Stock Market Today: Sensex Slumps 962 Points to 82,332 as IBM Drops 13%; TCS, Infosys Slide Over 3%

Overview

• Indian stock market today struggled on renewed tariff concerns, which pushed investors toward safer assets and reduced risk appetite.

• The impact of Trump tariffs created uncertainty in export-driven sectors, leading to weakness in IT, metals, and auto stocks, while defensive stocks showed relative stability.

• Corporate developments such as Bharti Airtel’s expansion plans remain long-term positives, but short-term market direction is being shaped by global cues and foreign investor activity.

Bears took control in the stock market today, Tuesday, February 23. Sensex was down by 962.37 points to 82,332.29. Nifty lost 272.45 points to 25,440.55 at press time. The very reasons that helped the market recover yesterday are behind today’s slump, namely, Trump tariff threats.

Traders briefly rejoiced on February 23 as news of the US Supreme Court ruling, which found the initial tariffs unlawful, raised hopes for a trade relaxation. However, Trump has seemed to found a legal loophole as the new tariff rate of 10% becomes effective today. A massive crash in the IT sector due to AI disruption worries made investor fears worse.

Here is everything you need to know about the stock market today based on Moneycontrol live data.

IT Sector Faces Massive Sell-off

Nifty IT index was the biggest loser, falling 4.76% to trade at 30,048.30. This crash was triggered by news from Wall Street, where IBM shares fell 13%. The drop happened after the AI startup Anthropic revealed that its Claude AI can now automatically fix and improve COBOL code. Since many Indian IT firms earn a lot of revenue by managing these old systems for global banks and retail companies, investors fear AI could soon replace this human work.

Among the top losers, Tech Mahindra fell 6.23% to trade at Rs. 1,351.20, while HCL Tech dropped 5.99% to Rs. 1,340.70. Other giants like Infosys and TCS also saw their shares fall by 4.20% and 3.58%, respectively.

Trump Tariffs May Increase

Reports show that the US is thinking of levying more taxes on batteries, chemicals, and telecom gear. This has made traders nervous about the future of global exports. The tariff worries are hitting high-risk assets. In turn, causing a broad sell-off in international markets, affecting Indian stocks further.

Bharti Airtel NBFC Expansion

In specific share market news, Bharti Airtel became one of the most active stocks after announcing a huge expansion plan. The company plans to put Rs. 20,000 crore into its subsidiary, Airtel Money, over the next few years. This move comes after the RBI gave the arm an NBFC license (Non-Banking Financial Corporation) earlier this month.

While Morgan Stanley kept an ‘overweight’ rating with a target of Rs. 2,450, the stock fell over 3% to trade at Rs. 1,937. Investors think that such a large investment will increase the company’s spending intensity in the short term, even if it helps grow its lending business later.

Also Read: US Stock Market Today: NASDAQ Slides as Trump's 15% Import Levy Sparks US Trade Policy Uncertainty

Gold and Oil Prices Under Pressure

The volatility in the stock market today also reached commodities. Gold prices fell 1.5% to Rs. 5,150.38 per unit as the US dollar gained strength. Although traditionally gold prices surge during market uncertainty, the stronger dollar made it more expensive for buyers.

Meanwhile, oil prices stayed steady below a seven-month high. Brent crude was seen at $71.40 a barrel. Traders wait for the results of US-Iran nuclear talks and watch the former’s new trade policies closely.

Stocks in Focus and Other Market Moves

Despite the gloom, a few defensive stocks managed to stay in the green zone. HUL rose 0.53% to Rs. 2,357.90, and Power Grid gained 0.51% to trade at Rs. 304.90. Sun Pharma and NTPC also showed small gains of around 0.40%.

In other news, the NSE will stop F&O trading for four stocks, including Tata Technologies and Torrent Power, by the end of April due to new SEBI rules. Also, Silver Touch Technologies fell 2.71% to Rs. 1,414.80 despite winning a new digital project from the FSSAI.

Here is a quick look at teh stocks in focus on Nifty 50 today based on Moneycontrol data.

Market Outlook

Investors should stay alert as the stock market today shows a clear shift toward safety. The mix of AI disruption in IT and US tariff threats suggests more volatility ahead. Traders should watch the Rs. 25,300 level on Nifty closely. Until global trade news settles, the focus will likely be on defensive sectors like Pharma and FMCG.

Also Read: Meta Stock Climbs Near $656 as Revenue Hits $59.89 Billion

FAQs

1. Why is the stock market down today?

The stock market is down today mainly due to global trade tensions and renewed tariff concerns. Investors are worried about the impact of higher import duties on global growth and corporate profits. Weak global cues and cautious foreign investor activity also added pressure. When uncertainty rises, traders often reduce exposure to equities, which leads to broad-based selling.

2. What impact have Trump tariffs had on the Indian stock market?

Trump’s tariff announcements created fear of slower global trade and weaker demand. Indian sectors like IT, metals, and auto are sensitive to export trends. When tariffs increase, investors expect possible disruption in global supply chains. This leads to profit booking in export-heavy stocks. The uncertainty also affects foreign investment flows into Indian markets.

3. Which are the top gainers and losers in the stock market today?

On a weak trading day, defensive sectors like FMCG and select banking stocks often show strength. Export-oriented sectors such as IT and metals usually face selling pressure during global trade stress. Auto stocks can also decline due to demand concerns. The list of gainers and losers changes through the day, but broader sentiment guides overall direction.

4. What is the latest share market news?

The latest share market news highlights pressure on indices due to global trade concerns and tariff-related uncertainty. Investors are closely tracking foreign fund flows and corporate earnings. Market participants are also watching policy signals and global economic data. Volatility remains high as traders react quickly to international headlines.

5. What are Bharti Airtel’s expansion plans?

Bharti Airtel is focused on expanding its 5G network across India and increasing its digital services portfolio. The company is investing in infrastructure, spectrum, and rural connectivity to improve coverage and customer experience. It is also strengthening its enterprise and data center businesses to drive long-term revenue growth despite short-term market volatility.