After witnessing huge losses in the previous session, Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty -- garnered notable gains on Friday, as India has joined Pax Silica, a US-led strategic alliance, specifically designed to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI). Index started the day in negative zone but soon staged recovery, as India’s private sector activity accelerated in the month of February, with quicker increases in total new orders and international sales. According to the data report, the HSBC Flash India PMI Composite Output Index - a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of India's manufacturing and service sectors - rose from 58.4 in January to 59.3 in February, indicating the strongest rate of expansion for three months.

Index maintained its gains till the end of the session, as India has joined Pax Silica, a US-led strategic alliance, specifically designed to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI). Besides, with an aim to further strengthen economic ties, India called for increased collaboration in research and development (R&D), biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and advanced therapeutics with Switzerland. Adding some support, the government stated that it has disbursed Rs 28,748 crore under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes across 14 sectors, including electronics and pharmaceuticals, since the launch of the initiative to boost domestic manufacturing.

Most sectoral indices ended in the green, except IT and media stocks. The top gainers from the F&O segment were ABB India, KEI Industries and Hitachi Energy India. On the other hand, the top losers were Persistent Systems, SBI Cards and Payment Services and Dixon Technologies (India). In the index option segment, maximum OI continues to be seen in the 26900 - 27100 calls and 24900 - 25100 puts indicating this is the trading range expectation.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility increased by 6.70% and reached 14.36. The 50 share Nifty up by 116.90 point or 0.46% to settle at 25,571.25.

Nifty February 2026 futures closed at 25584.70 (LTP) on Friday, at a premium of 13.45 points over spot closing of 25571.25, while Nifty March 2026 futures ended at 25741.00 (LTP), at a premium of 169.75 points over spot closing. Nifty February futures saw an addition of 6,934 units, taking the total outstanding open interest (Contracts) to 2,28,402 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on February 24, 2026. (Provisional) 

From the most active contracts, HDFC Bank February 2026 futures traded at a premium of 1.60 points at 914.75 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 913.15. The numbers of contracts traded were 1,14,003. (Provisional) 

Infosys February 2026 futures traded at a discount of 4.10 points at 1348.90 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1353.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 65,337. (Provisional) 

Reliance Industries February 2026 futures traded at a premium of 0.90 points at 1420.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1419.10. The numbers of contracts traded were 56,609. (Provisional) 

Tata Consultancy Services February 2026 futures traded at a premium of 3.30 points at 2688.30 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 2685.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 46,515. (Provisional) 

ICICI Bank February 2026 futures traded at a premium of 2.90 points at 1396.90 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1394.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 38,246. (Provisional) 

Among, Nifty calls, 25600 SP from the February month expiry was the most active call with a contraction of 49,353 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 25500 SP from the February month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 67,063 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 27000 SP (2,50,743 units) and that for Puts was at 25000 SP (1,85,948 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 25,696.62 -- Pivot Point 25,538.18 -- Support 25,412.82.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (0.87) for February month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Apl Apollo Tubes (1.53), Dalmia Bharat (1.50), KEI Industries (1.43), Lodha Developers (1.29), and PNB Housing Finance (1.21).

Among most active underlying, HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 24,303 units of Open Interest in the February month future, Reliance Industries witnessed a contraction of 6,401 units of Open Interest in the February month future, ICICI Bank witnessed an addition of 6,843 units of Open Interest in the February month futures, Infosys witnessed a contraction of 3,023 units of Open Interest in the February month futures, and Axis Bank witnessed an addition of 4,384 units of Open Interest in the February month futures. (Provisional).