February 10, 2026 (Mid-cap): NIFTY 50 Consolidates Near 26,000 as Autos and Metals Shine; Financials, IT See Mild Profit-Taking

Indian equities traded with a steady undertone in the early afternoon session on February 10, 2026, as the NIFTY 50 hovered near the psychologically important 26,000 mark. The benchmark was up around 0.23% at 25,959.65, reflecting a cautious but positive bias. While buying interest remained strong in autos, metals and select PSU names, pockets of profit-taking in financials, FMCG and IT kept the broader market in a consolidation mode.

Also Read: February 10, 2026 (opening): Indian Equities Edge Higher as Autos and Metals Lead; Financials Weigh on the Tape

Benchmarks Trade in a Narrow Range

The NIFTY 50 opened near 25,922.65 and moved within a tight band, touching a session high of 25,989.45 and a low of 25,870.45. Other key indices showed mixed trends:

• NIFTY Next 50 was largely flat around 69,729, indicating muted action in the broader market.

• NIFTY Fin Service edged higher to 28,198.10, suggesting selective buying in financial counters.

• NIFTY Bank remained almost unchanged near 60,675.45, as gains in some lenders were offset by weakness in others.

Overall, the index action pointed to a pause after the recent rally, with investors rotating between sectors rather than chasing the market higher.

Gainers: Cyclicals and PSUs Lead the Charge

Buying interest was clearly visible in cyclical and high-volume names, supported by strong intraday participation.

• ETERNAL surged to ₹305.25, jumping 5.68%, backed by heavy volumes and emerging as the top gainer of the session.

• Tata Steel added 2.64% to ₹207.34, continuing the positive momentum in metal stocks.

• Bajaj Auto advanced 2.06% to ₹9,787.50, while Mahindra & Mahindra gained 1.70% to ₹3,670.80, keeping the auto pack in focus.

• NTPC rose 1.41% to ₹367, indicating renewed interest in select PSU and power sector names.

The strength in these stocks highlighted a clear preference for cyclicals and volume-driven counters in the current market phase.

Losers: Financials, FMCG and IT Under Pressure

On the flip side, a few heavyweights witnessed mild selling, which capped the upside for the benchmark indices:

• Shriram Finance slipped 1.67% to ₹1,045.00.

• Dr Reddy’s Laboratories declined 1.58% to ₹1,255.30, reflecting some weakness in defensives.

• Bajaj Finance eased 1.57% to ₹967.70, remaining a drag on the financial space.

• Tata Consumer Products fell 1.26% to ₹1,152.50, while HCL Technologies lost 1.24% to ₹1,582.10, pointing to profit-taking in FMCG and IT stocks.

The pressure in these large-cap names prevented a sharper move above the 26,000 level for the NIFTY 50.

Market View: Range-Bound with Sector Rotation

The current price action suggests that the market is consolidating near record levels after a strong uptrend. Investors appear to be selectively booking profits in financials, FMCG and IT, while reallocating funds toward autos, metals and PSU plays. The narrow trading range and mixed sectoral performance indicate a wait-and-watch approach ahead of the next set of triggers.

Conclusion: February 10, 2026

The Indian equity market remained steady with a positive bias, as the NIFTY 50 held near 25,960 and tested levels close to 26,000. Strength in autos, metals and select PSUs provided support, but weakness in financials, FMCG and IT kept the benchmark in check. In the near term, markets are likely to continue consolidating with heightened stock-specific and sectoral action.