Pre Market 24 February 2026: D-Street Looks To Open Steady

Indian equities carry some momentum into the next session. This, after extending gains for a second straight day on Monday. The undertone has improved. However, traders are not turning aggressive just yet.

On Monday, the Nifty 50 closed 141.75 points higher at 25,713, up 0.55%. The BSE Sensex added 479.95 points to settle at 83,294.66. It was largely driven by PSU banks and healthcare names. Also, global cues lent support after the US Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs illegal.

Yesterday's Key Themes

A few key themes stood out yesterday. These were:

• PSU banks saw steady accumulation. This lifted the Nifty PSU Bank index by 1.36%.

• Mid and small healthcare stocks were in demand, with the MidSmall Healthcare index rising over 1%

• IT stocks remained under pressure for the third straight day. The Nifty IT index was the worst sectoral performer

• Chemical stocks also saw some profit-taking

• Market breadth was neutral. NSE’s advance-decline ratio stood at 1:1

Likely Triggers For The Next Session

Going into the next trading day, participants are likely to track a mix of domestic and global factors. These include:

• Movement in US futures and Asian markets after the recent tariff-related ruling

• Foreign institutional investors (FII) and domestic institutional investors (DII) activities

• Price action in IT stocks after three sessions of weakness

• Any fresh commentary around banking reforms or PSU divestment plans

Sectors That Can See Action

Banking may continue to lead, especially PSU lenders. The space has seen steady positioning and relative strength versus private peers. Healthcare stocks, particularly midcaps, could be in focus. Traders are rotating into defensives amid uncertainty in global technology demand.

IT will be closely watched. After three sessions of losses, some bargain hunting cannot be ruled out. But sentiment remains cautious here, and recovery attempts may face resistance. Chemicals could stay stock-specific. The recent underperformance suggests selective trades rather than broad buying.

Also Read - Post Market 23 February 2026: Markets Extend Gains

What To Expect Today?

One can expect a steady start, subject to global cues. If banking stocks extend support, the benchmarks could attempt to inch higher. However, without participation from IT and broader markets, gains may remain limited.

For traders and investors, the approach is likely to remain simple, and that is being selective. They are likely to focus on quality names in banking and healthcare, where momentum is visible. Analysts also caution against chasing sharp moves. The market is not showing signs of stress. However, they are also not in a hurry.

If global cues remain supportive, indices may attempt to build on the two-day advance. Otherwise, a range-bound session near current levels looks more likely.

Sources

Business Standard

CNBC TV 18

Livemint