Market Midday Update: Nifty 50 Slides 0.78% To 25,296.55; Sensex Drops 0.70% To 81,674.14 

Indian equity benchmarks were trading lower at midday on February 27, 2026, with selling pressure concentrated in heavyweight financial and telecom stocks.

The Nifty 50 was down 200.00 points, or 0.78%, at 25,296.55 as of 12:20 pm IST, compared with its previous close of 25,496.55. The BSE Sensex declined 574.47 points, or 0.70%, to 81,674.14 as of 12:21 pm IST, against a previous close of 82,248.61.

Why The Markets Moved

The decline was led by broad-based weakness in large-cap counters that carry significant index weight. HDFC Bank fell 0.97% to ₹889.85, ICICI Bank slipped 1.15% to ₹1,388.70, and State Bank of India dropped 0.68% to ₹1,201.30. Together, financials exerted visible pressure on both indices.

Bharti Airtel stood out among the laggards, down 2.73% at ₹1,876.90, adding to the drag. Reliance Industries was marginally lower at ₹1,406.60, while Larsen & Toubro traded 0.14% lower at ₹4,280.40.

Both benchmarks opened in the red. The Nifty 50 opened at 25,459.85 and touched a low of 25,271.75 so far. The Sensex opened at 82,220.48 and slipped to 81,620.67 so far.

Stock Performance Snapshot

As of 12:20 pm IST, the Nifty 50 has traded between 25,476.40 and 25,271.75 so far.

As of 12:21 pm IST, the Sensex has moved in a range of 82,246.17 to 81,620.67 so far.

Both indices are trading below their respective previous closes, with lows seen around midday.

Broader Market And Sectoral Context

The Nifty 50 remains below its 52-week high of 26,373.20, while the Sensex is trading under its 52-week high of 86,159.02. Current levels indicate that both indices are off their peak zones.

The decline at midday suggests a cautious undertone in large-cap stocks, particularly in banking and telecom, which together account for a significant share of index composition.

About The Indices

The Nifty 50 comprises 50 large-cap stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange and serves as a key barometer of Indian equity performance across sectors.

The BSE Sensex tracks 30 established companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and is widely used as a benchmark for large-cap market trends in India.

Conclusion

At midday on February 26, 2026, with the Nifty 50 down 0.78% and the Sensex off 0.70% so far. The decline was driven by coordinated weakness in banking and telecom heavyweights,. Market participants will watch whether buying interest emerges later in the session to offset the morning’s selling pressure.

Source:

• https://www.bseindia.com/sensex/code/16/
• https://www.nseindia.com/index-tracker/NIFTY%2050