Nifty, Sensex Likely To Open Negative On Friday Amid US-Iran Tension


By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)

Summary:


Nifty is expected to start Friday on a weak note due to mixed global cues and rising Iran-US tensions. FIIs bought ₹880.49 crore while DIIs sold ₹596.28 crore. Investors will track stock-specific developments, Wall Street performance, macro data, and movements in gold, silver and crude oil prices.

Nifty May Open Lower; Iran-US Tensions Weigh on Global Cues

Nifty is expected to start Friday’s session on a cautious and anxious note, with a bright chance that the index could wobble further amid lingering global uncertainties and fragile sentiment. Gift Nifty was trading around the 25,400 level, a discount of nearly 5 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close.

The dominant global trading theme centers on US President Donald Trump’s statement that a decision on potential military strikes against Iran will be made within the next 10 days, keeping geopolitical nerves on edge and risk sentiment fragile.

Asian markets traded mixed, while the US stock market ended lower, with all three major Wall Street indices closing in the red.

Iran-US Tensions Weigh on Sentiment

US President Donald Trump cautioned Iran to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme within 10–15 days, warning of severe consequences otherwise. Tehran responded that any attack would trigger retaliation against US military bases across the region.

Stocks to Watch on Thursday: Waaree Energies, Texmaco Rail, RailTel and Others 

The stock-specific actions are likely to continue, and here is the list of stocks to watch out for on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Company

Key Development

Waaree Energies

In talks with Andhra Pradesh & other states for greenfield facility; expanding battery storage capacity from 3.5 GWh to 20 GWh with ~₹8,000 crore capex.

Texmaco Rail & Engineering

Signed JV shareholders’ agreement with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited to develop next-gen rolling stock and expand global rail EPC presence.

RailTel Corporation of India

Received railway signalling order worth ₹35.54 crore; execution timeline 24 months.

Karur Vysya Bank

Cut MCLR rates - 1-year & 6-month to 9.10%, 1-month & 3-month to 8.95% effective Feb 22.

Zydus Lifesciences

USFDA pre-approval inspection at Ahmedabad injectable device unit closed with zero observations.

Institutional Flows – FIIs and DIIs

On February 19, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers, having bought equities worth ₹880.49 crore. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), on the other hand, sold shares totalling ₹596.28 crore during the same session.

FIIs have snapped a streak of buying for two consecutive trading sessions. 

Thursday’s Market Action

On Thursday, the Indian stock market ended sharply lower, snapping its three-day winning streak, amid cautious global cues.

The Sensex crashed 1,236.11 points, or 1.48%, to close at 82,498.14, while the Nifty 50 settled 365.00 points, or 1.41%, lower at 25,454.35.

Wall Street Closed Lower on Thursday 

The US stock market ended lower on Thursday, dragged by declines in private-equity firms and weakness in Walmart and Apple shares.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.54% to 49,395.16, while the S&P 500 fell 0.28% to 6,861.89. The Nasdaq Composite closed 0.31% lower at 22,682.73.

Among individual stocks, Apple dropped 1.4%, Nvidia eased 0.04%, Advanced Micro Devices rose 1.62%, Tesla gained 0.09%, and Walmart declined 1.4%. Private-equity players including Blue Owl Capital, Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, KKR & Co., and The Carlyle Group fell between 1.9% and 6%.

The US goods trade deficit widened to a record in 2025, reaching $1.24 trillion, slightly higher than 2024. Including services, the overall deficit narrowed to $901.5 billion from $903.5 billion a year earlier. In December, the deficit rose 32.6% to $70.3 billion as exports declined and imports increased.

New applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 23,000 to 206,000 in the week ended February 14, below the expectations of economists. The fall marked a sharp improvement after claims had climbed to 232,000 at the end of January.

Japan Inflation

Japan’s core consumer inflation slowed to 2.0% year-on-year in January from 2.4% in December, the weakest pace in two years. Meanwhile, the flash composite PMI rose to 53.8 in February from 53.1 in January, the fastest growth since May 2023.

Dollar

The US dollar was set for its strongest weekly performance since October, with the dollar index hovering near a one-month high of 97.89 and heading for a gain of over 1% for the week.

Additional Read: Silver Rate Today in India

Commodities – Gold, Silver and Crude Oil 

Gold edged above $5,000 per ounce on Friday, loosely extending a two-day gain as traders weighed geopolitical risks alongside the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. Gold edged above $5,000 per ounce on Friday, loosely extending a two-day gain as traders weighed geopolitical risks alongside the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.

Spot silver declined 0.22% to $78.35 per ounce after climbing more than 1.72% on Thursday.

WTI crude oil futures jumped by 0.09% to trade at $66.55 on Friday. Oil futures edge higher in early Asian trade amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions that could lead to supply disruptions.

Additional Read: Gold Price Today in India

About the Author

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. 

Published Date : 20 Feb 2026

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Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

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