Domestic equity benchmarks concluded a volatile session on a flat note this Thursday, February 26, 2026. The Nifty 50 managed a marginal gain while the Sensex ended slightly in the red, reflecting a cautious tug-of-war between bulls and bears. The broader **Nifty 50 settled at 25,496.55**, gaining **14.05 points or 0.06%**. During the day, the index experienced significant swings, hitting an intraday high of **25,572.95** before trimming gains. The **30-stock BSE Sensex closed at 82,248.61**, declining by **27.46 points or 0.03%**. The index saw a high of **82,957.91** earlier in the session, representing a nearly **732-point** swing from its peak to its close. Selling pressure in heavyweight financial stocks acted as the primary drag. **HDFC Bank** emerged as a major laggard, weighing down both indices. Other notable losers included **Trent**, **Coal India**, and **NTPC**, which fell by approximately **1.5%**. Conversely, the auto and technology sectors provided much-needed support. **Tata Motors** led the gainers with a **2.2%** rise, followed by **Eicher Motors** and **Bharat Electronics (BEL)**. The **Nifty IT index** outperformed the broader market, gaining nearly **0.9%** following strong global cues. Market breadth remained nearly balanced. On the NSE, **26 stocks** advanced while **24 declined**. The **India VIX**, a measure of market volatility, stayed relatively stable at **13.50**, though traders noted a "risk-off" sentiment in the afternoon. Institutional activity showed a rare alignment. On the previous trading day, **Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)** were net buyers of **₹2,991 crore**, while **Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)** bought equities worth **₹5,118 crore**. Technical analysts point to the **25,500** level as a psychological magnet for the Nifty. Immediate support is seen at **25,325**, while resistance is expected near the **25,700** zone. A decisive move above this ceiling is required to spark fresh momentum. Global cues were mixed but generally supportive. US markets had rallied overnight, led by a surge in semiconductor and software stocks. However, cooling European markets and fluctuations in crude oil—with **Brent** trading near **$71**—kept domestic investors on edge. In the commodities space, gold prices remained a focal point for safe-haven demand. April futures on the MCX were hovering near **₹1,61,242 per 10 grams**, while silver maintained strength around **$90 per ounce** internationally.