The Indian stock market faced a sharp selloff on Friday, February 13, with global uncertainties and AI-related concerns triggering panic across sectors. The Sensex plunged 1,048 points, closing at 82,626.76, while the Nifty 50 fell 336 points to 25,471.10, breaching key psychological levels.
Market participants were left uneasy as volatility surged, and mid- and small-cap stocks bore the brunt of the correction.
Market Performance: Sensex, Nifty, and Beyond
The losses were widespread, impacting all segments of the market:
- BSE 150 MidCap Index dropped 1.58%
- BSE 250 SmallCap Index fell 1.50%
- India VIX, a measure of market volatility, jumped over 13%, moving back above 13, signaling growing nervousness among investors
The total market capitalization of BSE-listed companies declined sharply from ₹472 lakh crore to ₹465 lakh crore, erasing around ₹7 lakh crore in a single day.
Main News: Why the Market Fell?
The decline comes amid a mix of global and domestic pressures:
- Global uncertainties around AI – Investors are cautious about AI’s impact on technology and other sectors worldwide.
- Weakening US Fed rate-cut expectations – Strong US jobs data reduced optimism for rate cuts, adding to risk-off sentiment.
- Sector-specific fears – IT and export-driven companies faced additional pressure due to competitiveness concerns in a changing global tech landscape.
These factors collectively created a negative sentiment, pushing indices lower despite a few pockets of resilience.
Company Performance: Nifty 50 Movers
Even on a day of heavy losses, some stocks managed modest gains:
Top gainers:
- Bajaj Finance – up 3.09%
- Eicher Motors – up 1.56%
- SBI Life Insurance – up 0.84%
- SBI – up 0.33%
- Cipla – up 0.13%
Top losers:
- Hindalco Industries – down 6.08%
- Hindustan Unilever – down 4.34%
- Eternal – down 4.30%
- Adani Enterprises – down 3.83%
- ONGC – down 3.20%
Sectoral Trends
The market-wide selloff dragged all major sectoral indices into negative territory:
- Nifty Metal – down 3.31%
- Nifty Realty – down 2.23%
- FMCG – down 1.90%
- Oil and Gas – down 1.88%
- IT – down 1.44%
- Consumer Durables – down 1.29%
- Private Banks – down 1.02%
- Banking & Financial Services – each declined 0.91%
This broad-based fall indicates a cautious mood among investors, affecting both cyclical and defensive sectors.
Most Active Counters
Trading activity remained robust despite the downturn. The most active counters by volume on the NSE included:
- Vodafone Idea – 35.2 crore shares
- Tata Silver ETF – 23.2 crore shares
- Engineers India – 13.4 crore shares
Market Breadth and Stock Movements
- Advance-decline ratio: Over 1,300 stocks advanced, while 2,800 stocks declined, showing a clear dominance of sellers.
- Stocks with significant jumps: 16 stocks, including GE Power India, DC Infotech and Communication, and Universus Photo Imaging, rose over 15% on the BSE.
- Stocks with sharp falls: Six stocks, such as SpiceJet, Oxygenta Pharmaceutical, and Comfort Commotrade, fell more than 15%.
52-Week Highs and Lows
Even amid the turbulence, some companies managed to hit fresh highs:
- 52-week highs: 83 stocks including Eicher Motors, Bharat Forge, Max Financial Services, Sansera Engineering, Sharda Cropchem, and Avanti Feeds.
- 52-week lows: 193 stocks including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, OFSS, Info Edge (India), L&T Technology Services, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care, Abbott India, and IREDA.
These contrasting movements highlight the uneven impact across sectors and individual companies.
Summary: Market Mood and Outlook
Friday’s session reflected the growing caution among Indian investors. Volatility spiked, indices slumped, and market capitalization fell sharply. Mid- and small-cap stocks took a heavier hit, while only a handful of large-cap names managed modest gains.
The day underscored how global AI developments and macroeconomic signals can quickly sway market sentiment. Investors were reminded once again of the market’s sensitivity to global cues, especially in sectors exposed to technology disruptions and exports.
Source: Livemint
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