Market Brief: Indian Equities Indian equity benchmarks, Nifty and Sensex, opened higher on **Thursday, February 19, 2026**, marking their fourth consecutive session of gains. This winning streak follows a period of consolidation, with the indices now testing critical psychological resistance levels. Index Performance The **BSE Sensex** rose over **146 points** at the opening bell, trading near the **83,880** level. Simultaneously, the **NSE Nifty 50** gained momentum to trade above **25,839**, sustaining its position above key moving averages. Sectoral Movers Information Technology (IT) and Metals emerged as the primary engines of growth. The **Nifty IT index** rallied **1.5%**, led by gains in heavyweights like **HCLTech**, **Infosys**, and **Tech Mahindra**. The **Metal sector** followed with a **0.5%** rise, supported by **Tata Steel** and **Hindustan Copper**. Conversely, the **Private Bank index** saw a marginal dip of **0.2%**, acting as a slight drag on the broader market surge. Key Market Data Institutional activity remains a pivotal driver for the current rally. **Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)** were net buyers on the previous session, purchasing shares worth **₹1,154 crore**, while **Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)** added **₹440 crore** to the tally. The volatility gauge, **India VIX**, has cooled to approximately **12.22**, reflecting a reduction in market nervousness and a shift toward a "buy-on-dip" sentiment among traders. Technical Outlook Market analysts identify **25,700** as a robust support zone for the Nifty. On the upside, **26,000** remains the immediate hurdle. A decisive breach above this resistance could potentially trigger a fresh acceleration toward the **26,300** mark. Global cues provided a supportive backdrop, with **GIFT Nifty** indicating a positive start and major Asian indices, including Japan's **Nikkei**, trading significantly higher. Investors are also monitoring domestic inflation forecasts, with current estimates placing fiscal **2026 CPI at 2.5%**.