Stock Market LIVE Today: Gift Nifty signals positive start for markets global cues - Q3 earnings and inflation data to drive market mood

Stock Market LIVE Today: Indian equity markets are expected to open on a positive note on Monday, tracking firm cues from global markets. Gift Nifty was trading around the 25,922 level, indicating a mildly positive start for domestic indices.

Asian markets were largely trading higher, led by strong gains in Japan’s Nikkei, South Korea’s Kospi and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng. US market sentiment remained supportive after gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and Dow futures. European markets also ended the previous session on a positive note, adding to the supportive global backdrop for Indian equities at the open.

The penultimate month of the current financial year has so far been volatile for equity investors. Benchmark indices witnessed sharp swings as investors reacted to key policy announcements made during the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 and the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy decision.

Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source

The central bank kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent and maintained a neutral policy stance, in line with market expectations. The announcement related to the India-US trade deal on February 2 also added to market volatility during the week.

During the month of February so far, the BSE Sensex has seen wide movements, swinging between a low of 79,899.42 and a high of 85,871.73. Similarly, the NSE Nifty 50 moved between a low of 24,571.75 and a high of 26,341.20, reflecting heightened uncertainty and stock-specific action.

On February 6, the Sensex closed at 83,580.40, gaining 266.47 points, or 0.32 per cent, from the previous close. The Nifty 50 ended at 25,693.70, up 50.90 points, or 0.20 per cent.

Key Market Cues This Week

Several domestic and global factors are expected to influence market sentiment in the coming week, from February 9 to February 13. Key triggers include the release of inflation data, the ongoing third-quarter earnings season, and trends in foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows.

Inflation Data

The National Statistical Office (NSO) is scheduled to release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation data for January 2026 on February 12. The inflation numbers will be closely tracked by market participants for cues on price trends and the future policy outlook. Following this, the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is set to release the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation data for January on February 16, 2026.

Q3 Earnings Season

The third-quarter earnings season is nearing its conclusion, with a large number of companies scheduled to announce their financial results this week. As many as 1,714 companies listed on the BSE are expected to report their quarterly earnings.

Among the benchmark index constituents, companies such as Titan, Hindustan Unilever, Coal India, ONGC, Apollo Hospitals and Mahindra & Mahindra are slated to announce their Q3 results. Apart from these, several other companies, including IRCTC, Sun Pharma, Britannia Industries, IRCON, Hindalco Industries, BSE, Lenskart Solutions and Ashok Leyland are also expected to declare their earnings during the week.

Corporate results and management commentary are likely to drive stock-specific action across sectors, particularly in FMCG, metals, oil and gas, healthcare and auto stocks.

India-US Trade Deal

Market participants will also continue to assess developments related to the India-US trade agreement. Following the initial announcement earlier this month, an interim trade pact between the two countries was announced on February 6.

As per the announcement, the United States will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the earlier level of 50 per cent. The move is expected to provide improved access for Indian exporters to the US market. Sectors that could benefit include textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products and select machinery segments.

In return, India will reduce or remove import duties on several US industrial goods and food products, including nuts, fruits and spirits. The impact of the interim trade pact on specific export-oriented sectors and related stocks is expected to remain in focus during the week.

Overall, global cues, macroeconomic data releases and corporate earnings are likely to guide market direction in the near term, while investors remain cautious amid ongoing volatility.