Equity benchmarks surrendered most of their early gains by Wednesday afternoon, with the Sensex slipping into marginal negative territory and the Nifty holding on to a slim advance, as sectoral divergence widened and banking stocks weighed on the broader recovery that had begun at the open following Tuesday’s AI-led selloff.As of 1 pm, the Sensex was trading at 82,208.90, down 17.02 points or 0.02 per cent from its previous close of 82,225.92, having opened at 82,530.12. The Nifty 50 stood at 25,471.65, up ...

Indian stock markets face a sharp decline as Sensex and Nifty slump due to IT stock selloffs amid rising AI disruption fears and renewed global trade concerns.Illustration: Dominic Xavier/RediffKey PointsIndian stock market indices Sensex and Nifty fell sharply due to a selloff in IT stocks, fueled by fears of AI-led disruption.Rising crude oil prices and renewed global trade concerns, particularly related to US President Trump's tariff policies, contributed to the negative market sentiment.IT stocks like E ...

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slumped nearly 1% in early trade on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), dragged down by a sharp selloff in IT stocks amid rising fears of AI-led disruption.Besides, rising crude oil prices and renewed concerns over global trade after U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff remarks also weighed on investors’ sentiment, traders said.The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 813.13 points, or 0.97%, to 82,481.53 in early deals.The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 230.15 points, or 0.89% ...

Banking Sector - Caution expressed regarding IDFC First Bank following a fraud episode, indicating a need for thorough system and process checks [1][4] - IDFC First Bank may not recover for one to two quarters, with expectations for the stock to remain range-bound until uncertainties are resolved [1][4] - Possible deposit outflows and near-term growth impact flagged for both IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, with a recommendation to avoid AU for now [1][4] - PSU bank returns are cyclical and near peak levels, but they may continue to perform well over the next couple of years [1][4] - Preference reiterated for private sector banks, with confidence in large private lenders such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, particularly due to margin recovery at HDFC Bank [1][4] IT Sector - Negative sentiment around the IT sector is viewed as overdone, with falling valuations creating attractive opportunities for long-term investors [1][4] - Large-cap IT companies trading at 10-15 times earnings are considered compelling, supported by dividend yields of 2-3% [1][4] - The sector has been beaten down due to the artificial intelligence wave, but companies are expected to adapt and use AI as a growth lever [1][4] Cigarette Industry - Government tax tinkering remains a significant overhang for cigarette companies, keeping stocks like ITC largely range-bound and increasingly cyclical [1][4] - While attractive valuations and dividends can make these stocks appealing at lower levels, policy uncertainty limits their potential as long-term compounders [1][4] Market Outlook - Overall market conditions emphasize the importance of valuation discipline and selectivity, with opportunities emerging in beaten-down sectors like IT [1][4] - Investors remain cautious on banks facing governance questions and sectors exposed to policy risks [1][4]

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher on Monday (February 23, 2026), tracking gains in PSU bank, auto and financial stocks, as investors' sentiments improved after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs.The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 479.95 points, or 0.58%, to settle at 83,294.66. During the session, the benchmark jumped 671.44 points, or 0.81%, to hit an intraday high of 83,486.15.Also Read | Tariffs in trouble: On the U.S. Supreme Court and Donal ...

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty began the trade on a negative territory on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), tracking losses in IT and Services stocks in a volatile session. After a bearish start, the 30-share BSE Sensex further declined 247.92 points, or 0.30%, to 83,203.04. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 70.25 points, or 0.27%, to 25,655.15. Among the Sensex constituents, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Adani Ports, HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, Eternal, Maruti Suzuki India, Asian Paints, Tr ...

Market Performance - Stock markets closed higher for the second consecutive session, driven by gains in bank, IT, and capital goods shares [3] - The 30-share BSE Sensex increased by 173.81 points, or 0.21%, closing at 83,450.96, with a daily range between 83,598 and 82,987.43 [3] - The 50-share NSE Nifty rose by 42.65 points, or 0.17%, settling at 25,725.40 [4] Gainers and Losers - Major gainers among Sensex constituents included ITC, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Asian Paints, Titan, Adani Ports, HCL Technologies, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Maruti Suzuki India, IndiGo, State Bank of India, and Tech Mahindra [5] - On the downside, stocks such as Eternal, Tata Steel, Trent, Reliance Industries, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Hindustan Unilever experienced losses [8] Sector Performance - Defence stocks gained 1.3%, influenced by expectations surrounding discussions on the acquisition of additional Rafale fighter jets [12] - The IT sector saw a selective recovery following a sharp correction, supported by strategic collaborations with global AI partners [10] - Among sectoral indices, PSU Bank rose by 2.36%, IT by 1.15%, Industrials by 1.13%, and Capital Goods by 0.76% [10] Market Sentiment - Analysts noted that domestic markets traded in a range-bound manner, with a cautiously optimistic outlook amid global cues and domestic developments [9][14] - The market capitalization of BSE-listed firms increased by ₹152,688.24 crore to ₹4,70,11,313.57 crore (approximately $5.18 trillion) [11]

Market Performance - Stock markets closed higher for the second consecutive session, with the BSE Sensex rising by 173.81 points, or 0.21%, to close at 83,450.96, and the NSE Nifty advancing by 42.65 points, or 0.17%, to settle at 25,725.40 [1][4] Sector Performance - Major gainers among the Sensex constituents included ITC, Bharat Electronics Ltd., Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Asian Paints, Titan, Adani Ports, HCL Technologies, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Maruti Suzuki India, IndiGo, State Bank of India, and Tech Mahindra [2] - Conversely, stocks that ended with losses included Eternal, Tata Steel, Trent, Reliance Industries, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Hindustan Unilever [2] Broader Market Indices - Broader indices also showed positive movement, with the BSE Smallcap Select Index rising by 0.49% and the Midcap Select Index gaining 0.26% [3] Foreign and Domestic Investment - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹972.13 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased stocks worth ₹1,666.98 crore [4] Commodity Prices - Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell by 0.79% to $68.13 per barrel [4]

Core Viewpoint - The power sector is experiencing growth due to expectations of sustained demand momentum, contributing to a rebound in equity benchmark indices [5]. Group 1: Market Performance - Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply by nearly 1 percent, with the BSE Sensex rising 650.39 points (0.79 percent) to close at 83,277.15 and the NSE Nifty advancing 211.65 points (0.83 percent) to settle at 25,682.75 [3]. - PowerGrid emerged as the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising 4.45 percent, alongside strong performances from HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, NTPC, and others [4]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Analysts noted that domestic markets edged higher due to renewed buying interest in banking and power stocks, with improved loan growth and stable asset quality boosting confidence in banks [5]. - The power sector's gains are attributed to expectations of sustained demand momentum, indicating a positive outlook for the industry [5]. Group 3: Global Market Influences - A decline in the US 10-year yield, following benign inflation data, has strengthened expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, which is influencing investor sentiment [7]. - Stability in the rupee and range-bound crude oil prices are providing additional support to domestic equities, particularly ahead of US-Iran talks [7]. Group 4: Institutional Activity - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 7,395.41 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased stocks worth Rs 5,553.96 crore, indicating a mixed sentiment in the market [9].

Market Performance - Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply by nearly 1% on February 16, 2026, driven by strong buying in power, banking, and financial stocks [1] - The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 650.39 points, or 0.79%, closing at 83,277.15 [1] - The 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 211.65 points, or 0.83%, settling at 25,682.75 [2] Sector Performance - PowerGrid emerged as the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising 4.45%, with other notable gainers including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, NTPC, ITC, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, and State Bank of India [2] - The power sector gained on expectations of sustained demand momentum, while improved loan growth and stable asset quality bolstered confidence in banks [4] Global Market Influence - A continued decline in the U.S. 10-year yield, following benign inflation data, strengthened expectations of a Fed rate cut later this year, influencing investor sentiment [5] - Stability in the rupee and range-bound crude oil prices ahead of U.S.-Iran talks provided additional support to domestic equities [5] Investor Activity - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹7,395.41 crore on February 14, 2026, while domestic institutional investors purchased stocks worth ₹5,553.96 crore [7]