Nifty Likely to Open Higher for 4th Straight Session as FIIs Return

Pre-Market Update at 7:47 AM: Indian equity markets are expected to open higher on Wednesday, potentially extending gains for a fourth consecutive session, supported by continued foreign institutional buying and steady domestic participation, even as global cues remain mixed. As of 7:13 AM, the GIFT Nifty was trading near the 26,054 level, up 93 points from its previous close, indicating a positive start for benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50.

Asian markets were trading higher in early trade, reflecting cautious optimism across the region. Overnight, U.S. stock markets ended mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average registering its third consecutive record close, while technology stocks faced selling pressure.

On Tuesday, Indian equity markets extended their rally for the third straight session, led by gains in auto and metal stocks. The Sensex rose 208.17 points, or 0.25 per cent, to close at 84,273.92, while the Nifty 50 gained 67.85 points, or 0.26 per cent, to settle at 25,935.15.

Institutional activity remained supportive. On February 10, Foreign Institutional Investors were net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 69.45 crore. Domestic Institutional Investors continued their strong participation, buying shares worth Rs 1,174.21 crore during the session. Notably, FIIs have now emerged as net buyers for three consecutive trading sessions, improving overall market sentiment.

Several key companies are scheduled to announce their quarterly earnings on Wednesday, including Mahindra and Mahindra, Divi’s Laboratories, Ashok Leyland, LG Electronics India, Lenskart Solutions, Max Financial Services, Patanjali Foods and Godrej Industries, keeping stock-specific action in focus.

Among individual stocks, Titan Company reported strong performance with revenue growth of 43 per cent year-on-year and profit growth of 61 per cent, supported by robust festive demand and margin expansion. Eicher Motors posted revenue growth of 23 per cent and profit growth of 21 per cent, driven by sustained momentum in Royal Enfield sales. Mahindra and Mahindra remains in focus ahead of its results, with investors closely tracking tractor and SUV demand trends. Britannia Industries reported revenue growth of 8 per cent and profit growth of 17 per cent, indicating stable FMCG demand and margin improvement. Patanjali Foods and Divi’s Laboratories are also in focus as markets await their results, while Apollo Hospitals reported revenue growth of 17 per cent and profit growth of 35 per cent, reflecting strong healthcare demand.

U.S. stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data and awaited an important U.S. jobs report. The Dow Jones gained 52 points, or 0.10 per cent, to close at a fresh record high of 50,188, marking its third consecutive record close. In contrast, the S&P 500 declined 0.33 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.59 per cent due to selling pressure in technology stocks. 

Among individual stocks, Tesla gained nearly 2 per cent, while Datadog, Marriott and Spotify rallied between 8 per cent and 15 per cent. On the downside, Intel, Alphabet, Coca-Cola and S&P Global ended lower, with Intel dropping over 6 per cent.

U.S. retail sales data for December came in flat, compared with a 0.6 per cent rise in November. Economists had expected a growth of 0.4 per cent, raising concerns about a slowdown in consumer spending in the U.S.

As part of MSCI’s February 2026 index review, Aditya Birla Capital and L&T Finance have been added to the MSCI Global Standard Index, while IRCTC has been removed from the index, which could lead to stock-specific volatility.

In the commodities market, gold prices traded firm above USD 5,040 per ounce on Wednesday, hovering near a two-week high, supported by expectations of a more accommodative Federal Reserve. Silver was seen trading around USD 81.74 per ounce. Crude oil prices edged lower, with WTI crude trading near USD 64.20 per barrel amid a cautious outlook on global demand.

For today, Sammaan Capital and SAIL will remain on the F&O ban list.

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