Market Overview Indian equity benchmarks concluded a volatile week with significant corrections. On Friday, **February 13, 2026**, the **Nifty 50** plummeted **336.10 points (1.30%)** to settle at **25,471.10**. The **S&P BSE Sensex** witnessed a steeper drop, tumbling **1,048.16 points (1.25%)** to close at **82,626.76**. This downward trajectory wiped out approximately **₹7.02 lakh crore** in investor wealth in a single session. For the week, both indices posted a cumulative decline of roughly **1.1%**, marking a sharp reversal from previous gains. The IT Sector Rout The technology sector remained the primary drag on the market. The **Nifty IT index** plunged **8%** over the week, recording its most severe weekly loss in **10 months**. This selloff resulted in a market value erosion of **₹4.69 lakh crore** for the IT pack. Intraday losses on Friday saw the IT index crash over **5%** as major heavyweights faced intense selling. **Infosys** led the decline with a **7.5%** drop, followed by **TCS** at **6%** and **HCL Technologies** at **5.5%**. Catalysts: AI Disruption and US Data Market sentiment was heavily weighed down by "Anthropic Shock." The release of advanced AI tools has intensified fears that traditional IT outsourcing models—including coding, maintenance, and support—could face rapid automation and margin compression. Simultaneously, stronger-than-expected US employment data for January pushed the **US unemployment rate** down to **4.3%**. This signal of labor market resilience has dampened hopes for near-term interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, maintaining high operational costs for Indian firms. Global and Domestic Context The domestic selloff mirrored a global retreat in technology shares. Overnight, the **Nasdaq Composite** fell **2%**, while Asian peers like the **Hang Seng** and **Nikkei** dropped **1.7%** and **1.2%** respectively. Broad-based selling in India extended beyond IT, with **Metals** falling **3.3%** and **Realty** dropping **2.2%**. On the domestic data front, January's retail inflation rose to **2.75%**, further complicating the outlook for local monetary easing. Institutional activity showed a stark divide: **Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)** offloaded equities worth **₹7,395.41 crore**, while **Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)** provided some cushion by purchasing stocks worth **₹5,553.96 crore**.