The Nifty 50 ended slightly higher by 0.06% (up 14.05 points) at 25,496.55. Meanwhile, the Sensex closed marginally lower by 0.03% (down 27.46 points) at 82,248.61.
Broader markets were also divided:
- Nifty MidCap: Up 0.66%
- Nifty SmallCap: Down 0.01%
Impact on the stock market
Sector-wise performance
- Nifty Healthcare: Up 1.24%
- Nifty Pharma: Up 1.08%
Sectors That Underperformed
- Nifty Media: Down 0.68%
- Nifty FMCG: Down 0.16%
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | 0.09% |
| Healthcare sector | 1.24% |
| Oil & Gas sector | 0.87% |
| Real estate sector | 0.23% |
| PSU Bank in India | 0.95% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| TMPV | 391.55 | 2.54 |
| Eicher Motors | 8,190.00 | 2.27 |
| Bharat Electronics | 449.05 | 2.22 |
| Max Healthcare | 1,109.90 | 2.00 |
| Shriram Finance | 1,104.60 | 1.72 |
Top losers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Trent | 3,856.00 | –1.68 |
| Eternal | 246.50 | -1.48 |
| Power Grid Corporation | 303.25 | -1.30 |
| Coal India | 433.50 | -1.16 |
| TATA Cons. Products | 1,159.50 | -1.09 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Cholamandalam Investment Falls Amid Promoter Settlement Reports
Shares of Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Ltd declined around 2.5 per cent, trading near ₹1,703.4 during the morning session.
The decline followed reports of a settlement within the Murugappa Group promoter family. The realignment reportedly allows Vellayan Subbiah to reduce exposure to Cholamandalam Investment while consolidating his position in:
- Tube Investments of India
- CG Power and Industrial Solutions
The Murugappa Group, a century-old conglomerate with over $9 billion in revenue in FY23, has been negotiating ownership restructuring for more than two years.
Interestingly, while Cholamandalam shares fell, other group companies gained:
- Tube Investments rose 2.5 per cent to ₹2,689.2
- CG Power climbed 2 per cent to ₹727.6
Later in the day, Cholamandalam issued a clarification stating there was no change in management control or ownership structure. Subbiah continues in his role for his approved five-year term from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2030. Following this clarification, the stock recovered partially from its intraday lows.
It is worth noting that Cholamandalam has grown into one of India’s most valuable non-bank lenders, with a market capitalization exceeding ₹1 lakh crore. At this scale, even promoter-level speculation can trigger noticeable price movement.
Bandhan Bank Gains On RBI Approval
Shares of Bandhan Bank rose nearly 2 per cent, closing at ₹186.11.
The trigger was regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India, which allowed SBI Mutual Fund to acquire up to 9.99 per cent of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in the lender.
The RBI’s approval came via a letter dated February 25, 2026, and includes specific conditions:
- The acquisition must occur within one year, or the approval stands cancelled.
- The aggregate holding cannot exceed 9.99 per cent.
- If the stake falls below 5 per cent, prior RBI approval will be required to increase it again.
For investors, such approvals are typically viewed as confidence signals. Institutional participation often strengthens market perception regarding governance and growth prospects.
Tejas Networks Surges On 5G Manufacturing Deal
The biggest mover of the day was Tejas Networks, whose shares jumped over 12 per cent, trading around ₹355.55 during the session.
The rally followed the announcement of an agreement with NEC Corporation to manufacture and supply 5G massive multiple-input multiple-output radios.
These radios are critical components in 4G and 5G mobile networks. Tejas manufactures high-capacity 32TR and 64TR radios compliant with global telecom standards.
The partnership is expected to support global supply-chain diversification, a key priority for telecom infrastructure companies worldwide.
Despite today’s strong rally, Tejas Networks shares have fallen nearly 41 per cent over the past six months. The surge reflects renewed optimism but also highlights the volatility in technology and telecom equipment stocks.
Crude Oil: Russian Imports Decline Sharply
Outside equities, crude oil developments added a macroeconomic layer to the day’s narrative.
Indian refiners are reportedly keeping Russian oil purchases at minimal levels after a US Supreme Court ruling disrupted a potential trade arrangement linked to tariffs and Russian crude imports.
At its peak, India was importing approximately 2 million barrels per day of Russian crude following the Ukraine conflict. However, current import levels have dropped significantly:
- February imports are estimated at 1.2 million barrels per day, the lowest since November 2022
- March forecasts suggest further decline to 800,000 to 1 million barrels per day
- Some estimates indicate overall imports could fall by as much as 600,000 barrels per day in March and April
Discounts on Russia’s Urals crude have widened to $15 to $20 per barrel below Brent, compared with discounts of more than $10 earlier in February.
Indian refiners such as Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. have reportedly sourced crude from the Middle East, increasing exposure to that region. This shift comes at a time when geopolitical tensions remain elevated.
For markets, crude matters because it directly influences inflation, trade balance and corporate profitability. Any sustained change in import strategy could have ripple effects across sectors, especially energy, transport and manufacturing.
Conclusion
Today’s share market news may appear calm at first glance, but the details tell a richer story.
The Nifty 50 ended at 25,496.55, up just 14.05 points, while the Sensex closed at 82,248.61, down 27.46 points. Yet beneath that flat finish, sector rotation, promoter developments, regulatory approvals and global crude shifts shaped investor behaviour.
Healthcare and pharma led gains of over 1 per cent, midcaps outperformed with a 0.66 per cent rise, and individual stocks such as Tejas Networks delivered double-digit returns.
At the same time, declining Russian oil imports and widening crude discounts added macro uncertainty to the equation.
In short, while the index barely moved, the market was far from inactive. The real story lay in the numbers beneath the headline — and those numbers reveal a market that is rotating, recalibrating and reacting in real time.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
