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Nifty suffered its worst February decline since 2020, dropping 5.9% amid a broad sell-off, primarily in IT, auto, and pharma stocks. The index is down 16% from its peak, marking its longest losing streak since 1996. With March starting on a weak note, hopes are pinned on positive seasonality based on past performance in the final financial month.

India’s stock market downturn has severely impacted the broking industry, with trading volumes and investor confidence plummeting. Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath noted the business is experiencing de-growth for the first time, as investors adopt a cautious, wait-and-watch approach.

Buch, the first woman and private-sector executive to lead Sebi, implemented major market reforms, such as restrictions on retail derivatives trading and enhanced regulation of brokers.

Sebi has launched Bond Central, a centralised database portal for corporate bonds, created by the OBPP Association with support from Market Infrastructure Institutions. The portal aims to enhance transparency and informed decision-making by providing detailed risk assessments, corporate bond documents, and comparisons with Government Securities. It offers a unified view of corporate bonds, accessible free of cost to the public.

European shares extended declines on Friday, as market sentiment was dented after U.S. President Donald Trump said his proposed tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods would take effect next week.

India’s equity markets are under pressure, with Nifty down 14% from its peak and 5% in 2025. The Nifty Realty index leads sectoral losses, plunging over 23%, with several stocks witnessing sharp declines exceeding 20% this year.

The Indian rupee logged its fifth straight monthly fall in February, weighed down by foreign portfolio outflows and increased hedging in the onshore and the non-deliverable forward market.

On the first day of bidding, the retail portion of the issue was subscribed by 16%, while the non-institutional investors category saw a 22% subscription. Meanwhile, no bids were placed yet by qualified institutional buyers.

Devender Singhal from Kotak Mahindra AMC recommends investing in the market now, given a long-term horizon and a suitable risk profile. He advises focusing on individual stocks with strong growth and valuation prospects instead of specific sectors, especially in the current volatile environment.

February has been a challenging month for Indian equities, with the Sensex dropping over 4,000 points, resulting in a 5% loss. Foreign institutional investors aggressively sold off Indian stocks, while geopolitical tensions and trade concerns further impacted market stability.