First Trade: Indices snap 7-day losing run; Sensex gains 289 pts, Nifty at 23,095

Indian equities in Friday's session (February 14, 2025) opened higher snapping the longest losing streak in three months. At the open, the BSE 30-share Sensex opened higher by 0.38 per cent or 288.5 points at 76,427.47, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 0.28 per cent or 63.75 points to 23,095.15.

Meanwhile, the broader markets underperformed the headline indices, with the smallcap index declining over 0.5 per cent.

Sectorally, there was seen broad-based buying, with the metal and realty pack leading the gains, however, pharma and consumer durables traded weak.

Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities noted the biggest positive catalyst today is the potential for trilateral talks to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine, with President Trump engaging both Russian President Putin and Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy.

From the Nifty pack, top gainers included stocks Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Hindalco, Wipro and M&M, while the laggards were Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises, Sun Pharma, Tata Consumer Products and Apollo Hospitals.

Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services said, "Early indications from the Modi-Trump talks are positive from the market perspective. The threatened reciprocal tariffs have been delayed leaving room for further negotiations and a possible deal."

India’s willingness to buy more oil & gas from the US can help reduce the trade deficit with the US. Even though Trump is unlikely to back down on reciprocal tariffs, India is treated as a friendly country and the bonhomie between the two leaders augurs well for India, added Vijaykumar.

Technical

Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services on the Nifty outlook said, "The swing higher yesterday turned lower on a test of 23220 on anticipated lines, but our key support of 23000 diffused the downside momentum in the second half, just as it did in the first half as well. This encourages us to persist with the upside target of 23430."

Alternatively, inability to push above 23220 or inability to float above 23000 could deflate the upside momentum, but we will wait for slippage past 22800 again to recharter course, added James.

Asian markets

Most Asian equities remained in a flat-to-low range in Friday's session amid heightened concerns over the US trade tariffs as well as sticky inflation. Regional markets remained largely unimpacted despite the strong gains in the overnight session on Wall Street, as sentiment improved after the US President Trump did not resorted to immediate imposition of reciprocal tariffs, which he otherwise threatened earlier.