BSE Sensex ended at 82,180.47, down by 1,065.71 points or 1.28%.
NSE Nifty50 closed at 25,232.5, shedding 353 points or 1.38%.
Broader market segments were even more affected. Nifty Midcap fell by 2.62%, and Nifty Smallcap witnessed a larger drop of 2.85%. This indicates that the downturn was widespread, affecting both large-cap and mid-cap stocks.
Impact on the stock market
Sector-wise performance
The selling pressure was not just limited to a few stocks; sectoral indices also faced significant declines, with Nifty Realty leading the fall, plunging over 5%. Other sectors, including Nifty Auto (down 2.56%) and Nifty IT (down 2.06%), also recorded notable losses.
| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -2.06% |
| Healthcare sector | -2.14% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -1.66% |
| Real estate sector | -5.04% |
| PSU Bank in India | -1.31% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| TATA Cons. Products | 1,185.00 | 0.41 |
| HDFC Bank | 931.20 | 0.36 |
Top losers today
| Company | Share Price (in ₹) | Change % |
| Eternal | 269.60 | -4.18 |
| Bajaj Finance | 933.20 | -3.74 |
| Adani Enterprises | 2,055.10 | -3.72 |
| Sun Pharma | 1,613.80 | -3.68 |
| Jio Financial | 265.50 | -3.68 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
Gold ETFs soar amid global uncertainty
Despite the broader market’s struggles, gold ETFs surged, climbing as much as 9% to set fresh all-time highs, reflecting a growing appetite for safe-haven assets. Gold futures for February expiry crossed ₹1.5 lakh per 10 grams, hitting a record high of ₹1,50,360. The spike in gold prices has been driven by the rising geopolitical tensions following President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and military action over Greenland.
- Tata Gold ETF jumped 9% to ₹15.35 per share.
- Choice Gold ETF and LIC MF Gold ETF saw an increase of around 5%, reaching their respective record highs.
Experts suggest that the bullish trend for gold could continue into 2026, particularly if geopolitical tensions persist. However, the potential reduction of import duties on gold in the upcoming budget could dampen the recent surge in domestic gold prices.
Restaurant Brands Asia hits a bump
On the corporate side, Restaurant Brands Asia saw a sharp 7% fall from its day’s high after a report about Ajanta Pharma potentially buying a stake in the company was clarified as false. According to Ajanta Pharma, they were not involved in any stake acquisition of Restaurant Brands Asia or any of its associated brands like Burger King.
- Ajanta Pharma clarified that the news was incorrect and there was no involvement in the transaction.
- The clarification came after an earlier report claimed that Ajanta Pharma’s family office could invest up to ₹800 crore in Restaurant Brands Asia.
Despite the clarification, Restaurant Brands Asia’s shares traded lower at ₹65.15, a 2.5% decline from their intraday high of ₹68.22.
Real estate sector falters as Oberoi Realty reports weak earnings
The real estate sector also faced a tough day, led by Oberoi Realty, which fell 7% after reporting disappointing Q3 results. The Nifty Realty index plunged 4%, with the sector suffering its worst drop in six months.
- Oberoi Realty posted a net profit of ₹622.64 crore, marking a marginal rise of 0.69% year-over-year, but a significant 18% QoQ decline from the previous quarter.
- Revenue for the quarter was ₹1,492.64 crore, reflecting a 16% quarter-on-quarter fall.
Other realty stocks such as Sobha, Prestige Estates, and Macrotech Developers saw losses of 6%, 5%, and 5%, respectively.
Crude oil
On the commodities front, crude oil prices saw a slight uptick amid supply disruptions in Kazakhstan.
- Brent Crude futures were trading at $64.11, marking an increase of 0.27%.
- WTI crude futures were trading at $59.42, showing a minor decline of 0.02%.
In India, February crude oil futures were up by 0.17%, trading at ₹5,431. This small rise came amid temporary halts in operations at Tengizchevroil’s oil fields in Kazakhstan, following a fire at power generators.
Market experts are also awaiting the release of the IEA monthly report, which could offer further insights into global oil supply and demand trends.
Conclusion
Today’s market performance reflects a broader sense of caution, driven by geopolitical tensions, weak earnings reports, and ongoing volatility across sectors. Despite the sharp declines, gold and precious metals remain strong, continuing their record-breaking rally. Investors should keep an eye on the evolving geopolitical scenario, especially with the uncertainty surrounding global trade, and may want to consider diversifying their portfolios, particularly into safe-haven assets like gold ETFs.
Whether the real estate sector can recover from its recent downturn, or if gold’s bull run continues into 2026, remains to be seen. However, in the short term, investors are advised to stay informed and monitor global events closely.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
