Sensex Today: Stock Market LIVE Updates – Feb 17, 2026 | Nifty, Stocks & IPO News

Indian stock markets demonstrated resilience on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, rebounding from a negative opening to trade higher in the afternoon session. The gains were driven by stock-specific action, particularly within the Information Technology sector, and offset earlier declines stemming from weakness in metal and auto stocks.

As of 1:13 PM IST, the BSE Sensex was trading at 83,517.65, up 240.5 points, or 0.29 percent. The NSE Nifty50 index was quoted at 25,733.2, a gain of 50.45 points, or 0.2 percent.

Within the Sensex, Infosys, ITC, Asian Paints, HCL Tech, and Bharat Electronics (BEL) were the leading performers, with gains of up to 3 percent. Conversely, stocks like Eternal, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries (RIL), Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Power Grid, and Kotak Mahindra Bank lagged, experiencing declines of up to 2 percent.

Broader market indices also showed positive momentum. The Nifty MidCap index rose 0.10 percent, while the Nifty SmallCap index saw a more substantial increase of 0.7 percent.

Sectoral performance was notably divergent. The Nifty IT index spearheaded the gains, surging over 2 percent, followed by the Nifty PSU Bank index. These sectors contributed significantly to the market’s recovery. However, the Nifty Metal index experienced a decline of 1 percent, weighing on overall sentiment.

The market’s shift towards IT and PSU banking stocks suggests a rotation in investor preference, potentially driven by a reassessment of risk and growth prospects. The IT sector’s gains are particularly noteworthy, given recent concerns about global economic headwinds and their potential impact on technology spending. The strength in PSU banks could reflect optimism surrounding government policies and improved asset quality.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have been active in the Indian market recently. Over the past seven days, FIIs have invested a net of ₹1950 Cr on February 6th, ₹2254 Cr on February 9th, ₹69 Cr on February 10th, ₹943 Cr on February 11th, ₹108 Cr on February 12th, ₹7395 Cr on February 16th, and a net outflow of ₹972.13 Cr on February 16th. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) have shown consistent buying, with net investments of ₹1265 Cr on February 6th, ₹4 Cr on February 9th, ₹1174 Cr on February 10th, ₹125 Cr on February 11th, ₹276 Cr on February 12th, ₹5553 Cr on February 13th, and ₹1666 Cr on February 16th, and ₹1666.98 Cr on February 16th. This divergence in investor behavior suggests a complex interplay of factors influencing market dynamics.

Elsewhere, the initial public offering (IPO) of Fractal Industries is currently underway, having been subscribed 1.65 times on its first day. The IPO will remain open for subscription until Wednesday, February 19, 2026, with a tentative listing date of February 23, 2026.

Looking ahead, market participants will be closely monitoring global cues, including developments in commodity prices and currency movements, as well as domestic economic data releases, to gauge the trajectory of the Indian stock market. The ongoing earnings season will also provide valuable insights into the financial health of Indian companies and their outlook for the future.