 Indian Markets Post Market Report Today (23.02.2026) — Nifty Holds 25,700, Sensex +480 | IT Weak, Banks Lead
🏁 Closing Bell Snapshot (Key Indices)
Indian Markets Post Market Report Today closing data for Nifty 50, Bank Nifty and Sensex
Nifty 50: 25,713 (+141.75 | +0.55%)
Sensex: 83,294.66 (+479.95 | +0.58%) 👉Reuters
Bank Nifty: ~61,275 (+92.25 | +0.15%)
🌍 Why Markets Moved Today (Simple Reasons)
Indian equities ended higher mainly on global relief + domestic buying, but the rally stayed measured due to IT pressure.
What worked for the market
Global cue support: US Supreme Court striking down broad tariffs helped risk sentiment improve.
Banks + PSU banks led: Financials and state-run banks outperformed; most sectors ended in the green.
What capped the upside
IT remained a drag: Concerns on AI-led structural disruption weighed on IT names; Nifty IT fell notably again.
Trade/tariff uncertainty didn’t fully go away: The policy noise still keeps traders cautious.
🟢 Top 5 Gainers (Nifty 50)
Biggest gainers included:
1.Adani Ports: +2.93% 👉Money Control
2.Kotak Mahindra Bank: +2.22%
3.HDFC Life: +1.89%
4.Dr Reddy’s: +2.11%
5.Grasim: +1.43%
🔴 Top 5 Losers (Nifty 50)
Biggest losers included:
1. Hindalco: -2.08%
2. Wipro: -1.89%
3. Infosys: -1.90%
4. ONGC: -1.08%
5. Cipla: -1.09%
🧭 Indian Markets Post Market Report Today – Sector Performance Check (What led, what lagged)
✅ Sectors that supported the up-move
PSU Banks outperformed strongly Pharma,
Oil & Gas, Infra, FMCG, Auto stayed positive and supported breadth
⚠️ Sectors under pressure
IT remained the key laggard Metals were slightly weak (Hindalco drag visible)
Broader market
Smallcaps: slightly positive Midcaps: slightly negative
📉 Volatility Meter (India VIX)
India VIX: around 14.29 (still elevated vs the calmer weeks) Takeaway: Volatility isn’t extreme, but it’s high enough to keep options premiums meaningful and intraday swings sharp.
💰 FII & DII Data (Latest Available – Cash)
The latest widely-published cash numbers available on the standard tracker are for 23-Feb-2026 Today:
FII (Cash): Net buyers +₹3,483.70Cr
DII (Cash): Net sellers -₹1.292.24Cr
🪙 Commodities Watch (Gold, Silver, Crude)
🥇 Gold (MCX)
Gold crossed ~₹1.60 lakh / 10g on MCX in today’s moves.
🥈 Silver (MCX)
Silver ~₹2.65lakh / kg on MCX, with a sharp jump on safe-haven demand.
🛢️ Crude (Global)
Brent ~ $71.91/bbl,
WTI ~ $66.69/bbl in the risk-driven move (tariffs + geopolitics).
💱 Currency Update (Rupee vs Dollar)
INR ended around ₹90.88 per $, slightly stronger vs the prior close shown in the market note.
🏢 Two Major Companies — Price Action + Investment Angle
1) 🚢 Adani Ports (Among top gainers)
What moved it today: Strong leadership among index gainers; stock led from the front in largecaps.
Investment lens (simple):
Plays on India’s long-run trade, logistics and port infrastructure story
Watch: debt management, regulatory headlines, and global trade cycles
Who it suits: Investors who can handle volatility and want an infra/logistics compounder theme.
2) 🏥 Dr Reddy’s Labs (Strong in pharma pack today)
What moved it today: Pharma strength + stock featured among top Nifty gainers.
Investment lens (simple):
Defensive sector behavior shows up when uncertainty rises
Watch: US pricing pressure, product pipeline launches, currency sensitivity
Who it suits: Investors seeking a steadier “quality pharma” exposure alongside cyclical holdings.
(Note: This is not a buy/sell call—use it as a checklist.)
⭐ Stock of the Day
✅ Adani Ports
Reason: Clear leadership in Nifty gainers and strong index contribution tone today.
🧾 IPO Updates (Existing + Upcoming)
🔥 Ongoing / Active Buzz
Gaudium IVF & Women Health IPO (₹165 Cr issue) — strong interest tracked through Day 2 coverage; closes Feb 24 (as per reports).
📅 Upcoming (Near-term calendar)
PNGS Reva Diamond Jewellery IPO: opens Feb 24 – Feb 26, price band ₹367–₹386, lot size 32.
Omnitech Engineering IPO: opens Feb 25 – Feb 27, price band ₹216–₹227, issue size ₹583 Cr.
Striders Impex (SME): opens Feb 26 – Mar 2 (schedule as posted).
🛡️ SEBI Updates (Market-Impact Quick Notes)
1) ⚙️ OTR framework revised (Algo trading)
SEBI issued an update to the Order-to-Trade Ratio (OTR) framework (effective date mentioned as April 6, 2026 in coverage).
This matters mainly for algo-heavy segments, especially options quoting behavior.
2) 🧩 Calendar spread margin benefit review (single-stock derivatives)
SEBI issued a circular on calendar spread margin benefit in single-stock derivatives on expiry day—relevant for F&O traders managing spreads and expiry risk.
🎯 Investment Ideas (Short-term vs Long-term)
⏱️ Short-term (1–3 weeks)
Prefer stock-specific strength (leaders from banks/pharma) rather than chasing everything Keep strict risk controls because VIX ~14+ can whip intraday moves
🧱 Long-term (6–24 months)
Keep a core mix of financials + quality defensives (pharma/FMCG) Add cyclicals only on dips, because global cues are still headline-driven (tariffs + geopolitics)
❓ 5 Quick FAQs
Q1. Why did Nifty rise but IT fall?
Because broader sentiment improved, but IT stayed under pressure from AI-led concerns.
Q2. Is the rally strong or cautious?
Cautious—VIX is still elevated, and leadership is narrow (banks strong, IT weak).
Q3. What’s the key trigger traders are tracking now?
Global policy headlines (tariffs) + oil/geopolitics and how they affect risk appetite.
Q4. Why are gold and silver jumping?
Safe-haven demand increased amid uncertainty; MCX prices surged today.
Q5. Which pocket looks strongest right now?
PSU banks/financials and selected pharma names showed leadership today.
👉Further reading
Indian Markets Pre Market Report Today (Feb 23, 2026)
Indian Markets Weekly View (Feb 23–Feb 27, 2026) — Cautiously Bullish Sentiment
Cryptocurrency Guide 2026 (Part 1): What It Is, Types, Real Uses
Stock Market 101 – Lesson 17: Trading Psychology (Biases, FOMO, and Discipline)
Stock Market 101 – Lesson 18: Risk Management (Position Sizing & Stop-Losses)
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This report is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy/sell any security. Markets involve risk. Please consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.