Sensex Drops 1,236 Points, Nifty Slides Under 25,500 as Global Tensions Shake Markets

Mumbai, India — February 19, 2026

India’s stock market saw a steep fall Thursday, with Sensex plunging more than 1,200 points and Nifty slipping below 25,500. The drop came as geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices rattled investors, ending a three-day rally and pushing most major stocks into the red.

Experts say fears of inflation, rate uncertainty, and global instability fueled profit-booking across sectors, signaling heightened volatility ahead.

Indian Stock Market Plunges

Indian equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed sharply lower on Thursday, snapping a three-day rally as global geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices triggered broad-based selling across sectors.

The 30-share Sensex plunged 1,236.11 points (1.48%) to settle at 82,498.14, while the 50-stock Nifty declined 365 points (1.41%) to end at 25,454.35, slipping below the key 25,500 level.

What Dragged the Market Down

Market sentiment weakened after escalating tensions between the United States and Iran heightened global uncertainty. Analysts say geopolitical risks tend to trigger risk-off sentiment among investors, prompting profit-booking and equity sell-offs.

International investment consultant Ratnam Chandra noted that rising tensions unsettled global market confidence, leading to widespread selling pressure in equities. He added that crude oil prices reaching yearly highs intensified inflation concerns and fears of supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz.

Global benchmark Brent Crude rose 1.02% to $71.07 per barrel, further weighing on market sentiment.

Top Losers in Sensex Basket

Major laggards among Sensex constituents included:

• IndiGo

• Mahindra & Mahindra

• UltraTech Cement

• Trent

• Bharat Electronics Limited

• Adani Ports

• Kotak Mahindra Bank

• Reliance Industries

• Tech Mahindra

• ITC Limited

• Power Grid Corporation of India

Additional Market Pressures

Analysts also cited:

• Uncertainty over U.S. Federal Reserve interest-rate policy

• Continued weakness in the Indian rupee

• Lower foreign investor participation due to Lunar New Year holidays in parts of Asia

• Regional banking holidays in India reducing trading activity

Global Market Snapshot

Asian markets showed mixed trends:

• South Korea’s Kospi rose 3%

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1%

• Hong Kong and mainland China markets remained closed for holidays

European markets were trading lower mid-session, while U.S. markets had ended higher on Wednesday.

Institutional Investment Activity

According to exchange data:

• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth ₹1,154.34 crore

• Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased ₹440.34 crore

In the previous session, Sensex had gained 283.29 points to close at 83,734.25, and Nifty rose 93.95 points to finish at 25,819.35, highlighting the sharp reversal in Thursday’s session.