20.02.202604:28:07UTC+00Sensex Begins Day on a Flat Note

India’s BSE Sensex was largely flat around 82,493 on Friday, steadying after the previous session’s sharp sell-off, though pressure persisted across most sectors. Market sentiment remained cautious amid escalating US–Iran tensions, uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s interest rate-cut trajectory, and elevated crude oil prices.

Investors also awaited India’s preliminary February PMI and the US Q4 GDP figures, with US growth expected to slow to 3% from 4.4% in the prior quarter, due for release later in the day. Despite the broader softness, stock-specific catalysts kept Novartis India, RailTel, Texmaco Rail, and Pace Digitek in focus following corporate developments.

On the downside, early underperformers included Newgen Software (-6.8%), Godfrey Phillips (-4.4%), Netweb Technologies (-3.1%), and Datamatics Global Services (-2.2%). For the week, the Sensex is on track for a modest 0.4% decline.