Market Brief: Large-Cap Momentum Benchmark indices maintained their upward trajectory on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the Sensex advanced 283 points to settle at 83,734. The Nifty 50 also climbed 0.35%, closing at 25,819. This steady performance marks the third consecutive session of gains for the Indian markets. Amid this broader upswing, six heavyweights within the BSE 100 index surged to hit fresh 52-week highs. Strong institutional interest and a shift toward defensive and industrial sectors have fueled this large-cap rally. Industrial Leaders Hit Record Highs Larsen & Toubro emerged as a primary driver, hitting an all-time high of 4,335 during intraday trade. The construction major has delivered a 12% gain over the last month and currently boasts a market capitalization of 5,88,693 crore. Technical indicators show the stock trading comfortably above all its major moving averages. Cummins India recorded a sharp move to a new peak of 4,786.4. The stock has outperformed its sector with a 16% jump in just 30 days. Rising delivery volumes—up 27% recently—suggest sustained buying rather than short-term speculation. Broad-Based Participation Several other key players across diverse sectors reached significant milestones during the session. Indus Towers climbed to a fresh 52-week high of 480.7, supported by a 10% gain over the past month. JSW Steel followed suit, touching 1,264.55 as metal stocks saw renewed demand following global trade signals. In the consumer and auto segments, Bajaj Auto breached the 10,000 mark for the first time, hitting a high of 10,005.9. FMCG major Marico also joined the list of top performers, reaching a peak of 798.6. Sectoral Trends and Indicators The rally was notably led by metals, PSU banks, and FMCG stocks. The Nifty PSU Bank index touched a record high of 9,647 during the day. This strength helped offset continued weakness in the IT sector, which has faced selling pressure due to shifting global technology trends. Market breadth remained positive, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 both rising over 0.40%. Domestic institutional investors continue to provide a cushion to the market, with net purchases of 1,667 crore in recent sessions, balancing out intermittent foreign fund outflows. Foreign institutional investors remained net sellers of approximately 972 crore, but the aggressive domestic buying in large-cap heavyweights has kept the benchmark indices resilient near their psychological peaks.