Indian markets are likely to open in the negative zone as selling in IT counters is unabated despite the sharp slide on the AI threat. Gift Nifty at 25,710 indicates a gap-down opening of about 150 points.
Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said Indian equity markets are expected to open on a mildly negative note, tracking continued weakness in global equities after a sharp sell-off in technology stocks. “Growing concerns over AI-led disruption and fading optimism around near-term global rate cuts—following strong U.S. jobs data—are likely to weigh on sentiment,” he said. Nearly ₹2.80 lakh crore in market capitalisation was erased in the previous session, signalling that traders preferred to lock in gains rather than chase valuations at elevated levels. However, this does not indicate structural damage; rather, it reflects controlled profit-taking after a strong rally, he added.
Derivative trading on the NSE also presents a cautious stance.
Dhupesh Dhameja, Derivatives Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities, said Options data reflects a cautious undertone in the near term. Call writers have aggressively built fresh positions at at-the-money and nearby strikes, effectively limiting immediate upside potential. Conversely, put writers have repositioned at lower strikes, suggesting expectations of a well-defined trading band. “A significant open interest build-up of approximately 1.68 crore contracts at the 26,000 call strike underscores this level as a formidable resistance barrier. Meanwhile, nearly 54.20 lakh contracts added at the 25,500 put strike strengthen it as an immediate support base. Put–Call Ratio (PCR) declined sharply to 0.61 from 0.89, highlighting relatively weaker sentiment and the dominance of call writing in the short term.”
Meanwhile, steady buying by foreign portfolio investors helps the market (outside IT stocks) remain stable.
“FII flows remain supportive in the broader context, while steady DII participation continues to cushion volatility. The undertone has shifted from aggressive optimism to cautious consolidation, with markets entering a digestion phase as investors reassess valuations and global cues,” Ponmudi said.
Despite heavy selling in the US market overnight, Asian stocks are mixed. While Japanese and Australian stocks are down, Korea’s Kospi is up.
Published on February 13, 2026
