Extending losing streak for second straight session, Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty ended deeply in red on Monday as intensified geopolitical tensions weighed on market sentiments. Index made a gap-down start following pessimistic cues from other Asian markets after Middle East conflict escalated over the weekend, fueled brent crude oil prices to $110 per barrel mark and created further supply disruptions in the region. Besides, sentiments remained weak amid persistent foreign fund outflow. As per exchange data, foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 6,030.38 crore on Friday. Meanwhile, rupee depreciation to all-time-low of 92.35 against U.S. Dollar, also impacted trading sentiments. However, in second half of the session, Nifty pared some of its losses but eventually ended the session above 24,000 mark.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility increased by 17.51% and reached 23.36. The 50 share Nifty down by 422.40 point or 1.73% to settle at 24,028.05.

Nifty March 2026 futures closed at 24090.10 (LTP) on Monday, at a premium of 62.05 points over spot closing of 24028.05, while Nifty April 2026 futures ended at 24245.00 (LTP), at a premium of 216.95 points over spot closing. Nifty March futures saw an addition of 32,456 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,74,113 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on March 30, 2026. (Provisional)

From the most active contracts, HDFC Bank March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 4.50 points at 843.60 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 839.10. The numbers of contracts traded were 65,326. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 4.70 points at 1423.30 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1418.60. The numbers of contracts traded were 45,437. (Provisional)

State Bank of India March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 4.70 points at 1106.30 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1101.60. The numbers of contracts traded were 34,023. (Provisional)

ICICI Bank March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 6.60 points at 1281.60 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1275.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 32,251. (Provisional)

Infosys March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 1.00 points at 1317.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1316.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 26,366. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 25000 SP from the March month expiry was the most active call with an addition of 10,454 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 23000 SP from the March month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 5,193 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (1,00,360 units) and that for Puts was at 24000 SP (90,849 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 24171.53 -- Pivot Point 23934.67 -- Support 23791.18.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.12) for March month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on GAIL (India) (1.13), RBL Bank (1.12), Lodha Developers (1.12), Jindal Steel (1.10), and REC (1.07).

Among most active underlying HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 7,326 units of Open Interest in the March month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 504 units of Open Interest in the March month future, ICICI Bank witnessed an addition of 3,145 units of Open Interest in the March month futures, State Bank of India witnessed an addition of 6,438 units of Open Interest in the March month futures and InterGlobe Aviation witnessed an addition of 3,028 units of Open Interest in the March month futures. (Provisional).