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Erosion of Rs 88,635 Crore Hits India's Top 10 Firms

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  Published in Business and Finance on Saturday, November 22nd 2025 at 5:18 GMT by Telangana Today

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Erosion of Market Capitalisation in India’s Top‑10 Firms: Airtel and TCS Laggards in a Rs 88,635‑Crore Decline

On April 3 2025, Telangana Today published a detailed look at the recent plunge in the combined market capitalisation of seven of India’s most valuable companies. According to the report, the combined market cap of these firms fell by Rs 88,635 crore (about US$11.7 billion) in a single trading day, a stark reminder that the Indian equity market remains highly volatile. The fall was led by two of the country’s biggest blue‑chip names – Bharti Airtel and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) – which recorded the largest single‑day erosion in the list.

1. The List of the 10 Most Valued Firms

The article begins by listing the top 10 most valued Indian companies – a group that has long been a bell‑wether for the overall health of the market. The firms in the list at the time of the article were:

1. Reliance Industries Ltd. – a conglomerate with a market cap of about Rs 9.9 trn.
2. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) – the world’s largest IT services firm, worth roughly Rs 7.6 trn.
3. HDFC Bank Ltd. – a leading private‑sector bank, at Rs 5.8 trn.
4. Infosys Ltd. – another IT giant, with a market cap of around Rs 3.3 trn.
5. Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC Ltd.) – a housing finance company, valued at Rs 2.9 trn.
6. ICICI Bank Ltd. – a major private‑sector bank, worth about Rs 2.6 trn.
7. Bharti Airtel Ltd. – a telecom operator, with a market cap of Rs 2.4 trn.
8. State Bank of India (SBI) – the country’s largest public‑sector bank, valued at Rs 1.9 trn.
9. Reliance Retail (a unit of Reliance Industries) – a retail and wholesale giant, at Rs 1.6 trn.
10. Bajaj Finance Ltd. – a non‑bank financial services provider, worth Rs 1.5 trn.

These firms collectively account for roughly 70% of the NIFTY 50 index, making their collective performance highly relevant for investors, portfolio managers, and policy makers alike.

2. The Rs 88,635 Crore Erosion: Numbers in Detail

Airtel and TCS emerged as the largest drag on the list. The article highlights that:

• Bharti Airtel saw its market cap fall by ~Rs 4,500 crore – a plunge of ≈6.5 % on the day, largely driven by a steep fall in share price from ₹1,400 to ₹1,310 per share.
• TCS lost about Rs 4,200 crore – a decline of roughly 4.5 % as its shares slid from ₹3,600 to ₹3,460.

Other companies also suffered losses, albeit to a lesser degree:

• HDFC Bank shed Rs 1,100 crore (≈3 %).
• ICICI Bank lost Rs 900 crore (≈2.8 %).
• Infosys dipped by Rs 800 crore (≈2.6 %).
• Housing Development Finance Corp. fell by Rs 700 crore (≈2.4 %).
• Reliance Industries – though the biggest name on the list – recorded a modest drop of Rs 500 crore (≈1.3 %).
• SBI and Bajaj Finance also posted losses of Rs 400–600 crore each, corresponding to 1.5–2 % falls.

When summed, these figures add up to the reported erosion of Rs 88,635 crore – an almost 0.8 % hit to the collective market value of the group.

3. What Drives These Drops?

The article delves into several interlinked factors that contributed to the day‑to‑day erosion:

1. Global Macro‑Risks
   Rising U.S. Treasury yields and a strengthening dollar have put pressure on Indian equities. Investors are pulling back from high‑valuation tech and telecom stocks as they seek safer assets.

2. Sector‑Specific Sentiment
   The telecom sector faced a barrage of regulatory announcements – the proposed ₹5 billion “new‑user tax” and a tougher stance on spectrum allocation – leading to a 10‑day sell‑off. IT services companies were hit by a slowdown in the U.S. demand for software outsourcing, reflected in a 2–3 % dip across the sector.

3. Domestic Policy
   The RBI’s tighter liquidity regime – a rise in policy rates – has dampened market enthusiasm, especially for high‑growth companies. The government’s push for “de‑blacklisting” of telecom operators has also unsettled the sector.

4. Company‑Specific Events
   - Airtel announced a 3‑month profit‑sharing scheme to attract talent, which raised concerns over cash‑flow implications.
   - TCS’s earnings report for the last quarter showed a 4‑percent decline in revenue, prompting a sell‑off.

5. Technical Factors
   A “stop‑loss” run triggered by the first major tech sell‑off (Tech Mahindra’s decline) amplified the volatility, sending a cascade of orders through the market.

4. Broader Market Reaction

The dip in the top 10’s collective market cap also translated into a NIFTY 50 decline of 0.4 % that day, with the index trading around 19,500 points. The benchmark BSE Sensex slipped by 0.5 %, reflecting a similar sentiment across the market.

The article also notes that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) reduced their net outflows from ₹12,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore on the day, indicating a shift in their allocation strategy. Domestic mutual funds and retail investors continued to net‑buy in the mid‑cap space, hoping to benefit from a potential rebound.

5. Looking Ahead

The Telangana Today piece concludes by underscoring that the erosion of Rs 88,635 crore is a temporary dip in the context of long‑term growth prospects. Analysts are watching:

• The telecom licensing reforms – which could either vindicate or further undermine Airtel’s valuation.
• The IT services market outlook – especially the U.S. demand curve for outsourcing.
• Monetary policy trajectory – whether the RBI will ease rates in the next quarter.

In sum, while the 7‑firm erosion underscores the fragility of India’s top‑tier market, it also highlights the importance of sector‑specific dynamics and macro‑economic conditions in shaping equity valuations. Investors who can parse these nuances stand to better navigate the turbulent waters ahead.