Market Overview: Feb 24 – Feb 28, 2026
Indian markets ended the week on a cautious note as global geopolitical tensions and RBI’s hawkish commentary weighed on sentiment. The benchmark NIFTY 50 shed 1.2% for the week while the SENSEX declined 1.4%, reflecting broad-based selling pressure across banking and IT counters.
Index Performance
| Index | Close | Weekly Change | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIFTY 50 | 23,697 | -1.20% | -2.8% |
| SENSEX | 78,041 | -1.40% | -3.1% |
| NIFTY Bank | 50,892 | -1.80% | -4.2% |
| NIFTY IT | 37,450 | +0.60% | -1.5% |
| India VIX | 14.85 | +12.3% | — |
Sector Heat Map
Winners: IT (+0.6%), Pharma (+1.2%), FMCG (+0.3%)
Losers: PSU Banks (-3.1%), Realty (-2.8%), Auto (-1.9%), Metal (-1.5%)
Top 5 NIFTY Gainers This Week
| # | Stock | Close (₹) | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Pharma | 1,845 | +6.2% |
| 2 | Trent | 6,890 | +5.2% |
| 3 | Tata Motors | 785 | +4.5% |
| 4 | HCL Tech | 1,620 | +3.8% |
| 5 | L&T | 3,450 | +2.9% |
Top 5 NIFTY Losers This Week
| # | Stock | Close (₹) | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adani Ports | 1,180 | -5.8% |
| 2 | SBI | 745 | -4.2% |
| 3 | HDFC Bank | 1,685 | -3.5% |
| 4 | Bajaj Finance | 6,720 | -3.1% |
| 5 | Hindalco | 585 | -2.7% |
FII & DII Activity
| Date | FII (₹ Cr) | DII (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | -2,450 | +1,890 |
| Tuesday | -1,830 | +2,100 |
| Wednesday | -3,200 | +2,780 |
| Thursday | +540 | +1,200 |
| Friday | -1,650 | +1,430 |
| Net Weekly | -8,590 | +9,400 |
FIIs continued their relentless selling streak, offloading ₹8,590 Cr this week. DIIs remained the market’s backbone with ₹9,400 Cr of net buying, led by mutual fund inflows.
Key Events This Week
- RBI Governor Speech: Flagged liquidity concerns, dampened rate cut expectations
- Iran-US Tensions: Geopolitical risk premium increased India VIX by 12%
- Q3 Results Season: Sun Pharma, Tata Motors beat estimates; HDFC Bank missed on NIM
- Crude Oil: Brent settled at $72.50, offering some relief to OMCs
- Rupee: USD/INR traded at 84.25, weakening 0.3% on FII outflows
Week Ahead: What to Watch
- Monday: India Manufacturing PMI (Feb)
- Tuesday: Auto sales data for February — key for Tata Motors, M&M, Maruti
- Wednesday: Services PMI + GDP revision Q2 FY26
- Thursday: RBI MPC minutes release
- Friday: US Non-Farm Payrolls — impacts FII sentiment
Disclaimer: This is a market summary for informational purposes only. Not investment advice. Please consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.
