MARKET
Feb 18, 2026:Bank Nifty & PSU Banks Lead Rally; L&T Hits All-Time High on Nvidia Tie-up
Live stock market updates Feb 18: Sensex up 283 pts, Nifty crosses 25,800. Bank Nifty outperforms while IT stocks drag. Read top 20 highlights including L&T, Netweb, and Godfrey Phillips.
By StoxMaster Editorial•2 min read
Based on the market data for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, here are the top stock market news updates and highlights from India.
Market Overview
- Indices Close Green: The Indian stock market extended gains for the third consecutive session. The BSE Sensex rose 283.29 points (0.34%) to close at 83,734.25, while the Nifty 50 gained 93.95 points (0.37%) to end at 25,819.35.
- Bank Nifty Strong: The Bank Nifty index outperformed the benchmarks, rising 0.62% to close at 61,550.80, driven by strong buying in state-owned lenders.
- PSU Banks Hit Record: The Nifty PSU Bank index surged 1.3% to hit a fresh record high, with Punjab National Bank (PNB) leading the pack (up over 3%).
- Broader Market Outperformance: Midcap and Smallcap indices performed well, with the Nifty 500 ending higher. Market breadth favored the bulls, with significantly more advancing stocks than declining ones.
- Volatility Drops: India VIX, the fear gauge, cooled off significantly, dropping 6.41% to 13.53 levels, indicating easing nervousness among traders.
Top Gainers & Losers
- Top Nifty Gainers: Major gainers included Reliance Industries (RIL), ITC (up ~2%), Tata Steel (up ~3%), and Axis Bank.
- Godfrey Phillips Surges: Shares of Godfrey Phillips skyrocketed 20% to hit the upper circuit, emerging as the star performer of the day.
- IT Sector Bleeds: The IT sector was the biggest laggard, dragging the market down due to renewed concerns over AI disruption. Wipro, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, and Infosys fell between 1% and 2%.
- Zomato (Eternal) Falls: Shares of Eternal (formerly Zomato) traded weak, slipping approximately 1.5% to ₹277.35.
Corporate News & Announcements
- L&T Hits Record High: Shares of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) hit a fresh all-time high after announcing a strategic tie-up with Nvidia to develop AI infrastructure.
- Netweb Technologies Zooms 14%: Netweb Technologies shares jumped 14% after the company launched "Tyrone Camarero Spark," a 'Make in India' AI supercomputer powered by Nvidia Blackwell GPUs.
- Power Mech Wins Big Order: Power Mech Projects surged 5% after securing orders worth ₹1,005 crore, including a major contract from Adani Group units.
- Dilip Buildcon L1 Bidder: The infrastructure major rose 4% after being declared the lowest bidder (L1) for a ₹702 crore flood control project in Gujarat.
- Safari Industries Pact: Safari Industries signed a 20-year licensing agreement to use the premium Carlton luggage brand in India.
- Dabur CEO Reshuffle: Dabur India shares slipped nearly 2% following news of a leadership change, with the current CEO elevated to a global role and a new lead appointed.
- Ola Electric Gains: Ola Electric shares rose over 4.5%, seeing renewed investor interest after recent volatility.
- Kwality Wall's Up 5%: In a rare move for the specific entity listed as Kwality Wall's India, the stock rose 5% (Note: Likely referring to a specific listed entity or unit in this timeline).
Global & Economic Cues
- Asian Markets Rally: Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1%, while other Asian markets remained mostly positive. Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year.
- Commodity Update: Silver prices surged 2%, and Gold rebounded by ₹2,000/10g on the MCX, tracking global cues.
- FII Activity: Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have reportedly been net buyers in the cash market for 8 of the last 13 sessions, signalling returning confidence in Indian equities.
