Published on: 26 Feb, 2026 07:45

Indian markets are set for a flat-to-mildly positive open on February 26, 2026, tracking supportive Asian cues and easing volatility, though domestic momentum remains range-bound. With fresh brokerage calls limited, early focus is on technical breakouts in mid-cap financials and power stocks amid cautious optimism.

Indian equity benchmarks are poised for a flat-to-mildly positive open on February 26, 2026, with Gift Nifty trading around 25,628–25,667 (a modest premium to the previous close). This follows a resilient session on February 25, where the Nifty 50 closed at 25,482.50 (+0.23% or +57.85 points) and the Sensex at 82,276 (+50 points or ~0.06%). Global cues are supportive: Asian markets opened higher, with Japan’s Nikkei hitting fresh records and South Korea’s KOSPI up ~2% after Nvidia’s upbeat earnings eased AI-spending concerns, though US futures turned slightly softer post-results.

Domestic sentiment remains cautious amid range-bound trading, mixed FII/DII flows, and upcoming data points (including GDP-related releases). Volatility has eased (India VIX down ~4.7% to ~13.49), but the market lacks clear directional momentum. Key themes include selective strength in financials, power/infra, and autos/pharma from yesterday’s session, with IT concerns viewed as overdone by some analysts.

As of this pre-market snapshot (~7:30 AM IST), fresh recommendations are limited but focused on technical breakouts in mid/small-caps. Standout calls include Sammaan Capital (Buy, target ₹180), L&T Finance (Buy, target ₹350), and Quality Power Electrical Equipments (Buy, target ₹1,040). Only a handful of explicit calls emerged overnight/early morning from technical aggregators and media desks; broader brokerage morning notes (e.g., Motilal Oswal, ICICI Securities) had not yet surfaced with new stock-specific upgrades at the time of compilation.

Section 1: Index Outlook The market is expected to remain in consolidation mode in the near term. Nifty needs a decisive break above 25,700 to trigger a fresh rally; otherwise, range-bound action between 25,300–25,900 is likely.

Index Outlook Target/Range Key Drivers Source
Nifty 50 Neutral / Consolidation 25,300 – 25,900 OI data (heavy call writing at 25,600; put writing at 25,500), global cues, profit-booking at highs Moneycontrol, Livemint
Sensex Neutral / Consolidation 82,000 – 83,200 20-DMA resistance at 82,500; 200-DMA support ~81,800–82,000 Livemint
Bank Nifty Mildly cautious 60,500 – 61,500 Holding above key EMAs but momentum indicators softening Moneycontrol

Nomura remains constructive longer-term, maintaining a December 2026 Nifty target of 29,300 and calling recent IT-sector fears “premature and overdone.” The brokerage stays positive on financials, cement, consumer discretionary, auto ancillaries, telecom, and pharma. Short-term bias is neutral with dips to be bought in quality financial names.

Section 2: Sector-Wise Stock Picks Fresh calls are concentrated in Financials/NBFCs and Capital Goods/Power Equipment. No major upgrades/downgrades from large domestic or global brokerages (Morgan Stanley, Goldman, Jefferies, etc.) were published in the early hours for today.

Financials & NBFCs

  • Sammaan Capital Ltd (NSE: SAMMAANCAP) – Buy Current price: ~₹158.35 Target: ₹180 (upside ~13.7%) Rationale: Short-term bullish outlook confirmed by an inverted head-and-shoulder pattern on the daily chart (bullish reversal). The 21-DMA has crossed above the 55-DMA. Support zone at ₹150–153; fresh buying expected on dips. Accumulate on dips to ₹154; initial stop-loss ₹144. (Note: Stock added to F&O ban list today.) Source: The Hindu BusinessLine (technical recommendation, published/updated Feb 26).
  • L&T Finance Ltd (NSE: LTF) – Buy Current price: ~₹303.35 Target: ₹350 (upside ~15.5%, 2–3 months horizon) Rationale: Strong parentage from L&T Group provides governance and capital access advantages. Diversified retail-focused loan book (rural, housing, SME, gold, two-wheeler); robust disbursement growth and expanding AUM. Likely inclusion in global indices (e.g., MSCI) to drive passive inflows. Buy range: ₹300–305; stop-loss ₹292. Source: MarketSmith India via Livemint (Feb 26 recommendation).

Capital Goods / Power Equipment

  • Quality Power Electrical Equipments Ltd (NSE: QPOWER) – Buy Current price: ~₹899.45 Target: ₹1,040 (upside ~15.6%, 2–3 months horizon) Rationale: Strong positioning in power transmission equipment with exposure to renewables, grid modernisation, and export markets. Growing order book, high-voltage tech capabilities, asset-light model, and improving margins amid government infra push. Buy range: ₹895–905; stop-loss ₹845. Source: MarketSmith India via Livemint (Feb 26 recommendation).

Stocks to Watch Today (Corporate/Other Triggers – Not Explicit Recommendations)

  • Lupin, Reliance Industries, Vedanta, NTPC, IRFC, ITC – Action expected on regulatory updates, stake changes, ratings actions, order wins, or expansions (ET Now, Feb 26). These are event-driven rather than fresh brokerage calls.

Section 3: Global & Thematic Insights Global brokerages remain largely constructive on India’s structural story despite near-term volatility. Nomura’s December 2026 Nifty target of 29,300 highlights resilience in financials and infra-related themes. IT-sector drawdown is seen as overdone, creating selective entry points.

Thematic focus: Power & renewable equipment (benefiting from capex cycle) and retail-oriented NBFCs (AUM growth + index inclusions). Geopolitical developments (US-Iran talks) and any tariff/news flow could influence sentiment. BSE/NSE corporate announcements today centre on routine filings; no major block-deal or analyst-meet triggers noted in early scans.

Conclusion & Disclaimer Overall short-term sentiment is neutral to cautiously optimistic with range-bound trading likely until a clear breakout. Longer-term outlook remains bullish on structural growth drivers. Investors should monitor Nifty’s 25,700 level for directional cues and focus on quality names in financials and power equipment for momentum. Key stocks to track at open: Sammaan Capital, L&T Finance, and Quality Power Electrical Equipments.

Actionable takeaway: Use dips in the highlighted Buy calls for accumulation within stated stop-loss levels, while keeping position sizes modest amid consolidation.

Disclaimer: This is an aggregation of publicly available recommendations and market data as of ~7:30 AM IST on February 26, 2026, for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice. Markets can move rapidly; always consult a certified financial advisor and conduct your own due diligence. Past performance is not indicative of future results.


Sources & Citations

Pre-market snapshot – new calls or updates may emerge post-open. Data verified from sources timestamped/published February 26, 2026.

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