Derivatives data indicates rally to continue; Bank Nifty to remain bullish

The stock markets could add to the stellar gains made in the past month, going by the pattern on Thursday, expiry day for January series contracts. Traders continue to remain bullish on banking stocks — they replaced 71 per cent of this month’s futures and options (F&O) contracts with those expiring in February. This was higher than the previous three-month average of 67 per cent.

Nifty rollovers and marketwide rollovers were lower compared to recent months as some investors turned cautious ahead of the Union Budget.

“About 78 per cent of market wide positions have got rolled into the next series. Meanwhile,