New Delhi, March 2 -- Indian equity benchmarks concluded the final session of February on a somber note, as a sharp late-session sell-off wiped out nearly Rs.5 trillion of investor wealth. Nifty 50 plummeted 317.90 points (1.25%) to settle at 25,178.65, decisively breaking below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), a critical long-term technical support level. Similarly, S&P BSE Sensex shed 961.42 points (1.17%) to close at 81,287.19.

Market sentiment was weighed down by a convergence of global and domestic headwinds. Geopolitical jitters intensified following reports of open conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while the deadlock in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. trade tariffs kept risk appet...