Stock Markets February 19, 2026

Oslo stocks climb as OBX posts new record, led by Hafnia, Equinor and Frontline

Healthcare, pharma and utilities gains help lift Oslo OBX 0.72% to an all-time high; mixed performance among major names

By Nina Shah EQNR FRO
Oslo stocks climb as OBX posts new record, led by Hafnia, Equinor and Frontline
EQNR FRO

Norwegian equities closed higher on Thursday, with the Oslo OBX rising 0.72% to reach a new all-time high. Gains were concentrated in Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities sectors, while select energy, shipping and financial names outperformed and a handful of large caps lagged. Commodity and currency moves were notable alongside stock moves.

Key Points

  • Oslo OBX closed up 0.72% and reached a new all-time high.
  • Top sector contributors included Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities.
  • Leading individual winners were Hafnia, Equinor and Frontline; notable decliners included Nel, DnB and Nordic Semiconductor.

Norway's stock market ended the trading day higher on Thursday as the Oslo OBX rose 0.72% to a fresh record high. Sector strength in Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities contributed to the advance across the exchange.

At the close in Oslo, several large-cap equities recorded the session's largest gains. Hafnia Ltd (OL:HAFNI) led the OBX movers, finishing up 3.72% or 2.44 points to trade at 68.10. Energy heavyweight Equinor ASA (OL:EQNR) added 3.68% or 9.90 points to close at 279.20, while Frontline Ltd (OL:FRO) rose 3.61% or 11.30 points to end the day at 324.40.

Not all prominent names rose. Nel ASA (OL:NEL) was the weakest performer on the index, down 2.26% or 0.05 points to 2.08 at the close. DnB ASA (OL:DNB) declined 1.13% or 3.40 points to finish at 298.60, and Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OL:NOD) slipped 0.97% or 1.40 points to close at 142.80.

Market breadth favored advancing issues, with 152 stocks higher against 106 that fell and 26 left unchanged on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Two individual companies reached notable price milestones during the session. Hafnia's shares climbed to 52-week highs, ending the day 3.72% higher at 68.10, while Frontline's stock rose to 5-year highs after gaining 3.61% to 324.40.


Commodities and currency moves accompanied the equity gains. Crude oil for April delivery rose 2.09% or 1.36 to $66.41 per barrel, and Brent oil for April delivery increased 1.79% or 1.26 to $71.61 per barrel. The April Gold Futures contract was reported up 0.39% or 19.59 to trade at 5,029.09 a troy ounce.

On the foreign exchange front, the euro traded higher against the Norwegian krone, with EUR/NOK up 0.35% to 11.26. The US dollar also strengthened versus the krone, as USD/NOK rose 0.56% to 9.57. The US Dollar Index Futures moved up 0.22% to 97.84.


The session reflected uneven dynamics across sectors and names: several energy and shipping stocks posted solid advances even as some industrial and financial names lagged. Commodity price movements and currency shifts were visible alongside the equity performance.

Investors monitoring Norway's market will note the combination of sector-specific strength, individual stock milestones and concurrent moves in commodities and exchange rates that characterized the day's trading.

Risks

  • Rising crude and Brent oil prices observed during the session introduce uncertainty for energy and shipping-related equities.
  • Movements in EUR/NOK and USD/NOK indicate currency variability that can affect exporters, importers and companies with foreign-currency exposure.
  • Uneven performance among large-cap names suggests sector-specific volatility rather than broad-based strength across the market.

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