Indian equity markets closed Friday, February 6, 2026, on a positive note, with the Nifty 50 ending in the green as strong buying in FMCG and banking stocks outweighed weakness in the IT sector. After a cautious and range-bound session, the benchmark managed to hold gains into the close, reflecting selective accumulation in heavyweight stocks and improved sentiment in defensives and financials.
Market Snapshot: Benchmarks Settle with Modest Gains
At the close, the Nifty 50 ended at 25,693.70, up 50.90 points or 0.20%. The index had opened at 25,605.80, moved to an intraday high of 25,703.95, and touched a low of 25,491.90, indicating a volatile but ultimately positive session.
Other key indices also finished higher:
Nifty Next 50 rose 0.13% to 69,058.40
Nifty Financial Services gained 0.43% to 27,807.10
Nifty Bank added 0.09% to 60,120.55
The broader market tone improved in the second half of the session, supported by buying in select heavyweight counters.
Top Gainers: ITC, Kotak Bank and HUL Lead the Rally
Several frontline stocks delivered strong gains and provided crucial support to the benchmarks:
ITC surged 5.21% to ₹326.35, emerging as the top gainer on heavy volumes, reflecting strong buying interest in FMCG stocks.
Kotak Mahindra Bank climbed 3.33% to ₹422.35, supporting the banking index.
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) rose 2.83% to ₹2,421.00, adding further strength to the FMCG space.
Bajaj Finance gained 1.79% to ₹982.00, indicating sustained interest in financial stocks.
Bharti Airtel advanced 1.54% to ₹2,023.00, lending support from the telecom sector.
Top Losers: IT and Insurance Stocks Weigh on the Market
Despite the positive close, select stocks remained under pressure, particularly in the IT and insurance segments:
HDFC Life declined 2.40% to ₹703.40, leading the losers’ pack.
Tech Mahindra slipped 1.83% to ₹1,616.00, extending weakness in IT stocks.
TCS fell 1.71% to ₹2,940.30, remaining under selling pressure.
SBI Life dropped 1.54% to ₹1,986.80, reflecting softness in insurance counters.
TMPV eased 1.40% to ₹368.90, rounding off the list of major laggards.
Market Sentiment and Outlook
The market’s positive close suggests a selective risk-on approach, with investors favoring FMCG and banking heavyweights while staying cautious on IT and insurance stocks. The mixed sectoral performance points to a stock-specific market rather than a broad-based rally.
Going ahead, market participants are likely to track global cues, institutional flows, and upcoming economic data, while volatility could remain elevated in the near term.
Conclusion: February 6, 2026
The Nifty 50 ended Friday’s session higher, supported by strong gains in ITC, Kotak Bank, and Hindustan Unilever, even as IT and insurance stocks lagged. The session reflected improving but selective sentiment, indicating that investors continue to focus on quality and defensives amid an evolving market environment.