Before Market Opens: Indian markets are likely to open flat on Wednesday following caution in Asian peers ahead of a US inflation this week that could influence the timing of the Federal Reserve's easing cycle. Gift Nifty was trading 4 points higher, indicating a muted start for benchmark Nifty. Let's take a look at some key cues before the market opens today: U.S. stocks closed near flat.

Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday, as U.S. bond yields fell, while investor focus was on a key U.S. inflation print and remarks from several Federal Reserve officials this week for fresh clues on the central bank's interest rate trajectory. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold edged 0.1% higher at $2,031.99 per ounce(Oz), as of 0135 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $2,041.00/Oz.

Oil prices slipped in early Asian trade on Wednesday as the prospect of a delayed U.S. rate cutting cycle offset the boost provided by talk of extensions to production cuts from OPEC+. Brent crude futures fell 38 cents, or 0.45%, to $83.27 a barrel by 0110 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) were down 35 cents, or 0.44%, to $78.52 a barrel.

📌 Tata Elxsi and Telefónica implemented cloud-native infrastructure management powered by (ETSI OSM). 📌L&T IDPL, a subsidiary of the company, has completed the sale of its entire stake in IIML. 📌Torrent Power has emerged as the successful bidder and has received a letter of intent from PFC Consulting. 📌Piramal Pharma said a fine of 1,82,001 euros was imposed on its step-down.

After a slow start, benchmark indices rebounded late on Tuesday amid mostly firm global markets. The 30-share Sensex climbed 305 points to settle at 73,095 and the broader Nifty ended 76 points higher at 22,198. Stocks that were in focus included names like Easy Trip Planner, which rose 2.07%, Hindustan Copper, which fell 3.6%, and NMDC, whose shares closed 4% lower on Tuesday.

Bharat Highways InvIT IPO opens for subscription today (Wednesday, February 28), and will close on Friday, March 1. Bharat Highways InvIT IPO raised ₹825.97 crore from anchor investors on Tuesday, February 27. The company notified the exchanges that it allocated 8,25,97,350 equity shares at ₹100 apiece.Bharat Highways InvIT IPO price band has been set in the range of ₹98 to ₹100 per equity.

Apple hit the pause button on its electric car, while Warner Bros Discovery did the same on its buying out of Paramount Global. OpenAI alleged that the New York Times paid hackers to create incriminating evidence. The US shale industry sees consolidation, sending deal value surging. Oil Spill An ongoing consolidation in the US shale industry has fuelled a spurt in global M&A deal value.

By Abhijit Bhave The Indian small-cap scene has been nothing short of a phenomenon. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index has skyrocketed 60% in the past year, with even smaller players on the Nifty SME EMERGE index boasting a staggering 39.78% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate).  Small companies, unlike their large-cap counterparts, are yet to reach their full potential.

There are many reasons people love credit cards—they are a secure and convenient way to make payments and, alongside, help you earn reward points and other freebies, among many others. But if you have a poor credit score or have a sporadic income flow, a bank may refuse to issue you a regular credit card.

Shares of Vodafone Idea will be in focus on February 28 after the board of directors of the cash-strapped telecom operator decided to raise funds to the tune of Rs 45,000 crore. The company said it will raise Rs 20,000 crore through a combination of equity or equity-linked instruments and the rest through debt and promoters will also participate in the proposed fund-raising.

GIFT Nifty indicated that Indian equity indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 may see a subdued opening on Wednesday. Here is all you need to know before the market opens. GIFT Nifty traded up 37 points or 0.17% at 22,230.00 indicating a subdued opening for domestic indices NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex on Wednesday. Previously, on Tuesday, the NSE Nifty 50 gained 76.30 points or 0.34%.

RK Swamy Ltd, an integrated marketing services provider in India, has set the price band at Rs 270-288 a share for its initial public offer that will open for subscription on March 4. The anchor investor bidding will be open on March 1 and the offer will close on 6th. Allotment will be on March 7 and credit of shares to depository accounts will be on 11th.

Shares of Texmaco Rail may see some gains on February 28, a day after the company's board approved plans to raise Rs 150 crore through a preferential issue of convertible warrants to promoters and promoter groups. The board of Texmaco Rail has authorized its Capital Issue Committee to finalize the issuance's structure, terms, and conditions, as well as other related matters.

Asian stocks were tentative on Wednesday ahead of a U.S. inflation reading this week that could influence the timing of the Federal Reserve's easing cycle, while the New Zealand dollar fell sharply after the central bank softened its hawkish stance on rates. New Zealand's central bank held the cash rate steady at 5.5% on Wednesday, reiterating that previous rate hikes had helped dampen prices.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as the market focused on uncertainty over a potential Gaza ceasefire and some expectations that producer group OPEC+ will extend voluntary supply cuts in March. Brent crude futures rose 50 cents, or 0.61%, to $83.03 a barrel by 1442 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) were up 60 cents, or 0.77%, at $78.18. Mixed signals came from the Middle East.