Nifty, Sensex Open Flat as Q3 Earnings Boost Sentiment

New Delhi, February 18:

Indian stock markets opened nearly flat but with a positive tone on Wednesday, supported by better-than-expected Q3 earnings and early signs of improvement in Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) sentiment, which experts believe could help keep markets resilient in the coming sessions.

The Nifty 50 opened at 25,752.65, up 27.25 points (0.11%), while the BSE Sensex started at 83,553.59, gaining 102.63 points (0.12%).

Q3 Earnings Support Market Stability

Market analysts said the positive earnings momentum and improving corporate outlook are helping the market remain steady despite sector-wise volatility.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, stated that Q3 results have been stronger than expected and that earnings growth is likely to continue.

He added that volatility in IT stocks may persist due to uncertainty surrounding the sector, and large institutional investors may remain cautious about investing heavily in IT at this stage.

FII Buying Shows Early Signs of a Turnaround

Experts highlighted that FIIs have started showing renewed interest in Indian equities.

Vijayakumar noted that FIIs were buyers in eight out of the last thirteen trading sessions in the cash market, which is being viewed as a positive signal for market sentiment and stability.

Sectoral Performance: IT Weak, Metals and PSU Banks Gain

In early trade, broader indices remained mostly stable:

Nifty 100 slipped slightly by 0.02%
Nifty Midcap remained nearly flat
Nifty Smallcap gained 0.09%

Sectoral indices showed mixed trends:

Declining Sectors

Nifty IT fell sharply by 0.99%
Nifty Media declined by 0.23%
Nifty Auto dipped by 0.05%

Gaining Sectors

Nifty Metal rose 0.37%
Nifty PSU Bank gained 0.37%
Nifty Realty edged up 0.02%

Markets May Stay Range-Bound: Expert View

Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said the market is likely to remain steady to slightly positive, extending momentum after two consecutive sessions of gains.

He added that markets could remain range-bound unless there are fresh triggers, with stronger direction expected only from sustained earnings momentum or improved global stability.

Gold and Silver Surge, Crude Oil Slightly Up

In commodities:

Crude oil rose 0.18% to USD 62.44 per barrel
Gold surged 1% to ₹1,52,937 per 10 gm (24K)
Silver jumped 2% to ₹2,33,000 per kg

Asian Markets Gain Amid Global Developments

In other Asian markets:

Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.13% to 57,205
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.52% to 26,705

Markets in Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea remained closed due to a holiday.

Meanwhile, geopolitical developments also remained in focus as US-Iran nuclear talks concluded a second round in Geneva, with both sides reporting “good progress,” despite regional tensions.