| Company | Value | Change | %Change |
|---|
On the upside, Nifty may face resistance around 23,000-23,150, and a strong breakout above 23,150 could potentially drive a sharp rally.
“A strong support base appears to be forming in the 22800–22700 zone, which coincides with the lower boundary of the Falling Wedge pattern, hinting at potential price stabilisation and upward movement in the near future. On the higher end, the 23000 mark remains a formidable obstacle, and a sustained move could only uplift market sentiments toward 23200-23250, which aligns with the 20-DEMA, followed by the upper boundary of the Falling Wedge at 23400, a critical hurdle for trend reversal,” said Osho Krishnan, Sr. Analyst, Technical & Derivatives, Angel One.
The 22,800 level has emerged as critical support, while the 23,100–23,150 range poses significant resistance due to aggressive call writing. A decisive breakout from this range will be crucial for determining the market’s next movement, according to Dhupesh Dhameja, Derivatives Analyst at SAMCO Securities.
How Indian equity markets fared on Wednesday, February 19
The Indian equity markets witnessed notable intra-day movements on Wednesday, February 19, with the broader indices outperforming as midcap stocks led the charge. Despite the Nifty remaining largely flat by the close, midcaps delivered significant gains, helping to boost overall market sentiment.
At the close of trading, the Sensex dipped by 28 points to settle at 75,939, while the Nifty edged lower by 12 points, ending at 22,933. However, the Nifty Bank index saw a robust performance, gaining 483 points to finish at 49,570, while the midcap index surged 776 points, closing at 50,527. The rally in midcaps highlighted the underlying strength in the broader market, despite the subdued performance of the benchmark indices.
Financial stocks provided crucial support for the markets, with banking shares contributing to overall stability. The financial sector’s strength helped Nifty hold above the critical 22,900 level, despite a relatively flat close. Defence stocks also witnessed a surge in buying interest, contributing positively to sectoral momentum.
On the other hand, the pharma sector struggled, showing early losses before making a slight recovery by the end of the day. IT stocks remained under pressure, with several heavyweights closing in the red, weighing down the broader market performance.
Broader market strength was driven by gains in capital market-related stocks, consumer-facing businesses, and select financial stocks. Railway stocks also saw strong buying interest, further contributing to sectoral strength. Despite a muted finish for the benchmark indices, the positive movement in midcaps and sector-specific rallies helped maintain an optimistic market sentiment.
FIIs and DIIs data
On February 19, 2025, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) saw a net buy of ₹1,957.74 crore in cash, while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) recorded a net sell of ₹1,881.30 crore. In the F&O segment, FIIs showed a positive stance, with net buys in index futures (+₹183.33 crore), index options (+₹1,924.13 crore), stock futures (+₹724.85 crore), and bank Nifty futures (+₹354.66 crore). However, they sold ₹788.19 crore in bank Nifty options and ₹405.07 crore in Nifty futures.
More market cues
In the February series, Nifty OI fell by 0.7%, while Bank Nifty OI dropped 2.9%. In stock futures, BSE (+8.0%) and RBL Bank (+6.4%) saw gains, while LTIM (-3.6%) and Adani Green (-3.4%) experienced losses. Notable changes were observed in Nifty options, with 23,100 calls and 22,800 puts showing significant additions. Manappuram remains in the F&O ban list.
February Series
Nifty Open Interest: Down 0.7%, shedding 1.2 lakh shares
Nifty Futures Premium: Increased to 31.60 points from 27.30 points
Bank Nifty Open Interest: Down 2.9%, shedding 90,900 shares
Option Cues
Nifty PCR: 0.80, down from 0.84
Nifty Options (February 20)
23,100 Call: Added 38.4 lakh shares, premium at ₹25.90
23,050 Call: Added 20.0 lakh shares, premium at ₹38.25
23,000 Call: Added 14.7 lakh shares, premium at ₹54.55
23,150 Call: Added 10.8 lakh shares, premium at ₹17.95
22,800 Put: Added 21.2 lakh shares, premium at ₹33.50
22,850 Put: Added 11.5 lakh shares, premium at ₹47.70
22,700 Put: Shed 18.3 lakh shares, premium at ₹16.75
Stock Futures
BSE: +8.0%, OI +13.2%, Fresh Longs
RBL Bank: +6.4%, OI -4.0%, Short Covering
Zomato: +4.5%, OI -1.5%, Short Covering
Hindalco: +2.7%, OI -5.3%, Short Covering
LTIM: -3.6%, OI +2.1%, Fresh Shorts
Adani Green: -3.4%, OI +1.2%, Fresh Shorts
TCS: -2.4%, OI -0.3%, Long Unwinding
Here are the stocks to watch ahead of Thursday’s trading session:
Bharat Forge | The defense company’s unit, Kalyani Strategic Systems, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with AM General, USA, for the supply of advanced artillery cannons manufactured in India. This marks the first-ever agreement for the supply of artillery cannons from an Indian defense company to the United States, underscoring the strengthening of defense cooperation between the two nations.
Mahindra Group | The company announced a strategic partnership with US-based Anduril Industries to combine its manufacturing capabilities with Anduril’s expertise in AI and autonomous technologies, targeting global defense markets.
Stocks to Watch on Feb 20: Bharat Forge, Mahindra Group, Waaree Energies, Orchid Pharma and more
Are realty stocks back in favour?
The residential real estate sector in India is showing promising signs of recovery, with strong pre-sales growth from leading developers and a buoyant market driven by favourable fiscal policies and monetary easing.
-With inputs from Yoosef K
