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Markets under heavy selling pressure amid geopolitical tensions
Feb-19-2026

Benchmarks have extended losses during late afternoon session as sudden spike in global crude oil prices weighed on markets sentiments. Investors were worried amid increase in tension between Iran and United State and avoided to take risk after reports indicated that Trump administration considering fresh military action against Iran. Market participants also worry that a military conflict could impact the oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz which accounted for roughly 31% of global seaborne crude transport. Besides, traders opted to cash in on recent gains made by the markets. 

On the global front, Asian equity markets were trading mostly in green following the upbeat U.S. economic data and easing AI concerns. European equity markets were trading lower amid mixed bag corporate earnings and heighten Russia-Ukraine conflict.   

The BSE Sensex is currently trading at 82879.80, down by 854.45 points or 1.02% after trading in a range of 82774.58 and 83979.36. There were 2 stocks advancing against 29 stocks declining on the index.

The alone gaining sectoral index on the BSE was IT up by 0.10%, while Realty down by 2.02%, Power down by 1.73%, Utilities down by 1.55%, Capital Goods down by 1.40% and Consumer Durables down by 1.38% were the top losing indices on BSE.

The only gainers on the Sensex were Infosys up by 0.76% and TCS up by 0.22%. On the flip side, Interglobe Aviation down by 2.86%, Trent down by 2.66%, Ultratech Cement down by 2.47%, Mahindra & Mahindra down by 2.18% and Bharat Electronics down by 1.93% were the top losers.

Meanwhile, amid concern over artificial intelligence (AI) eating up jobs, Minister of Electronics and Information technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the government is aware of AI-driven challenges in the IT sector and is working with academia to upskill, reskill and to build a new talent pipeline for this new intelligence age. 

Referring to a recent policy announcement during the Union Budget, the minister said India aims to attract global data to be processed within the country, delivering high-value digital services worldwide. He said the government has always demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to clean energy. He noted that India at present has more than 50 per cent of the power generation capacity from the clean sources.

He said ‘our visionary Prime Minister has recently reformed the nuclear energy sector also, which is another very good sector for providing that base load of clean energy. We have a robust grid which has been practically rebuilt over the last one decade.’

The CNX Nifty is currently trading at 25564.55, down by 254.80 points or 0.99% after trading in a range of 25544.90 and 25885.30. There were 7 stocks advancing against 44 stocks declining on the index.

The top gainers on Nifty were ONGC up by 4.21%, Hindalco up by 1.40%, Infosys up by 0.77%, HDFC Life Insurance up by 0.70% and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories up by 0.61%. On the flip side, Interglobe Aviation down by 2.84%, Trent down by 2.75%, Ultratech Cement down by 2.48%, Mahindra & Mahindra down by 2.18% and Adani Enterprises down by 2.05% were the top losers.

Asian equity markets were trading mostly in green; Nikkei 225 surged 412.16 points or 0.72% to 57,556.00, KOSPI increased 170.24 points or 3% to 5,677.25 and Straits Times rose 61.9 points or 1.25% to 5,000.48, while Jakarta Composite plunged 40.02 points or 0.48% to 8,270.21. Meanwhile, Chinese and Taiwanese markets were closed on account of holiday.

European equity markets were trading lower; UK’s FTSE 100 decreased 40.98 points or 0.38% to 10,645.20, France’s CAC fell 53.13 points or 0.63% to 8,375.90 and Germany’s DAX lost 99.61 points or 0.39% to 25,178.60.
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