Extending loses for second consecutive session, Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty settled deeply in red on Monday as escalated geopolitical tensions weighted on market sentiments. Index began the session with cut of around two percent in morning deals after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend. Further, sentiments remained dampened as exchange data showed that Foreign institutional investors (FII’s) offloaded equities worth Rs 7,536.36 crore on Friday. In afternoon session, index continued its choppy trade in red terrain as traders opted to remained on side line ahead of weekly F&O expiry. Besides, Investors were worried that the conflict could result into Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz which accounts for around 20% of global oil flow, spiking the global crude oil prices. However, in last leg of the session, index pared some losses but ultimately ended near 24,850 mark.

Most of the sectorial indices ended in red led by Auto, Consumer Durables and Oil & Gas. The top gainers from the F&O segment were Solar Industries India, Tube Investments of India and Muthoot Finance. On the other hand, the top losers were InterGlobe Aviation, Larsen & Toubro and Rail Vikas Nigam. In the index option segment, maximum OI continues to be seen in the 25900 - 26100 calls and 24900 - 25100 puts indicating this is the trading range expectation.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility increased by 25.01% and reached 17.13. The 50 share Nifty down by 312.95 point or 1.24% to settle at 24,865.70.

Nifty March 2026 futures closed at 24988.00 (LTP) on Monday, at a premium of 122.30 points over spot closing of 24865.70, while Nifty April 2026 futures ended at 25141.80 (LTP), at a premium of 276.10 points over spot closing. Nifty March futures saw an addition of 15,741 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,34,987 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on March 30, 2026. (Provisional)

From the most active contracts, HDFC Bank March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 4.90 points at 887.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 882.10. The numbers of contracts traded were 52,221. (Provisional)

Larsen & Toubro March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 14.60 points at 4068.60 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 4054.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 28,246. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 6.80 points at 1366.80 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1360.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 28,136. (Provisional)

Infosys March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 5.10 points at 1294.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1288.90. The numbers of contracts traded were 27,651. (Provisional)

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 0.40 points at 281.85 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 281.45. The numbers of contracts traded were 25,307. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 26000 SP from the March month expiry was the most active call with an addition of 5,039 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 25000 SP from the March month expiry was the most active put with a contraction of 7,169 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (1,02,479 units) and that for Puts was at 25000 SP (89,288 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 25035.53 -- Pivot Point 24819.52 -- Support 24649.68.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.19) for March month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Oberoi Realty (1.43), Lodha Developers (1.36), ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company (1.24), Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company (1.24), and Prestige Estates Projects (1.22).

Among most active underlying HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 17,075 units of Open Interest in the March month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 4,956 units of Open Interest in the March month future, Larsen & Toubro witnessed an addition of 6,723 units of Open Interest in the March month futures, State Bank of India witnessed an addition of 2,509 units of Open Interest in the March month futures and InterGlobe Aviation witnessed an addition of 7,126 units of Open Interest in the March month futures. (Provisional).