Taking Stock: Sensex, Nifty end flat amid final-hour selling; auto, IT, metals shine

Taking Stock: Sensex, Nifty end flat amid final-hour selling; auto, IT, metals shine

• Nifty and Sensex closed flat after early gains were erased
• Midcap and Smallcap indices outperformed benchmarks
• Over 100 stocks hit 52-week highs, 300 stocks hit 52-week lows

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Indian markets began the March series on a firm footing, with the Nifty opening above 25,500 and trading in positive territory for most of the session, touching an intraday high of 25,652.60. However, profit booking in the afternoon session wiped out the early gains, leading the benchmark to close on a flat note.

At close, the Sensex was up 50.15 points or 0.06 percent at 82,276.07, and the Nifty was up 57.85 points or 0.23 percent at 25,482.50.

Broader indices outperformed the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap index gaining 0.5% and the Smallcap index rising 1%.

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SBI, ITC, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Reliance Industries were among major losers on the Nifty, while gainers were Tata Steel, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Auto, Shriram Finance, Adani Enterprises.

On the sectoral front, auto, healthcare, IT, metal, pharma up 1-2 percent, while telecom index down 1%, FMCG, PSU Bank down 0.4% each.

In stock specific action, Schaeffler India share price added 3% as profit rises 35%, Waaree Energies share price slipped 10% despite LoA to develop 300 MW wind power project, SpiceJet share price rose 6% after 8.4% equity traded in a block, Indian Railway Finance Corporation shares fell 4% as government to sell up to 2% stake.

Aditya Infotech shares added 7% as promoters, Dixon Tech likely to sell stake via block deal, Univastu India shares rose 5% on order win of Rs 485 crore.

Index	Prices	Change	Change%
Sensex	74,563.92	-1,470.50	-1.93%
Nifty 50	23,151.10	-488.05	-2.06%
Nifty Bank	53,757.85	-1,343.10	-2.44%

Nifty 50 23,151.10 -488.05 (-2.06%)

Fri, Mar 13, 2026

• 1D
• 5D
• 1M
• 3M
• 6M
• 1Y
• 2Y

Biggest Gainer	Prices	Change	Change%
TATA Cons. Prod	1,083.60	25.80	+2.44%

Biggest Loser	Prices	Change	Change%
Larsen	3,439.00	-280.50	-7.54%

Best Sector	Prices	Change	Change%
Nifty FMCG	47924.15	-265.00	-0.55%

Worst Sector	Prices	Change	Change%
Nifty Metal	11292.50	-571.40	-4.82%

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More than 100 stocks touched their 52-week high, including Graphite India, KEI Industries, SAIL, Tata Steel, Polycab, Bank of Maharashtra, Bajaj Auto, GE Vernova TD, Ajanta Pharma, GE Shipping, among others. Click to View More

More than 300 stocks touched their 52-week low, including IRFC, Firstsource Solutions, Hexaware Technologies, Cello World, Suzlon Energy, Afcons Infra, Vedant Fashions, Just Dial, Cyient, Network 18, among others. Click to View More

Outlook for February 26

Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities 

Nifty opened with a gap-up and extended gains to an intraday high of 25,653. However, selling pressure at higher levels dragged the index lower, leading to a fill of the morning intraday gap. The index eventually closed at 25,483, up 0.23%. On the daily chart, Nifty has formed a small-bodied candle with a long upper shadow, indicating supply emerging at higher levels. Notably, the selling pressure was seen around the 50-day EMA.

Going ahead, the immediate support for Nifty is placed in the 25400–25350 zone. Strong rebound was seen from this zone on the previous two occasions. Any sustainable move below this zone could result in Nifty filling the gap and extending its weakness towards 25150, followed by 24950 in the short term. On the upside, the zone of 25600–25650 zone is likely to act as an immediate resistance.

Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities

Today, the benchmark indices witnessed a volatile trading session. After a roller-coaster activity, the Nifty ended 58 points higher, while the Sensex was up by 50 points. Among sectors, the Metal Index outperformed, rallying 2.60 percent. Technically, the market opened on a strong note, but after an intraday rally, it again witnessed profit booking at higher levels, which is largely negative.

We are of the view that the 20-day SMA (Simple Moving Average) or 25,600/82500 will act as an immediate resistance zone for day traders. As long as the market trades below this level, the weak sentiment is likely to continue on the downside, with a potential slip toward the 200-day SMA or 25,350-25,300/82000-81800. Conversely, if the market moves above the 20-day SMA or 25,600/82500, the pullback could extend toward 25,750-25,800/82800-83000.

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