Summary of this article
Nifty IT crashed up to 12 per cent in three sessions due to concerns over AI-led disruption
Strong US jobs data lowered expectations of Fed rate cuts, pressuring tech spending outlook and valuations
Analysts advise investors to not react impulsively, and adopt a measured approach
The Nifty IT index tumbled as much as 5 per cent on February 13, extending decline for the third straight session, as a mix of global and domestic factors unsettled investor sentiment.
Index heavyweight Infosys fell up to 7.54 per cent to an intraday low of Rs 1,281.50 apiece on the NSE, before regaining to close with smaller 1.22 per cent losses at Rs 1,369.10 per share. Similarly, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), plunged as much as 6 per cent to hit an intraday low of Rs 2,585 apiece, and closed with a loss of 2.11 per cent at Rs 2,692.20 per share.
Among the mid-cap IT stocks, Coforge crashed up to 6.16 per cent, LTIMindtree fell up to 4.30 per cent, Oracle Financial Services Software (OFSS) fell as mcuh as 5.38 per cent.
Over the past three trading sessions, the IT index at one point had plunged more than 12 per cent. However, by the close on February 13, some losses were trimmed, leaving the index down about 8.50 per cent over the same period.
Panic selling initially dragged stocks lower, however, bargain buying and short-covering helped pare part of the decline by the end of the session, even as the sector remained under significant pressure overall.
Why IT Stocks Crashed Today
AI-led Disruption: Analysts attributed the key trigger behind the selloff to the growing anxiety about artificial intelligence (AI)-led disruption. Recent advancements by the American AI company Anthropic have reignited concerns that generative AI could automate portions of work traditionally handled by large, labour-intensive IT services firms. Investors worry that if enterprises adopt AI faster than expected, it may reduce the need for conventional outsourcing models, potentially challenging the sector’s long-term revenue structure.
Sell-Off In US Tech Stocks: Further, technology stocks on the Wall Street saw sell-off for the same reason, adding pressure on global tech stocks. The US-based tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index lost 469.32 points, or 2.03 per cent, to close at 22,597.15 on February 12.
Lower Expectations of US Fed Rate Cut: At the macro level, stronger-than-expected US jobs data triggered concerns that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) now might be less likely to lower interest rates. That, in turn, tends to weigh on tech spending expectations and valuation multiples.
For the March 18 policy meeting, traders now largely expect the US Fed to keep interest rates unchanged in the 3.50–3.75 per cent range.
Data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange FedWatch Tool shows that 92.10 per cent of market participants anticipate a pause, up from 80.40 per cent just two days earlier. On the other hand, the probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut has dropped to 7.90 per cent from 19.60 per cent over the same period.
Is This A Black Swan Moment For The IT Sector
Analysts say, the recent correction is more of a valuation reset than a “black swan” event. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, a black swan event is a high-impact occurrence that is difficult to predict under normal circumstances but, in hindsight, often appears inevitable. Such events are unexpected and hard to prepare for, yet are later rationalised as having been unavoidable once they have unfolded.
Ross Maxwell, global strategy operations lead at VT Markets believes the correction is more of a valuation reset driven by macro and structural factors rather than a black swan event. “The sector had performed strongly over the last couple of years based on strong growth potential, margin resilience, and AI-led opportunities. However, with slower tech spending in key markets, pricing pressure, and short-term uncertainty on how quickly AI will turn into revenue, the markets have come under pressure. This is typical of a late-cycle slowdown rather than a black swan event.”
Mirroring Maxwell’s views, Ravi Singh, chief research officer at Master Capital Services, said that the recent correction in the sector reflects a fundamental reassessment rather than a black swan event, where Anthropic's advanced AI automation tools has led widespread concerns across the global software sector. “After years of commanding premium valuations, the IT sector is now seeing the market recalibrate expectations amid global concerns about AI’s impact on traditional service delivery models and the possibility of softer client demand. This represents a cyclical adjustment, not a structural collapse of the industry,” he said.
What Should Investors Do
Analysts advise investors to not react impulsively to the correction in IT stocks, and adopt a measured approach. The experts recommended to hold quality names, rebalance if exposure is excessive, and use the decline to accumulate selectively rather than exit in panic.
Maxwell said long-term investors should stay focused on fundamentals rather than near-term volatility. “Long-term investors with high-quality companies such as those with strong client relationships, healthy balance sheets, and credible AI strategies, should avoid an emotional response,” he said. According to him, the sector’s earnings growth is likely to stay muted for a few quarters, however, he said that structural drivers such as cloud migration, cost optimisation and AI integration will stay intact. He added that if portfolios are overweight IT relative to risk tolerance, investors could consider gradual rebalancing instead of a hard exit. For fresh allocations, he recommended staggered accumulation, cautioning that valuations are more reasonable but not outright cheap and that sentiment may take time to stabilise.
Singh also cautioned against knee-jerk reaction, saying “exiting in panic would be a mistake” now. He advised existing investors to recaliberate overall portfolio exposure and continuously analyse sector’s development and implementation towards AI capabilities.” He added that Indian IT firms are in a transition phase where AI- and cloud-led revenues are still small and will take time to scale, even as uncertainty around legacy business growth weighs on sentiment. He advised investors to remain patient and allow the ongoing selloff to cool before making fresh accumulations.
