Synopsis: The Nifty 50 (NSE: NIFTY) executed a sharp 100-point recovery from its intraday low of 25,570 on February 17, 2026, to trade back above the 25,700 level. The “Zero-Minute” fact is that a landmark AI partnership between Infosys and Anthropic, combined with heavy-weight buying in ITC and a bullish sentiment from the ongoing “India AI Impact Summit 2026,” successfully neutralized early-morning global weakness.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Indian stock market displayed impressive resilience as the Nifty 50 pared its opening losses of over 110 points. After a cautious start influenced by a surge in the India merchandise trade deficit ($34.68 Billion) and flat global cues, the index found strong support near 25,550–25,600. By mid-day, the index staged a vertical recovery, with the Sensex also rebounding over 600 points from its day’s low of 82,987.
The pivot was centered around the Nifty IT Index, which jumped 2% to lead sectoral gains. This rebound is a significant relief for investors after nearly ₹5 Trillion was wiped off the IT sector’s market cap earlier this February due to AI disruption fears. Today’s recovery suggests that the “Anthropic Shock” is evolving from a threat into a strategic growth catalyst.
Why did Nifty recover mid-day today?
The primary driver of the mid-day “Rescued Rally” was the Infosys-Anthropic Strategic Collaboration. Infosys (NSE: INFY) shares surged over 3% following the announcement of a partnership to integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI models into Infosys Topaz. By focusing on “Agentic AI”—systems that can autonomously handle multi-step professional tasks—Infosys has effectively signaled to the market that it is a “rule-maker” in the AI era, not just a bystander.
Additionally, the “1-2-1” rule of market stability was evident: one massive tech deal (Infosys), two defensive pillars (ITC and Asian Paints up 2%), and one high-profile event (India AI Impact Summit). ITC Ltd provided the necessary defensive cushion, gaining 2.3% as investors rotated capital into steady, high-dividend blue chips to hedge against global volatility.
Market Recovery: Key Movers (Feb 17, 2026)
| Stock / Index | Intraday Low | Mid-Day Level | Recovery (%) |
| Nifty 50 | 25,570.30 | 25,725.40 | +0.61% ↑ |
| Infosys | ₹1,372 | ₹1,410 | +2.77% ↑ |
| ITC Ltd | ₹468 | ₹479 | +2.35% ↑ |
| Nifty IT Index | 33,120 | 33,780 | +2.00% ↑ |
The “India AI Impact Summit” Hype
The ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, has significantly influenced market sentiment.
- Global Convergence: With leaders like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai expected, and Prime Minister Modi emphasizing “AI for All,” the summit has successfully shifted the narrative from “job replacement” to “market expansion.”
- Sectoral Confidence: Government officials at the summit have assuaged fears regarding AI’s impact on healthcare and IT services, leading to “Selective Bargain Buying” by Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), who were net buyers of ₹1,667 Crore on the previous session.
- Technical Outlook: Kotak Securities highlights that as long as Nifty holds above 25,600, the bullish momentum could push the index toward the 25,950–26,000 supply zone.
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The Bottom Line
The 100-point mid-day recovery in Nifty confirms that the “AI-Disruption” panic is being replaced by a “Value-Buying” reality. For the Aam Aadmi investor, the focus remains on the 25,800 resistance level and the continued announcements from the India AI Impact Summit over the next three days.