13 February,2026 12:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The domestic benchmark indices on Friday continued the downward trajectory and opened under pressure. Both the Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex witnessed sharp declines amid weak global cues and risk-off sentiment.
As reported by news agency ANI, the Nifty 50 index was down at 25,571.15, declining by 236.05 points or (-0.91 per cent), whereas the BSE Sensex also opened lower at 82,902.73, falling by 772.19 points or -0.92 per cent.
Expressing their views on markets opening in red, experts said that IT stocks came under sharp pressure due to global tech sector weakness and risk-off sentiment.
Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, while speaking to the media, said, "Indian futures are pointing to another 0.5 per cent cut in the leading indices this morning as global risk-off sentiment impacts Indian stocks as well. In aggregate."
Bagga also added, "The key themes this morning across Asia include. Equities are under pressure with broad declines as U.S. risk-off sentiment carries over to Asia. Tech sector weakness is dominating sectoral performance, amplified by AI valuation repricing and AI disruption threats leading to SaaS stocks selling off," as cited by ANI.
Highlighting the growth concerns and weak housing demand in the global south, Bagga also said, "Bond yields are lower globally, reflecting growth concerns and weak housing demand in the US dollar losing some safe-haven drive, though movements remain mixed across crosses. Yen appreciation, reflecting safe-haven flows and relative rate dynamics. Oil prices are sliding on softer global demand forecasts, reinforcing risk-off sentiment. Market participants will be closely watching upcoming U.S. CPI data, which could either confirm the slowdown narrative or provoke further repricing in bond yields and equities."
Apart from Nifty 50 and Sensex, Nifty 100 also declined by 0.54 per cent, while Nifty Midcap 100 fell by 0.47 per cent, as per ANI.
Among sectoral indices on NSE, Nifty IT crashed sharply by 5.51 per cent, emerging as the worst-performing sector. The sharp fall in IT stocks comes amid global tech sector weakness, AI valuation repricing and concerns over AI-led disruption in SaaS stocks.
Nifty Auto slipped by 0.12 per cent, Nifty Media declined by 1.31 per cent, Nifty Realty fell by 1.45 per cent and the Nifty Oil and Gas index was down by 1.19 per cent.
Indian markets and Asian markets also traded mostly in the red on Friday. Japan's Nikkei index declined by 0.74 per cent to the 57,215 level. Singapore's Straits Times fell by 1.18 per cent to 4,957. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped by 1.86 per cent to the 26,530 level.
While the stock market has been in the red for the last few days, the gold prices surged around 1 per cent to Rs 1,54,300 per 10 gm for 24 carat on Friday. On the other hand, silver prices rose 1.66 per cent to Rs 2,40,393 per kg.
(With inputs from ANI)
