The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 suffered heavy losses today as global trade tensions escalated.
- Sensex started the day with a 400-point gap-down opening and continued its downward spiral, hitting a low of 73,141 before closing at 73,198, down 1,414 points (-1.9%).
- Nifty 50 also tumbled, touching a low of 22,105 before ending at 22,125, a decline of 420 points (-1.9%).
Market performance for February 2025
The losses extended beyond just today.
- Sensex dropped 2,113 points (-2.8%) this week and 4,303 points (-5.6%) this month.
- Nifty 50 lost 5.9% in February, marking its worst monthly decline in recent times.
- Both indices have now fallen 15-16% from their all-time highs (Sensex: 85,978; Nifty: 26,277).
Market experts warn that if Nifty falls another 4%, it would officially enter bear market territory (20% off peak levels).
Broader market meltdown
- The BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices slipped more than 2%.
- The BSE SmallCap index logged its biggest monthly fall in five years.
- Market breadth was extremely weak, with 3,248 stocks declining vs. only 742 gaining on the BSE.
- 476 stocks hit their lower circuits, while 106 stocks touched their upper limits.
Impact on the stock market
Which sectors got hit the hardest?
The market-wide sell-off was broad-based, with all sectoral indices ending in the red.
- Nifty IT was the worst-performing sector, plunging 4.18% to a six-month low of 37,167.
- Auto stocks tumbled, with Tata Motors leading the fall.
- FMCG, healthcare, capital goods, consumer durables, and oil & gas sectors dropped more than 2% each.
- IndusInd Bank was the worst hit, dropping 7%.
Out of 30 Sensex stocks, 27 declined, with only HDFC Bank (+2%) managing to stay in the green.
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| Sector/Index | Performance |
| IT & BPM sector | -4.18% |
| Healthcare sector | -2.21% |
| Oil & Gas sector | -2.22% |
| Real estate sector | -1.41% |
| PSU Bank in India | -2.83% |
Top gainers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| HDFC Bank Share Price | 1,732.40 | 1.86 |
| Shriram Finance Share Price | 617.30 | 1.73 |
| Coal India Share Price | 369.35 | 1.51 |
| Trent Share Price | 4,851.55 | 0.96 |
| Hindalco Share Price | 634.35 | 0.38 |
Top losers today
| Company | Price | Change % |
| Jio Financial Share Price | 221.70 | -6.36 |
| Tech Mahindra Share Price | 1,588.25 | -6.32 |
| Wipro Share Price | 294.50 | -5.72 |
| IndusInd Bank Share Price | 1,046.70 | -5.41 |
| MM Share Price | 2,726.55 | -5.19 |
Market aftermath: Impact on stocks
IREDA slumps 7% as it enters F&O segment
Shares of IREDA fell 7% today, closing at ₹154 after entering the Futures & Options (F&O) segment with the March series.
- The stock is now down 50% from its post-listing peak of ₹310 (July 2023).
- It has lost 20% in February alone, marking its steepest monthly fall since its December 2023 listing.
- The decline comes despite shareholder approval for a ₹5,000 crore fundraise via QIP, which will dilute the government’s stake by 7%.
Also read: IREDA touches ₹100 per share: Book IPO profits?
Tata Motors hits 52-week low, extends losing streak
Tata Motors shares dropped 4% to ₹623, hitting a 52-week low amid market-wide sell-off.
- The stock is now down 46% from its July 2023 peak of ₹1,179, wiping out nearly ₹2 lakh crore in market cap.
- February was particularly bad, with a 12% decline, marking its worst month since October 2024 (-14%).
- This is Tata Motors’ seventh consecutive month of losses, the longest losing streak since 2015.
Schaeffler India bucks the trend, climbs 3% on strong earnings
One of the rare gainers today was Schaeffler India, which jumped 3% to ₹3,160 after posting a solid Q4 earnings report.
- Net profit rose 13.2% YoY to ₹237 crore.
- Revenue increased by 14% YoY to ₹2,136 crore, driven by strong demand.
- Despite today’s gain, the stock has fallen 7% this month, underperforming the broader Nifty 50.
Crude oil falls amid global trade war concerns
Crude oil futures traded lower today as investors weighed the impact of US tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, set to begin on March 4.
- Brent crude (May futures) was down 0.52% to $73.19.
- WTI crude (April futures) dropped 0.57% to $69.95.
Why does this matter?
- China is a major crude oil consumer. Any tariff restrictions could impact global demand.
- OPEC+ is now debating whether to raise or freeze oil output in April amid fresh US sanctions on Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
- Trump’s attempts at a Russia-Ukraine peace deal could ease oil supply constraints.
Conclusion
The Indian stock market took a major hit today, with Sensex and Nifty suffering their worst intraday drop of 2025. The market lost 6% in February, with major selling in IT, auto, and midcap stocks.
While IREDA and Tata Motors suffered sharp declines, Schaeffler India bucked the trend with strong earnings. The crude oil market remains volatile, adding further uncertainty.
What should investors do next?
- Brace for more volatility. Experts suggest that the market will remain uncertain for the next 3-4 months due to US trade policies.
- Look for quality stocks that have strong fundamentals and can withstand global shocks.
- Avoid panic selling. While market corrections can be scary, long-term investors should stay patient.
With global trade tensions heating up and the Indian market facing a prolonged sell-off, the next few months will be crucial in deciding whether Nifty and Sensex can recover—or enter bear market territory.
For more stock market insights, check out the StockGro blog.
