The Indian stock market opened with a sharp decline this week, delivering a significant blow to investors. On the first trading day of the last week of February, the BSE Sensex plunged 567.62 points to close at 74,743.44, while the Nifty opened 188.4 points lower at 22,607.50.
Business News: The Indian stock market experienced a significant downturn at the start of the week, causing substantial losses for investors. On the first trading day of the last week of February, the BSE Sensex plummeted 567.62 points to reach 74,743.44, while the Nifty opened at 22,607.50 after a drop of 188.4 points. This decline resulted in the total market capitalization of BSE-listed companies falling below ₹400 lakh crore for the first time in 2025, leading to an estimated loss of approximately ₹4 lakh crore for investors.
Which Sectors Saw the Steepest Decline?
The IT, banking, and metal sectors were most significantly impacted by the downturn. In early trading, 24 out of 30 Sensex stocks were in the red, while 38 out of 50 Nifty stocks traded negatively.
* IT Sector: Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra
* Banking Sector: ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank
* Others: Bharti Airtel, Reliance, Zomato
Stocks that Provided Support to the Market
* Automobile Sector: Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Tata Motors
* Pharma Sector: Sun Pharma
* FMCG: Nestle India, ITC
* Infrastructure: L&T
Main Reasons for the Decline
* Negative signals from global markets – Weakness in the US and European markets impacted Indian markets.
* Selling by foreign investors – Significant selling was observed by FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors).
* Impact of inflation and interest rates – Uncertainty persists regarding rising inflation and US Federal Reserve rates.
* Pressure from a weaker rupee – The Indian rupee weakened against the dollar, further contributing to the market decline.
