Indian equity markets maintained positive momentum on February 18, 2026, marking a third consecutive session of gains. The BSE Sensex rose **283.29 points** (0.34%) to finish at **83,734.25**, while the NSE Nifty 50 climbed **93.95 points** (0.37%) to close at **25,819.35**. Trading was characterized by a late-session surge. While IT stocks faced pressure due to concerns over industry-wide disruption, metals and state-owned banks provided significant support. Investor wealth grew by approximately **₹2 lakh crore** during the session. AI Infrastructure and Tech Partnerships Small-cap technology firms stole the spotlight following high-profile updates involving Nvidia. E2E Networks hit its **20% upper circuit** intraday, reaching **₹3,068.20**, before settling at **₹2,887**. The rally followed news of a collaboration to build advanced "AI factories" in India using Blackwell GPU clusters. Netweb Technologies also saw a sharp **8.9%** jump, closing at **₹3,374**. The company announced the launch of "Make in India" AI supercomputing solutions powered by Nvidia's latest architecture. These moves contrast with the broader Nifty IT index, which slipped **1.23%**. Consumer and Travel Movers Godfrey Phillips emerged as a top performer in the FMCG space, surging **20%** to hit **₹2,478**. The rally was fueled by reports of cigarette price hikes intended to offset recent excise duty increases. This move helped the stock significantly outperform its sector peers. Easy Trip Planners continued its volatile streak, rising **11%** during the session to reach **₹10.57**. The stock has gained nearly **60%** over the last three days. The momentum is supported by heavy volume in bulk deals and a newly announced plan to raise up to **₹500 crore** to expand its hotel and holiday segments. Electric Mobility and Recovery Ola Electric shares saw a brief reprieve, climbing nearly **5%** to an intraday high of **₹29.35**. The uptick followed a legal stay on an arrest warrant against its CEO. Despite the daily gain, the company’s fundamentals remain under scrutiny. Recent filings show a **55%** year-on-year revenue drop to **₹470 crore** for the December quarter, although net losses narrowed slightly to **₹490 crore**. Sectoral Highlights The Nifty Metal index led the charge with a **1.33%** gain, buoyed by shifting global trade signals regarding steel and aluminum tariffs. PSU Banks followed closely, rising **1.31%** to reach a fresh record high. Market breadth remained positive, with over **2,200** stocks advancing on the BSE against **1,900** declines. Total market capitalization of BSE-listed firms now stands near **₹472 lakh crore**.