Post-Market Report: IT Sector Meltdown Drags Benchmarks; Sensex Slips 559 Points**

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Market Performance Today

The Indian benchmark indices ended significantly lower on Thursday, February 12, 2026, primarily due to a rout in Information Technology stocks. The BSE Sensex shed 558.72 points, or 0.66%, to settle at 83,674.92. Similarly, the NSE Nifty 50 declined by 146.65 points, or 0.57%, to close at 25,807.20. The market opened on a weak note and remained under pressure throughout the session as investors reacted to global headwinds and sector-specific concerns.

Top Movers (Sectors and Stocks)

The Information Technology sector was the day's biggest laggard, with the Nifty IT index plunging a staggering 5.51%. Other sectors like Realty and Oil & Gas also faced selling pressure, while Financials and Consumer Durables showed relative resilience.

Top Gainers:

• Bajaj Finance: Rose 3.31% following positive momentum in the financial space despite the broader gloom.
• Shriram Finance: Gained 2.48%, hitting a fresh 52-week high during the session.
• Eicher Motors: Advanced 2.13% after announcing capacity expansion plans for Royal Enfield.
• ICICI Bank: Climbed 1.84% on news of RBI approval for stake acquisitions in other banks.

Top Losers:

• Tech Mahindra: The biggest loser among the blue chips, tumbling over 6%.
• Infosys: Slumped 5.73% as ADR weakness from the US market spilled over to domestic trade.
• TCS: Declined 5.52%, dragging its market capitalization below key levels.
• HCL Technologies: Fell over 4.40% in tandem with the broader tech rout.

Key Drivers of Today's Market

Several factors contributed to the downward trajectory of the markets today:

• AI Disruption Fears ("Anthropic Shock"): Renewed anxiety over artificial intelligence tools potentially automating core services provided by Indian IT firms led to a "bear market" entry for the IT index.
• Fading US Rate Cut Hopes: Stronger-than-expected US jobs data (130,000 additions) suggested that the Federal Reserve might delay interest rate cuts, impacting valuation-sensitive sectors like tech.
• Weak Global Cues: A sharp overnight sell-off in US technology stocks and a dip in Indian IT ADRs set a negative tone for the domestic session.
• Earnings Impact: Hindustan Unilever (HUL) shares fell over 2% after reporting a decline in net profit for the third quarter, while LG Electronics India dropped 3.6% on weak results.

Broader Market Performance

The broader markets were not immune to the bearish sentiment, though they outperformed the heavyweights slightly. The Nifty Midcap 100 index fell 0.47%, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index dropped 0.64%. The market breadth was firmly in favor of the bears, with approximately 2,532 stocks declining on the BSE against 1,679 advancing shares. Volatility remained stable, with the India VIX rising marginally by 1.45%.

TAGS: Post-Market, Stock Market, Nifty, Sensex, Market Analysis

Tags: ** Post-Market Stock Market Nifty Sensex Market Analysis