Nifty plunges 365 points as West Asia tensions and crude surge hit markets

Broad-based promoting noticed sectoral indices shut within the purple, whereas technical indicators signalled weak point as Nifty slipped under key EMAs.
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Inventory markets noticed a pointy reversal on Thursday wiping out three classes of features in a single day to shut at their lowest since February 3, as a flareup in pressure between the US and Iran pushed up crude costs.

The Nifty 50 plunged 365 points and the BSE Sensex shed 1,236.11 points.

WEST ASIA TENSIONS

Studies of a possible US navy motion on Iran drove Brent crude to a year-to-date excessive, stoking inflationary fears round a doable bottlenecking of the Strait of Hormuz.

Vinod Nair, Head of Analysis at Geojit Investments, mentioned the sell-off was additional aggravated by “low FII participation due to Lunar New 12 months vacation throughout key Asian markets and a non-settlement day on account of a regional banking vacation in India,” alongside a weaker rupee and uncertainty over the US Fed’s rate-cut trajectory.SECTORAL ROUT

Of Nifty’s 50 shares all, besides three, ended within the purple. IndiGo was the highest loser, falling 3.28 per cent, UltraTech Cement dropped 2.97 per cent and M&M misplaced 2.93 per cent.

All sectoral indices ended within the purple. Nifty Realty, Media, and Auto took the sharpest cuts. Nifty Financial institution fell 1.32 per cent.

Nifty Subsequent 50 dropped 1.86 per cent whereas Nifty Midcap 100 declined 1.59 per cent to 59,227.65, and Nifty Smallcap 100 shed 1.27 per cent. Shares at 52-week lows (146) exceeded these at 52-week highs (110).

PL Asset Administration mentioned in a observe that markets seem like “transitioning from correction to early restoration,” pointing to valuations at 19–20x earnings and the India–US commerce deal, which minimize tariffs on Indian items from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, as near-term catalysts.

GOLD, SILVER WATCH

MCX gold held close to ₹1.55–1.56 lakh per 10 grams, with upside capped by profit-booking and delayed rate-cut expectations. Jateen Trivedi, VP Analysis Analyst at LKP Securities, mentioned US–Iran talks “did not yield a constructive end result, reigniting navy tensions and prompting contemporary safe-haven shopping for.”

Printed on February 19, 2026