Sensex erased early gains and fell 552 points to 83,181. FMCG, auto, metals, and realty stocks dragged large-cap indices lower despite a strong opening.
TCS share price jumped nearly 2% after announcing a strategic partnership with OpenAI.
Gold and silver prices declined amid a stronger US dollar, while Bitcoin slipped toward $67,000.
Indian stock market today, on Thursday, February 19, opened on a strong note. The positive momentum, however, was short-lived. Sensex retreated 552.91 points or 0.66% to 83,181.34 at press time. At the same time, Nifty 50 went down 160.15 points or 0.62% to 25,659.20. This is a sharp reversal from the opening, where the Sensex had climbed to 83,969.82, and Nifty 50 touched 25,873.35.
Selling pressure in FMCG, realty, metals, and auto stocks dragged the indices. On the other hand, Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 0.13% while Nifty Midcap 100 gained 0.24%. The surge showed that mid- and small-cap investors were selectively picking stocks even as large-cap stocks slipped.
Here’s everything you need to know about the stock market today based on Mint updates.
Here are the top gainers and losers on Nifty 50, along with details on most active stocks based on Moneycontrol data.
| Top Gainers (NIFTY 50) | Top Losers (NIFTY 50) | Most Active Stocks (Value) |
|---|---|---|
| ONGC (2.25%) | Trent (-2.81%) | Infosys (₹1,134.94 Cr) |
| Hindalco (1.06%) | M&M (-2.29%) | ICICI Bank (₹862.39 Cr) |
| Infosys (1.00%) | Adani Enterprises (-1.83%) | MCX India (₹633.43 Cr) |
| Dr. Reddy's Labs (0.55%) | UltraTech Cement (-1.76%) | BSE Limited (₹633.05 Cr) |
One of the biggest share market news stories is the TCS share price gains of nearly 2%. The hike came after TCS and OpenAI announced a multi-dimensional strategic partnership. This deal lifted sentiment in the Nifty IT index, with HCL Technologies and Coforge also trading in the green zone.
Analyst firm Elara Capital also upgraded Infosys stock from 'Accumulate' to 'Buy'. The firm cut its target price slightly to Rs. 1,680 per share from Rs. 1,770 earlier. It expects 5% revenue growth for FY27 and 6% for FY28, with earnings growth of 7-8% during the same period.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories signed a deal with Mercury Pharma Group. It would acquire the trademarks Progynova and CycloProgynova, along with related assets for India, for $32.15 million. Dr. Reddy’s stock was trading over 1% higher on the news.
SpiceJet gained over 2% after it received a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the induction of 10 new aircraft. The airline plans to more than double its capacity this year. It is targeting 220 crore Available Seat Kilometres (ASKMs) by Winter 2026 and over 300 daily flights.
B L Kashyap and Sons surged 9%. The surge was a result of winning a Rs. 300-crore order from CRC Greens for a group housing project in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The project is expected to be completed over 42 months.
TIL, a construction vehicle manufacturer, hit the 20% upper circuit at Rs. 275.20 on the BSE. The company’s board announced a meeting on February 23 to consider fundraising via rights issue, preferential allotment, or QIP.
Cigarette companies raised prices to offset the higher excise duty. In turn, Elitecon International, a small-cap tobacco stock, rose over 4% for the third straight session. The stock touched an intraday high of Rs. 79.31 on BSE.
Buying picks by Amol Athawale of Kotak Securities:
1. ‘ICICI Bank’ at Rs. 1,408.20 with a target of Rs. 1,470 and stop loss at Rs. 1,370.
2. ‘DLF’ at Rs. 642.45 with a target of Rs. 690 and stop loss at Rs. 620.
3. ‘Hyundai Motor India’ at Rs. 2,227.60 with a target of Rs. 2,370 and stop loss at Rs. 2,140.
At the same time, Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking suggested Senores Pharmaceuticals, ELGI Equipments, Lumax AutoTechnologies, Acutaas Chemicals, and Azad Engineering as breakout buys for the session.
In the commodity market, gold and silver prices fell as the US dollar strengthened ahead of a key US inflation report. Spot gold dipped 0.4% to $4,961.57 per ounce, while US gold futures for April delivery were down 0.6% at $4,981 per ounce.
On the MCX, gold futures for April opened lower by Rs. 629, or 0.40%, at Rs. 1,55,132 per 10 grams, against its previous close of Rs. 1,55,761. MCX silver for March futures opened down Rs. 1,829, or 0.74%, at Rs. 2,42,439 per kg. Spot silver eased 0.5% to $76.83 per ounce, after dropping more than 5% in the previous session.
MCX share price itself rose as much as 3.32% to Rs. 2,419. The shares soared as the exchange announced the removal of additional margins on gold and silver futures contracts.
Globally, the mood was positive overnight. Dow Jones gained 0.26% to 49,662.66 and S&P 500 rose 0.56% to 6,881.31. Nasdaq closed 0.78% higher at 22,753.64, driven by tech stocks. Among US tech names, Nvidia rose 1.6%, Amazon gained 1.81%, and Microsoft climbed 0.7%.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 0.52%, and South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.76% to a fresh record high. Hong Kong and mainland China markets were shut for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Also Read: NVIDIA or Palantir: Which AI Stock Has More Upside in 2026?
Bitcoin price today slipped to $67,000, triggering long liquidations before steadying in the $66,500-$67,000 range. Whale wallets have added more than 200,000 BTC over the past month, rising from 2.9 million to over 3.1 million bitcoins. Thus, signalling conviction among large holders, although US-Iran war tensions increased volatility in the crypto market.
Indian stock market today entered a phase of consolidation, where the buy-on-dips strategy is being rigorously tested. Traders should keep an eye on the 25,550-25,570 support zone for Nifty. A decisive break below this could trigger a deeper correction toward the 25,200 mark. In the near term, the focus is likely to remain on stock-specific opportunities in the IT and Pharmaceutical sectors. Although the share market downturn today can be a good opportunity for some to balance their portfolio. Investors should watch global cues to guage the next directional movement for the market
Also Read: US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Gains as Chipmakers Rally and Treasury Yields Climb Ahead of Fed Minutes
1. Why is the stock market down today?
The Indian share market opened on a strong note but quickly reversed due to selling pressure in large-cap stocks. FMCG, auto, metal, and realty shares saw heavy profit booking. Investors likely turned cautious near resistance levels. The Nifty also approached an important support zone, which triggered short-term traders to reduce exposure. This sharp reversal suggests markets are in a consolidation phase rather than a clear uptrend.
2. Why did TCS share price rise?
TCS shares climbed nearly 2% after announcing a strategic partnership with OpenAI. The deal focuses on AI-powered innovation for Tata Group companies and global clients. Investors see this as a long-term growth opportunity, especially in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The announcement boosted confidence in the IT sector and lifted sentiment across other tech stocks like HCL Technologies and Coforge.
3. Which sectors performed well in the stock market?
The IT and pharmaceutical sectors showed strength even as the broader market declined. TCS led gains in the IT space, supported by positive news flow. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories also gained after announcing an acquisition deal. Mid-cap and small-cap indices rose slightly, showing that investors were selectively buying quality stocks while avoiding overvalued large caps.
4. What are gold and silver prices today?
Gold and silver prices declined as the US dollar strengthened ahead of an important inflation report. On the global market, spot gold and US gold futures both slipped. MCX gold and silver futures also opened lower. The stronger dollar usually puts pressure on commodity prices because it makes them more expensive for buyers using other currencies.
5. What should investors watch in the coming days?
Investors should closely watch the Nifty support zone around 25,550-25,570. A break below this level could lead to further downside toward 25,200. At the same time, stock-specific opportunities remain in the IT and pharma sectors. It is wise to stay balanced, avoid chasing overvalued stocks, and use market dips to accumulate fundamentally strong companies gradually.
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