# Sensex Today Surges 283 Points in Late Rally — But IT Stocks Rain on Dalal Street’s Parade

URL: https://technosports.co.in/sensex-today-surges-283-points-in-late/  
Published: 2026-02-18  
Updated: 2026-02-18  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Indian equity markets wrapped up Wednesday, February 18, 2026, on a cheerful note — extending their winning streak to a third straight session. But don’t let the headline numbers fool you. It was a rollercoaster ride from open to close, with IT stocks dragging at one end and metals, PSU banks, and midcaps pumping up the other.

Here’s everything you need to know about **Sensex today** and what moved the market.

## Stock Market Today — February 18, 2026 Sensex Closing Snapshot

| Index | Closing Value | Change | % Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BSE Sensex | 83,734.25 | ▲ +283.29 pts | +0.34% |
| NSE Nifty 50 | 25,819.35 | ▲ +93.95 pts | +0.37% |
| Nifty MidCap 100 | — | ▲ | +0.50% |
| Nifty SmallCap 100 | — | ▲ | +0.54% |
| Nifty Bank | 61,539.55 | ▲ | +0.60% |
| GIFT Nifty (Pre-market) | 25,788.50 | ▲ +78.5 pts | +0.30% |

## What Moved the Market Today?

The session opened flat and then wobbled — Nifty briefly slipped below 25,700 around mid-morning as **IT heavyweights dragged the index lower**. Infosys shed 1.5%, with Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, and TCS also bleeding red. The IT sector’s weakness stemmed from cautious global tech sentiment and ongoing AI disruption concerns.

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1163.png)

But then the bulls arrived in the afternoon, and they came with metal rods and PSU bank balance sheets.

**Top Gainers (Sensex Pack):** Tata Steel (+2.8%), ITC, Axis Bank, RIL, and M&M lit up the board, turning what could have been a flat day into a solid gain.

**Top Losers:** Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, Adani Ports, HCLTech, and TCS — the IT clan bore the brunt.

For real-time market updates, sector analysis, and more, head to [technosports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in).

## Key Market News That Shaped the Day

**BHEL:** Bagged a ₹1,200–1,500 crore Letter of Award from SAIL for a captive power plant at IISCO Steel Plant, Burnpur — stock in focus all day.

**Dabur India:** Appointed Herjit S Bhalla as CEO – India Business effective April 15, 2026; Mohit Malhotra redesignated as Global CEO.

**Adani Enterprises:** Subsidiary Adani Road Transport completed acquisition of 49% stake in Sree Vishwa Varadhi Pvt Ltd.

**FII/DII Activity:** Foreign Institutional Investors turned net buyers, pumping in ₹995.21 crore, while DIIs added ₹187.04 crore — a bullish signal for near-term market direction.

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## Global Cues: What Drove Sentiment?

Asian markets traded higher amid thin Lunar New Year holiday volumes. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged over 1%, while Wall Street’s S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones all closed in the green overnight. Meanwhile, Iran-US diplomatic signals eased geopolitical fears slightly, giving commodity markets a steadier footing.

According to [Wikipedia’s Bombay Stock Exchange page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_Stock_Exchange), the BSE is Asia’s oldest stock exchange, established in 1875, and remains one of the world’s top-10 exchanges by market capitalization — making Sensex movements a global barometer.

For daily stock market updates, IPO analysis, and trading insights, visit [technosports.co.in/stock-market](https://technosports.co.in/stock-market).

## Nifty Technical Outlook

Nifty has reclaimed all key moving averages (20, 50, 100, 200-day EMA). Support sits firm at 25,600–25,550; resistance zone at 25,850–25,900. MACD remains in positive crossover territory. A sustained close above 25,900 could open the path toward the 26,000–26,400 zone.

## FAQs

### **Q: What is the Sensex closing today on February 18, 2026?**

 BSE Sensex closed at 83,734.25, up 283.29 points (+0.34%) on February 18, 2026, led by gains in Tata Steel, ITC, Axis Bank, and RIL, with IT stocks remaining the key drag.

### **Q: Why did IT stocks fall in today’s stock market session?**

 IT stocks like Infosys, TCS, and HCL Tech declined due to cautious global tech sentiment and ongoing concerns around AI disruption impacting IT services revenue growth projections.