Global financial markets delivered a mixed performance on February 18th as investors grappled with geopolitical tensions and economic indicators. While European futures hit record highs, driven by a surge in defense stocks, U.S. and Asian markets faced headwinds from foreign institutional selling and trade concerns.

U.S. stock futures pointed to a cautious start, with investors closely monitoring developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Analysts noted that market recovery could remain limited unless key resistance levels are breached.

In Asia, markets opened lower, with Indian equity indices like the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 declining after an eight-day losing streak. The Sensex dropped over 350 points, trading below 75,900, while the Nifty hovered around 22,850.

European markets, however, saw a strong rally as defense stocks surged on expectations of increased military spending. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose significantly, reflecting investor optimism about bolstered defense capabilities.

The Indian rupee faced pressure due to dips in Asian currencies and the maturity of non-deliverable forward (NDF) positions. Meanwhile, Bitcoin remained stable at 96,000, and gold prices edged higher as investors sought safe−haven assets. Oil prices showed volatility, with West Texas Intermediate crude trading around 70 per barrel.