The Indian share market experienced a significant downturn at the beginning of the week, causing considerable shock among investors. On the first trading day of the last week of February, the BSE Sensex plunged by 567.62 points, settling at 74,743.44, while the Nifty opened 188.4 points lower at 22,607.50.
Business News: The Indian share market witnessed a sharp decline at the start of the week, delivering a major blow to investors. On the first trading day of the last week of February, the BSE Sensex fell by 567.62 points, closing at 74,743.44, while the Nifty dropped 188.4 points to open at 22,607.50. This decline pushed the total market capitalization of BSE-listed companies below ₹400 lakh crore for the first time in 2025, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately ₹4 lakh crore for investors.
Which sectors experienced the steepest decline?
The IT, banking, and metal sectors were most significantly impacted by the downturn. In early trading, 24 out of the 30 Sensex stocks were in the red, while 38 out of the 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
These stocks 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 American and European markets impacted the Indian markets.
* Selling by foreign investors – Significant selling was observed by FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors).
* Impact of inflation and interest rates – Rising inflation and uncertainty regarding the US Federal Reserve's rates are contributing factors.
* Pressure from a weakening Rupee – The Indian Rupee weakened against the dollar, further contributing to the market decline.
