Mumbai, India — February 18, 2026
Markets Extend Rally: Indian equities ended higher for a third consecutive session Wednesday as late buying in banking, metal, and FMCG stocks lifted benchmarks. The Sensex climbed 283 points while the Nifty crossed the key 25,800 mark, signaling sustained investor confidence.
Market Closes Higher for Third Session
Indian benchmark equity indices ended Wednesday’s session in positive territory, extending their winning streak to a third straight day as late-session buying lifted key sectors.
The 30-share Sensex rose 283.29 points (0.34%) to close at 83,734.25, after touching an intraday high of 83,770.05. Meanwhile, the 50-share Nifty advanced 93.95 points (0.37%) to settle at 25,819.35, holding firmly above the psychological 25,800 level.
Late Buying Drives Gains
Market momentum strengthened toward the close as investors accumulated shares in banking, metal, and FMCG sectors. Analysts attributed the late rally to improved sentiment following stable global cues and selective institutional buying.
The Indian rupee also strengthened slightly, closing 5 paise higher at 90.67 per US dollar (provisional).
Top Gainers and Losers
Major gainers among Sensex constituents included companies from banking, infrastructure, consumption, and manufacturing sectors, reflecting broad-based buying interest.
Lagging stocks were primarily from IT, aviation, paints, and select financial services segments, which saw mild profit-booking after recent gains.
Global Market Cues
Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended about 1% higher, supporting regional sentiment. Markets in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea remained closed due to Lunar New Year holidays.
European markets traded in positive territory during mid-session, while U.S. equities closed higher on Tuesday, offering additional support to global risk appetite.
Oil Prices and Institutional Activity
Global oil benchmark Brent crude rose 0.33% to $67.64 per barrel, reflecting steady demand expectations.
According to exchange data:
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Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs): Net buyers of ₹995.21 crore worth of equities on Tuesday
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Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs): Net buyers of ₹187.04 crore
In the previous session, the Sensex had gained 173.81 points, while the Nifty rose 42.65 points, underscoring the current upward trend.
