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Informist, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

 

By Eshitva Prakash

 

MUMBAI – The benchmark equity indices closed practically flat Thursday after recovering from a fall in the final hour of trade. After a gap-up opening, investors adopted a sell-on-rise strategy, putting the indices under pressure, analysts said. Healthcare stocks were among the biggest gainers, followed by select automobile and defence stocks. 

 

The equity market is unable to rise significantly owing to uncertainty about US import tariffs, analysts said. The Indian government has not yet clarified whether the import duty of 18%, decided under the India-US trade deal framework, will apply even after the US Supreme Court's ruling last week. After the court struck down most tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in 2025, Trump imposed a baseline 10% tariff on all US imports for 150 days, effective Tuesday. He has threatened to raise the baseline tariff to 15% but is yet to sign an executive order to that effect.

 

The Nifty 50 settled at 25496.55 points, up 14.05 points or 0.1%. The 50-stock index moved in a range of 172 points throughout the session. The BSE Sensex ended at 82248.61 points, down 27.46 points.

 

Automobile companies Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Eicher Motors ended over 2% higher to top the list of Nifty 50 stocks that rose on the day. Analysts expect healthy automobile wholesale volume growth in February. A 1?ll in HDFC Bank was a major drag on the 50-stock index. Power Grid Corp. of India, Eternal, and Trent were the worst hit in the index, ending over 1% lower.

 

Global brokerage Nomura said automobile volumes are likely to remain on a firm footing in February, with momentum being sustained across key segments. In commercial vehicles, elevated freight realisations and healthy fleet economics continue to drive replacement-led purchases, the brokerage said. Nomura expects the sales of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles to rise around 34% on year. The brokerage sees 10,000 unit sales per month for the newly launched Tata Sierra. 

 

The Nifty Auto index ended nearly 1% higher. Barring Mahindra & Mahindra, all its constituents ended higher. Shares of Samvardhana Motherson International, Uno Minda, and Maruti Suzuki India each closed around 1% higher.

 

Shares of hospital operators and pharmaceutical companies also ended higher. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Max Healthcare Institute, and Cipla advanced 1–2%. The Nifty Healthcare index was the best performing sectoral index, rising 1.2% in the session. Defence companies also gained, with Bharat Electronics ending over 2% higher. Data Patterns (India), Astra Microwave Products, and Bharat Dynamics rose 3-5%.  More