Late Selloff Drags Sensex Down 961 Points; Nifty Slips Below 25,200

Equity benchmarks ended February on a weak footing as a sharp bout of late selling pulled indices deep into the red. The BSE Sensex slumped 961 points in the final stretch of trade, while the NSE Nifty 50 fell below the 25,200 mark, reflecting broad-based weakness across sectors.

The decline gathered pace in the last hour of trading as investors pared positions in auto, financial and realty counters. Market breadth remained negative, with declining shares outnumbering advances on both exchanges, underscoring the depth of the selloff.

Among prominent losers, Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki India fell around 2 percent each, tracking pressure in the broader automobile pack. Financial stocks also saw sustained profit booking, contributing to the downward spiral in benchmark indices.

Traders attributed the late slide to a mix of global caution and month-end adjustments, with institutional investors seen trimming exposures ahead of the new trading cycle. Analysts said the sharp fall does not yet alter the broader structural narrative but signals heightened sensitivity to global cues and valuation concerns.

With volatility rising and sentiment fragile after a turbulent month for technology stocks, market participants are likely to remain selective, focusing on earnings resilience and balance sheet strength in the sessions ahead.