Taking Stock: Amid expiry day sell-off, Nifty slips below 25,450 as IT stocks plunge

Market Today

• Nifty and Sensex fell, ending two-day gain streak
• IT stocks plunged over 4 percent amid AI disruption concerns
• Broader market indices and realty sector also closed in the red

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Indian benchmark indices snapped a two-day gaining streak on February 24 (Monthly Nifty F&O expiry), ending sharply lower with the Nifty closing below 25,450 led by weakness in information technology shares amid concerns over AI-led disruption.

Amid mixed global cues, the market opened lower with the Nifty below 25,650 and witnessed extended selling as the day progressed, dragging the index below 25,350 intraday amid fresh concern over US tariff and geopolitical tensions.

At close, the Sensex was down 1,068.74 points or 1.28 percent at 82,225.92, and the Nifty was down 288.35 points or 1.12 percent at 25,424.65.

The broader market also ended lower, with the Nifty Midcap index shedding 0.3 percent and the Smallcap index falling 0.55 percent.

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Among sectors, the IT index was the worst hit, plunging more than 4 percent, while the realty index declined over 2 percent. However, metal, pharma, PSU Bank, oil & gas, energy rose 0.3-1%.

Biggest Nifty losers were Tech Mahindra, Eternal, Infosys, TCS, HCL Technologies, while gainers included HUL, Hindalco Industries, Coal India, NTPC, JSW Steel.

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Index	Prices	Change	Change%
Sensex	76,034.42	-829.29	-1.08%
Nifty 50	23,639.15	-227.70	-0.95%
Nifty Bank	55,100.95	-634.80	-1.14%

Nifty 50 23,639.15 -227.70 (-0.95%)

Thu, Mar 12, 2026

• 1D
• 5D
• 1M
• 3M
• 6M
• 1Y
• 2Y

Biggest Gainer	Prices	Change	Change%
Coal India	470.10	23.35	+5.23%

Biggest Loser	Prices	Change	Change%
M&M	3,031.20	-137.00	-4.32%

Best Sector	Prices	Change	Change%
Nifty Energy	36834.35	695.85	+1.93%

Worst Sector	Prices	Change	Change%
Nifty Auto	25098.00	-828.00	-3.19%

In stock specific action, Bharti Airtel share price fell 2% on Rs 20,000 crore investment in Airtel Money, Blue Cloud Softech Solutions share price slipped 5% on acquisition of 100% in Global Impex Inc, Eris Lifesciences shares rose 2.7% on partnership with Natco Pharma, Indoco Remedies shares added 4% on final USFDA approval for Brivaracetam Oral Solution, Waaree Energies shares added more than 4% post winning order for supply of 500 MW solar modules.

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90 stocks touched their 52-week high, including Bank of Maharashtra, Hitachi Energy, NTPC, Torrent Pharma, Polycab India, Astral, Bharat Forge, Union Bank of India, Jindal Steel, JB Chemicals, Marico, Bank of India, Cummins, Indian Bank, Federal Bank, SBI, L&T, among others. Click to View More

Nearly 350 stocks touched their 52-week low, including LT Technology, KPIT Technologies, Mastek, Zensar Technologies, Hexaware Technologies, Firstsource Soluations, Tata Tech, Info Edge, Tata Elxsi, Sonata Software, Infosys, TCS, CE Info Systems, Cyient, Network 18, Wipro, Vedant Fashions, SRF, Just Dial, among others. Click to View More

Outlook for February 25

Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities

On the monthly expiry day, Nifty opened with a sharp gap down below the previous day’s key support zone of 25630–25600 and extended its decline as the session progressed. The index slipped to an intraday low of 25328 before recovering part of the losses to close at 25425, down 1.12%. Notably, this marks the fifth instance this month where Nifty has ended with losses exceeding 1%. On the daily chart, the index has formed a sizeable bearish candle and once again slipped below its 20, 50 and 100-day EMAs, indicating sustained pressure.

Going ahead, the immediate support for Nifty is placed in the 25370–25350 zone. Strong rebound was seen from this zone on the previous two occasions. Any sustainable move below this zone could result in Nifty filling the gap and extending its weakness towards 25150, followed by 24950 in the short term. On the upside, the zone of 25600–25650 zone is likely to act as an immediate resistance.

Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking

Markets remained under pressure on Tuesday and traded sharply lower amid weak global cues. The Nifty opened in the red and extended losses through the session, slipping below the crucial 25,400 mark as selling intensified across key sectors. However, buying in select heavyweight stocks during the final hours trimmed some of the losses, and the index eventually settled at 25,424.68. Sectoral trends were mixed, with metal, energy and pharma ending higher, while selling pressure was visible in IT, realty and select financial counters. Broader markets also remained volatile and ended flat to marginally lower.

Investor sentiment weakened amid renewed concerns over global trade developments and rising geopolitical tensions, which kept crude oil prices elevated. Moreover, continued pressure on global technology stocks and fears of AI-led disruption further dragged domestic IT shares, amplifying the decline in the benchmark indices.

Technically, the Nifty has once again retested the crucial support near the 25,400 zone, and a decisive break below this level could trigger the next leg of the decline towards 25,245, which coincides with the 200 DEMA, followed by a major support area around 25,100, marked by a gap on the daily chart. On the upside, the 25,600–25,800 zone is likely to act as an immediate hurdle in case of any recovery. Amid the prevailing volatility and weak global cues, participants are advised to remain selective, keep position sizes light and focus on relatively stronger pockets of the market.

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