{"id":21655,"date":"2026-02-19T17:13:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T11:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trending.niftytrader.in\/?p=21655"},"modified":"2026-02-19T17:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T11:43:40","slug":"from-gap-up-start-to-sharp-fall-dalal-street-witnesses-intense-bearish-momentum-through-the-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niftytrader.in\/markets\/from-gap-up-start-to-sharp-fall-dalal-street-witnesses-intense-bearish-momentum-through-the-day\/","title":{"rendered":"From Gap-Up Start to Sharp Fall, Dalal Street Witnesses Intense Bearish Momentum Through the Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u20b97.5 Lakh Crore Wiped Out: Dalal Street Crashes 1,236 Points as US\u2013Iran Fears Trigger Broad Selloff<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Index<\/b><\/td>\nPrice<\/b><\/td>\nChange<\/b><\/td>\n% Chg<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nifty 50<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n25,454.35<\/b><\/td>\n365.00 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n-1.41<\/b>%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nifty Bank<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n60,739.55<\/b><\/td>\n811.25<\/span> <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n-1.32<\/b>%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nifty Financial<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n28,069.50<\/b><\/td>\n393.75 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n-1.38<\/b>%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BSE SENSEX<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n82,498.14<\/b><\/td>\n1236.11<\/span> <\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n-1.48<\/b>%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Indian equities witnessed a sharp risk-off move on Thursday, with benchmark indices logging their biggest single-day fall in over two weeks. The BSE Sensex<\/span><\/span> plunged 1,236 points to close at 82,498 after sliding more than 1,400 points intraday, while the Nifty 50<\/span><\/span> ended 1.41% lower at 25,454 \u2014 decisively breaching the 25,500 mark.<\/p>\n

The damage was not merely optical. The selloff erased \u20b97.55 lakh crore in investor wealth, dragging total BSE market capitalisation down to roughly \u20b9464 lakh crore. More importantly, the decline snapped a three-day recovery streak and came with heavy volume expansion, signalling distribution rather than mild profit booking.<\/p>\n

The spike in the India VIX<\/span><\/span> \u2014 up over 10% to 13.46 \u2014 underscored rising nervousness among traders and pointed to the possibility of wider intraday swings ahead.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t a stock-specific correction. It was a macro-driven reset.<\/p>\n

The India VIX, which measures expected volatility, surged over 10 percent to settle at 13.46, signaling heightened nervousness and the possibility of wider price swings ahead.<\/p>\n

Also Read : Snacc Shuts as Swiggy Reassesses the Viability of The 10-Minute Food Delivery Model<\/a><\/p>\n

Five Key Triggers Behind Today\u2019s \u20b97.55 Lakh Crore Selloff<\/h2>\n

1\ufe0f\u20e3 Escalating US-Iran Geopolitical Tensions<\/h3>\n

The primary catalyst behind the crash was rising military tension between the US and Iran, raising fears of potential disruption in oil supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Investors rushed to de-risk portfolios amid concerns of a prolonged conflict in a key oil-producing region. Such geopolitical uncertainty often leads to capital flight from emerging markets like India.<\/p>\n

2\ufe0f\u20e3 Surge in Crude Oil Prices<\/h3>\n

Brent crude climbed to around $71 per barrel after jumping more than 4 percent in the previous session. For India, which imports the majority of its oil, higher crude prices amplify inflation risks, widen the current account deficit, and increase fiscal pressure. Rising fuel costs also weigh on corporate margins across sectors such as aviation, auto and FMCG.<\/p>\n

3\ufe0f\u20e3 US Federal Reserve Rate Cut Uncertainty<\/h3>\n

Markets remain uncertain about the Federal Reserve\u2019s interest rate trajectory. Persistent inflation concerns in the US have reduced expectations of near-term rate cuts, leading to risk-off sentiment globally. Higher-for-longer rates typically dampen emerging market flows.<\/p>\n

4\ufe0f\u20e3 Rising Global Bond Yields<\/h3>\n

Elevated bond yields reduce the relative attractiveness of equities, especially in volatile environments. Investors often rotate toward safer fixed-income assets during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.<\/p>\n

5\ufe0f\u20e3 Profit Booking After Three-Day Rally<\/h3>\n

Prior to Thursday\u2019s crash, the Sensex and Nifty had gained nearly 1.4 percent over three consecutive sessions, supported by December-quarter earnings. Thursday\u2019s session saw heavy profit booking once early gains faded.<\/p>\n

Aakash Shah of Choice Broking noted:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cParticipation remains stock specific, indicating cautious deployment of capital. While earnings are improving, consolidation may persist in the near term.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sectoral Action: Oil Gains, Everything Else Bleeds<\/h2>\n

Amid the carnage, oil-linked stocks were rare bright spots. ONGC and Oil India gained between 3\u20135% as crude surged. Defensive pockets like select pharma names also showed relative resilience.<\/p>\n

However, frontline laggards such as InterGlobe Aviation, UltraTech Cement, M&M, Bharat Electronics, and Trent declined sharply. Realty and media sectors bore the brunt, falling over 2% each.<\/p>\n

Midcaps and smallcaps were not spared. The Nifty Midcap index fell 1.6% while Smallcaps declined 1.3%, both breaching short-term moving averages \u2014 reinforcing the risk-off tone.<\/p>\n

Top Losing Sectors<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sector<\/th>\n% Decline<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Realty<\/td>\n-2.56%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Media<\/td>\n-2.23%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto<\/td>\n-2.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Consumer Durables<\/td>\n-1.93%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FMCG<\/td>\n-1.76%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Top Gainers<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stock<\/th>\n% Change<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
ONGC<\/td>\n+3.65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HDFC Life<\/td>\n+0.65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hindalco<\/td>\n+0.59%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Top Losers<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stock<\/th>\n% Change<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
IndiGo<\/td>\n-3.28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UltraTech Cement<\/td>\n-2.97%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
M&M<\/td>\n-2.93%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BEL<\/td>\n-2.84%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trent<\/td>\n-2.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Technical Breakdown Signals Growing Weakness in the Nifty<\/h2>\n

From a technical perspective, Thursday\u2019s sharp decline has significantly altered the short-term structure of the Nifty. The index not only formed a large bearish candle on the daily chart but also decisively slipped below its 20-day, 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages \u2014 a development that strengthens near-term bearish momentum.<\/p>\n

Market experts now believe that the immediate support zone lies in the 25,350\u201325,300 band. If the index fails to hold above this region on a closing basis, the correction could deepen toward the 25,150 level and potentially test the crucial psychological support of 25,000 in the short term.<\/p>\n

On the upside, any recovery attempt is likely to face stiff resistance in the 25,550\u201325,600 zone. However, the broader trend reversal would require a sustained move above the 26,000 mark, which analysts continue to see as a key hurdle for restoring bullish confidence.<\/p>\n

Hitesh Tailor, Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking, said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFresh long positions should ideally be considered only after a sustained breakout above the 26,000 level, which would signal a more reliable improvement in overall market sentiment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bank Nifty Engulfs Previous Gains as Bears Regain Control<\/h2>\n

The Bank Nifty index came under heavy selling pressure during Thursday\u2019s session, correcting 1.32 percent to close at 60,739.55. The sharp decline effectively erased the gains accumulated over the previous two trading sessions and marked a decisive shift in short-term momentum. Technically, the index formed a large bearish candle on the daily chart, engulfing prior bullish formations \u2014 a pattern that typically signals growing downside pressure.<\/p>\n

The correction is particularly significant because Bank Nifty had been outperforming the broader market in recent sessions. However, Thursday\u2019s selloff indicates that bulls have temporarily lost control, especially as the index slipped below immediate intraday support zones.<\/p>\n

FII Selling Intensifies Pressure on IT Stocks<\/h2>\n

Foreign Institutional Investors dumped \u20b910,956 crore worth of IT stocks in early February. Their holdings fell to \u20b94.49 lakh crore \u2014 the lowest level in four years. Since January 2025, cumulative IT selling has reached nearly \u20b974,698 crore, with total holdings down 38 percent from peak levels.<\/p>\n

Concerns around generative AI impacting traditional IT services revenue streams have intensified sector-specific selling.<\/p>\n

Daily Market Action<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Metric<\/th>\nValue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Advancers<\/td>\n831<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Decliners<\/td>\n2308<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
52W High<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
52W Low<\/td>\n118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Out of Nifty 500 stocks, 432 closed lower, confirming broad market weakness.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s What Happened Today and Why Traders Reacted<\/h2>\n

Markets initially opened steady but quickly turned negative as geopolitical tensions escalated. Rising crude prices and a spike in volatility triggered stop-losses. F&O expiry amplified swings, while weak global cues added to panic selling.<\/p>\n

The India VIX jump above 13 indicated rising fear and hedging activity.<\/p>\n

What Impact on Investors and Market Outlook?<\/h2>\n

The \u20b97.55 lakh crore wealth erosion underscores how vulnerable markets remain to global shocks. Banking, auto and FMCG-heavy portfolios saw significant drawdowns.<\/p>\n

If Nifty sustains below 25,300, further downside toward 25,000 may unfold. A recovery requires reclaiming 26,000 decisively.<\/p>\n

In the near term, volatility is expected to remain elevated amid geopolitical uncertainty, crude price movements and FII flows. Investors are advised to focus on fundamentally strong stocks and maintain disciplined risk management strategies.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line<\/h2>\n

Thursday\u2019s \u20b97.5 lakh crore wipeout was not a random selloff. It was a convergence of geopolitical risk, oil inflation fears, bond yield pressure, technical breakdowns, and profit booking after a fragile rally.<\/p>\n

The broader trend has not collapsed \u2014 but short-term momentum has clearly turned cautious.<\/p>\n

Markets are now in a macro-sensitive phase. The next directional cue will likely come from oil stability, US rate signals, and whether buyers step in near key support levels.<\/p>\n

Until then, volatility is back \u2014 and complacency is off the table.<\/p>\n