Indian equity markets are poised for a higher opening on February 19, 2025, following a mixed session on Wall Street and fluctuating global sentiment. Early morning trends in the GIFT Nifty, trading around 23,006, suggest a potential rebound after benchmark indices closed lower on February 18 amid volatility.

Sensex and Nifty End in the Red After a Choppy Session

Tuesday’s session was anything but smooth. The Sensex dropped 0.04%, closing at 75,967.39, while the Nifty ended at 22,945.30, marking a 0.06% decline. Both indices saw sharp swings throughout the day before settling in negative territory.

Certain heavyweight stocks bore the brunt of the fall, dragging down the Nifty:

Trent, IndusInd Bank, M&M, UltraTech Cement, and Bharat Electronics ranked among the biggest losers.
On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, ONGC, Power Grid, and NTPC helped limit losses with their gains.

A sectoral split was evident, with Pharma, FMCG, Media, PSU Banks, and Consumer Durables losing between 0.5% and 1%, whereas IT, Power, and Oil & Gas sectors gained around 0.5% each.

Broader Market Weakness Raises Caution

While the frontline indices saw relatively minor losses, the broader market suffered a steeper decline. The BSE Midcap index slipped 0.2%, but it was the BSE Small Cap index that took a harder hit, sinking 1.7%.

This suggests that investor caution is creeping into mid and small-cap stocks, even as larger blue-chip companies show relative stability. Market breadth remains negative, signaling that more stocks closed lower than higher.

Global Markets: Mixed Signals and Lingering Geopolitical Worries

Markets around the world presented a mixed picture heading into Wednesday’s trade. Asian indices opened uncertain, weighed down by ongoing geopolitical concerns and growing fears of a potential global trade war.

In the United States, stock movements were erratic, but the indices managed to end on a positive note:

Dow Jones gained 10.26 points, finishing at 44,556.34.
S&P 500 rose by 14.95 points, closing at 6,129.58.
Nasdaq Composite inched up 14.49 points (0.07%) to 20,041.26.

These mild gains indicate resilience in U.S. markets, but investors are still watching economic data and Federal Reserve commentary for further cues.

Key Levels to Watch for Nifty and Sensex

As markets prepare for today’s session, traders will be eyeing crucial support and resistance levels:

For Nifty, support is seen near 22,850, while immediate resistance is around 23,100.
Sensex may find support at 75,800, with resistance expected near 76,200.

A positive opening would be a welcome relief, but volatility is likely to persist given the mixed global cues and ongoing macroeconomic concerns.