Indian Market Crash: Sensex Tumbled Over 1200 Points; Nifty Slips Below 25,500


By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)

Summary:


Sensex and Nifty slipped nearly 1.4% on Thursday, wiping about ₹7 lakh crore off investor wealth as the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies slipped to nearly ₹465 lakh crore during the day from ₹472 lakh crore in the previous session.

Indian Market Crash: Sensex Tumbled Over 1200 Points; Nifty Slips Below 25,500

On Thursday, February 19, India’s key equity benchmarks, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex, reversed early gains and fell sharply amid broad-based selling across sectors. The decline snapped a three-day winning streak. Investors lost about ₹7 lakh crore as the total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies slipped to nearly ₹465 lakh crore during the day, from ₹472 lakh crore in the previous session.

India’s stock benchmarks opened higher on Thursday amid positive cues from global markets. However, the early optimism faded as the session progressed, and selling pressure intensified in the last leg of trade, pushing the indices to close near the day’s low.

At the closing bell, the Nifty 50 closed down by 365 points, or 1.41%, to 25,454.35. The Sensex plunged by 1236.11 points, or 1.48%, to 82,498.14. Banking stocks weakened nearly 1%, with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, and IndusInd Bank falling up to 2.33%. Financial stocks such as Shriram Finance and Bajaj Finserv declined up to 2%. The Bank Nifty breached the level of 61,000 mark to close at 60,739.35, down by 1.32%. 

Volatility spiked with the India VIX surging more than 10% in today’s session.

Reliance Industries Ltd

Trade

1419.49.90 (0.70 %)

Updated - 20 February 2026
1427.40day high
DAY HIGH
1406.10day low
DAY LOW
8177670
VOLUME (BSE)

Why Did Indian Markets Fall on Thursday?

  • US Fed Minutes: Minutes of the US Federal Reserve showed division over rate cuts, raising fears of prolonged high US yields and possible FPI outflows from India

  • Crude prices climbed: Brent at $70.59 and WTI at $65.47 after a 4% surge, increasing inflation concerns for India

  • Geopolitical Tensions: Geopolitical tensions rose as a report emerged that US President Donald Trump warned of action against Iran. As a result, crude oil spiked. A surge in crude oil prices directly increases the foreign exchange outflow, deteriorating the trade balance.

  • Broad-Based Selling After Three-Day Rally: Indian markets witnessed a broad-based sell-off after a three-day rally. 

  • India VIX: Volatility spiked, with India VIX up 10% to 13.46 on Thursday, accelerating the sell-off.

All Sectors Ended in Red

On the sectoral front, all 11 key sectoral indices ended in negative territory. Meanwhile, broader indices such as the Nifty Midcap and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices recorded losses of 1.59% and 1.27%, respectively. 

On Wednesday, the Nifty Realty index emerged as the top loser among the sectoral indices, ending 2.56% lower, recording the highest intraday fall of February. 

Stock-Specific Highlights: Inox Green & Pine Labs

Among individual stocks,

  • Inox Green share price jumps 3.25% as INOXGFL Group acquires Wind World India’s renewable assets via NCLT resolution.

  • Pine Labs' share price gained 2.3% after the company collaborated with OpenAI to engineer the era of agentic commerce in India.

Nifty 50: Top Pullers and Draggers of the Day

The key drivers of the index gains were:

  • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation: +8.57 points

  • Hindalco Industries: +2.03 points

  • HDFC Life Insurance Company: +0.84 points

On the other hand, these stocks weighed on the index:

  • Reliance Industries: -47.09 points

  • HDFC Bank: -30.51 points

  • ICICI Bank: -30.40 points

Market Breadth

As of February 19, 2026, the market breadth was in favour of declining stocks. Out of 3,249 stocks traded on the NSE, 831 advanced, 2,308 declined, and 110 remained unchanged. 

A total of 76 stocks touched their 52-week highs, while 118 hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 84 stocks were locked in their upper circuits, whereas 63 stocks were locked in lower circuits. 

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

About the Author

SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).


Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise. 

Published Date : 19 Feb 2026

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Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

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