Indian equity benchmark – Nifty ended marginally lower on Thursday on account of profit booking. Index made a positive start following firm cues from other Asian markets and renewed foreign fund inflow. As per exchange data, foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 666.15 crore on April 15, 2026. Besides, hopes for US-Iran peace deal lifted risky sentiments among market participants. Some support also came as Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India and the UK FTA, signed in July last year, is likely to come into force from May. India and the UK signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), under which 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while tariffs on British products, such as cars and whisky, will be reduced in India. However, in second half of the session, index wiped out all gain and entered into red terrain as market participants opted to book profit at higher levels. In last leg of the trade, index saw some recovery but eventually ended in red terrain.

India Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for market’s short-term expectation of volatility decreased by 3.12% and reached 18.09. The 50 share Nifty down by 34.55 point or 0.14% to settle at 24,196.75.

Nifty April 2026 futures closed at 24186.30 (LTP) on Thursday, at a discount of 10.45 points over spot closing of 24196.75, while Nifty May 2026 futures ended at 24304.00 (LTP), at a premium of 107.25 points over spot closing. Nifty April futures saw an addition of 1,421 units, taking the total open interest (Contracts) to 2,76,953 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 1.00 points at 795.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 794.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 70,914. (Provisional)

Infosys April 2026 futures traded at a premium of 2.00 points at 1318.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1316.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 36,914. (Provisional)

HCL Technologies April 2026 futures traded at a discount of 34.50 points at 1414.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1448.50. The numbers of contracts traded were 25,421. (Provisional)

Reliance Industries April 2026 futures traded at a premium of 0.10 points at 1346.00 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 1345.90. The numbers of contracts traded were 23,874. (Provisional)

Dixon Technologies (India) April 2026 futures traded at a discount of 26.50 points at 11234.50 (LTP) compared with spot closing of 11261.00. The numbers of contracts traded were 22,125. (Provisional)

Among, Nifty calls, 25000 SP from the April month expiry was the most active call with an addition of 7,931units open interests. Among Nifty puts, 24000 SP from the April month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 1,436 units open interests. The maximum OI outstanding for Calls was at 26000 SP (81,634 units) and that for Puts was at 22000 SP (69,788 units). The respective Support and Resistance levels of Nifty are: Resistance 24364.20 -- Pivot Point 24233.50 -- Support 24066.05.

The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) finally stood at (1.08) for April month contract. The top five scrips with highest PCR on Polycab India (1.39), Asian Paints (1.35), BSE (1.26), 360 One Wam (1.26), and GAIL (India) (1.22).

Among most active underlying HDFC Bank witnessed an addition of 34,117 units of Open Interest in the April month futures, ICICI Bank witnessed an addition of 4,747 units of Open Interest in the April month future, Infosys witnessed a contraction of 2,340 units of Open Interest in the April month future, Reliance Industries witnessed an addition of 7,728 units of Open Interest in the April month futures and Dixon Technologies (India) witnessed an addition of 3,461 units of Open Interest in the April month futures. (Provisional).