Last Updated on February 12, 2026 11:25 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
BIZ DESK
Indian stock market on Thursday witnessed a significant “Sectoral Tug-of-War.” While the Nifty IT index faced a brutal sell-off—wiping out nearly ₹1.3 lakh crore in market valuation—financial and consumer stocks acted as a safety net, preventing a complete market rout.
1. Market Summary: The “AI Shock” Correction
The primary headline of the day was the “Anthropic Shock.” Markets reacted sharply to news of advanced AI tools (like Claude Cowork) that threaten traditional IT service models. This, combined with strong US jobs data (lowering hopes for rate cuts), sent the IT sector to a 10-month low.
- Sensex: 83,674.92 (▼ 558.72 pts | 0.66%)
- Nifty 50: 25,807.20 (▼ 146.65 pts | 0.57%)
- Market Breadth: Bearish (2,433 Declines vs. 1,647 Advances)
2. Sector-Wise Performance Breakdown
| Sector | Performance | Key Drivers |
| Information Technology | ▼ 4.7% to 5.4% | Worst Performer. Massive sell-off in TCS (hit 52-week low), Infosys, and Wipro due to AI disruption fears and weak US ADR cues. |
| Financial Services | ▲ 0.5% to 1.5% | Market Anchor. Bajaj Finance and ICICI Bank led gains as investors rotated money out of “risky” IT into “stable” domestic lenders. |
| Consumer/Retail | ▲ 1.6% | Resilient. Trent and Titan saw buying interest as domestic consumption remains a strong “Viksit Bharat” theme. |
| Energy & Utilities | ▼ 0.4% to 0.8% | Subdued. Reliance and Adani Ports traded lower, mirroring the cautious global sentiment. |
| Defense | ▲ 0.3% | Positive. Supported by the earlier DAC clearance of ₹3.60 lakh crore for armed forces. |
3. The FII vs. DII Dynamic
Despite the index fall, institutional activity showed a fascinating divergence. Foreign investors are currently “Bottom Fishing” in the Indian market:
- FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors): Net BUYERS of ₹944 crore. This marks a shift, with February seeing total inflows of $1.7 billion as global funds move back into India.
- DIIs (Domestic Institutional Investors): Net SELLERS of ₹125 crore. Local funds chose to book profits at higher levels, particularly in mid-cap stocks.
4. Key Stock Movers of the Day
- TCS: Slumped 5.4%, falling below the ₹10 lakh crore market cap milestone. It has now been overtaken by SBI as India’s 4th most valuable firm.
- Bajaj Finance: Rose 2.65%, emerging as the top Nifty gainer, benefiting from the rotation to financials.
- Lenskart & Shadowfax: In the unlisted/news-driven space, these saw massive interest following stellar Q3 results (Lenskart profit up 71-fold).
The “Tech-Pivot” Strategy
Analysts suggest a “Sell-on-Rise” strategy for IT stocks until the AI-disruption narrative stabilizes. The market is currently shifting its preference toward Banking, Infrastructure, and Defense, which are seen as direct beneficiaries of the 2026 Union Budget.
Would you like a more detailed look at the specific IT stocks (like TCS or Infosys) and their technical support levels for the next week?
