IT Stocks Fall Up To 2% As Strong US Jobs Data Raises Fed Rate Hike Concerns

IT stocks experienced a decline of up to 2% on September 7 as strong US jobs data heightened concerns about potential Federal Reserve rate hikes. The Nifty IT index fell over 1%, trailing the broader market. The Nifty 50 slipped 0.4% and the Sensex dropped 300 points around the same time. Top IT firms like Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, and Wipro were among the biggest losers.

Infosys, in particular, saw the steepest decline at 2.9%, falling to ₹1,097. Midcap technology stocks also faced selling pressure, with Mphasis, Persistent Systems, and L&T Technology Services declining between 1.4% and 1.9%. The market reaction followed a robust US employment report, raising the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate increase in September or October, as per market estimates.

A prolonged period of higher US interest rates and elevated bond yields could negatively impact technology valuations worldwide. Given that India remains the largest market for Indian IT companies, higher borrowing costs might reduce US discretionary spending on technology services, potentially impacting future demand for Indian IT exporters.

Investors are now waiting for later-week US inflation data to gauge the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory, with a higher-than-anticipated inflation reading potentially bolstering arguments for additional rate hikes.