Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Half of Nifty 50 Stocks Enter Bear Territory
Many large Indian company shares have fallen a lot from their recent highest prices.
About half of the companies in the Nifty 50 index are down at least 20%.
The overall Nifty 50 also fell sharply in September.
Higher oil prices, a weaker rupee, foreign investors selling shares, and worries about the economy have hurt markets.
Technology, consumer, automobile, and financial companies were all affected.
Experts say markets may remain uncertain for some time.
They suggest that long-term investors consider strong companies slowly rather than buying everything at once.
They also recommend watching interest-rate decisions, economic reports, company results, and developments in the Middle East.
Twenty-five Nifty 50 constituents are trading 20% to 40% below recent highs, according to Trendlyne data.
The Nifty 50 fell 6% in September, bringing its 2026 decline to 14.2%.
Infosys and ITC each dropped about 40% from recent peaks, while several technology, consumer, auto, and financial stocks also declined sharply.
Market pressure has been linked to higher crude prices, rising bond yields, rupee weakness, overseas selling, and rural-economy challenges.
Experts recommend selective, gradual accumulation of fundamentally strong stocks while monitoring policy, economic, earnings, and geopolitical developments.
- Who
- Nifty 50 companies, Indian investors, overseas investors, and market analysts including Vinod Nair and Kruti Shah.
- What
- Twenty-five Nifty 50 constituents have entered bear-market territory after falling 20% to 40% from recent highs.
- When
- The declines were reported during September, with the Nifty 50 down 14.2% in 2026.
- Where
- Indian equity markets, including Dalal Street.
- Why
- Higher crude prices, rising bond yields, rupee weakness, foreign selling, rural-economy challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty pressured investor sentiment.
Selective Accumulation
Continued Caution
What investors should do
Selective Accumulation
Vinod Nair said long-term investors may use market weakness to gradually accumulate quality companies with strong fundamentals, earnings visibility, and balance-sheet strength.
Continued Caution
Kruti Shah highlighted elevated crude prices, bond yields, and global liquidity as continuing risks, suggesting that investors remain selective despite potential stock-specific opportunities.
Near-term market outlook
Selective Accumulation
A meaningful de-escalation in West Asia could produce a sharp relief rally, while weaker prices may create opportunities as valuations reset.
Continued Caution
Sentiment is likely to remain fragile because Q2 earnings are expected to be softer than Q1 and markets remain exposed to global economic data, policy decisions, and geopolitical developments.
- Stocks in bear territory
- 25 Nifty 50 constituents were trading 20% to 40% below recent highs, according to Trendlyne data.
- Nifty September performance
- The Nifty 50 declined 6% in September.
- Nifty 2026 performance
- The index was down 14.2% for 2026.
- Largest reported declines
- Infosys and ITC each fell about 40% from recent highs.
- Other major declines
- TCS fell 38%, Maruti Suzuki India 34.45%, Reliance Industries 27.55%, and Hindustan Unilever 31.16% from cited peaks.
- Key domestic trigger
- Geojit Investments’ Vinod Nair identified the Reserve Bank of India policy decision as a key trigger.
- Expert strategy
- Analysts recommended favoring earnings visibility and strong balance sheets, with long-term investors accumulating quality stocks gradually.