After a significant decline in benchmark indices, investors will closely watch global and domestic signals in the upcoming week. Key factors include the US Federal Reserve minutes, RBI policy signals, IT sector performance, bullion prices, and foreign investor activity. These factors are expected to influence the trajectory of the Indian stock market.
Indian stock markets experienced a notable drop on Friday, February 13, influenced by weak global cues and concerns regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on the global economy. The BSE benchmark index fell by 1,048 points, or 1.25%, closing at 82,626.76, while the broader NSE index slipped by 336 points, or 1.30%, settling at 25,471.10.
Analysts from Choice Broking highlighted that the Nifty technical outlook shows immediate resistance at 25,700 on the weekly chart, with strong support at 25,300. They suggested that a break below 25,300 could accelerate downward momentum, while a sustained move above 25,700 might revive bullish sentiment. Traders are advised to adopt a range-bound strategy with strict stop-loss discipline based on the current setup.
As the new week approaches, investors will first focus on the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting minutes scheduled for release on February 18. Additionally, attention will be on the upcoming US GDP data for the October–December quarter and the release of the Reserve Bank of India’s recent monetary policy meeting minutes on February 20.
The IT sector is expected to remain under scrutiny following significant selling pressure in the past week, with the Nifty IT index declining nearly 8%, marking it as the worst-performing sector. Major players like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro faced substantial pressure. Concerns have risen among investors regarding the impact of generative and agentic artificial intelligence technologies on the demand for traditional outsourcing services, potentially affecting the future earnings visibility of IT companies.
Moreover, market watchers will keep an eye on global commodity trends, particularly gold and silver prices, which started the week in a consolidation phase after a recent sell-off that led leveraged investors to exit long positions. Foreign institutional investor activity will also be a critical factor, with FIIs showing a trend of net buying in February’s trading sessions, supported by improved sentiment following the India–US trade agreement.
