Indian Stock Market Crash: Why “Anthropic Shock” and IT Rout Wiped Out ₹4 Lakh Crore

Synopsis: The Indian stock market faced a brutal “Friday the 13th” sell-off on February 13, 2026, with the Sensex plunging over 800 points and the Nifty 50 sliding below 25,550. This massive crash, which wiped out ₹4.62 Lakh Crore in investor wealth, was fueled by a deepening rout in IT stocks following Anthropic’s launch of autonomous AI “agents.” Stronger US jobs data further dampened sentiment by crushing hopes for early Federal Reserve rate cuts.

On February 13, 2026, Dalal Street was painted red as the benchmark Sensex tumbled 827 points to 82,847, while the Nifty 50 crashed 1% to settle at 25,548. The epicenter of the carnage was the Nifty IT Index, which plunged nearly 5%, marking its worst weekly performance since the March 2020 pandemic lockdowns. Global investors are aggressively offloading Indian software exporters as a new wave of “agentic AI” disruption threatens the traditional headcount-based outsourcing model.

The market capitalization of all BSE-listed companies shrank to approximately ₹467 Lakh Crore, down from ₹471.6 Lakh Crore in the previous session. Beyond the AI panic, a strengthening US Dollar (hitting 96.93) and a weakening Indian Rupee (90.67) have accelerated Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) outflows, leaving the Aam Aadmi investor in a state of high anxiety.

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Why is the Indian stock market falling today?

The primary trigger is the “Anthropic Shock.” The US-based AI startup, Anthropic, recently unveiled an upgraded version of Claude featuring autonomous “agent teams” designed to handle end-to-end tasks in legal, coding, and finance. This is no longer just “AI assistance”; it is AI replacement. For companies like TCS and Infosys, which rely on billable hours for routine maintenance and testing, this represents a structural threat to their core revenue streams.

Simultaneously, US Macro Data has turned into a headwind. Robust January jobs data and a drop in the US unemployment rate have forced traders to push back expectations of a Fed Rate Cut. High-interest rates in the US typically lead to a freeze in discretionary IT spending and prompt global funds to move capital from emerging markets like India back to “safe-haven” US Treasuries.

Market Bloodbath: Sectoral Impact (Feb 13, 2026)

Index / Stock	Daily Fall (%)	Wealth Loss (Approx.)	Key Reason
BSE Sensex	1.02% ↓	₹4.62 Lakh Cr	Global Tech Rout
Nifty IT Index	4.75% ↓	₹2.10 Lakh Cr	Anthropic AI Disruption
Infosys Ltd	6.13% ↓	₹44,000 Cr	ADR Crash & AI Fears

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The “Analyst Consensus” on the Market Crash

Market veterans suggest that while the immediate pain is severe, the “unwinding of the AI trade” could eventually lead to a healthy sector rotation.

• Geojit Financial Services: Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar warns that “Tech stocks, reeling under the Anthropic shock, are unlikely to recover soon,” suggesting that Indian IT may face a long period of valuation de-rating.
• Kotak Securities: Analysts believe the 50-day SMA at 25,750 has been breached, and the next crucial support for the Nifty lies in the 25,400–25,500 zone.
• HDFC Securities: Experts recommend shifting focus toward domestic-oriented sectors like Automobiles and Banking, which have shown resilience in Q3 earnings despite the global tech volatility.

Also Read: Muthoot Finance Share Price Crashing 14% Today: Why Q3 Profit Surge Failed to Stop the Sell-off

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The Bottom Line

Today’s ₹4.62 Lakh Crore wipeout is a stark reminder that the “safe haven” status of Indian IT is being tested by rapid AI advancements. Investors should prepare for continued volatility as Dalal Street awaits the US CPI data tonight to determine the next direction for global interest rates.