The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a negative start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,561 level, a discount of nearly 54 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close.

The stock market went into the red upon opening as trading began on Friday, February 7, the day the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra is set to announce the interest rate decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

Despite a 25-basis-point repo rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India, the market closed largely in the red. However, midcap stocks continued to outperform, with the midcap index closing in positive territory.

The trends on Gift Nifty indicate a mildly positive start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,715 level, a premium of nearly 25 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close.

The Nifty 50 has dropped 4.4 per cent since the last policy meeting in December, impacted by weak corporate earnings and a slowing economy.

The Reserve Bank of India's recent 25 basis points repo rate cut failed to uplift market sentiment, as the Sensex and Nifty 50 extended their losses amidst global uncertainties and domestic concerns

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a tepid start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,150 level, a premium of nearly 2 points from the Nifty futures’ previous close.