Sensex Falls 1,069 Points, Nifty Below 25,450 – 5 Reasons Why Markets Fell Today
- 24th February 2026
- 05:00 PM
- 3 min read
Summary
Indian equity benchmarks snapped a two-day winning streak as heavy selling in IT stocks, renewed U.S. tariff uncertainty and rising crude oil prices weighed on sentiment.Mumbai | February 24
Indian equity markets ended sharply lower on Tuesday, with benchmark indices declining over 1% amid broad-based selling pressure.
The BSE Sensex fell 1,068.74 points (1.28%) to close at 82,225.92, while the Nifty 50 declined 276.35 points (1.07%) to settle at 25,436.65, slipping below the 25,450 mark during the session.
Broader markets also reflected weakness. The Nifty Midcap 100 declined 0.32%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 fell 0.55%.
Why Did Markets Fall Today? 4 Key Factors
1) Renewed U.S. Tariff Uncertainty
Market sentiment turned cautious after reports indicated the U.S. administration may explore alternative legal routes, including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, to reintroduce tariff measures following the Supreme Court’s ruling against earlier reciprocal levies.
Commentary around a potential 15% universal import tariff added to concerns over global trade flows and export-linked sectors.
2) Sharp Sell-Off in IT Stocks
Information technology stocks faced intense selling pressure. The Nifty IT index dropped 4.74%, extending its monthly losses to over 20%.
Concerns intensified following fresh developments in AI-driven automation tools capable of modernising legacy systems, raising questions around structural shifts in traditional IT services models.
Tech Mahindra fell 6.2%, while Infosys, TCS and HCLTech declined between 3% and 6%, emerging as the biggest drags on the benchmarks.
3) Crude Oil Near Multi-Month High
Brent crude hovered near $72 per barrel, close to a seven-month high, amid rising U.S.–Iran tensions ahead of further nuclear discussions.
Elevated crude prices remain a macro headwind for India, given its high import dependence, with implications for inflation and the trade balance.
4) Stronger Dollar and Global Risk-Off Mood
The dollar index strengthened toward the 98 mark, reinforcing a risk-off environment. Weak global equity cues further dampened domestic investor confidence.
Broad-Based Selling Across Sectors
9 of the 15 NSE sectoral indices ended lower. Realty declined over 2%, while Financial Services, Media, Private Bank and Bank indices fell between 0.5% and 2.5%.
On the positive side, FMCG, Metal, Pharma and PSU Bank stocks saw selective buying interest, gaining between 0.3% and 1%.
Nifty Gainers and Losers
Tech Mahindra was the top loser in the Nifty 50, falling 6.2%. HCLTech, Infosys, TCS, Eternal and Larsen & Toubro were among the other major laggards.
On the gaining side, NTPC, Coal India, JSW Steel, Hindalco Industries, Hindustan Unilever, ONGC and Titan were among the top performers.
Stocks in Focus
One MobiKwik Systems rallied over 5% after receiving approval from the BSE to launch its own stock broking business.
IT stocks remained under pressure as the Nifty IT index hit a 30-month low amid persistent AI-related disruption concerns.
In derivatives-related developments, IRCTC saw its final day in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment. Additionally, HUDCO, Piramal Pharma, Tata Technologies and Torrent Power will be excluded from the F&O segment effective April 29, 2026.
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