Nifty Bank began today’s session flat at 56,072 compared to yesterday’s close of 56,086. It moved up after opening and the index is now trading at 56,180, up 0.2 per cent.

The advance/decline ratio of Nifty Bank now stands at 12/2, showing a bullish bias. Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 1 per cent) is the top gainer followed by IDFC First Bank (up 0.9 per cent).

IndusInd Bank and ICICI Bank, down 0.65 per cent each, are the only stocks in the Nifty Bank index that are down so far today.

Nifty Private Bank has gained 0.2 per cent whereas Nifty PSU Bank is up 0.1 per cent. Therefore, the private banks are outperforming the public sector banks.

Nifty Bank futures

The April expiry Nifty Bank futures opened today’s session lower at 56,140 versus yesterday’s close of 56,209. They are now hovering around 56,300, up 0.2 per cent.

In the first hour of today’s session, Nifty Bank futures bounced off the support at 56,000, a bullish sign. As long as this support holds true, the intraday trend will remain positively biased.

A potential rally from the current level of 56,300 can lift the contract to 56,800 today. A breach of this can take Nifty Bank futures to 57,000.

However, if the bears gain enough strength to drag the contract below the support at 56,000, the intraday outlook can turn bearish. In such a case, we might see a decline to 55,500. Support below 55,500 is at 55,200. 

But as it stands, since the support at 56,000 stays true, traders can be bullish for the day.

Trade strategy

Buy Nifty Bank futures (April) at 56,300. Target and stop-loss can be 56,800 and 56,000, respectively.

Supports: 56,000 and 55,500

Resistances: 56,800 and 57,000

Published on April 17, 2026