Snapping 3-day losing streak, Indian key benchmark -- Nifty settled with gains of over a percent on Thursday. Index made a gap-up start following firm cues from global peers, as investors overlooked overblown concerns about a prolonged escalation in conflict between Iran and Israel-US. Market continued its firm trade during morning deals as traders opted to buy fundamentally good stocks after previous session’s sell-off. Sentiments were further supported by Indian rupee appreciating 43 paise to 91.61 against the dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on selling of the US currency by exporters and banks. In second half of the session, index extended its gains to touch its intraday high level amid private reports indicating that Iran made a conditional offer to US, and it ready to Abandon Nuclear Programme. Finally, Nifty ended the session above 24,750 mark.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility decreased by 15.52% and reached 17.86. The 50 share Nifty up by 285.40 point or 1.17% to settle at 24,765.90.

Nifty March 2026 futures closed at 24832.00 (LTP) on Thursday, at a premium of 66.10 points over spot closing of 24765.90, while Nifty April 2026 futures ended at 24985.00 (LTP), at a premium of 219.10 points over spot closing. Nifty March futures saw an addition of 1,164 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,42,631 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 3.95 points at 879.05 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 875.10. The numbers of contracts traded were 63,565. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 6.10 points at 1392.50 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1386.40. The numbers of contracts traded were 37,709. (Provisional)

Larsen & Toubro March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 1.00 points at 4028.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 4027.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 34,682. (Provisional)

Hindalco Industries March 2026 futures traded at a premium of 4.70 points at 961.40 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 956.70. The numbers of contracts traded were 33,913. (Provisional)

Bharat Electronics March 2026 futures traded at a discount of 0.10 points at 461.90 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 462.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 30,377. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 25000 SP from the March month expiry was the most active call with a contraction of 8,266 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 24500 SP from the March month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 1,797 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (1,00,337 units) and that for Puts was at 24000 SP (88,537 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 24903.60 -- Pivot Point 24716.50 -- Support 24578.80.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.17) for March month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on GAIL (India) (1.22), Lodha Developers (1.20), REC (1.14), Prestige Estates Projects (1.08), and Petronet LNG (1.08).

Among most active underlying HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 4,648 units of Open Interest in the March month future, National Aluminium Company witnessed an addition of 193 units of Open Interest in the March month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 1,281 units of Open Interest in the March month futures, Hindalco Industries witnessed an addition of 816 units of Open Interest in the March month futures and Larsen & Toubro witnessed an addition of 10,850 units of Open Interest in the March month futures. (Provisional).