Market Brief: Indian Equities Under Pressure Indian benchmark indices, the **Sensex** and **Nifty 50**, faced a difficult session on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The market opened lower and struggled to maintain momentum as a combination of global headwinds and sector-specific selling dampened investor sentiment. The **BSE Sensex** dropped over **400 points** in early trade, slipping to a low of **83,817**. Simultaneously, the **NSE Nifty 50** shed more than **100 points**, falling below the crucial psychological level of **25,850**. This decline effectively paused a three-day winning streak. Global Triggers and Interest Rate Outlook A major catalyst for the downward movement was the latest employment data from the United States. January's non-farm payrolls showed the addition of **130,000 jobs**, far exceeding the anticipated **70,000**. The U.S. unemployment rate also improved to **4.3%** from **4.4%**. While a strong labor market is generally positive for the economy, it has significantly lowered expectations for a near-term interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Investors now anticipate that rates may remain higher for longer, causing ripples through emerging markets like India. IT Sector Selloff and AI Concerns The Information Technology sector was the primary drag on the indices. The **Nifty IT Index** has plunged over **10.5%** so far in 2026, and the trend continued today with top firms like **Infosys** and **HCL Tech** falling between **2% and 4%**. This volatility is fueled by a sharp selloff in global tech stocks on Wall Street. Market participants are increasingly concerned about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) startups to disrupt established IT service models. Heavyweights such as **TCS**, **Wipro**, and **Tech Mahindra** also faced significant selling pressure. Domestic Sentiment and Support Pillars Despite the broader weakness, certain sectors provided a cushion to the market. Banking and industrial stocks showed resilience. **State Bank of India (SBI)** hit a fresh all-time high of **₹1,188**, outperforming the broader market. Other gainers included: * **ICICI Bank** and **Axis Bank** in the financial space. * **NTPC** and **Power Grid** in the utilities sector. * **Tata Steel**, which saw marginal gains. Market support is increasingly dependent on the final leg of the Q3 earnings season. While the IT sector remains under a cloud, sectors such as automobiles, hotels, and capital goods are showing robust earnings growth. Macroeconomic Indicators The Indian Rupee remained relatively stable near the **90.70** level against the U.S. Dollar. Investors are now closely watching for the release of January’s retail inflation data, which will use the updated **2024 base year** series. Institutional activity remains mixed. While Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) provided strong support with net purchases exceeding **₹1,100 crore** in recent sessions, the shift in global rate expectations continues to keep Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) cautious.