The NIFTY 50 closed sharply lower on February 24, 2026, ending the session at 25,424.65 with a decline of 288.35 points or 1.12%. Market sentiment weakened substantially as broad-based selling gripped information technology stocks.
Heavyweights including Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services posted significant losses, adding pressure to the benchmark. Despite the weakness, select power and FMCG stocks such as NTPC, Coal India and Hindustan Unilever offered limited cushioning to the index.
The index opened with a negative bias and extended its losses through the session amid persistent selling in IT counters. Weak global tech cues and sustained profit-booking further dampened sentiment across Indian equities.
Defensive sectors like FMCG and power witnessed selective buying but were insufficient to offset the sharp declines in large-cap technology names. Overall market breadth remained weak, reflecting a predominantly bearish tone.
| Company Name | LTP | Change (₹) | % Change | Volume (Lakhs) | Value (₹ Crores) |
| NTPC | 384.50 | 9.05 | 2.41 | 207.75 | 786.78 |
| Coal India | 431.45 | 5.45 | 1.28 | 89.51 | 382.84 |
| JSW Steel | 1,256.20 | 15.70 | 1.27 | 15.16 | 189.40 |
| Hindalco | 925.30 | 9.10 | 0.99 | 51.79 | 476.06 |
| Hindustan Unilever | 2,364.80 | 19.40 | 0.83 | 15.45 | 364.28 |
| Company Name | LTP | Change (₹) | % Change | Volume (Lakhs) | Value (₹ Crores) |
| Tech Mahindra | 1,352.00 | -88.90 | -6.17 | 74.41 | 1,011.68 |
| HCL Technologies | 1,343.00 | -83.20 | -5.83 | 100.05 | 1,347.29 |
| Eternal (Zomato) | 254.40 | -13.60 | -5.07 | 768.37 | 1,967.18 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | 2,581.00 | -95.30 | -3.56 | 77.99 | 2,017.55 |
| Infosys | 1,280.20 | -47.30 | -3.56 | 278.39 | 3,556.97 |
The information technology sector bore the brunt of selling, with heavy declines across major names such as Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies and Infosys. Metal and power counters fared better, supported by gains in NTPC, JSW Steel and Hindalco.
FMCG stocks also provided some resilience, led by Hindustan Unilever. However, the sharp drop in IT overshadowed gains elsewhere, keeping overall sentiment negative.
Read More: Nifty Struggles Near 25,400 as IT Sell-Off Weighs on Markets.
The NIFTY 50 ended sharply lower on February 24, 2026, weighed down by steep corrections in major IT stocks. NTPC and Coal India managed to provide pockets of strength, but the overall market tone remained bearish.
Tech Mahindra and HCL Technologies were the biggest drags on the index, reflecting sector-specific pressure. Despite support from power and FMCG names, the index closed firmly in negative territory due to heavy technology-led selling.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Feb 24, 2026, 4:02 PM IST
Akshay Shivalkar
Akshay Shivalkar is a financial content specialist who strategises and creates SEO-optimised content on the stock market, mutual funds, and other investment products. With experience in fintech and mutual funds, he simplifies complex financial concepts to help investors make informed decisions through his writing.
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