- Sensex touched an intraday high of 74,741, up by 407 points, but lost steam later in the day and closed 217 points lower at 74,115, registering a 0.3% decline.
- Nifty 50 followed a similar trajectory — it peaked at 22,677 but fell to an intraday low of 22,429, eventually settling at 22,460, down 92 points or 0.4%.
The late sell-off was triggered by weak cues from US markets, especially on concerns over potential tariff changes under the Trump administration. The Dow futures dropped 400 points, while NASDAQ futures declined over 1% (250 points), dragging down investor sentiment back home.
The broader markets bled more deeply, with BSE MidCap down 1.5% and SmallCap tumbling over 2%.
High valuations in mid and small-cap segments, coupled with ongoing economic uncertainty and liquidity concerns, continue to make investors jittery despite recent corrections of 18% to 20% from their peak.
Impact on the stock market
Among the sectoral indices:
- BSE Capital Goods, Consumer Durables, and Oil & Gas each fell over 2%
- Auto index lost 1.2%
- The BSE MidCap index fell 1.5%, while the SmallCap index dropped by a sharp 2%
On the NSE, apart from FMCG, all major sectors ended in the red:
- Nifty FMCG rose 0.22%, becoming the day’s only green spot
- Nifty PSU Bank lost 1.86%
- Nifty Auto was down 1.22%
- IT, Media, Pharma, and Metals also recorded losses
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -0.47% |
| Healthcare sector | -2.04% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -1.90% |
| Real estate sector | -2.04% |
| PSU Bank in India | -1.86% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Power Grid Corp Share Price | 271.30 | 3.04 |
| HUL Share Price | 2,247.75 | 1.96 |
| Infosys Share Price | 1,701.45 | 0.92 |
| SBI Life Insura Share Price | 1,419.45 | 0.56 |
| Nestle Share Price | 2,248.40 | 0.44 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| ONGC Share Price | 223.19 | -4.17 |
| Trent Share Price | 4,799.70 | -4.00 |
| IndusInd Bank Share Price | 900.50 | -3.87 |
| Bajaj Auto Share Price | 7,383.40 | -2.53 |
| Eicher Motors Share Price | 4,990.55 | -2.16 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
SPML Infra surges 5% after new project win
Amid a broader market decline, SPML Infra stood out with a 5% rally. The boost came after the company secured a ₹618 crore irrigation project from the Jharkhand government.
The project will cover 12,599 hectares of land across Hazaribagh, Bokaro, and Giridih districts. It includes a 10-year Operation & Maintenance (O&M) component post-completion. As of 11:45 AM, SPML Infra was trading at ₹176.
According to Chairman Subhash Sethi, this project aligns with the company’s focus on sustainable water management and improving agricultural productivity.
Gensol Engineering drops 4% as promoters offload stake
It was a rough day yet again for Gensol Engineering, which has now been on a decline for 10 straight sessions, with a total correction of nearly 60%.
On Monday, the stock fell another 4.32% to ₹308, barely above its 52-week low of ₹307.25. The fall came after promoters sold 2.3% stake, amounting to 9 lakh shares. Promoter holding now stands at 59.7%.
While the company reassured investors that the stake sale doesn’t impact long-term plans, the market’s reaction suggests otherwise.
IRFC rally continues post-Navratna status
IRFC (Indian Railway Finance Corporation) has been on a tear, rising over 11% in the last four sessions and closing at ₹123.70 on Friday. Experts attribute this surge to its Navratna status, which now gives the company greater operational autonomy, reducing dependence on government approvals for projects.
With strong fundamentals—15% revenue growth, 11% profit growth, ROE of 13.7%, and CRAR over 700%—investors are seeing IRFC as a dependable bet. Market watchers believe ₹140 could be the next target for the stock, provided support at ₹115 holds.
Moreover, IRFC is also diversifying into sectors beyond railway financing, such as power generation, mining, warehousing, and port connectivity, further adding to its bullish outlook.
Crude oil slips on weak China data
Global commodity markets weren’t immune to volatility either.
Crude oil futures traded lower on Monday, largely due to deflationary data from China and ongoing uncertainty around US tariffs.
| Crude Oil Futures | Price (as of Monday AM) | % Change |
| Brent (May Futures) | $70.05 | ↓ 0.44% |
| WTI (April Futures) | $66.72 | ↓ 0.48% |
| MCX Crude (March Futures) | ₹5,833 | ↓ 0.43% |
| MCX Crude (April Futures) | ₹5,832 | ↓ 0.38% |
China’s consumer prices fell 0.7% YoY in February, worse than the expected 0.5% decline, signalling weak domestic demand. Producer prices also fell by 2.2% YoY.
Additionally, China’s crude imports in Jan-Feb 2025 stood at 83.85 million tonnes, down 3.4% YoY — a bearish sign for global oil demand.
Natural gas, on the other hand, bucked the trend, with MCX March contracts up 9.5% at ₹402.90.
Conclusion:
Today’s market movement was a reminder that global cues can override domestic fundamentals, even on a strong macro backdrop. While India’s economy remains resilient, factors like US tariffs, China’s deflation, and crude oil fluctuations are shaking investor confidence.
Some key takeaways:
- Beaten-down stocks may offer value, but caution is key
- Keep an eye on sector rotation trends
- Watch out for upcoming CPI data from India and the US — these could set the tone for the next market move
As for the winners and losers — while SPML Infra and IRFC gave hope, others like Gensol Engineering reminded us how quickly sentiment can flip.
So, if you’re investing right now, stay nimble, stay informed — and above all, don’t get swayed by one day’s high or low. Because in the share market, every day tells a new story.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
