Indian equity markets opened higher on Thursday, 19 February 2026, tracking firm cues from Asian markets, but pared early gains to trade in a narrow range amid pressure in heavyweight stocks.
The 30-share BSE Sensex opened bly at 83,979. However, volatility emerged within minutes of the opening. At 9:31 am, the Sensex was trading at 83,704.23, up 30.02 points or 0.04 percent.
The NSE Nifty-50 opened at 25,873 but also witnessed early softness. At 9:32 am, the Nifty was trading at 25,814.05, down 5.30 points. The market lacked a clear direction as investors balanced supportive global cues against selling pressure in select domestic heavyweights.
Information technology stocks provided support in early trade, reflecting gains in major US technology companies. Buying interest in Indian IT companies followed the rally in US tech shares.
However, weakness in heavyweight stocks including Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank weighed on the indices, limiting the overall upside and keeping benchmark indices range-bound.
Asian equity markets traded higher on Thursday morning. South Korea’s Kospi index touched a new high. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1 percent, while the Kospi advanced around 3 percent. Markets in China and Hong Kong remained closed due to Lunar New Year holidays.
In the United States, equity markets closed higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in major technology stocks. The S&P 500 ended about 0.56 percent higher, the Dow Jones rose 0.26 percent, and the Nasdaq closed up 0.78 percent. The strength in US markets was reflected in the initial momentum seen in Indian equities.
According to Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, the MACD indicator remains in a positive crossover, indicating technical support for the ongoing recovery. He said selling pressure is being observed in the 25,850 to 25,900 range, which is currently acting as near-term resistance for the Nifty.
On the downside, 25,650 is seen as the first support level, followed by b support in the 25,600 to 25,550 range. As long as the Nifty remains above these levels, the market bias may remain mildly positive.
In the primary market, Yashtej Industries India’s IPO opened for subscription on its second day on Thursday. The issue is an Rs 88.88 crore fixed price offering. Share allotment is expected to be finalised on 23 February, with a potential listing on 25 February.
Separately, shares of Marushika Technology Limited are scheduled to list on the NSE and BSE on Thursday. Market participants are monitoring the listing performance.
