Public sector stocks are experiencing a surge, with defence and power sectors showing promise due to robust order books and improving execution. While defence is a preferred long-term theme, experts express caution on oil and gas due to structural headwinds and see only tactical opportunities in IT.
New RBI regulations will significantly alter how banks sell financial products, fund acquisitions, and lend to market intermediaries. Former SBI Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara believes these moves, particularly stricter mis-selling norms and revised M&A financing rules, aim to enhance customer trust and domestic market development.
Indian markets are shifting focus to company earnings and liquidity. The India-US trade deal has eased pressures. Investors are recalibrating strategies for 2026. Small and midcap stocks offer opportunities but require careful selection. Earnings visibility and balance sheet strength are key. Global trade and liquidity will guide market direction.
In the Nifty500 pack, 12 stocks' closing prices crossed above their 200 DMA (Daily Moving Averages) on February 16, 2026, according to stockedge.com's technical scan data. The 200-day daily moving average (DMA) is used by traders as a key indicator for determining the overall trend in a particular stock. As long as the stock is priced above the 200-day SMA on the daily timeframe, it is generally considered to be in an overall uptrend. Take a look:
Crude oil prices rose amid heightened geopolitical risk as Iran conducted naval exercises near a key shipping corridor ahead of US talks. Asian stocks saw modest gains with light trading volumes, while investors awaited economic data. The US dollar fluctuated as traders anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts.
New RBI draft norms to curb mis-selling of financial products are poised to impact private sector banks more significantly due to their higher reliance on insurance income. These banks have seen a notable increase in insurance income's share of their 'other income' over recent years, a trend less pronounced in public sector banks.
Unrated and lesser-known issuers are increasingly tapping the debt capital market, raising 1.5 lakh crore in FY26, driven by investor appetite for higher yields. These issuers prefer unrated structures to bypass procedural delays and regulatory disclosures, with private credit funds and AIFs emerging as key buyers.
