Market Brief: Nifty Gains Amid AI-Driven Tech Rebound The Indian equity market maintained its recovery path on **February 17, 2026**, marking a second consecutive day of gains. The **Nifty 50** closed higher at **25,725.40**, up by **0.17%**, while the **Sensex** advanced to **83,450.96**. This resilience comes despite a cautious start triggered by a gap-down opening and selling pressure in the metals and realty sectors. The primary driver for the session was a sharp reversal in the **IT sector**, which climbed **1.74%**. This move was fueled by **Infosys**, which surged between **3% and 5%** following a strategic AI partnership announcement. This rebound is particularly notable as the IT index had previously plummeted over **8%** in a single week due to concerns regarding AI-driven revenue erosion. Technical Landscape and Resistance While the index showed strength, it faced immediate rejection near its **50-day Daily Moving Average (50DMA)**, currently placed around **25,750**. Analysts observe that the **Relative Strength Index (RSI)** has entered a bearish crossover, suggesting momentum may be flattening. Immediate support has shifted to the **25,600** zone, with a secondary floor at **25,500**. On the upside, a decisive break above **25,800** is required to trigger short-covering toward the **26,000** psychological level. Sectoral Performance and Institutional Flows **PSU Banks** emerged as the session's standout performers, with the sectoral index rising **2.11%**. Stability in this space, led by **Bank of India**, provided a necessary cushion against volatility in the energy and metal counters. Institutional activity remained mixed. **Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)** provided significant support with a net purchase of **₹1,667 crore**, effectively absorbing the **₹972 crore** sell-off by **Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)**. Market volatility, measured by the **India VIX**, cooled by nearly **5%** to slip below the **13** mark, indicating a reduction in immediate fear among traders. Short-Term Trading Focus Market experts have highlighted specific opportunities for short-term bullish trades based on technical breakouts: **LG Electronics India** The stock is indicating a trend reversal after breaking out of a falling channel. It is currently trading near **₹1,550**, with technical targets set at **₹1,648**. Momentum is supported by an **RSI** near **60** and steady accumulation volumes. **Bank of India** Trading at **₹171**, the stock hit a **52-week high** during the session. It maintains a strong uptrend characterized by higher highs and higher lows. Analysts set a short-term target of **₹182**, with a protective stop-loss at **₹164**. **MRPL** The stock has confirmed a breakout from a "Cup and Handle" pattern on the weekly charts. It closed near **₹193**, gaining nearly **3.7%** in the latest session. Having moved above its major moving averages, it is projected to reach **₹230** as an initial target, provided it stays above the **₹180** neckline. Broader market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. While specific sectors like IT and Banking are leading the charge, the failure to clear the **50DMA** hurdle suggests that range-bound movement or minor pullbacks may occur in the coming sessions.