Sensex Snaps Winning Streak: IT Selloff and Heavyweights Drag Indices

The Indian equity markets faced a sharp reversal on Friday, ending a five-session winning streak as a massive selloff in technology stocks and weakness in heavyweights weighed on investor sentiment. Despite the volatility, the Nifty50 managed to hold its ground above the psychological 24,000 mark.

Benchmarks Retreat Amid Global Cautions

The BSE Sensex closed significantly lower, shedding 607.08 points, or 0.78%, to finish at 76,802.90. The intraday volatility was notable, with the index plunging as much as 940.26 points before stabilizing. Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 dropped 154.90 points, or 0.64%, settling at 24,013.10.

This correction comes after a robust rally over the previous five trading sessions, during which the Sensex had advanced by 4.84% and the Nifty by 4.34%. The sudden downturn was fueled by a combination of fresh geopolitical concerns and a contagion effect from global technology stocks.

The IT Sector Crisis: The Accenture Effect

The primary driver of the market decline was the technology sector. The Nifty IT index plunged by over 6%, hitting its weakest level since April 2023. This sector-wide slump was triggered by a significant drop in Accenture's stock on Wall Street, where shares fell 11% following a lowered revenue growth forecast for FY26.

Investors fear that businesses are pulling back on discretionary spending for digital transformation. The impact on Indian IT majors was severe:

  • Infosys: Leading the losses, sliding nearly 9%.
  • TCS: Fell by 3.53%.
  • HCLTech & Tech Mahindra: Dropped 2.74% and 2.45% respectively.
  • Other Losers: Mphasis, LTIMindtree, and Persistent Systems all saw losses ranging between 4% and 6%.

Heavyweights HDFC Bank and RIL Join the Decline

While IT stocks led the charge, the indices were further burdened by major index heavyweights. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) closed at Rs 1,311.50, down 1.25%. This occurred amidst news from its 49th AGM, where Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced that Reliance Jio Platforms would be filing its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI for an upcoming IPO.

HDFC Bank also faced selling pressure, dropping 2.25% to close at Rs 781. The decline was largely attributed to the stock turning ex-dividend for its final dividend of Rs 13 per share. Additionally, the bank saw positive news as the RBI approved a three-month extension for Keki Mistry’s tenure as interim part-time chairman, providing some regulatory clarity.

Key Takeaways

  • End of Rally: The market snapped a five-day winning streak, with the Sensex dropping over 600 points due to sectoral weakness and geopolitical tensions.
  • IT Sector Slump: Global concerns over reduced IT spending—triggered by Accenture's weak outlook—sent the Nifty IT index to its lowest level in over three years.
  • Heavyweight Drag: The decline was compounded by major players like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank, preventing the Nifty50 from maintaining its recent upward momentum.