MUMBAI, February 16, 2026
India’s benchmark indices ended in positive territory on Monday, snapping a three-day losing streak, driven by robust buying in power, banking, and financial stocks.
The 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 650.39 points or 0.79 percent to settle at 83,277.15. The broader NSE Nifty gained 211.65 points or 0.83 percent to close at 25,682.75.
Among Sensex constituents, PowerGrid led the gains with a 4.45 percent rise, followed by HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, NTPC, ITC, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, and State Bank of India.
Laggards included Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India, Bajaj Finance, Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra, Titan, Infosys, ICICI Bank, and UltraTech Cement.
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, attributed the rebound to renewed buying in banking and power sectors. He noted sustained demand expectations boosted power stocks, while improved loan growth and stable asset quality strengthened confidence in banks.
Globally, declining U.S. 10-year yields following favorable inflation data fueled hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year, with investors awaiting the upcoming Fed minutes. Stable rupee and range-bound crude oil prices ahead of U.S.-Iran talks provided additional support to domestic markets.
Asian markets closed mixed: Hang Seng rose 0.52 percent, while Nikkei 225 fell 0.22 percent. Markets in China and South Korea remained closed for Lunar New Year. European markets traded higher in mid-session, following a mixed close on Wall Street Friday.
