Indian Stock Market Update Feb 20| Nifty 50 today| Sensex closing| Top gainers and losers
Market Snapshot: The Bulls Fight Back
The Indian equity markets orchestrated a stellar comeback on Friday, February 20, 2026, recovering significant ground after Thursday’s brutal post-budget-style sell-off. The benchmark indices shrugged off early morning jitters and escalating geopolitical tensions to close firmly in the green.
The Nifty 50 rose 116.90 points (0.46%) to settle at 25,571.25, successfully defending the psychological 25,500 level. The S&P BSE Sensex jumped 316.57 points (0.38%) to close at 82,814.71.
| Market Metric | Open | High | Low | Close | Change |
| Nifty 50 | 25,406.55 | 25,663.55 | 25,406.55 | 25,571.25 | +0.46% |
| BSE Sensex | 82,272.49 | 83,132.08 | 82,272.49 | 82,814.71 | +0.38% |
| Bank Nifty | 60,627.85 | 61,360.50 | 60,627.85 | 61,172.00 | +0.71% |
Sectoral Performance: Power and Metals Lead the Charge
The market breadth was notably balanced, with the BSE 500 recording an almost equal number of advancing and declining stocks. However, sector rotation was highly evident.
The Winners
- Nifty Metal: Outperformed significantly, driven by fresh buying in heavyweights like Hindalco (+3.21%) and Tata Steel.
- Nifty PSU Bank: Continued to show resilience with Canara Bank and Punjab National Bank leading a strong rally, proving that public sector lenders remain a favorite for value investors.
- Power & Capital Goods: The energy infrastructure theme remains intact. Stocks like Thermax (+4.89%), ABB India (+4.72%), and NTPC (+2.64%) saw massive buying interest on the back of strong order books and a stabilizing domestic demand outlook.
The Laggards
- Nifty IT: The technology pack remained under immense pressure, slipping roughly 1%. Major players like Infosys (-1.28%) and Tech Mahindra saw intense profit booking as global AI disruption worries and cautious US spending outlooks weighed on sentiment.
- Media & Select FMCG: While Hindustan Unilever (+1.71%) stabilized the broader FMCG index, select stocks like Kwality Walls plummeted over 3.4% to become one of the biggest large-cap losers of the day.
Global Cues and Macro Headwinds
The domestic rebound is particularly impressive when viewed against the backdrop of global market volatility.
- US-Iran Geopolitical Tensions: Global crude prices spiked as US President Donald Trump issued stern warnings to Iran regarding its nuclear program, setting a 10-15 day deadline for cooperation. Iran’s threats of retaliation against US bases have put global energy markets on edge. Brent Crude hovered near $71.80/bbl.
- US Economic Data: Wall Street faced downward pressure overnight as slowing US economic growth data combined with slight upticks in inflation metrics, complicating the Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory.
- Asian Markets: Sentiments across Asia were mixed. While Taiwan and South Korea (KOSPI +1.61%) showed strength, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell over 1.29%.
Deep Dive: Top Gainers Analysis
To provide a comprehensive understanding of today’s market movers, we are breaking down the business fundamentals, financial health, and SWOT analysis of the leading stocks that drove the Nifty 50 higher today.
1. Hindalco Industries (LTP: ₹934.75 | +3.21%)
Hindalco Industries, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, was the undisputed star of the Nifty 50 today. The stock saw massive volume-driven buying, settling at ₹934.75.
Business Model:
Hindalco is an industry leader in aluminum and copper. Its acquisition of Novelis made it the world’s largest flat-rolled products player and recycler of aluminum. The company operates across the entire value chain, from bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting to downstream rolling and extrusions.
Indian Stock Market Update Feb 20| Nifty 50 today| Sensex closing| Top gainers and losers
Financials:
The company has consistently managed its debt profile effectively, utilizing strong free cash flows from Novelis to deleverage its domestic balance sheet. Operating margins have remained resilient despite volatile LME (London Metal Exchange) aluminum prices, largely due to a higher share of value-added products (VAPs) in its portfolio.
SWOT Analysis:
- Strengths: Global leadership in aluminum recycling (Novelis); low cost of production in India; diversified product portfolio catering to packaging, auto, and aerospace.
- Weaknesses: High capital intensity of the business; susceptibility to global macroeconomic cycles and base metal price fluctuations.
- Opportunities: Growing demand for lightweight aluminum in electric vehicles (EVs); massive infrastructure push by the Indian government.
- Threats: Surging energy and coal costs; aggressive cheap exports from China dampening global metal prices.
Valuation:
Hindalco is currently trading at a reasonable EV/EBITDA multiple compared to its global peers. The market is pricing in sustained margin expansion as the company increases its VAP capacity in India and Novelis brings new rolling capacities online.
2. ABB India (LTP: ₹5,987.00 | +4.72%)
Despite reporting an 18% decline in Q4 CY25 net results recently, ABB India shares witnessed a spectacular surge today, defying gravity and proving the underlying strength of the capital goods sector.
Business Model:
ABB India is a pure-play automation and electrification powerhouse. It focuses on robotics, discrete automation, motion, and electrification. The company is at the forefront of driving energy efficiency and industrial digitalization across Indian manufacturing.
Financials:
While the bottom line took a hit in the recent quarter, revenue climbed 6% YoY to ₹3,557 crore. The market heavily discounted the temporary profit dip, focusing instead on the company’s robust order backlog and strong execution capabilities.
SWOT Analysis:
- Strengths: Unmatched technological edge in industrial automation; strong parentage (ABB Group, Switzerland); excellent return ratios.
- Weaknesses: Premium valuation leaves little room for execution errors; high reliance on capex cycles of domestic industries.
- Opportunities: The “China Plus One” strategy boosting Indian manufacturing; data center expansion requiring massive electrification setups; railway modernization.
- Threats: Intense competition from domestic and international players like Siemens and Schneider Electric; supply chain disruptions for critical electronic components.
Valuation:
ABB India trades at a significant premium. Investors are paying up for the longevity of growth, exceptional corporate governance, and the sheer size of the total addressable market in India’s industrial automation space.
Indian Stock Market Update Feb 20| Nifty 50 today| Sensex closing| Top gainers and losers
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