By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)
Indian equities rebounded on February 20, with the Nifty 50 advancing 0.46% to 25,571.25 and the Sensex gaining 316.57 points to 82,814.71. The Bank Nifty outperformed, while the PSU Bank index hit a record high. Broader markets were mixed, with the Nifty Midcap index ending in the green, while small caps slipped 0.11%.
On Thursday, February 20, India’s key equity benchmarks, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, recovered sharply after a soft start. On an intraday basis, the Nifty 50 touched a high of 25,663.55. Thereafter, profit booking emerged at higher levels as market participants preferred to cut exposure ahead of the weekend amid escalating Iran-US tensions.
At the closing bell, the Nifty 50 closed higher by 116.90 points, or 0.46%, to 25,571.25. The Sensex advanced by 316.57 points, or 0.38%, to 82,814.71. The Bank Nifty ended at 61,172, up by 0.71%, thereby outperforming the frontline indices.
Volatility spiked, with the India VIX surging more than 6% in today’s session.
On a weekly basis, the Nifty 50 ended 0.39% higher, while the Sensex added 0.23%.
On the sectoral front, 9 out of 11 key sectoral indices ended in positive territory. Meanwhile, broader indices such as the Nifty Midcap and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices ended mixed. The Nifty Midcap ended higher by 0.48%, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 closed 0.11% down.
On Friday, the Nifty PSU Bank index emerged as the top gainer among the sectoral indices, ending 1.68% higher and marking a fresh all-time high. The index is up 13% so far in CY2026.
Among individual stocks,
ABB India share price jumped 4.68% as the company reported its earnings.
Novartis' share price locked in a 20% upper circuit after the ChrysCapital-led consortium acquired a 70.68% stake in Novartis India.
The key drivers of the index gains were:
Larsen & Toubro: +25.77 points
Reliance Industries: +14.66 points
NTPC Limited: +10.16 points
On the other hand, these stocks weighed on the index:
Infosys: -13.31 points
HDFC Bank: -12.58 points
Bharti Airtel: -7.05 points
As of February 20, 2026, the market breadth was slightly tilted towards declining stocks. Out of 3,251 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,515 advanced, 1,630 declined, and 106 remained unchanged.
A total of 39 stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 140 hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 70 stocks were locked in their upper circuits, whereas 70 stocks were locked in lower circuits.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).
Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise.
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