GIFT Nifty:
GIFT Nifty February 2026 futures were up 16.00 points, suggesting a positive start for the Nifty 50 today.
Investors are gearing up for the release of the Union Budget 2026-27 today. Apart from sectoral announcements, all eyes would be on the growth projections and the fiscal deficit numbers that would be laid out by the Central Government today.
Institutional Flows:
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had bought shares worth Rs 2,251.37 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers to the tune of Rs 601.03 crore in the Indian equity market on 29 January 2026, provisional data showed.
The FIIs had sold shares worth Rs 41,435.22 in January. This follows their cash sales of Rs 34,349.62 crore in December and Rs 17,500.31 crore in November.
Global Markets:
On Friday, stocks witnessed some profit taking, with technology shares remaining in a funk, even as investors largely approved of President Donald Trump’s pick of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve.
The S&P 500 fell 0.43% to finish at 6,939.03, its third straight down day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back 179 points, or 0.36%, to settle at 48,892.47. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite underperformed, dropping 0.94%, to end the day at 23,461.82. All three indexes fell more than 1% at session lows.
Spot gold and silver dropped around around 9% and 28%, respectively. Over the past year, gold and silver futures have soared about 67% and 142%, respectively.
Warsh’s selection was likely to ease concern about Fed independence because of his experience as a Fed governor and strong stance at times against inflation. While he is likely to push for lower rates in short term as Trump wants, the financial markets view him as someone who wouldn’t always follow the president’s direction and maintain credibility for monetary policy.
Domestic Market:
The benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty slipped on Friday, snapping a three-day rally, as weak global cues and caution ahead of the Union Budget on February 1 weighed on sentiment. Fresh foreign fund outflows added to the pressure.
Investors also remained watchful of rupee movements, ongoing Q3 earnings and geopolitical developments. Reflecting the cautious mood, the Nifty closed below the 25,350 level, dragged down by losses in metal, IT and private banking stocks.
The S&P BSE Sensex declined 296.59 points or 0.36% to 82,269.78. The Nifty 50 index lost 98.25 points or 0.39% to 25,320.65. In the past three consecutive trading session, the Sensex and Nifty jumped 1.26% and 1.48%, respectively.