Sensex tumbles 558 points on sell-off in IT shares

Benchmark BSE Sensex fell 558 points on Thursday (February 12, 2026) amid heavy selling in IT shares, as concerns over AI-led disruptions and waning hopes of a Fed rate cut after firm U.S. economic data weighed on investor sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 558.72 points, or 0.66%, to settle at 83,674.92. During the day, it tanked 716.97 points, or 0.85%, to hit an intraday low of 83,516.67.

The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 146.65 points, or 0.57%, to end at 25,807.20.

Technology stocks led the slide, with Tech Mahindra, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) tumbling nearly 6% each to emerge as major laggards on the Sensex.

HCL Technologies, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries, Eternal, HDFC Bank, IndiGo, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Adani Ports also ended in the red.

On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics Ltd, State Bank of India, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel and Tata Steel were among the gainers.

BSE MidCap Select Index fell 0.48%, while SmallCap Select Index slipped 0.28%.

Among sectoral indices, Focussed IT slumped the most by 5.40 %, followed by IT by 5.29%.

“A nosedive correction in the IT index triggered by mounting concerns over AI-led disruptions, along with low expectations of a U.S. Fed rate cut due to strong U.S. job data and unemployment rates, dampened investor sentiment,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

He added that in the global markets, AI is reshaping markets by compressing margins in service-intensive sectors and increasing concentration-led volatility.

“In India, this technology shift is likely to structurally transform IT services by accelerating delivery timelines and automating volume-driven tasks, thereby challenging the traditional headcount-based outsourcing model.

“A weak sentiment in the IT sector, along with lingering geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran, may influence investors to take a cautious approach in the near term,” Mr. Nair said.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi closed over 3% higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index also ended on a positive note, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng benchmark finished in the negative territory.

European markets are trading higher in mid-session deals. U.S. equities ended lower on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth ₹943.81 crore on Wednesday (February 11, 2026), while domestic institutional investors were the net sellers of stocks worth ₹125.36 crore, according to exchange data.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.27% to $69.21 per barrel.

On Wednesday (February 11, 2026), the 30-share BSE Sensex slipped 40.28 points to close at 84,233.64, while the NSE Nifty inched up 18.70 points to settle at 25,953.85.

Published – February 12, 2026 04:31 pm IST