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Informist, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

 

By Anshul Choudhary

MUMBAI – The Nifty 50 index is likely to test 26000 points this week, options data showed. Sentiment in the options market improved after the Nifty 50 managed to overcome the resistance of 25800 points in the final hour of trade, resulting in short-covering.

Options data suggest the Nifty 50 index may face resistance around higher levels with traders adding significant open interest at call options of 25800 strike price. However, analysts said the Nifty 50 index is expected to rise at a slower pace going forward and may face resistance at 26000 points--around 1% higher from the current level.

 

"Market participants are attempting to regain control but indications still favour an extended consolidation phase," Ajit Mishra, senior vice-president of research at Religare Broking, said in a note. Wednesday, the Nifty 50 closed at 25819.35 points, up 0.4%.

 

The highest open interest on the call side was at the 26000 strike price. This level has been a major resistance for the index for more than a month now. Last week, the Nifty 50 index had fallen over 2% to the week's low after market participants sold stocks once the index hit 26000 points.

 

The Nifty 50 index is unlikely to see any sharp fall in the coming sessions as the December quarter earnings, after excluding the cost of implementation of the new labour codes, has been better than expected. Options data show the index is likely to find support at 25700 points as put contracts at this strike price saw the highest addition of open interest.

 

Further, the market movement will depend on the visit of Indian officials to the US next week to finalise the legal text of the interim trade agreement between the countries, which will bring down the tariff on Indian goods to 18%.

 

--Nifty 50 February closed at 25827, up 87.60 points; 7.65-point premium to the spot index

--Nifty 50 March closed at 25978, up 79.30 points; 158.65-point premium to the spot index

--Nifty 50 April closed at 26142, up 87.60points; 322.65-point premium to the spot index

 

Infosys, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, ICICI Bank, Eternal, Reliance Industries, ITC, State Bank of India, BSE, Wipro, JSW Steel, Bajaj Finance, and Aurobindo Pharma were the most actively traded underlying stocks Wednesday.  End

 

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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