Indian equities open flat as profit-booking offsets trade optimism

The Indian equity market began Friday with muted momentum as the Nifty 50 hovered around 25,900 and the BSE Sensex near 84,500. Investors took profits after a six-day rally and remained cautious amid mixed global cues and sanctions on Russian oil. While metals and real-estate stocks showed strength, sectors such as FMCG and private banks dragged. Market participants highlighted that a sustained break below 25,750 could trigger deeper consolidation despite upside at the 26,000-mark.