Sensex, Nifty Trade Flat as Investors Await CPI Data; Auto, Healthcare Stocks Outperform

Why It Matters

The market’s cautious stance ahead of CPI data highlights inflation’s influence on Indian equities, while sector‑specific rallies signal shifting investor focus toward auto and healthcare growth narratives.

Key Takeaways

• Sensex down 0.19%, Nifty off 0.10% ahead of CPI
• Auto stocks lead gains; Eicher Motors up nearly 6%
• Healthcare rally continues; Apollo Hospitals +4.5%, Max +2.6%
• FIIs net bought ₹69 crore; domestic institutions ₹1,174 crore
• Nifty holds above 25,800 support, faces 26,000 resistance

Pulse Analysis

The Indian equity market entered Wednesday’s session with a pronounced wait‑and‑see attitude as the January consumer‑price‑index (CPI) figures loom. Traders typically gauge CPI outcomes for clues on the Reserve Bank of India's monetary stance, and any surprise could trigger swift volatility. With inflation still a key macro driver, the modest declines in the Sensex and Nifty reflect a defensive posture, preserving capital until the data clarifies the near‑term rate trajectory.

Against this backdrop, sectoral dynamics diverged sharply. Auto shares surged, led by Eicher Motors, which posted a near‑6% jump on strong demand signals and favorable policy expectations for two‑wheelers. Simultaneously, healthcare stocks such as Apollo Hospitals and Max Healthcare rallied, buoyed by robust earnings and a growing focus on private medical services. These outperformance trends suggest investors are rotating into sectors perceived as resilient to macro‑uncertainty, seeking growth amid a broader market lull.

Institutional flows added another layer of nuance. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) recorded a third consecutive day of net buying, albeit modest at ₹69 crore, while domestic institutions injected a sizable ₹1,174 crore, underscoring confidence in Indian equities despite the pending CPI. Technically, the Nifty remains anchored above the 25,800 support zone, with the 26,000 level acting as the next resistance hurdle. Should CPI data confirm stable inflation, the market could test that ceiling; a higher reading might push the index back toward the support zone, prompting risk‑off adjustments.

Sensex, Nifty trade flat as investors await CPI data; Auto, Healthcare stocks outperform

Market breadth remains negative as 2, 259 stocks decline against 1, 701 advances on BSE, while 200 stocks remain unchanged · Updated · February 11, 2026 at 01:03 PM

Sectoral indices showed mixed performance, with Nifty Next 50 up 0.07 % at 69,894.10 and Nifty Financial Services gaining 0.07 % to 28,206.

Markets traded in a narrow range during Wednesday’s afternoon session as investors remained cautious ahead of the January CPI data release, with both benchmark indices showing marginal losses. The Sensex was down 156.23 points or 0.19 % at 84,117.69, while the Nifty 50 slipped 26 points or 0.10 % to 25,909.15 at 12.45 pm.

The session was characterised by stock‑specific action, with auto and healthcare stocks continuing to attract buying interest. Eicher Motors led the gainers on the Nifty 50, rising 5.98 % to ₹7,732.50, followed by Apollo Hospitals, which gained 4.55 % to ₹7,547.50. Max Healthcare added 2.56 % to ₹1,047.65, while State Bank of India climbed 2.36 % to ₹1,171.10. Titan Manufacturing and Processing (TMPV) advanced 1.49 % to ₹385.

On the losing side, Coal India declined 2.38 % to ₹420.70, making it the top loser on the index. Tata Consultancy Services dropped 1.90 % to ₹2,928, while ONGC fell 1.45 % to ₹268.20. ITC shed 1.37 % to ₹317, and HCL Technologies declined 1.34 % to ₹1,552.

Market breadth remained negative, with 2,259 stocks declining against 1,701 advances on the BSE, while 200 stocks remained unchanged. A total of 95 stocks hit 52‑week highs, while 54 touched 52‑week lows. The session saw 159 stocks in the upper circuit and 116 in the lower circuit.

Sectoral indices showed mixed performance, with Nifty Next 50 up 0.07 % at 69,894.10 and Nifty Financial Services gaining 0.07 % to 28,206. Bank Nifty was marginally lower by 0.01 % at 60,639.60. Broader markets underperformed, with Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.27 % at 60,574.25 and Nifty Smallcap 100 declining 0.21 % to 17,413.80.

Foreign institutional investors remained net buyers for the third consecutive session, purchasing ₹69 crore on Tuesday, while domestic institutional investors bought around ₹1,174 crore. Analysts noted the Nifty continues to hold above key moving averages with support near 25,800 and resistance around 26,000.

Published on February 11, 2026