Indian equity benchmark -- Nifty ended higher on Monday. Index made flat-to- positive start following mixed cues from other Asian markets. Soon, index slipped below neutral line as persistent foreign fund outflow weighted on market sentiments. As per exchange data, foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 9,931.13 crore on April 02, 2026. Further, traders were cautious as India's services sector growth momentum rose at the softest pace in 14 months in March, mirroring the slowdown in new business intakes. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index fell from 58.1 in February to 57.5 in March, amid the weakest rises in new business and activity since January 2025. However, in second half of the session, index wiped out all losses and entered into green terrain as market participants showed optimism over a cease fire between US and Iran after reports indicated that US and Iran have received proposal to end ongoing hostilities, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In last leg of the session, index continued its firm trade and ended above 22,950 mark. 

Most of the sectorial indices ended in green led by Consumer Durables, PSU Bank, and Realty. The top gainers from the F&O segment were Trent, Adani Green Energy and Kalyan Jewellers India. On the other hand, the top losers were Reliance Industries, Oil India and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation. In the index option segment, maximum OI continues to be seen in the 22900 - 23100 calls and 22900 - 23100 puts indicating this is the trading range expectation.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility decreased by 0.20% and reached 25.47. The 50 share Nifty up by 255.15 point or 1.12% to settle at 22,968.25.

Nifty April 2026 futures closed at 23050.20 (LTP) on Monday, at a premium of 81.95 points over spot closing of 22968.25, while Nifty May 2026 futures ended at 23175.50 (LTP), at a premium of 207.25 points over spot closing. Nifty April futures saw an addition of 9,015 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 3,38,698 units. The near month derivatives contract will expire on April 28, 2026. (Provisional)

From the most active contracts, HDFC Bank April 2026 futures traded at a premium of 1.45 points at 772.35 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 770.90. The numbers of contracts traded were 45,961. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries April 2026 futures traded at a premium of 6.80 points at 1312.80 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1306.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 44,608. (Provisional)

Trent April 2026 futures traded at a discount of 24.80 points at 3810.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 3834.80. The numbers of contracts traded were 28,837. (Provisional)

State Bank of India April 2026 futures traded at a premium of 5.50 points at 1038.90 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1033.40. The numbers of contracts traded were 20,977. (Provisional)

Dixon Technologies (India) April 2026 futures traded at a discount of 40.00 points at 9965.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 10005.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 18,541. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 24000 SP from the April month expiry was the most active call with an addition of 5,435 units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 22500 SP from the April month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 6,931 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 23000 SP (70,219 units) and that for Puts was at 23000 SP (73,032 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 23130.08 -- Pivot Point 22836.52 -- Support 22674.68.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (0.96) for April month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Tata Consumer Products (1.99), SBI Life Insurance Company (1.98), Dalmia Bharat (1.66), Britannia Industries (1.46), and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (1.32).

Among most active underlying Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 7,612 units of Open Interest in the April month futures, HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 3,649 units of Open Interest in the April month future, State Bank of India witnessed an addition of 2,172 units of Open Interest in the April month future, RBL Bank witnessed an addition of 397 units of Open Interest in the April month futures and ICICI Bank witnessed an addition of 2,780 units of Open Interest in the April month futures. (Provisional).