Post Market 23 February 2026: Markets Extend Gains

Indian equities closed higher for the second straight session, following Friday, 20 February 2026. Benchmarks were supported by strength in PSU banks and healthcare stocks. The tone throughout the day was firm. There were minor dips, but buyers stayed in control.

How Markets Closed?

At the closing bell:

• Sensex ended at 83,294.66, up 479.95 points or 0.58%

• Nifty 50 ended at 25,713, up 141.75 points or 0.55%

• Nifty Midcap 100 was down 0.43%

• NSE Smallcap was up 0.29%

Sector Watch: Banks And Healthcare In Focus

Sectoral action was clear. Defensive buying and PSU banking strength stood out. The Nifty PSU Bank was up 1.36%. On the other hand, the Nifty MidSmall Healthcare was up 1.03%. PSU banks saw fresh buying as investors rotated into value and rate-sensitive names. Healthcare stocks also gained since they attracted flows amid global uncertainty.

However, IT stocks slipped. This happened as traders booked profits after recent gains. A firm dollar and cautious global tech cues kept sentiment subdued. Also, chemical stocks remained under pressure due to weak demand outlook and pricing concerns.

Bullion prices saw sharp gains during the session. MCX Gold (April futures) opened at ₹1,58,458 per 10 grams, up ₹1,582. MCX Silver opened at ₹2,63,061 per kg, up ₹10,117.

What Comforted Markets?

Markets drew comfort from the US development around tariffs. The recent ruling of the US Supreme Court reduced uncertainty to some extent. Also, asian markets were stable, which supported domestic sentiment at the open.

However, the move was not aggressive. Traders seemed to avoid chasing prices at higher levels. The rally was orderly.

Trader Mood At Close

The mood by the close seemed constructive but cautious. There was no sign of panic buying. Nor was there heavy selling pressure. Traders appeared comfortable holding long positions into the next session.

However, midcap weakness showed that not everyone was willing to take fresh risk at higher levels. The Nifty closing above 25,700 seems to keep momentum intact. Still, the pace has slowed compared to earlier sharp rallies.

Also Read - Pre Market 23 February 2026

How Should Traders Read The Numbers?

For traders, the message is to stay steady but selective. The headline indices are moving higher. This has kept the broader trend positive. However, the gains are not spread evenly. Large-cap stocks, especially PSU banks and healthcare names, seemed to attract steady money. Midcaps saw some profit booking. This suggests traders are becoming more careful at higher levels.

Sources

Business Standard

Livemint