Sensex Slips, Nifty Dips: IT Selloff Deepens as AI Fears and Fed Rate-Cut Doubts Rattle Dalal Street (Feb 12, 2026)

Sensex Slips, Nifty Dips: Sensex today ended lower and Nifty today slipped as selling pressure intensified in IT stocks, dragging the Indian stock market despite resilience in a few pockets. On February 12, 2026, the Nifty 50 closed at 25,872.05 while the Sensex settled at 83,925.18, with IT emerging as the sharpest loser amid renewed fears that AI tools could disrupt traditional services and margins.

Traders also reacted to reduced optimism for near-term US rate cuts after stronger US jobs data, a key driver for global risk appetite and tech spending expectations. 

Market wrap

Closing snapshot: benchmarks end in the red

Indian equities finished lower on Thursday as the IT selloff extended and weighed on index heavyweights. Reuters reported the Nifty 50 fell 0.31% to 25,872.05 and the Sensex declined 0.36% to 83,925.18 by the close. 

Intraday, volatility stayed elevated: NSE’s live indices feed showed the NIFTY 50 trading lower around late morning, reflecting how the pressure built through the session before the final closing print. 

The headline drag: IT stocks slide to a multi-month low

The day’s defining feature was the sharp drop in IT stocks. Reuters said the Nifty IT index fell about 4%—with large names such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and HCLTech down roughly 3.7%–4.4%—as investors priced in two linked risks: (1) faster AI-led disruption to services delivery, and (2) weaker near-term US demand if rates stay higher for longer. 

Local market coverage also highlighted fresh lows across several IT counters and the sector’s outsized impact on the broader tape as the “risk-off” mood returned. 

What sparked the IT selloff: AI anxiety meets macro reality

Two narratives converged:

1) AI disruption fears: Reuters linked the renewed jitters to a wave of attention around new AI “co-worker” style tools, which intensified investor debate on whether labour-heavy IT delivery models will face faster pricing pressure. 

2) US rate-cut doubts: Stronger US jobs data reduced expectations of imminent Federal Reserve cuts, which matters for Indian IT because the sector’s revenue is heavily tied to US enterprise budgets. Reuters explicitly noted that fading hopes of near-term rate cuts added to the pressure on IT names. 

Broader market: small- and mid-caps slip; most sectors lower

The weakness wasn’t limited to one corner. Reuters reported small- and mid-cap indices fell about 0.7% each and that a majority of sectoral indices ended in the red (nine of sixteen sectors). 

That said, the day wasn’t a one-way trade across all stocks: Reuters flagged Lenskart Solutions surging 9.3% after a jump in quarterly profit, while a few others moved sharply on earnings. 

Sensex, Nifty: why the fall stayed “contained” despite IT rout

Even with IT down hard, benchmark declines remained modest because pockets like select financials/defensives provided some balance during parts of the session—something intraday trackers and live feeds reflected as swings narrowed after sharp early pressure. 

What this move means

Why “IT is the market” on days like this

On sessions when a heavyweight sector cracks, the benchmark narrative often becomes “sector = index.” With IT majors carrying meaningful benchmark weight, a 4% sector drop can overpower otherwise mixed breadth. The bigger message for the Indian stock market today wasn’t just the Sensex slip or Nifty dip—it was a repricing of the IT sector’s near-term certainty.

Investors were effectively asking:

• Will AI compress billing rates and shorten project cycles?
  
• Will clients delay discretionary tech spends if US rates stay elevated longer?
  

When both questions lean “yes” at the same time, IT stocks often de-rate quickly—even if nothing “breaks” immediately in quarterly numbers.

Also Read: Silver Price Today: Silver Eases Near ₹2.68 Lakh/kg After a Volatile Run — Should You Buy the Dip?

AI disruption: separating hype from real risk for IT stocks

The AI theme tends to move in waves: a product launch, a viral demo, or a new enterprise adoption signal reignites the market’s imagination. Today’s selling shows how quickly that imagination can turn into caution.

A grounded way to look at it:

• Near-term (quarters): AI can pressure billing mix and increase client negotiation leverage.
  
• Medium-term (1–2 years): Winners may be firms that productize AI accelerators and defend margins with outcome-based contracts.
  
• Long-term: The market will reward proof—deal wins, renewals, and stable margins—more than slogans.
  

Reuters’ framing suggests investors are currently leaning toward “disruption risk” rather than “productivity upside,” at least for the next few quarters. 

Macro link: why RBI and SEBI context still matters on an equity day

Even on an IT-led selloff session, two domestic anchors shape how steep selloffs can get: monetary conditions and market plumbing.

RBI backdrop: Earlier this month, Reuters reported RBI held the policy rate and kept a neutral stance, with inflation projected around 2.1% for the current financial year and growth forecast strong—factors that typically support domestic risk appetite and cushion sharp drawdowns. 

Risk monitoring in derivatives: SEBI’s push to strengthen risk monitoring in equity derivatives (including margins and surveillance measures) is designed to make market moves more orderly when volatility rises. That doesn’t stop declines, but it can reduce “air pockets” and sudden dislocations. 

What traders watched today: three “live” tells

1. NSE live index drift: The NIFTY 50 staying in negative territory through late morning signaled that dip-buying wasn’t strong enough to reverse the tape.
   
2. IT breadth: When most large IT names fall together, it’s rarely stock-specific; it’s a theme unwind.
   
3. Small/midcap follow-through: With small- and mid-caps also down ~0.7%, the risk-off move broadened beyond just IT.
   

“What should investors do now?” A sensible playbook (not advice)

If you’re tracking Sensex today and Nifty today for decisions, the cleanest approach is to avoid emotional trading.

• If you’re a long-term investor: Treat IT volatility as a reminder to stagger entries (SIP-style) rather than “all at once.”
  
• If you hold IT-heavy portfolios: Re-check concentration. A single sector shock shouldn’t define your monthly outcome.
  
• If you’re a short-term trader: Respect event risk—US macro data and AI headlines can swing sentiment overnight.
  

Staying steady when markets turn noisy

Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’s teachings repeatedly emphasize clarity of purpose, disciplined living, and freedom from excessive greed and fear—two emotions that markets amplify on volatile days. A session like today, when IT stocks fall sharply and headlines push urgency, is a practical reminder to act with balance: build wealth through honest means, avoid speculation that disturbs peace of mind, and make decisions after understanding (Sat Gyaan) rather than impulse.

In simple terms, when the stock market today feels uncertain, the wiser path is patience, measured planning, and detachment from panic—so choices remain ethical, calm, and sustainable. 

Take action: Read the market smartly, not emotionally

Track three things: (1) whether global rate expectations change after US data, (2) whether IT selling pressure cools or accelerates, and (3) whether broader participation improves beyond a few pockets. If you’re investing, write down your time horizon and limits in advance—how much you’ll add on dips, and how much sector exposure you’re willing to carry—so you don’t improvise under stress. And if you’re unsure, step back: protecting capital and peace of mind is also a valid decision on days when Sensex slips and Nifty dips.

FAQs: Sensex Slips, Nifty Dips