Indian equity markets maintained a bullish trajectory on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the Nifty 50 climbed **0.37%** to close at **25,819.35**. The BSE Sensex followed suit, gaining **283.29 points** to settle at **83,734.25**. This third consecutive session of gains was fueled by a robust recovery in financial and metal sectors, offsetting temporary weakness in the IT index. Domestic sentiment was bolstered by news of potential easing in U.S. steel tariffs, which sent the Nifty Metal index up **1.33%**. Banking stocks also surged, with the PSU Bank index rising **1.31%** to reach a fresh record high of **9,647**. Individual standouts included Godfrey Phillips, which skyrocketed **20%** following cigarette price hikes, and Netweb Technologies, which gained **9%** after announcing a "Make in India" AI supercomputer powered by Nvidia. On Wall Street, major indices opened with renewed vigor as concerns over artificial intelligence valuations began to ease. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose **0.53%** to **49,796.62**, while the S&P 500 gained **0.72%** to reach **6,892.35**. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a **1.20%** jump to **22,850.41**, as investors rotated back into megacaps. Nvidia shares rose **1.9%** after securing a massive multi-year AI chip deal with Meta Platforms. Amazon also advanced **1.6%** as the market reacted positively to its **$50 billion** investment plan for AWS AI capabilities. These gains provided a much-needed reprieve after a volatile period where Big Tech lost over **$1.3 trillion** in market value since the start of the year. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes, released Wednesday, indicated a significant policy split. While officials unanimously held interest rates at **3.50%–3.75%**, "several" participants suggested that rate hikes could return if inflation remains sticky. Current market pricing suggests a **63%** probability that the first rate cut of at least **25 basis points** will not occur until June 2026. Energy markets experienced a complex day. While global Brent crude is forecasted to average **$58 per barrel** throughout 2026 due to rising inventories, domestic Indian energy stocks faced sharp midday pressure. In contrast, the U.S. energy sector saw gains as investors rewarded companies showing durable cash flow and infrastructure growth over speculative software plays.